Car Rides Mean Special Requests

My children have been introduced to a wide variety of music. Between Amber and I they hear different songs from iPods and from the Radio as well as the occasional CD. The kids have settled into certain songs and right now the most requested song is "The Final Countdown" by Europe. The kids also like some songs from They Might Be Giants but they also are asking for a song from The Ting Tings.

It is incredibly entertaining to hear the backseat chorus singing along with these songs. Ashton is especially sincere in her renditions and tries to sing all of the words.

Reading is Fundamental

Today the kids and I ran some errands. We headed to the bank and grabbed a quick bite to eat. All the while the sky really looked dark and it was really humid. As we were in Lowe's and we heard the storm begin. When we went outside the rain had let up a bit. As we stepped out of the doorway we were greeted by an enormous display of lightning which Ashton said was beautiful.

In lulls through the day I started and then finished Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.



I picked it up on a whim and I am really glad I did. This was a really great book and I highly recommend it.

Just a Little More Time

Today I received a call from Amber to meet her at the church for Matthew Reed's baptism. I really thought it would be a good idea to show up and I was happy to be there. It really is the least we could do being that the Reeds help us with the kids so much. After the baptism we went out to eat (all too rare anymore) at a Chinese buffet. Nothing spectacular but the food was tasty and I think we had a good time.

Allen had felt bad that the previous day he had to go shopping for a suit for the upcoming wedding while I took the girls to the store. He didn't know that I was picking up his birthday gift so he just felt left out. Tonight I made it up to him by taking him to K Mart to pick up a little trinket. We ended up getting a Nerf dart launcher (read also as a gun). I kind of knew what was in store for us once we got home right at the checkout when the cashier was already starting to lecture Allen and I about how dangerous those things can be and to never aim them at a person. Amber felt the same way but he is a nice kid. We spent a few minutes with it and he deemed it too hard to load and ready for shooting so we ended up playing with other toys.

Movie Time

We saw Wall-E with Grandpa, Hannah, and Sam today. The movie was a hit with the kids and I (not surprisingly) liked it too. Abby fell asleep in my arms toward the end of the movie and it was cute. Before the movie we all ate some yummy pizza for lunch.

Once the movie ended we saw that it was rainy out and began our way home. It ended up storming heavily for the last five hours or so. It was another one of those storms where people lost power and flooding was reported. The lightning strikes were all pretty close and there were several of them. We are lucky not to have lost power.

Late Night Gift Exchange

Just before bed, Allen declared that he wanted me to give him a gift. Ashton liked the sound of this and also wanted a gift. They did not expect me to leave and buy them gifts but rather specified right up front that I could give them something from around the house.

I gave Allen a strategy guide that has been behind a stack of video games for a couple of years. It is a guide to the game Dragon Quest VIII which he has played before and likes so he was very appreciative. Ashton received a lanyard and a pocket watch with the logo of my employer on the face. I also gave her a silver metal box to store precious things in. I remember loving little boxes and the like as a kid. Allen gave me a hug and a kiss and was very happy. Ashton decided she needed to give me something so she told me to leave her room so that she could create artwork suitable for the situation. It was a very nice set of hearts and the word "Daddy" at the top. On the reverse side was a sunflower.

What a nice way to end the day!

Long Week

I can't believe I haven't posted in the last week. Some meetings crept up and schedules were changed so the normal day to day flow of things was interrupted. Amber and the kids went to a wedding yesterday while I was at work. I got home just a few minutes before they did so I saw the girls in cute matching outfits and Allen was looking like the young man growing up.

Even the weather has not been cooperating very well and the rain has meant it has been tough to get the lawn completely mowed. I got rained on twice in the last week trying to get it done. The upside is that I did not get a sunburn on the top of my head!

Weekend Visit with the Inlaws

We just got back from Bruce and Marcie's house. It was a good time. Every visit we end up with more Beanie Babies. They used to collect them and now are happy to spread the joy by giving them to the grandkids. Chelsea had a bridal shower and the girls all went to be a part of it. It has been decided that Allen will be the ring bearer and Ashton and Abby will be flower girls. Every one is very excited and we are looking forward to the wedding.