Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Shaq Bowling

Shaquille O'Neal is actually quite comical. Case in point.


Monday, March 23, 2009

New Layout


OK, maybe slightly new but not much improvement. We decided to go with something different than the minimalist green background for the blog. I'd like to eventually create a "hand built," custom background but that sounds like work and I refuse to work right now. Just kidding. For now this is it. I realized, however, that in the past we have used different color fonts and now some of the older posts may have text which is illegible. Hopefully if anyone wants to read those portions of the blog they will do the old highlight-the-text trick which will make the words legible.

Since I'm here, I'll say this: this week has been interesting to say the least. Sarah's brother Eric got married on Sat. This wasn't a long time in the making but it happened and since he and Sydnee are happy, we are happy for them and are excited for their future. So we're excited for Mr. and Mrs. Eric Carter and we wish them all the best.

We had dinner with them tonight at Islands restaurant along with Sarah's parents and her brother Rob who was in town both for the wedding and because his wife Laura was down here to take her test to become a dental hygienist. We hope and pray that she passed and that if she didn't, things will work out (they always do, right?). They are flying back up North tomorrow morning. Jake and Amy left earlier today to head back to SLO. Jake, if you're reading this, THANKS again for letting me drive your car! I know covetousness is a sin, so I am a sinner. (;

This morning we got some chores done around the house and did some shopping, mostly for the kids. New pajamas, some easter outfits, a pair of shorts and a t-shirt for Carter since he's growing out of many of his clothing and new socks for him. Oh yeah, I picked up a few things for my bike-- patch kits for my flat inner tubes and something else...or maybe I put it back when I thought about that last dinner we had in NY!

Now I'm off for a late night bike ride and then I better try to get to bed by about midnight. I like to stay up and since I have the rest of this week off, it's hard to get to bed early. Sarah works tomorrow and Wed. She picked up a few shifts for a co-worker which means I get the tough job of keeping track of pre-school, T-ball, Claire's nap schedule, etc. Not an easy task and one that I don't take for granted when I'm at work and Sarah takes care of all those things and many more. I love her for what a wonderful mother and manager she is and I wouldn't want to trade my day job for her 24/7 job. Not that being a father is easy, but it's different and I'm glad for the role God gave me!

Good night friends!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

2008 Backlog: Our Last Trip to San Luis Obispo (SLO)

I don't often get really excited to post images on the blog (most of the time it's my slight OCD that compels me to blog so often), but I'm really excited to work on and post the many photos we took on our NYC trip. Sarah told me that before we post any new photos I need to get some of the older photos on the blog so that we can try to get this thing in some sort of chronological order since she'd like the blog to be our "family scrapbook" and if we're ever to print it out it would be nice if it were a little less schizophrenic.

So, here are the photos from the last trip we took with Sarah's family up to SLO to visit Jake and Amy and to hang out. We took the trip right after Christmas, so we were up there right before New Year's Eve.

We had a lot of fun. Our activities included: a stay at home seafood extravaganza (fresh seafood from Costco prepared by Jake and Jeff), a very fun frisbee golf game, a trip to the firing range, a couple of meals out, a trip to Jakes' shop, a drive down to see the Monarch butterflies, and walk on the pier. I didn't get very many photos of everyone, but here's what I did get.

First of all, we played a lot of Wii at Jake and Amy's place. Here Rob shows off his nearly flawless form as he bowls.
From SLO Dec 08


Jake
From SLO Dec 08


Carter found some eggs outside which soon hatched...the creatures didn't survive long and looked like small dinosaurs:
From SLO Dec 08


Blurry but cute:
From SLO Dec 08


Laura and Claire:
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


On our way to visit Jake at his store, San Luis Rides. Carter wore his helmet because he and I rode around town on an electric scooter to find a place to get my watch band adjusted (something I later discovered I could do by myself fairly easily).
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


Claire fell asleep so we simply stuck her at the end of an alley:
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


Carter scowling (it's just a face he makes...he's not really upset in this photo) below something a greaser must have scrawled on the wall. Perhaps some teenager who had just read The Outsiders decided to create this little ode to Pony Boy
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


On our way to see the Monarchs during their migration:
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


They had little telescopes set up and I shot these pictures through the lens:
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


I zoomed in with our little camera:
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


Just in case you're wondering, this Monarchs ARE NOT GOING TO MEXICO, so don't even mention the possibility. I did see one wearing a miniature sombrero, so I think someone was lying:
From SLO Dec 08


This man mentioned the possibility of the butterflies "heading toward" Mexico and was promptly kicked off the sacred butterfly grounds.
From SLO Dec 08


Sarah!
From SLO Dec 08


Claire looking at Papa:
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


Rob decided to grow an abhorrent mustachio and this is the result:
From SLO Dec 08


If there's one thing E enjoys, it's a fine meal:
From SLO Dec 08


I don't even know what to say about this photo.
From SLO Dec 08


I was a little obsessed with the new time piece Sarah got me for Christmas.
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


I got a little bored during the meal I guess.
From SLO Dec 08


We love the Central Coast of CA!
From SLO Dec 08


Even though we only have a little point and shoot Canon, we still manage to grab a couple of nice little shots. I think this one turned out pretty well!
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


I don't think Claire could even see anything, she just HAD to look and the serious look on her face cracked us up.
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


Cool old building (that's what I call cool old buildings).
From SLO Dec 08


I am not as big a fan of the graphic T as the Carter boys, but they've gotten me some really nice shirts. Sarah "had to take this picture." This was right before we ate a nice meal at Tanner Jacks on the last night. This has become our farewell to SLO restaurant.
From SLO Dec 08


From SLO Dec 08


Eric enjoying his B-Day dessert (he tends to make faces like this when he knows he's being photographed).
From SLO Dec 08


Jake and Amy
From SLO Dec 08



I didn't get very many pictures of all of us...actually, none of the whole family. I need to be better about that. Sarah's family isn't as into taking photos though, so it's not all my fault! Next time we'll round everyone up.

Anyway, it was a great trip and we look forward to heading up there again!