If I Die Young...

I love this song by "The Band Perry"

Confronting one's mortality is not an easy task.  I still like to think of myself as being fairly young.  Heaven knows that I have a lot that I yet want to accomplish in life.  But sometimes I think about whether I'm prepared or ready to "move on"...I can't be the only one, can I?

I remember one year when I had to renew my driver's license agonizing over whether or not to check the organ donor's box.  Ultimately I didn't because I couldn't bring myself to think that I would ever "be" an organ donor.  But I felt ashamed for not checking it and I told my brother that I definitely did want to be an organ donor if I ever had the "opportunity."  (And now the blogosphere is also witness to my organ donor wishes...)

But sometimes I do think about what would happen if I had to check out unexpectedly.  In college, I would have to drive a lot between school (in Utah) and home (in California).  The drive was long.  It could be treacherous.  I often made it by myself, which can be boring, which can lead to potential disaster.  I heard enough stories of tragic mishaps to know that the drive could be dangerous.

The Famous Zzyzx Road...
This sign comes in really handy for those spirited "License Plate Games" on  family trips

One time, before I was married and had kids, I had to drive from Arizona to Utah for some reason.  I remember  thinking that I was worried about something happening, so I actually took the time to write out a handwritten will before I left.  I never told anyone about it (until now) and I have no idea where it is today.   It was a little silly because I really didn't have much in the way of earthly possessions to bequeath, but I felt like I should think about it anyway.

A few years ago, my brother wrote out some instructions, sealed it in an envelope, and gave it to me to hold--"just in case."  He asked me not to open it or read it.  I haven't.  But I still have it in my file.  S.,  I don't think you read my blog, but I hope I never have to open that letter.

While I should have a will (I don't) or better yet, a trust, I've thought about letters of my own that I should probably leave behind.  I definitely would leave a letter for each of my kids telling them what I love about them, what I hope they will accomplish, and letting them know what is important to me and my beliefs about the purpose of our life on earth.

Remember that annoying, yet addictive AOL  message?

There are other letters that I think I would regret NOT writing to friends, other family, and acquaintances.  I believe that it is important to let people know how you feel about them and I try and do that on a regular basis.

But what do you do when you can't tell them for various reasons?  And don't give me any of this "carpe diem" crap.  I know what that phrase means.  There are legitimate reasons for NOT saying things to people.  And there are some things that may be better left unsaid, even if true.  An example would be where such things, even if true, would hurt people.  And I'm not just talking about hurting people's feelings.

For example, there is someone I knew that I never really got along with when I was younger.  There was no reason for it and I wish I hadn't acted the way that I did.  But would making an apology years later really do any good?  Or would it only bring back bad feelings from the past that this person had long put behind him or her.

Another reason for not saying things to people is where telling somebody something or some piece of information would unfairly burden them.  We all have problems in our life.  Our problems are kind of like bags of trash that we have to carry around with us and it's not always that polite to go dump your trash all over someone else's porch where they have to deal with, clean it up, or otherwise be bothered with it.  Most people have enough trash/problems of their own to deal with.

"O Captain, My Captain..."

I have another letter that I've thought about writing for a while.  In my mind's eye, it is very articulate and probably too long.  But I know that it would feel good to write it.  Cathartic.  But even if I wrote it, I don't know if I could ever send it.  At least in this lifetime.

I think it might be possible to summarize the letter in a single sentence.  Coded, of course, because sometimes less is more and I think that the intended recipient would be able to figure it out.  And coded stuff is cool.  (think The Da Vinci Code or the 39 Clues series--a hit with my kids...)

Maybe I should at least get it started:

"Dear ____, I'll be..."

Anyway, let's hope that I never have worry about having it sent in the first place.  That way I won't have to regret the fact that I never finished it.  =o)

Seasons 52

Today I had a business lunch at a restaurant in South Coast Plaza--a mall near my office.  The restaurant was called "Seasons 52."  The marketing point for the place is that they basically have a different menu every week and their fare is supposed to be seasonal, fresh, and healthy.

I've eaten there before and liked the food quite a bit.  Today, I chose the Mediterranean Mahi Mahi.  It was pretty good, it came with lemon, rice, and a lite cucumber sauce.  But it really wan't enough to fill me up...

For that I had been relying on some good bread to go with my meal.  Turns out, they don't have bread at Seasons 52 because another selling point of the place is that every entree is under 475 calories...

