Happy Birthday to my love

She's the straw that stirs my drink ... and I love her more than words.

Happy Birthday Love! You're a great mom, wife, and friend.

Time Warp

Yesterday, my brother and I drive to Riverside to be with my dad for his surgery this morning. My sister Jaime came from San Diego. As we ate dinner last night, my mom cooked one of our old favorites - Pepper Pie - and we enjoyed hanging out and reminiscing.

As we sat that I felt a bit in a time warp. Mom, Dad, Jaime, Tony, and me were together for the first time (without our individual families) since 1988. 20 years! Man it was wild. We had fun and talked about stuff growing up. We laughed a lot.

If you haven't talked to your family members recently ... give them a call or get together with them.

NOTE: My pictures are having trouble uploading. Will do some later.

Telling it like it is

At the airport my wife over heard a page for someone with the last name Jennings.

Melissa: "That was my last name when I was a little girl. And when I married daddy I changed my last name."

Gigi: "To Mom?"

Curly Cutey

Sponge curlers doing their thing. Gigi liked the result!

How long has it been since you've enjoyed a good haircut/grooming or make over?

I think she likes 'em

First time in sponge curlers ... it's gonna be cute!

14 years today

I am grateful. Melissa and I have been married 14 years today. I've said it before...she's the best thing that's happened to me.

Pass the potatoes and the values please!

Ronald Reagan once said, "All great change in America begins at the dinner table."

I see the truth in that statement. Eating together, no TV, no computer, no distractions ... just eating and talking has become a lost pleasure of life. Granted there are times where it is difficult to achieve due to schedules, etc.

I remember my family eating together as a kid more often than not and I feel it really help us remain connected with each other. In a world where it's easier to stay connected electronically rather than life on life, I am making a commitment to stay connected with my family eating dinner together more often than not.

Instead of "waiting on the world to change" how can we do our part each day? One way is the seemingly insignificant dinner time with my family.

When passing the potatoes, let's not forget to pass the values that you wish to see in the world: compassion, social justice, responsibility, and self-control.

What can you do to change your world?

Sleep and go seek!

When ever a story about a missing child is on the news, as a parent, I try to make mental note of being more aware of my kids (without being overbearing or paranoid) especially in public. My heart goes out to families who've experienced this tragedy.

Well this morning after waking up and saying hi, our four year old daughter, went missing. In the midst of getting coffee, putting load of wash in, and picking up around the house Gigi had disappeared and we didn't know where.

We have a pool and our first though was to check there! Not there (thank God). After checking usual and unusual spots, my wife glanced in a wicker basket used for floor pillows / blankets .... and there she was. She went back to sleep in the basket of cozies!

Whew!

Fun Stuff

I enjoy hanging with my family. We've been doing a lot of fun stuff together lately. One thing is lots of swimming. We play a "homemade" game called creatively "WaterBall." At least I thought it was. You can see a quick sample of how we play this the fast paced, high scoring, make it take it, rough-housing game here.

For board games . . . we do the classic Scrabble (count it as homeschool - haha) and a killer award-winning game called Blokus. It has it's own website! If you have a family and don't have this one - it's a goodie!

There are a couple of websites we frequent for games and such.
Fancy Pants - cool little underground game!
Launchball - we count this as science too! It really challenge the thinking.

Did I mention the Wii & Wii Fit?- Good times!

Stitches out ...

With a tender knee, Melissa, with some protest, legitimately had to use a motorized grocery cart today.  She was zipping in and out of the aisles like Jeff Gordon by the end of our shopping.  I don't think she need to again, but it was fun while it lasted!

New Pics

Today, we were privileged to meet Julie Belle and Daley Hake and have them in our home. We met them via internet social networking (blogs, facebook, and the like). Daley and Julie are genuine, likable, and talented in many ways.

If you need photography or a guitarist (especially in/around SoCal) contact him! If you need a pianist/singer/songwriter contact her (She made our piano feel loved and filled our house with beautiful music!) You can see more of Daley's work here.

If you get a chance to hang with them, do so ... it was a great day.

Happy Birthday

From our times of hangin' in Modesto way back when, he made a lasting impression on my boys and still is their favorite guitarist. Wes is a close second! Happy Birthday Lincoln!

Buys his latest release here.

Planes, Buses, & Boats

We took a little trip to Seattle to celebrate Melissa's sisters High School graduation.  We haven't been to Seattle in about three years and with many of Melissa's family around, should be a good time!

