six already

Yesterday was our sixth anniversary! We went to second service, took the kids home and fed them lunch. The kids took a nap, and we had Ben & Amanda Fagerlie offer to babysit for the evening so we could go out together, so they came over at four so we could leave. We ant to the DV30 AMC theatres but stopped in the Starbucks to get a drink first. Amy got a grande caramel macchiato with an extra pump of vanilla, and I got a triple venti white mocha. We went to see Madagascar 2, which had already been out a month but we'd not seen. We both thought it was quite funny and an overall good sequal. We then ate dinner at Olive Garden near Arrowhead mall. We ate a lot and still had leftovers to bring home. It was a great day together. My wife is an incredible blessing from the LORD.  Thank you all for your well-wishes and congratulations.

amy's burn

Amy burnt herself last weekend pretty bad. She was trying to pan sear a roast before putting it in the crockpot when some of the oil splattered up on her hand and arm. She's dealing with pain and discomfort with the burnt areas still. We aren't sure how much will be left over scars. She is handling it like a trooper. She's an amazing woman, what can I say? I love her.

soft

It is hard to believe that we've not posted anything in over a month now! One cute story that's recently happened I would like to share. Aidan was eating dinner, sitting to my left. He started petting my arm (I guess he was feeling my hair) and he said, "Soft.". Yes, my son called my arm soft. Not the most hypermasculine of terms, I must say, but Amy had a good laugh, and that makes it worthwhile.

amy & beth ddr

ballgame

Amy and I got to go to last Sunday's dbacks game. Southwestern College gave alumni free tickets and food vouchers. It was a nice gift, and I got to see Tim Reed (long-time friend of my father, one of my old profs) and Brent Garrison (family friend from Palmcroft, president of swc).

Sure we were in the nose bleeds, but we still had a great view.

And I got to spend the afternoon with my lovely bride. Isn't she amazing, folks? Love you, beautiful.

Thank you, Ogles (though you never read my blog), for giving us the afternoon without kids so we could enjoy the game together.

kate packin'

"I like to eat."

"No, really. I can pack away more than Aidan now."

"This is a staredown if I've ever seen one! Bring it on, mama."

"Yep, me putting more food in my mouth."

"Chicken nuggets rock! And I'm cute, too."

facebook

I was just recently told that KAIO (college-age and twenty-somethings group at ncc) had a facebook page, I should join facebook, and that I then would be made an admin of that page so I could help everyone in KAIO stay informed and build community. I didn't take it seriously at first, but then I decided to try it out. I set it up last Friday at 1am. I had 100 friends within two days. I now have 159 friends. It is one of the coolest things I have dealt with online. Myspace can be really trashy, but facebook seems to be different, for all of my exposure so far of less than a week. I liked it so much that Amy made a facebook account for herself, as well. There is an iPhone app for facebook, so I am on facebook on my iPhone as much as I am on my computer at home and my computer at work, as well. I have connected with friends I had in high school who've I've not seen nor heard from in 9 years until facebook. It is an amazing networking tool. I just hope I can keep blogging and doing facebook without it killing me for time.

kate walking

Nice pic of my knee.  Oh yeah, that's Kate with the cart.

There's Amy helping Kate.

Oops!  Need to learn to turn.

Aidan was watching Kate do her thing.

He also watched Amy help Kate turn the other way.

ben fagerlie

Ben and Amanda came over last night when Amy was at a baby shower for Holly King. They brought me a sundae from DQ and we talked about movies some while Amanda used my iPhone. What they really wanted to do was to play DDR on our Wii. Dance Dance Revolution is fun, and we did play for about 30-40 minutes. That is a picture of Ben taken by Amanda when she was using my phone.

surf's up

Now, I know what you're thinking, but, no, that's not a surf board (misleading title to be sure). It is an ironing board. Yes, after 5 1/2 years or marriage, I've finally broken down and bought my wife an ironing board. Sure, we had one that hung from our closet door (that she hated), but this one actually stands on its own. I know...amazing technology they have these days.

family of five

Yes, we've had to move to zone defense. So far, so good.These are our first pictures of the five of us.

Quite the handsome family, wouldn't you say?

aidan biffed it

So there was a big storm last night, and it had just started downpouring, so I got up from the computer, went out to the living room, where Amy and Aidan were, and we decided to go out back to see and touch the rain. Aidan was so excited that he started running toward the back door. He tripped, face-planted, and started crying. I felt so bad for my little bud: he was so excited and then biffed it hard. Take a look at his nose: that's where he took it the hardest.

Yet, he can still smile this morning.

We very much enjoyed playing with the rain, though.

He's fine.

