Connexion

You spending the surplus check?

We got our surplus check in the mail - oddly enough, it came a week after our tax return. Normally it goes in the bank and savings... This year though, we are boosting the economy. Here's the rundown:

• 3 brand new bikes. I'm a huge bike snob so the kids all got very (very) sweet rides.
• A trampoline
• A trip to the coast sometime this summer
• A boys trip to Houston to watch some MLS and MLB

Sounds like a fun summer, huh? Thanks Uncle Sam!!

The summer schedule is already getting crazy

Our kids have arrived at an age when there is a summer camp for every one of their interests... Soccer camp, baseball, robotics, golf - not to mention church camps... I'm glad I work - I wouldn't be able to pay for my mortgage (and all these crazy camps) if I didn't! ...of course, work also gets me out of having to take them and pick them up too! I'm glad I don't have summers off like my wife :)

...FYI - soccer and baseball friends - In late June, the boys and I are going to a Houston Dynamo game on a Thursday night, and then the Astros vs. Red Sox game the next night. If you are interested in joining us, let me know...

The reason he won't be playing soccer...

For those who care (like my parents)

I've updated the family blog with some new pictures...

It (really did) hurt me, more than it hurt him

Growing up I got spanked a lot! Firstborn, and born troublemaker combined to keep my behind in constant pain. I used to hate it when my mother (or father) would begin to spank me by saying, "This is going to hurt me, more than it will hurt you..."

Around our house, spanking is a rarity. I yell some - probably more than I should - but we really don't spank much anymore. Saturday though, we were all getting ready to leave, and our wiener dog, Hank Aaron, got out. He went paddling off towards a kid playing basketball, braking and making a fuss. Our son Aaron started chasing after him, which only made things worse. At one point they were almost a block away.

We told Aaron not to chase Hank - but off he ran, and off Hank went. It was really frustrating... I lost my cool a bit and spanked the dog, and actually spanked Aaron too. Nothing huge, just three swats with my bare hand on his behind... Funny thing though:

It hurt me more than it hurt him. No, really, it did. I think the tips of three of my fingers are still bruised...

Cheap family fun...

So last night at dinner, Dana and I were reminiscing about Gilligan's Island. It's quite possible that our kids have never seen that show - imagine that!! A world with out skipper and Mary Ann and Ginger and the Howell's...

Dana and I (mid 30's) grew up with that show and the Brady's and Green Acres, and a bunch of other shows that all had great intro songs - so after trying to remember lyrics, which our kids were laughing at, we all went into the study and sat at the computer, and we looked up lyrics for Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island and Green Acres - and then Dana and I sang... Sort or family karaoke, or something. But I have to tell you - the kids loved it! (...and so did we!)

Big family event tonight

Ashley has her first grade Christmas performance at school tonight. She's dressing up as an "old lady" complete with cane, gray hair, and a shawl. She has a speaking part even... I asked Dana if she served as the inspiration. She almost threw shoes at me :) I'll post some pictures later at the family blog...

Updates to the family blog (finally)

I decided to show my thanks on Thanksgiving by stuffing myself and finally updating the family blog! I added pics from soccer and baseball and Halloween and everything in between!

Good TV ...and bad TV

So tonight, two odd things happened that both relate to television. First the good news - Sometimes television gets it right. My odometer for good TV is my kids. We all watched the 2 hour biggest loser - and would you believe my kids started working out during the broadcast!! I have some small weights, a crunch ball, a medicine ball, etc. in our family room. Without any prompting they decide to work out. We ended up playing a family card game... You flip a card and do that amount of crunches or push-ups. I think that's great TV - TV that motivates people to work out!

...but the dish network sales guy got me getting out of my car tonight. I've been loving my HiDef, and hating that our cable has such weak offerings. I've been looking into the dish deals online, and tonight he made sense and sweetened the deal beyond what I'd seen online. My wife loved his offer, and so now I think we are going to have every channel available! ...that's way too expensive (but not much more than we currently spend for stinkin' cable). ...and now I'll have HiDef out the ying yang :)

The mouse and the gift of mercy

When I arrived from Amarillo, I learned that we have a mouse in the garage - but then he decided he wanted to move inside...lol Now we have a mouse in the house. My wife and daughter are totally freaked. My father-in-law put out traps. I am too pooped to care... And since I have NO mercy gift, my wife isn't exactly loving me right now.

...I bet you thought this post was about setting a mouse free, huh? Nope, just about me not caring (therefore not showing mercy to my wife) and being a lousy hubby :) I think my father-in-law is coming over...lol