This is the Winter Menu...and you read that right--475 calories!

475 calories!  I'm a growing boy and I feel like that's really not enough to keep me fueled for a full day in the office.  I forgot the 475 calorie part--or maybe that's some new thing that they're doing.

Anyway, I'll have to remember that next time I eat at Seasons 52, I may want to think about ordering two separate dishes.  I'm sure I can afford it...calorie-wise at least!

Mysteries of Fatherhood...

This is a quick look back at a few interesting things that happened in the past week in our household...

Freaky Friday

Mystery #1 - The Mystery Spot on my shirt...

As I sat in a meeting on Friday, I happened to look over at my shoulder.  I was a little horrified by what I saw...(see above).  Somehow, I had some sort of junk on the shoulder of my shirt!

At first I thought that somehow, inexplicably, I had put on a dirty shirt.  I was mystified by how that "stain" could have gotten there.  Then I realized what had happened.  On my way out the door that morning, I had given E. (my three year old daughter) a big hug and swung her around.  E. had buried her face in my shoulder when I did that.  Unfortunately, E. had been enjoying yogurt or chocolate milk that morning and had transferred that "breakfast" to my shirt when I hugged her on my way out the door.

Once I realized what it was, my panic subsided a bit and I really actually started missing E. and her mischievous smile and adorable little giggle.  I thought about leaving my shirt the way it was, but then decided that I didn't want to have to explain the whole thing if anyone in the office noticed.

Still, it made me grateful to be E.'s dad and grateful to have such amazing kids that really do brighten my day and give meaning to my life.

The Case of the Missing Tooth

Mystery #2 - The Tooth Fairy Mystery

S., my middle child, lost a tooth last week.  It was one of his baby molars and it had been loose for a couple of weeks.  To my shame, the tooth was actually silver because he got a pretty bad cavity in it when he was a kid.  I'm still not sure how our brushing efforts managed to miss that tooth, but we have since tightened up our nighttime tooth brushing ritual and the kids have a string of perfect check-ups from our pediatric dentist to prove it.

Anyway, S. put the tooth under his pillow and hoped that the tooth fairy would leave him some coinage for it. J. had no money in her wallet, so I had to give her the only thing I had in my wallet--a $5 bill.  (Which I've read is the going rate for teeth these days anyway...)

I wanted to take a picture of the tooth, so I asked J. where it was a couple of days later.  She said that S. had "found" the tooth in J.'s nightstand and was sad that the Tooth Fairy had "forgotten" it.  He asked if he could take it to school for show and tell, so J. let him.

Then I went to S. to check on the tooth.  I still hadn't given up on getting a picture of the tooth (you know...for this blog--if not for posterity!  =o)  ).  I also hoped maybe to be able to try and salvage some of the Tooth Fairy legend if possible.  ;)

I asked S. where his tooth was and he said that he never had it.  He then proceeded to tell me how disappointed that he was that he "only" got $5 for the tooth--he was hoping for $10!  Man, when I was a kid, I felt lucky to get a silver dollar for a tooth!

I remember getting these under my pillow when I was a kid...

I guess there's been some inflation going on.  But at any rate, the tooth remains missing and what actually happened to it is still a mystery.  Maybe the tooth fairy managed to get ahold of it after all!

Mystery #3 - "Curiouser and Curiouser"

"No, No!" said the Queen.  "Sentence first -- verdict afterwards'"
"Stuff and nonsense!" said Alice loudly.  "The idea of having the sentence first!"

Last Sunday morning, I woke up and started getting ready for church.  J. came in and said, "What were you dreaming about last night?"

I couldn't really remember, so I told her that I couldn't remember.

J. then told me that I had said "Objection your honor!" so loudly in my sleep that it woke her up.

My dream that night remains a mystery.  I'm sure, however, that whatever prompted such an outburst during my sleep was thoroughly objectionable!  =o)

The Clan of the Cave Bear

Darryl Hannah stars as the more evolved "outsider" in this 1986 film (two years after "Splash")

This week's episode of The Bachelor reminded me of an old movie that starred Darryl Hannah--The Clan of the Cave Bear.  In the movie, Ayla (Darryl Hannah) is separated from her Cro-Magnon tribe and adopted into a tribe of Neanderthals.  She is more intelligent and evolved than those around her and endures abuse and criticism because of her status.