What a happy kid!

happy independence day

We ended up taking the family (Adam, Amy, Aidan, Kate, & Isaiah) over to the Blackfords' place tonight (only family was invited, but we got on the list!). We went there because they live very close to the Peoria Sports Complex which hosts a fireworks show each 4th of July. Since fireworks are illegal in AZ, that's about all one can LEGALLY do in Phoenix to enjoy the bright lights and loud sounds of fireworks. We really wanted Aidan to enjoy it because he loved Christmas lights so much and would Oooo and Ahhh at them every time we went by some. Aidan wasn't that into it, sadly. They didn't start the display until 9:15pm, and that's already about two hours past his bedtime, so he was a bit fussy and didn't focus well. We still enjoyed the show. And we got to hang out with people we love (yes, Ben & Amanda, that means you, with a special shout out to Bill & JoAnn, Steven, Chris & Nicole, Sarah, Matt Bill!, even the child Rebecca -inside joke-, Miles & Terri, and the billion dogs that you all have). Overall, it was a good evening. JoAnn...I love your homemade ice-cream! Thanks!

aidan's first joke

Yes, I am posting this as Aidan's first joke. Amy would disagree with me, but I thought it was so funny I couldn't stop laughing when the conversation took place.

Aidan: "Knock, knock." (yes, that's what he actually said...he had just heard a knocking sound)
Adam: "Who's there?"
Aidan: "Bird."
Adam: "Bird who?"
Aidan: "Outside."

I was almost rolling on the floor. It was great. And that was on June 13th (not as remiss as my previous two posts).

lunch with Amy

Back on January 26th (yes...again, I know), Amy and I were at lunch at Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant.

Amy (who was pregnant) said: "It's a good thing I already have heartburn," as she started to enjoy her bowl of shrimp chowder.

not as funny maternity story

While we were walking the hall ways because we were waiting for a room to open up.  I was having a contraction while Adam was talking to his mom on the phone.  He decided that it would be fun to poke me in the stomach while I was having the contraction.  I told him not to touch me.  He, for some reason, didn't seem to understand why I told him that.  I consider my self pretty easy going, but poking a pregnant woman in the stomach who is in labor while having a contraction just isn't a good idea...no matter who the person is.

funny maternity story

We left the house at 3:40am 5/24/08. The nurse checked Amy out, hooked up the monitors, and after a while told her to walk. We walked for about and hour and a quarter, from 10 to 5 until 6:05. We walked the hallway from one end of the hospital to the other at least five times. I made Amy laugh once just as she started to have a contraction. She was talking about wanting her water to break so they had to admit her, since they still hadn't at that time, and I said...

Water? It's not water. It's disgusting crap. [The question should be:] "has your disgusting crap broken yet?"

summer

Yesterday was my last day of summer school.  I am now official experiencing my summer break.  It's amazing, but there are always things to fill a day.  As for summer school, I had only eight students, all passed, and we had a pretty good time of it.  I won't say that I will remember this time as fondly as I do my first summer school teaching experience, but it was still quite a bit better than the normal semester was.  I love that I had every quiz and test graded just minutes after the class was done and it was handed back to them immediately with immediate feedback, as well.  I love that I knew exactly where each student was on the worksheets.  I love that I didn't have to take anything home, and I didn't have to make them do homework, either.  I love that they had no other subjects to worry about other than this one.  I love that we only worked for four hours at most per school day.  I love that a full semester's worth of material was completed in less than four weeks time.  I love that I've been able to be home with my family more.  I really love that summer has now started and I can be here to help Amy with tons more (like potty training Aidan: next week!).  I'm sure I'll have much more to post over the next few weeks.

fred?

For any of you who might know who my Great Uncle Fred is, does this guy look like him, or what?!
We were walking around Thunderbird Hospital, trying to induce labor and get those contractions closer, and this picture was on one of the walls in the hallway we were walking down. I couldn't believe the resemblance, and I thought it was funny. Amy didn't seem to care too much. ::tongue in cheek::

isaiah is hot stuff

Check out the majesty, the beauty, the Icy (Isaiah, that is).

A bit of an update: Amy is doing well, and the pain meds are working fine (she's not having to take but two pills a day - unless she's a lot more active for whatever reason). Isaiah got circumcised today (the Dr. said he slept through most of it - he also had his first bit of sugar at the time). Aidan and Kate are now sleeping in the same room (as of Sunday night after we brought Isaiah home for the first time). It has been a challenge to make sure that Aidan and Kate are getting enough sleep, since they love each other and love to interact. They were completely and utterly exhausted tonight, so hopefully they'll sleep well and wake up tomorrow refreshed. We've had people over helping us a ton (THANKS!) including Mike & Francy (agoo & zsa-ji), Grandma Irene (Meema), Ben & Amanda Fagerlie, and now Melissa Hundley (she's going to be spending the next few nights with us while her townhouse has some work done). Amy might not say much, or ask for much, but she is extremely grateful for all everyone is doing (and so am I - especially as I started teaching summer school today and need all the help around the house I can get). JoAnn Blackford has put together a list of ladies who've volunteered to bring us meals over the next two weeks. THANK YOU ALL!!!!