We set off for adventure bright and early - Ahead of us a plane ride, a bus ride (which we volunteered for the sheer adventure of it), and a boat ride!  Here is the day in Hyper speed.  

WARNING:  Take a little Dramamine - the fast pace has know to cause dizziness!

Best thing that's happened to me!

The last couple of days, have been memorable for my wife.  Yesterday she had some sweet oral surgery!  One wisdom tooth - GONE!, One crown . . . ON!, Three fillings - FILLED! All in less than an 120 minutes.  That's the equivalent of a radiator flush, oil change, and new tires.  She woke up doing pretty well considering.

Today she turned 37.  I am proud of her and now she's helping others now achieve their health goals.  She's the best thing that's happened to me.  Happy Birthday Love!

39 is the new...29

March 14 is my birthday. I can't remember when it wasn't sunny on my birthday. Got to love spring time!

Looking forward to a great day:

_7:30 am - awaking to breakfast in bed (Oatmeal, toast, pineapple juice)

_ 8:30 am - Taking the boys to PE

_9:50 am - Going to Starbucks with the family

_10:15 am - Going to see "Horton..." movie with the family

_12:15 pm - Eating Lunch with my bro, mom-in-law, sister-in-law, and family

_2:00 pm - Getting the boys new shoes (may get some B-ball shoes too).

_4:00 pm - Return home

_7:00 pm - Light dinner (watching movie on iTunes - "Changing Lanes")

Now that's a great day!

Plans for year 39:

_I plan to exercise more - playing hoops, running, riding my bike to and from work!

_I plan to pray more. I am craving more of God in my life. Need to grow closer!

_I plan to work less. When I am home I want to be home and not "finishing" what I didn't get done.

_I plan to read more books. See work less ... I read a lot just want to read more.

If 40 is the new 30 . . . 39 is the new 29? I feel like I am 34!

The best thing that has happened to me

Originally posted on Typepad - February 29, 2008

I am proud of my wife. Since August of 2007 she's lost 62+ pounds.

She is more energetic, confident, we are all eating better, and she looks healthier.

I appreciate her courage to try something to improve her health. And now, she's helping others achieve their goals too.

She's the best thing that has ever happened to me!

The 30 Day Sex Challenge

I've signed up for the challenge! Now, to tell Melissa . . .

I know what I think about this challenge. What do you think about this challenge?

Computer Issues

The Super Bowl and the FBR open were memorable events here in Phoenix. We had a good time with family and lots of food as we watched the SB in a memorable finish! Half of us were rooting for perfection and half rooted for the underdog. Everyone enjoyed the game! Both my boys were into the game (the fourth quarter). Melissa said the boys lost their Super Bowl virginity - I think they are look forward to next year's game!

My computer disk died this past weekend too! I took it into the Apple store on Monday and they proceeded to put a new disk in the machine. The y "tried " to save the data - not sure I am too convinced it was completely unsalvageable but. . . . due to the warranty it was repaired. I've spent a lot of time reloading and recovering stuff. I rely on my computer . . . for too much. I am glad I am back up and jogging.

What do you rely on that would be difficult to be without?

Happy New Year - Chug Contest

Last night my boys and I stayed up and watched the ball drop. We talked about our most special moment of 2007 and gave thanks, played the Wii, watch some Mythbusters and had our first annual Chug Contest.

The contest will be an annual New Year's Eve event. The Champion will hold the crown for the entire year. Now the audio is not so great we were trying to be quiet (Melissa and Gigi) were in bed asleep. (if you have an RSS feed you'll have to go to the blog home).

Congratulations to the winner!

What inspires you?

I recently asked this question to my coworkers. I decided to jump in and let my inspirations known: (As of today....)

:: I admire my sons (Jack and Nate). They have a real love for life and more spunk than a pack of Mentos in Diet Coke

:: My wife makes me think about things that I may not other wise. She has a great perspective on things and her Godly heart shows through. I am a better man for marrying her...in too numerous ways to count

:: Gigi is such a joy. I love her inhibited passion to sing at the top of her lungs, even when nobody is listening

:: Wes O'Haire's creativity in design and music

:: My brother's resilience

:: Walking into any Apple Store. Inspiration and imagination flood my creative soul.

:: Stories like Rocky (the original). Overcoming all the odds stepping into a God-design. The character Rocky was born to box ... Note to self Sly: Keep us wanting more.

:: Groove in 5 or 7 (Meter). Listen to St. Augustine in Hell, Seven Days - Sting

:: Hebrews 12:1 - Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Well, that a few to start with. I am sure there will be others to follow.