****Disclaimer--I plagiarized that summary from Netflix since I don't think I've ever actually seen the movie.  The episode still reminded me of the movie though!****

This week's episode was basically the opposite of that.  Caveman--the Neanderthal--has been separated from his tribe of cave dwellers and is wandering around trying to find a new tribe of Homo Sapiens that will adopt him.  Much like Darryl Hannah, however, Caveman must endure abuse and criticism from the strange people around him (the contestant's families).

The "Hometowns"


Maybe I'm just turning into a grumpy old man, but does it bother anyone else that Caveman keeps referring to this week as the "Hometowns" like it's a verb, noun, and adjective all wrapped up into one?  Maybe it's just the way that he says it, but I wish he'd stop.

Lindzi C.

Lindzi C. got the first date

For some reason, I always thought that Lindzi was from Washington state.  I don't know why.  This says that she is from Florida.  Oh well.  I've always like her ever since she rode into the first episode on that horse.  Maybe I haven't really been paying all that close of attention.  I'm certainly not the only one this season guilty of that.

Lindzi had only ever brought one guy home before Caveman.  Lindzi's "ex" is the anonymous bloke who is now famous for the way he broke up with Lindzi.  He did it by text.  As if that weren't bad enough, his text said: "Welcome to Dumpsville...Population: You!"  Yes, that is cold.

Of course, any hometown date with Lindzi would not be complete without horses.  And Caveman got a chance to spend a lot of time with Lindzi and her horses.

"...the horse knows the way...!"  -- The "happy couple" struggled to
remember the words to "Jingle Bells" while riding together

Lindzi's parents seemed like a lot of fun and nice.  But what I really wanted to know was what the heck does this guy do for a living to live on such a beautiful ranch???!!

If Caveman were smart, he'd realize that you can marry more money in five minutes than you can make in a lifetime.

Caveman and Lindzi put on goofy hats and re-enacted the chariot race scene from Ben Hur.

Ben was smart and lost the chariot race to Lindzi's parents.  Even though losing made him have to pull Lindzi's parents' cart back to the house, it was worth it because they accepted him into the "fam" and told him he was always welcome to come back.

I thought it was obvious that Caveman had always liked Lindzi.  What was surprising was how he kept on emphasizing how far his


Kacie B.

Kacie B. Has Always Seemed to Have a Connection With Caveman

Caveman went to the great state of Tennessee for his date with Kacie B.  Kacie B. showed Caveman that she really knew how to make an entrance by greeting him with a marching band, a 21 gun salute, and a key to the city.

76 Trombones?  Kacie B.'s greeting for Caveman would have
done Professor Harold Hill proud.

Actually, only the first part was true (the marching band), but it was impressive nonetheless.  But then Kacie B. had to do something impressive before she dropped a mini-bomb on Caveman by telling him that her dad: (a) was a federal probation officer; and (b) doesn't drink.

Ben realized that this could be a problem because (a) Caveman is a wine maker whose business is booze and (b) he realized that Kacie B.'s dad probably carries a gun and knows how to use it.  It's enough to give any "marriage-minded" Neanderthal pause...

Kacie B. told her sister: "I'm doing what I want now!"

Kacie B. told us how she needed her sister's advice and counsel.  Then she went ahead and kinda sounded like a petulant child when Kacie B. declared that she was going to do what she wanted.  And further demanded that her parents trust her.  It all seemed a bit forced.

"Not a Believer" -- Kacie B.'s Dad is "very skeptical"

Caveman left his conversation with Kacie B.'s dad unsure of whether Kacie B.'s dad liked him.  Caveman, here's a tip...I don't think he did.  Caveman hoped at least that Kacie B.'s mom would be a little easier on him.  She wasn't.

Caveman is blown away when he finds out Kacie B.'s mom
would not approve of Kacie B. and Ben "shacking up" before the wedding...

Caveman lied through his teeth when he said that he was "glad" that Kacie B.'s parents "cared" enough to tell him not to live with their daughter before getting married.  Caveman thought that they were too over-protective of their daughter.  I actually found them a little refreshing that they didn't buy into all the Bachelor craziness.

Did anyone else notice that Caveman never actually promised that he would respect their wishes.  It seems like Caveman surrendered at that point in time--admitting to the confessional camera that he doubted that he would ever get their approval.

