Schools Back !!

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted anything on here.  Been a long busy summer with more than enough to keep me busy.  The kids are back in school, a few weeks earlier than last year.  “It’s a conspiracy !!!!  They are only allowed to miss 10 days of school a year NO exceptions and they starting sooner and getting out for summer break much later”.  At least that's what the kids tell me.  Me personally I don’t really care.  If they are in school there is less chance they will get in trouble doing something they know they shouldn’t be doing.  Let me change that, at least Sean isn’t doing something he shouldn’t be.  I’m not so sure about Brittney.  Sometimes I think she is just looking for a reason to get in trouble at school.  Speaking of Brittney, she got her first car a couple weeks ago.  She still only has her learners permit but something this next month she will be legal to drive along.  Heaven help us all!!! Michelle and I spent several days trying to find her the biggest piece of junk we could find for her first car and that was the problem.  They were all such piece of junk that there was no way I was going to through good money away.  So I had to increase the value of the car just a little.  She ended up with ‘04 Sebring.  This car is so much nicer than I wanted to get her it’s not funny.  The car is MINE until she pays for half of it and she can’t drive unless she pays the insurance on it.  Which shouldn’t be to bad if she keeps her grades up, completes Drivers Ed, and some program that state farm offers for new drivers.  All three of these programs gives her a percentage off on the premium.  Sean’s comment on the whole car thing…”Well, I guess the Mustang is mine then.”  Such a funny kid….That’s mine.. ;)

More From Vacation

This was really good of me.  All morning long I'm carrying the camera with me shooting the kids enjoying Disneyland and when Michelle decides to go lay down at the hotel because of the heat for a little while I leave it in the room with her.  I did it on purpose so I could really have some fun with the kids going on all the high speed rides and not having to worry about it.  And we just happened on the Jedi thing starting, and Sean got picked.  And there’s good old me, photographer, with no camera.  Go figure. 

These are some pictures that Mom had hidden on her cell phone that she sent me.

The last one isn’t Jedi training, it’s all of us on splash mountain.

Brittney Playing Around

Well this evening Brittney surprised me by asking to go shooting some new pictures.  Most of the time I lose out to cell phone and computer.  So we hit Tut Hill Park and this is what we shot.  She LOVED the mud.  Go figure.

Great Plain Balloon Race

Got the kids up early this morning and hit the balloon race at Kenny Anderson Park.  It was a first for me and turned out to be a lot of fun.  Early, but fun.

 

Brittney's Pick

This one Brittney thought was the funniest of them all. I wonder why that is.  If I remember correctly the conversation started with Brittney says something like, “Such a little girly man”, then it was a “Shut up you getto booty newb” from Sean followed by a “All right you guys get along” from dad. 

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

 

Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a straight face and get onto your children about being nice to each other when your 10 year son is calling your daughter a getto booty newb.  I’m sorry but that’s funny.  And I've found that trying to discipline with a big smile and laughing doesn’t really work that well.  You try and tell them it’s not right to call each other names and then they come back with “Ya, but you thought it was funny”.  They just miss the whole point all together.

This Was Fun..Sorry Kids.

This was one of the nice ones…..

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

This was how I spent my lunch hour today…

Vacation Video Montage

Some video clips from vacation. To large, had to break them up into two files. And you might want to stop the audio at the bottom of the page before you play them.

Vacation 2009

(Mountains across the valley from Jim’s yard)

Where to start, long vacation.  It’s was nice to get away from the job and just relax but after you’ve been gone for 2 weeks your really glad to get back home.  Not back to work, just home.

We began our adventure on April 9th around 2pm.  I skipped out of week a couple hours early so we could hit the road.  Michelle had been backed for over a week and was really ready to get out of town.  The drive from Sioux Falls to Utah was a long 18 hours and the weather didn’t help much.  For most of the night I had to drive in fog first, then snow followed by icy roads.  Not much fun but not much different than we had been driving on all winter.

 

We stayed in Utah until Tuesday morning with Jim and his family.  The best part of stopping in Utah was getting to spend some time with Michelle’s cousin.  We haven’t been back to AL for awhile and I know she really enjoyed spending the day with her.  We also spent a day with Teri and Preston, man oh man Kellen  is a bundle of energy and so much fun.

Tuesday morning we headed for SoCal with mom.   She was going to stay in Utah until the following week but we talked her into driving back to CA with us so she would have more time to spend with the kids.  A nice short 12 hour drive to mom and dad’s.  Doesn't that sound sick, 12 hours short.   We had thought about staying in Vegas with the kids but ended up just stopping for buffet dinner at the Luxor.  And of course Brittney and Sean had to stop in and check out Chris Angels store.

The stay in Cali was fantastic.  Took the kids to the beach a couple time, hit the Hansen Planetarium and just basically took it easy and did a lot of relaxing.  And we can’t forget the shopping.  Michelle and Brittney wanted to hit the outlet malls there in Camarillo so while we shopped Sean and Dad went fishing.  You know, he asked to go fishing with Dad so many time while in Cali.  I guess i’m just going to have to get a license this year and take him more.  It’s something he loves doing and something I can do with him.   Which was the point of the whole trip, right.  I didn’t really take many still pictures in Cali, more video than stills.  But being the photographer that I am Brittney and I

still managed to get some really kewl pictures while there.   Besides, I need to add some landscape images to my photography website.

