Why JT is Awesome

So the conversation at my house the other day was between me and my older kids about future career choices. The old “What do you want to be when you grow up” talk. JT walks though the room and let’s know what his plans are too.

JT: So I want to be in the Army.

ME: That is a great plan if you want to do it. The Army can be a good life.

JT: Or I want to be in the Police:

ME: You mean?

JT: No, No, I mean

ME: Another excellent career path. Seeing a pattern forming I also suggest that he could be a Police Officer in the Army.

I thought we were done when

JT: Or … I want to work at the House of Bounce.

ME: JT, this is exactly why you are Awesome!

We Have Done Our Bit

via Bits And Pieces

I am so proud

My oldest made the local paper today. Here is the picture.

His excuse for being the only one dancing was "It was a break and nobody was doing anything; and I do NOT SIT DOWN for the chorus of Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus."

**If you read the article it says 9th graders. Gunnar is in 11th grade and is a student leader for them so he is actually setting the example, allegedly.

Where I apologise to my future son-in-law

This was a real interaction between Cenny my 9yo daughter and Zeke my 10yo son.

Cenny, in a firm and authoritative tone: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke: I don't have to. Why don't you let the dog out?

Cenny, in the same tone: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke: You are a butt. You let the dog out.

Cenny: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke, yelling: No. You stink. I don't have to.

Cenny: Zeke, let the dog out.

Zeke, walking to the door with the dog: You're lazy. You stink, etc., etc, etc.

Cenny sits down on the couch next to me and says: Zeke is so easy to get to do stuff. Just keep repeating yourself and ignore what he says.

To my future son-in-law - you never had a chance. Sorry

It ain't easy being fat & green

So I got to spend some time with the young people over the holidays which is always fun. The young people really like me because they can see the true awesomeness on the inside. Anyways I received some particularly harsh feedback but I took it in stride like the mature adult I am.

First I was in the kitchen working on something with the TV on in the background. The show airing was the Biggest Loser - Where are they now? episode. So they were parading out the past winners and memorable contestants and seeing how they are doing now away from the show. JT was watching with me and then pipes up with:

Hey Dad, you should go on that show. You could get skinny.

A few days later we had all the family and friends over for our traditional Christmas Eve party featuring KFC. This gets about 30 or so people in attendance including a lot of little kids. Being the entertainer I put on the movie The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the new one with Jim Carey). Pretty soon I have my niece Abby scrunched up next to me on the couch. Now Abby has never seen the movie before and the Grinch is scaring her a little. So to alleviate her fears I say:

Don't worry Abby. The Grinch is mean and rough on the outside, but on the inside he is nice and soft; just like your Uncle Eric.

Then Abby turns with a serious expression and lets me know:

No, that is like you.

That's my Abby. Next time I see her I will be pushing 50 and she will be a teenager. Then I will just be her creepy Uncle who she will just want to avoid (like Randy :-)

Family Fun

We went to the pumpkin patch for an afternoon of family fun.

It was all slides, corn mazes, and other hands on entertainment.

I did manage to catch this image.

It seems I was the only one bothered/amused by this odd juxtaposition of images.

My Dad finally proven right

As some of you may know, my Dad worked in a law enforcement field of sorts prior to retiring. Anyways he used to say that there were some really good pickpockets out there. Some were so good that they could remove a woman's bra and she wouldn't notice. This of course led to peels of laughter from any woman who heard this followed by the patronizing "yeah right."

Well I guess we all owe him a big apology.




via Bits and Pieces

We have learned the secret

Salt Lake City Temple

Here is what we usually do. In the weeks following General Conference we will gather the kids around the computer and watch a speaker or two through online video. Typically we battle with them to pay any attention at all and then spend almost as long as the talk was trying to retell it to them to insure they get something out of it. Anotherwords, they don't want to sit and listen to some old guy rambling on, and they get nothing from it.

Choir in old Tabernacle

Today when the kids got home from school they started begging Lisa if we could watch some more conference today - especially our youngest two (JT and Cenny). They were quite upset when we said we couldn't today because Lisa and I began our Dave Ramsey Financial Peace classes. How did we achieve such rapid turn-around with the kids - and it only took 30 seconds??

Well on Monday I was reviewing the commentary about conference on the blog By Common Consent when I saw comment 134 by Rob on the Saturday Afternoon thread. It said:

So, to keep our children engaged, my wife is picking one word for each session. As we watch the session, if the key word is spoken, there is a bowl of candy and each person can get a piece of candy. For this session, the word is Temple. My 14 year old daughter complained at the start of the session that they wouldn’t use that word enough. We’ve each had the opportunity to partake from the bowl 7 times this session — 5 during the statistical report, and 2 during Elder Pino’s talk.