Kacie B.'s dad then told Kacie B. that he would not give his blessing to Caveman.  My respect for federal law enforcement officers is getting stronger every day!

Kacie B.'s reluctance to listen to her parents made me think that she is not as bright as I thought that she was. Needless to say, Kacie B. finished the date with more doubts than she had when she started.

Red Flags Are Flying...

Kacie B., when your family doesn't like the guy you're dating it's called a "red flag."  You ought to pay attention to them...


Nicki

Nicki--Another Favorite

Nicki is another favorite, but I feel as though she's gotten a lot less air time than other contestants--even those who have left before.

Nicki is from Texas.  She tells the camera that the last time she "brought someone home under these circumstances, [she] married him."  I guess that didn't work out so well, did it Nicki?

Name the Movie: "Texas!  Only steers and [something else] come from Texas...."

Nicki dished some Texas wisdom and played Cinderella as they went shopping for boots and cowboy hats.

Nicki:  "Finding the right boot is very similar to finding the right partner in life--
you have to get just the right fit."

I have to say that Nicki looked pretty cute in a ten gallon hat.  But then again, she is pretty cute, has a thousand watt smile, and a fun personality.  In other words, she's way out of Caveman's league.  ;)

We kept hearing about her failing marriage before.  I think that Caveman actually liked hearing about it because it made him think that Nicki was opening up to him.

Honestly though, it doesn't seem like Caveman is as into Nicki as some of the other girls, but I could be wrong.

Okay, is it just me or does Nicki have a great, natural, beautiful smile?
Her parents probably spent a fortune with her orthodontist!

Nicki dreaded the talk with her parents.  Mom noted that Nicki seemed to have a better connection with Caveman than Nicki did with her first husband.  I would hope so!

Nicki's dad seems like a great guy.  He told Nicki that he felt like he had let her down by agreeing to the marriage too easily the first time.  You can tell that he really cares about her.  Both of them got a bit teary eyed when Dad told Nicki: "I feel like I want to protect you forever."

Nicki stole Caveman away at the end of the date to tell him that she was in love with him.  I think she really believes it.  Caveman, ever the poet, confessed to us: "I have great gut feelings about Nicki."  I think that might be the highest compliment that any Neanderthal could ever give!

Lord Voldemort aka "You Know Who"

Guess Which One Is a Model?

Courtney got the last date.  In full disclosure, I skipped her whole date to Tivo to the end of the show to see who got eliminated at the Rose Ceremony.  So if you want to skip my summary of the date, I don't blame you.

I can barely believe anything Courtney says.  She started off the date saying two things, however.  One of them was true...one of them was a lie.  You get to pick which was which!  (I promise it won't be too hard....)

• "I am so happy to come home and I get to share [my home] with my favorite guy today."
• "I'm just so happy to be away from the [other] girls too."

If you picked #1 above, I'll give you one more chance to guess right!  ;)

Courtney is from Scottsdale.  Did you know that she is a model?  Caveman reminds himself of that every day.    In the end, I think it's the only thing that matters to him.  He knows that Courtney has had problems with the other girls, he says it would bother him to choose someone who rubs other people the other way, but he will find a way to make it work dang it!

Breaking Bread...

At lunch, Courtney could barely say how she felt about Ben with a straight face.  She sounded like a total robot: "He is smart.  He is funny.  I am so happy.  I like/love him.  :| "  No wonder her family seems to have doubts.

But let's remind ourselves, Courtney's family has been dealing with her for a lifetime, so I don't think that they take her or Caveman too seriously.  Courtney's dad wants some grandkids.  He laughed as he said that.  I think he was thinking that the joke was on Caveman.  Dad knows that Courtney has no intention of making little cave grandbabies with Caveman.

What Bachelor Recap would be complete without Courtney's famous pose?

Then things got weird.  Courtney took Caveman to a mock wedding.  Let me just say that if some girl pulled this on me, I'd run.  Especially if she was a psycho model who liked to purse her lips quite a bit.  It seemed like Caveman ate it up though.

Not Romantic...Just Weird...

Courtney had them right their own vows for her mock ceremony.  Shockingly, Caveman's were much better than Courtney's vows.  Even though Courtney told him that she "loved" him.  (Don't worry Bachelor nation--I think her fingers were crossed behind her back.)

"Almost Married" -- I can't decide if this is cute or tacky...

