All most done!

Our Big 7 Year old

Today is Rodney’s 7th birthday, and this makes his 5th birthday with us. (he came to live with us just before he turned 3) He was fighting a little bit of a cold today but still enjoyed him self. We took him to the mall to go to the Build-A-Bear Workshop®. We had a coupon for half of a bear on his birthday. He really wanted the Cheetah form WWF (that’s the World Wildlife Foundation not the World Wrestling federation) He liked it because Build-A-Bear Workshop® donates $1 from the sale of Cheetah to World Wildlife Fund to protect endangered animals and their habitats. I really show how big of a heart Rod has. To top it of He really wanted to get a wheelchair for his Cheetah. So he could be like mommy and help some one in a wheelchair to. We are so proud of him he really is growing to be a nice young man.

This is a toy Rodney got for his brithday from my brother last week

Celebrating Rodney and mine birthdays with my parents.

Today we went to my parents to celebrate both Rodney and mine’s birthday. Mine was last week and my dad was down in Texas. Rod’s is next week and both my parents will be gone then. So this week end was the best time to do it. We also are making things smaller this year. So we are having no parties for the kids like we did in the past. We did celebrate none the less.

Amy and my mom took the boys to see a movie (Underdog). Wile I took a nap in the La-Z-Boy in my parents living room. After the movie and my great nap, we had dinner the open presents. Rod got some moon sand, a rocket, and some school clothing. I got some new t-shirts and some much need new shoes.

We all had fun and I was a good day. Some times the low key gathering can be the most fun.

Celebrating my 7th anniversary of turning 29 years old.

Today is my Birthday and you can say 36 years young, or 432 months old, or 1878 weeks old, or 13148 days old, or 315552 hours old, or 18933134 minutes old, or 1135988087 seconds old, or this is my 7th anniversary of turning 29 years old, or I’m Twenty-sixteen.

Today for my birthday I started the day out with breakfast in bed, then we went to church. This afternoon I got to take a nap with only a few interruptions. The best thing to happen today was I got a phone call from Best Buy for a job Interview. I had only filed out an application on Friday. So it looks like I’m going back to work, and may no longer be a stay at home dad. Hopefully I will still be able to be a major part of my kids’ life. With both of them in school full time stating next month, and Amy and I needing a little more cash flow. After all we would like to retire some day.

I finished off the day with bratwurst and hot dogs from the grill. Then we had Cake and Ice cream. In evening we just stayed in and took in easy. I have found that I am ok with my age; turning 30 was very hard for me. But know any age looks fine to me.

Bathroom and Family update.

Well my dad and I have the walls all built for the bathroom closet. We put up the dry wall and now I’m working on mudding the seems and holes. This will take me a few days to do as I have to let the plaster dry between coats and sanding. (also it is a little hot to be stuck in there for to long After I’m done with all that, I will continue the tile then paint then build the shelves in the closet.



Rodney and David have been taking ice skating. (This is really great on hot days) Rod has gotten quite good and Dave has just started. Both seem to really like it. We like to let the boys choose what sport they participate in. Rod choose Ice Skating, and David choose it after Rodney was doing it for a wile.

HardWare Wars

Hardware Wars (1977) was the first short film spoof of Star Wars. The thirteen-minute film, which premiered in theatres only seven months after Star Wars, consisted of little more than inside jokes and visual puns that heavily depended upon audience familiarity with the original. The theme song is Richard Wagner's famous "Ride of the Valkyries". The tagline was "You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss three bucks goodbye." The film was by far one of my farvorits

At the Henry Ford with friends

Today we went to the Henry Ford with our Friends Lisa and Paul and their kids. We saw our usual sites and exhibits. We started with the trains, then the cars, and to the air plains. The thing I really wanted to see was the Rock Stars’ Cars & Guitars, Exhibit. There were Twenty-one legendary cars and 31 guitars that are synonymous with rock ’n’ roll music on display, including the rides owned or driven by such beloved rock idols as Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top and Van Halen. In addition, several distinctive guitars, including those from Kirk Hammett, Dusty Hill, Billy F Gibbons, Rick Nielsen, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry, B.B. King are on display.

We all had a really good time. I was also nice to hang out with a long time friend who we knew back in the BC (before Children), who now have kids as well. Both Lisa and Paul are in the same stage of life as Amy and I, and seem to have the same parenting styles as we do. Amy and I have always had fun with Lisa back in the BC so it was nice the we could still have fun.