So we opened a bag of Sweet Tart Jelly Beans and told the kids the word was "Faith." They all sat riveted to Elder Hales talk and upon review they all could tell me exactly what it was about. I think we got the jelly beans three times. Our kids are now conference fiends!

And once again another opening in the big chairs and I was yet again passed over - for this yahoo.

Elder Neil Andersen

Crazy, I know.

Our little boy is growing up.

So 24 is a rather involved show, each episode building on the next, ramping up the tension and excitement. We have been Tivo'ing the season and watching it whenever Lisa, Gunnar, and I can get together at the same time. That has not been easy, but we are about halfway through it so far.

We sit down to watch the 10pm hour and are into it about 10 minutes when the phone rings for Gunnar - it's a girl.

Gunnar: Uh, yeah - I will have to take this.
Lisa & Me: We are watching it now.
Gunnar: I will watch it later.
Us: We are going to delete when we are done.
Gunnar: I will find it online somewhere.

Rather talk to a girl than watch 24 (when you are involved in it already)

The Good, the Bad, and the Awesome

Last week my Brother-In-Law Randy and his wife Heather had their third baby - first girl.

So we have The GOOD - Lily Jane

But while Randy was at the hospital becoming a new dad, he left his car parked at work. He came back a few days later to find someone had gone ahead a moved it away to an undisclosed location - The BAD (BTW if you see a Honda Accord - UT license plate number 796 LXX -please let him know)And the totally AWESOME - Oldest Brother thinking "alright, another kid to look up to me", and the now middle kid thinking "What the crap is this - I'M THE BABY!!!"

I really love this photo.

Leaping Rodents

US News & World Report released their Most Popular Colleges Survey, based on reports from the students (i.e. the students chose to be there among other markers). It turns out among private colleges Berea (my sister’s school) ranked #4, and on the big overall list of National Colleges my very own BYU ranked #2.

Story of my family, no thinking crowd followers who make the safe popular choices.

Some jokes write themselves

In a post on December 9th I used the expression "imho" and Paige wrote a comment stating she didn't know what that was.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Really Paige, you have never heard the expression "In My HUMBLE Opinion" before, I am not surprised!

HA HA HA HA HA HA

that's all.

OH YEAH - I GOT MY SEXY ON!

My Dad early 1970's thanks to my sister.

Hey Heather

You asked a few posts back what type of Tattoo you should get. Well, I scoured the WHOLE internet and found what I think is perfect. Now this guy I believe is just using face paint, but you should commit and make it permanent.

You should see him eat - IT IS AWESOME!!!

If you are vacillitating, you can go with this:

Or just be boring and go with the pregnancy classic:

Why I hate it here sometimes

The current temperature tight now is minus 6°F. That is the straight temperature not counting wind chill. According to the weather service we have had a 45°F swing in the last 24 hours. It is only going to get colder tomorrow!

I couldn't even talk poor Parker to get out of his bed to go outside. It is that freaking cold.

Luckily tonight we get to go out for a basketball game and choir & band concerts.

My Cousin* Eric

As I scan the internet for funny images and stories I occasionally find things which I think will be perfect for a particular person. More often than not I find things that Eric just needs to see. I now present them, whether they tell you more about me or him, only time can tell.

Dogs - Always Funny

T-Shirt and Superpowers
ZOMBIES - Need I say more?

He He He

Ranger! Ranger!

Pumpkin Carving Extreme

Even I am Confused Sometimes - but Eric would so wear a t-shirt with this on.

He probably already has this one.

and I think he was wearing these just the other day

And be warned, this final product is hilarious, but not for the priggrish among you. But if you do go to the site to see it, you have to try the Interactive Simulator. It is AWESOME!!

*Technically my mother-in-law's sister's son.

Things are tough in Iceland

With their economy in the tank, Rick sent us this video of him ice fishing for dinner. It isn't easy being a missionary these days.

Family Portrait Preview

We finally brokedown and got family portraits done. The last time we had one done Qatar was a newborn. Anyways a great photographer moved into the ward and we are all taking advantage of it. To see more samples of our family, or her other work, please visit Hawkeye Photography.

And looking at that photograph, I must point out that Gunnar, at just a few weeks past his 15th birthday, is freakishly tall.

Any Excuse

Do you notice that when a couple decides to get their act together it is always the wrong one who finds an excuse to rip their shirt off? Below is a shot of Karl at a family BBQ at Steven's house who decided he would be the lone adult at the slip and slide. Come on Kristi!! BTW big props to Karl for guest posting over at Feast upon the word blog.

But that wasn't the problem. Steve wasn't going to be out done at his own party so he ripped off his shirt too.
Now Steve will complain that I am not being fair, so since I do not have a good shot of me handy I am a cross between this guy:
And this guy:
I am probably closer to the second. Am I right?

New Baby

Our cousins in town just had a new baby, their fourth (third boy). Even though this isn't him I can sure see this as his look.