The Rose Ceremony

This is a long post already, so I'm going to cut to the chase here.  Kacie B. got the boot.  Honestly, I think her parents' insistence that Kacie B. and Caveman not live together before marriage was the deciding factor.  Probably that and the fact that Kacie B.'s dad is packing heat.

I like Kacie B. and I thought that she handled her departure with class.  Technically, she broke Brooke's rule. (See Rule #5...)  But it didn't bother me--I think the raw emotion seemed very real to me.

Kacie B. Struggles to Hold It In

In the limo, Kacie B. started going off.  Here is the transcript:

"It's not me.  I thought it was me.  I was stupid.  Why am I not good enough?  Like I don't get it.  This is why I don't love.  This is why.  I loved him.  And I don't know what to do now.  How did this happen?  What the *bleep* happened?  WHAT THE *bleep* HAPPENED?"

Caveman--ever the class act--got back to the girls and said: "Um...that was tough.  I'm kinda at a loss for words."  Then he proceeded to gush about how they were going to Switzerland next week.

Yeah Caveman, I don't think you really thought it was that tough to get rid of Kacie B.  Even if it did, I'm sure you'll push through it...sadly.

See you all next Monday!

Whitney...

The Bodyguard - 1992
This album--one of the best selling soundtracks of all time--got plenty of air time my freshman year of college

Did you watch Whitney Houston's funeral service yesterday?  Neither did I.  Though I presume millions of Americans did.  I heard it was all over the news.  I just didn't have any time to watch.  Nor do I wish that I did.

One piece of news that stuck out though was that Bobby Brown and his 9-person entourage apparently got into an argument with Whitney's family and was not allowed in.  I think I'm with Whitney's family on this one.

I also loved hearing the stories in the news over the past few days about Whitney's compassion and good works for the underprivileged.  And I loved that I never heard about this from Whitney.  I love that she did them relatively anonymously and not so that anyone would marvel about how charitable that she was.

But back to the funeral...I didn't watch it because I was too busy trying to be a dad on a busy Saturday.  I do  think Whitney's story is a sad one.  I would say tragic, but somehow that word just doesn't "feel" right to me.  Tragic is something sad that happens, but more than sad--a tragedy is something that is unexpectedly sad.  Even though Whitney's death came as a shock, I can't say that it was unexpected given the demons that she has battled over the years.

I Wanna Dance With Someone - 1990
Whitney Made Us All Wanna Dance

The sad thing about Whitney's death is not just that she was taken too soon.  It's that this type of ending seemed a little predictable.  Whitney's struggles with addiction and drugs have been widely documented for what seems like years.  It's sad that this ending had to happen, especially to her--someone that (still) seemed so young and whose music has given such joy to so many people.

I thought about posting a recent pic of Whitney.  I'm sure I could have found one really easily that would have shown how drugs can really rob you of your youth, innocence, and beauty.  (Thank goodness for the Word of Wisdom!)  But then I decided that I didn't really want to look at that on my blog, and I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't either.

America's Sweetheart - 1991
I still remember collecting this football card when I was in high school

Instead, I choose to remember the fresh-faced, innocent (as far as I know) Whitney of my youth.  The Whitney who "wowed" us at the Super Bowl in 1991.  The Whitney who won Kevin Costner's heart as a famous singer who needed protection in 1992's "The Bodyguard" (I know, who woulda thunk she could pull off that role??).

I'm not naive.  I never thought that Whitney was a role model.  But even though she was flawed, I think she had a good heart.  Goodbye Whitney, we will miss you, your voice, and your music.

My Secret Crush

My Secret Crush

Given that it's Valentine's Day, I have a secret crush that I feel compelled to reveal.  It's been going on for a few months now, and I don't think that I can hide my feelings any longer.  I have a secret crush on...

Revealed: My Secret Crush

Our Honda minivan!  It all started back in November 2011 when J. went off for the weekend.  Since I had the kids, I had to drive the minivan around the whole weekend and I realized how much I love driving the car.  The engine, the handling, the performance--and I still find myself wishing that I had satellite radio.  The truth is that J.'s car is way more posh than my car.  And I'm bummed I don't get to drive it more often.