You can see More Photos Here

Our Happy Place

Ok I have final finish the book that almost every one in the world is reading right now. So I have past Harry Potter on to my wife (who has been giving me every chance to read it so she can) I now have time to Post a new blog.

This past week-end we all went to Amy’s aunt Carols cabins for vacation. We have all been there many times in the past but this was the first time in years for us. And this was David’s First time ever.

We left early Saturday morning and drove straight there with out any traffic. I was hopping to have a certain book in my hands; however I was told I need to wait. We arrived about 3:30 pm, a half an hour earlier than expected. Our cabin was not ready as of yet, witch was ok. The boys, after getting a look around the cabins and meeting Amy’s Aunt and Uncle, took off to go play in the woods. Amy and I settled in at the camp fire and talked with Amy’s Aunt and Uncle. After we moved in Amy’s Parents, Brother, sister, and her sister’s boy friend all came for dinner. We all gathered around the fire and enjoyed each other company. (Me and Amy’s uncle Jimmy had a few beers.)

The next day (Sunday) we again relaxed around the fire and the hammock. I found the hammock was very relaxing. In the afternoon we all went to the beach that was part of the Sleeping Bear National Park. That Night the girls had girls’ night out. Me and the boys hung out with Jimmy and Shane at the cabins and had dinner.

The next morning we all went out to Amy’s Grandfather’s Farm house to celebrate both Rodney’s and my birthday (mine is Aug 5th Rod’s is Aug 18th). We had hot dogs and chili, and then Rod and I shared a cake. Rodney got lots of Transformers and I got the Book I had been weighting for all summer. So the rest of the day was spent, for me, try to read Harry Potter. I sent a very blissful 2 hours in the hammock with my head phones on, drinking a beer, and reading my book.

We came home on Tuesday with much kicking and screaming. Of course that was Amy and I, the boys were ready to come home.

It was a very good week-end both Amy and I have decided that the Cabins are our happy place. We always enjoy it, and have a good time. I look forward to going again.

Our little cabin in the woods:

At the Beach

Rod and My Brithday party

A little peace of heaven

Around the camp Fire

Wired

Well I we have really progressed on the bathroom. We moved the pluming, added the hardy backer to the rest of the floor, started on the linen closet and did most of the wiring. We have very little left. We need to finish the wiring, put up new dry wall, plaster the seems, finish the floor tile, paint, add shelves to the closet install a new vanity (yet to be purchased, we need about $ 500) do the tile around the tub, tile the wall around the floor with a bull nose tile, and trim the door and ceiling. We should have it all done in time for Christmas.

I’m also getting a lot out of this whole thing. One, I’m spending lots of time with my dad. More time than I have in more than 10 years. Two, I’m learning a lot about home repair and remolding. (Thanks dad) Three, my Maleness has really gone up. Nothing makes a guy fell more like a man than home repair. (Of course I was also doing the laundry, doing the dishes, fixing meals, and taking care of the kids wile doing my best Tool time Impression) Any way I will have much to post when we get back from up north. Check out my flickr acount for more images

Bathroom Remodel updates

We added the grout today. go my Flickr account to see more. If you click on the photes you will see my notes

Star Wars PocketModel TCG

My newest game is Star Wars PocketModel TCG. I had the opportunity to play it a couple of time now, once with my nephew and once with the guys in my gaming group. The 1st time I played it(with Charlie) I really didn’t get all the rules. So as a result I was not sure if I liked the game or not. The rule book is not very well put together, so I missed a few rules. The second time I played the game (with the guys) I had figured out all the rules and the game work out much better. And I really like the game. Play it in a group has much more dynamics to it then the just one on one.

The game has aspects of both miniatures and collectible and trading genres. It is similar to WizKids game Pirates of the Spanish Main, referring to the mechanics of creating game pieces from components that punch out of styrene cards. The game derives its content from all six Star Wars movies. Also there are the cards that give your miniatures bonuses or change the game play. You win the game in two ways; one you eliminate all of your opponents ships, or destroy all 3 of their objective cards. The coolest thing is when your ship takes damage you add little damage plumes to the ship.

All and all, I give the game 8 out of 10 stars. I will have to play it a few more times to really work out the ins and outs.