We ended our vacation by spending two fantastic, HOT days playing in Disneyland and California Adventures.  I think we picked a perfect time of year to go.  I don’t think we waited longer than 30 minutes in line and that was for splash mountain.   Most of the rides we just about walked on.  The kids had an amazing time and will remember it for a long time.

We headed for home Wednesday morning after getting up with Dad at 4am to say goodbye.  With a couple 2 hour stops on the way home we finally arrived at around 2pm on Thursday.  Yes, do the math… 30+ hours of travelling.  Not much fun.

It was an amazing trip that I wish we could do more often but I keep telling myself when it comes to driving that far.  “It’s nice to make that trip every now and again to remind yourself why you don’t make that trip.”

Thanks to everyone that took time out of there schedules to spend time with us.  We love you all.

 

Band Competition

Well Sean has been after me for a few days now to get “His” video posted to the blog. So here it is. I got the chance this last weekend to attend the annual Sioux Falls Elementary Band Competition at Washington High School. Band classes from all across the district put together groups or solos and perform them for professional conductors or instructors. After each performs the judge gives them a few pointers and grades them. Sean should find out today what the judge thought of them and what grade he gave them. I would have to say the best part of the whole day was to watch how excited my son was to perform. It was only a 10 minute drive to the school but he must have asked 20 times, “Are we there yet?”, and “Dad, are you sure this is the fastest way there.” I had to keep reminding him that I knew where I was going and I prmoised that it was the fastest way possible.

The Potter’s Great Adventure

We are planning a visit to the West coast in just over a month so I figured I would get some cool things in place for those of you that would like to track what we are going.  On the top left, under Internet Hotspots you’ll find a link for cell phone uploads.  The site will scroll our last 25 images uploaded and video’s.  I thought about adding it to Brittney’s phone as well but who knows what she would upload.

Catching Wild Pigs

This was sent to me this morning and I thought it was a pretty good analogy.

Catching Wild Pigs

A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America . The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc.. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time.

One should always remember: There is no such thing as a free lunch! Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.

Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America , you might want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this email, but God help you when the gate slams shut!

Keep your eyes on the newly elected politicians who are about to slam the gate on America .

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have."

Thomas Jefferson

Public Safety Notice

W A R N I N G !!!

The South Dakota department of public safety has issued a travel advisory for the entire state of South Dakota with special effaces the city of Sioux Falls. They expect this warning to be extended to the upper midwest soon. Due to State legislation and currently standing laws on the books. The great state of South Dakota has seen fit to license my 14 year old daughter to drive. On Tuesday, February 10th 2009 she received her learners permit. They are contributing to my never ending supply of grey hair. Consider yourself warned that should you cross state lines you are taking your own person safety in your hands.

She didn’t find this funny….lol. Being Dad is great !!

D.T.N.T.D - Dorks That Need To Dance

I didn't name the dance team, the girls did. All though it does fit them pretty well....lol. For the last couple of months Brittney has been working on a school talent show and this last Friday they finally got to show us where all the hard work had gone. The many many hours of pratice and getting mom and dad to drive her all over the place. I don't know how she will feel about me putting it up but oh well. I'm her father and if I want to show everyone my daughter being a "Dork" well so be it then... Enjoy.

"Brittney is in blue."

Movie Alert !!!

For all of you that love those tear jerking fantastic plot movies your going to love “Fire Proof”. This wasn’t one of those Netflix rentals. We picked it up from a Redbox all though you might be able to get it through Netflix or your local retale store. Great love story with a lot of good lessons for all of us. So pop that popcorn and snuggle up on the couch, or in our case in bed, with that special someone and enjoy.

p.s. Unlike Teri Ann who recommened Neoplian Dynamite. Who recommends that??? Brittney and Sean did like the show and still quote it but that's not my point.

Skyforce Game

The family took in half of a Skyforce (basketball) game last night. The company seats where amazing which had us sitting about 8 rows up from center court. I must say that I would rather got to a Storm (football) or Stamped (hockey) game over Skyforce. Basketball just isn't my thing I guess.

This is just another meaningless post to play around with the video camera and authoring software. Although I managed to not only catch the REALLY bad cheerleaders for the Skyforce but a few shots of the kids as well. The camera has a pretty good zoom on it and Brittney thought she was safe sitting with her friends across the arena from us. Anyways, maybe this weekend i'll manage to actually shoot something meaningful of the family and post it next week.

Video Test – Sean’s First Birthday

Well I figured I better get this working so we could start posting videos of the kids. Spent a little time last night trying to locate an old video for Michelle’s mother and ended up watching a couple of them all the way through. So I grabbed the camera and recorded a few minutes of Sean’s first birthday from the TV. Sorry for the quality but the DVD was created from very old tapes and this was recorded on the new camera from the TV. So your not the only one posting videos now Terri Ann, big brother just had to figure this one out and get it working….lol

Michelle Says Hi

Just a test, saying to all.

New Year

Well it’s a new year and a new blog, why?  I decided it would work best to turn off all my servers at home and host my websites elsewhere.  Less hassle for me and I was able to turn off enough computer equipment to help bring down our power bill.  So all the kewl stuff I had posted on my old blog will either have to reposted or lost forever… With the amount of free time I have on my hands I would say lost forever but i’ll try and get it all back online.

Also looking for a kewl new template for the site but haven’t really had time for that either so it’s going to stay standard for awhile until I get a wild hair and decided to change it.