I think that J. knows that something is up.  We went out on a date a few weeks back and J. actually got mad that I insisted on us taking the minivan!  I'm not really sure why, but it's a mistake I haven't repeated since (much to my dismay).  Anyway, I find myself looking forward to our next family vacation when I get to spend some more quality time with my secret crush!  =o)

I'm Just Not That Into You...


Now that I've revealed my secret crush, I have to reveal what I'm not crushing on these days:

Yes, I know I'm committing heresy...especially to anyone from Silicon Valley...

Santa brought our family an iPad this year for Christmas.  I've heard so much about these fun little gadgets, that I could hardly wait to get my hands on it.

I was also excited because I've heard from attorneys who swear that the iPad is changing the way that people practice law.  That may be true, but I just don't get it.

I can't multi-task and I have no idea how to word process or edit my documents easily on this device.  I admit that it has some way-cool apps.  My kids love a game app called "Cut the Rope".  It seems really cool, but I have to wonder if my kids are learning anything.  Sadly, I probably use it most to play "Ms. Pacman".

Who Knew I'd Enjoy Playing This Classic Video Game on Today's Coolest New Gadget?

Yes, it's probably a waste to use my iPad to play 30 year old video games, but J. seems to love it and so do the kids.  It's amazing to watch my three year old daughter (E.) figure out how to do stuff on there.

Apparently she loves to take pictures of herself.  Here is one that J. and I both liked:

I think it's pretty artsy and a lot of fun.  (How did she manage to do this at age 3??)

"E. -- A Self Portrait"

So even if I don't really get the iPad, I'm glad that we got it  J. and the kids really seem to love it and Santa brought it for them anyway.  Maybe it'll grow on me...

On Running...

Finishing the SG Tri - May 2011

As a kid, I loved to run.  I even ran on the cross-country team in junior high school.  I wasn't the fastest, but it didn't matter.  Then I stopped running.  In part, I wanted to focus on basketball, but one of the main reasons was that I just couldn't do it.  I found that when I ran, my mind just kept on turning and turning.  Running just wasn't relaxing because my mind would go into overdrive processing every random thought that came my mind.

When my brother convinced me start doing some triathlons with him again, I found myself running again.  I think the last race I had done before that was pretty much in law school--over a decade before.

This winter its been hard for me to want to run.  Partly that's because I feel like it's been so cold.  And I usually run at night--late at night.  And by the time that I get home, help the kids go to bed, and read to them, I have just don't find myself with the energy to go run.  And sometimes, I honestly can't bring myself to get out of the house--even though I know that I should.

Yesterday, I watched Harry Potter with my kids.  I was thinking that I needed to get out for a run, when this scene came up in the movie:

Ron and Hermione Run From An Inferno in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

In this scene, Harry, Herminone, and Ron run away to escape a fiery inferno that is consuming the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts.  I was thinking about how I needed to go for a run when we watched this together and it occurred to me that sometimes people run because they are running away from something.

I managed to get out for a run yesterday.  I didn't run as far as I should have.  Nor did I run as fast as I should have.  And as when I was in junior high, running left me plenty of time to think.  And I thought of Forrest Gump:

Run Forrest Run!

Specifically, I thought of the montage where Forrest starts running and basically doesn't stop.  Yes, he was running from bullies, but he kicks off his leg braces and runs and runs.  He runs through a college football career and eventually runs all the way across the country.  He runs until he finds himself.

I like to think that Forrest, with all of his flaws and imperfections, was not running away from something--he was running toward a brighter future.

So sometimes people run because they are running away and sometimes people run because they are running toward something.  

I'm not quite sure which of the two motivated me yesterday, I just know that that I ran.  And it was better than standing still.

Curriculum Night 2012

E. Stands for "Excited" About Curriculum Night

Thursday night was "Curriculum Night" at my R. and S.'s elementary school.  I don't even remember having such an event when I was growing up, but let's face it--that was a long time ago.  Basically Curriculum Night is like Back to School Night, except that it's in the middle of the year so you can see what your kids have been working on all year.

S.'s was first.  I got the night off on the wrong foot when I went to the wrong classroom.  I went to S.'s class from last year!  Oops!  Sometimes having a good memory can cause those types of problems!  I walked into the classroom and found absolutely no one there but the teacher!  Turns out J. got the time wrong and I was a half hour early.  

I put the time to good use by taking E. to play on the playground.  She was so cute about doing the swings and holding my hand as we walked back and forth.  Confidentially, that may have been my favorite part of the evening!  (What can I say, I think she's totally adorable!)

