Currently Listening Northern Lites By Super Furry Animals see related

My Mini City

Currently Watching Disney's Little Einsteins - Rocket's Firebird Rescue By Little Einsteins see related

Back to School... err Blog

I feel like a kid in grade school that has just come off a 3 month Hiatus.  "So Bud", asks the teacher, "what did you do this summer?"   "Uhhh ummmmmmm lots of stuff!?"

I was never good at answering questions in grade school, unless the answer was involved the Battle of Dien Bien Phu or some aspect of the US Military.  Yeah, I was a messed up kid in my youth.  So I will just give you the highlights.

June 07, Natalie our new niece was born. 

She is cute as a button and I hope to meet her soon.  Sorry Aunt Jenn for not being able to make it out east.

Caroline also turned 2 and the "Terrible Twos" have started.  I have been told on good authority that the terrible twos turn into the terrible threes, fours and fives... and so on.  Right know it basically consists of Caroline trying to get her way, with a whole lot of "NO's," "Don't Want To's" and a few temper tantrums.  She is close to perfecting the temper tantrum where she turns her body into Jell-O and falls to the floor.  Thus rendering herself unable to be picked up by mom and dad. 

We also bought an SUV this summer.  Traded in one of our Altimas for a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder that had low miles (12k mi). It’s nice to have a low miles vehicle that is still under the factory warranty.  Apparently, my wife thinks it’s her SUV, but Caroline straightened her out.  When asked whose truck it is, Caroline will answer, "Daddy's truck."  On a side note, any full sized truck that Caroline sees (Ford F150 or not) is Papa's truck.  Papa being her Grandfather, who drives a Ford F150.  It’s pretty funny to her Caroline call out "Papa's truck" and then asks where Fancy (my in-laws dog) is. 

Also, this summer I have grown attached to watching the Little Einsteins cartoon on Playhouse Disney. 

It’s a good cartoon that is put together very well.  Kids learn about music, art, problem solving and a little bit of culture with out knowing it.  Oh and Carmine (character in one of the episodes) you showed those race cars who was boss.  If you watch the episode, I think the city in the background is Monte Carlo.  I am also a big fan of Mickey’s Clubhouse.  When Caroline can’t find something she calls out, “Oh Tootles.” [Tootles is a character that brings tools ].

Currently Listening Umbrella By Rihanna (Ft Jay-Z) see related

Summer

I hate this part of summer.  It really started yesterday morning when I woke up and everyone in the house was pretty much asleep.  Though driving to work is a lot easier without the traffic, but I hate the fact that the majority of the world is off and I have to go to work.

“While there is never any doubt to a Marine's level of readiness, 13th MEU Marines and Sailors are taking advantage of their time aboard Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group by conducting constant training evolutions while underway,” said Mundy. “This includes live-fire ranges, equipment maintenance and classes on tactics, law of armed conflict, and Arabic culture and language.” -13th MEU’s commanding officer, Col. Carl E. Mundy III

US Navy Article

Translation? 

We are messing with our Marines so when they hit the beaches of Iran, they are good and mad and ready kill everything in sight.

Currently Reading A Short History of Byzantium By John Julius Norwich see related

Wonderful Weekend

Man did I have a wonderful weekend.  Saturday the Ashley, Autumn and Brodie came over to play while their mom and Kristin went to a bunch of garage sales.  If you need baby/kids clothes or toys, garage sales are the way to go.  That and sisters. 

Saturday evening we ordered a pizza from Grambolis and Caroline immediately started yelling, "OUTSIDE" when the delivery man showed up.  Somehow she associates Pizza with eating outside picnic style.  We ate our pizza outside with Caroline spilling her juice box all over herself, Dad and the dog. After dinner Mom pulled weeds and I lied down on the blankets out back.  Caroline spent the rest of the evening jumping on Dad with her WWE wrestling moves.  It was great to sit out back on the blanket with nice mild weather and with out a care in the world.  It was almost as if I was 10 years old again during summer break. 

Sunday after church, we went to Lowes and got some stuff for the yard.  Caroline and I planted vegetables and herbs while mom pulled more weeds.  I filled up Caroline's baby pool to get the water good and warm sitting in the sun light.  But Lucy jumped in the pool and mucked it up.  Needless to say, Lucy got a bath and Caroline didn't get to swim.