"Donde Estan Los Animales" - S.'s Masterpiece

S. was so excited to have us there.  We got to check out his standardized test scores.  (He passed!) And he had a little packet of work for me to do.  R. and S. are in a Spanish immersion program at the elementary school, so basically they have 5-6 hours of Spanish language instruction per day and 1-2 hours of English language.  Their teachers are native speakers and the boys have really enjoyed learning a foreign language.  (They started in kindergarten.)

S. gave me a Spanish spelling test and he was so excited to mark me down when I missed two words (out of 10).  One of the words was "wrong" only because I didn't put the accent in.  I thought I should have gotten credit for it!  ;)

I Think J. Needs To Clean The Lens On Her Camera...

E. thought it was hilarious to steal the pieces of paper that made up the "Accentos" game that S. had me play. Can you tell how excited she is?  (Sorry for the blurry picture!)

E. aka "The Giggling Bandido" Strikes Again!

 Rex's classroom was just as crowded.  And Rex was just excited to quiz me on all of the work they had been doing.  thankfully, he also passed his standardized tests.  :)  And sadly, I didn't fare so well on his classroom version of "Are You Smarter Than a 4th Grader?"  I had no idea that California had 21 missions (my guess was 30).  And I had no idea of the names of the two main rivers in the Central Valley (Sacramento and San Joaquin--in case you were wondering).  Fortunately, I knew that California's nickname is "The Golden State"--but who doesn't know that??

A Job Well Done

In case you were wondering, J. came but somehow managed to avoid all the quizzes and tests.  Just because she doesn't seem Spanish doesn't seem like a good reason for making me carry the whole load!  But you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way.  What a fun night and one that reminded me how much I love being a dad!

Be Prepared

This card is very romantical...

Are you ready for Valentine's Day?  I am.  And since J. never reads this blog, I'm going to go ahead and preview her Valentine's Card (see above).

An Eagle Scout is always prepared and I've been preparing for this year's Valentine's Day for about 3 years.  See, that's when I actually bought the card above.  It's been in my desk or office ever since.  Every year, I forget that I already have J.'s card and then I just go out and get her a new one.  (Embarrassing as it is, sometimes I get gifts for people and then forget to actually give them...)  Well, I'm very excited for her to finally get this card...even though it's been three years in the making.

I forget what the card says inside, but I'm not sure that anyone even reads the pre-printed stuff on the inside anyway.  And even if they do, they don't really care about it--that's my theory.  I think I'm much better off investing my time into writing a thoughtful note.  That and including the "mani/pedi" gift card that J. asked for.  Because let's be honest, I'm sure she'll like that most of all!  =o)

Popcorn Popping...

Pink Popcorn Popping

This is a picture of my Purple Leaf Plum tree in my front yard that I took yesterday.  I don't know if the tree knows that it's still early February.  We just had Groundhog's Day a week ago for goodness sake, but it doesn't look another six weeks of winter to me!

I'm hoping that Spring is just around the corner!  =o)

Grandpa Richards

Grandpa Richards was born February 6, 1886

My mom emailed us today to remind us that my great-grandpa LeGrand Richards had a birthday today.  He passed away in 1983 at the age of 96!  I was only 8 at the time, but I still remember going to his funeral.

My mom reminded our family that we need to remember him and they example that he set for our family.

My mom's email reminded me of this picture that my cousin texted me last month.  My cousin LeGrand (guess who he was named after??) found this picture while cleaning out the family barn in Mesa.  What's cool about the picture is that LeGrand picked up the picture while still wearing his work gloves and took a pic on his phone and then texted it to me hundreds of miles away in California!  Isn't technology amazing!!

I love him for sending this to me because it has me, my sister (wearing the hat), and my "little brother" (in red) visiting Grandpa Richards' office in Salt Lake along with our Shill cousins (from L --> R: Emily, Sally, LeGrand, and Jon).

As a kid, I idolized the Shill cousins who were all older than I was.  Maybe they knew how much I looked up to them, but probably not.  The truth is that I still look up to them and admire and love them today!

Who would have guessed that this photograph, taken over 30 years ago, would have a future Air Force fighter pilot, two future doctors, three amazing mothers, and me sitting at the desk of an apostle?  I'm grateful to be part of such an wonderful family!

February Song