Gale's Birthday

Today is Gale's birthday. What a fun day we had! We celebrated a day early, due to the fact that we couldn't offer a full 40th celebration on Sunday. We got up and opened up some presents and immediately departed for IHOP. (I think this was more for the girls than for Gale!) We opened more presents at IHOP and Gale also read letters that I had the girls write, as well as Gale's family. The letters were done so well. Everyone spent so much time on writing meaningful letters to Gale.

We don't look so great----but does anybody at IHOP at 8:30 in the morning?

We then came home and Gale took a long bath while the girls and I cleaned up the house and then we headed to the movie theater. We watched National Treasure. (Again, I think that was more for the girls!) We ate tons of popcorn and drank ourselves to oblivion with sprite and rootbeer. It was great.

We then came home and changed and immediately headed off on our date to Sushi Neiko. (The Red Canyon is the best sushi you have ever had if you go there) and then Gale and I went to another movie--I Legend.

It is amazing that my wife is 40! I don't know where the time has past. During dinner we laughed about our dating and early married life. What life was like without children, and how glad we are to have four wonderful girls. The past 15 years have been great to Gale. She just seems to get better with age, she is such a beatiful person at the age of 40. Patience, kindness, charity can usually be seen on the face of a person and it shows on Gale. Plus she is the hottest mama I know! I can't wait for the next 40 years.

Cop for dinner

We had the Hatcher's over for dinner tonight. (Lisa is the one who took the amazing pictures for our Christmas card this year. You can check out her website at LissaHatcher.com) We had a great time and as we were reviewing the events of our reindeer disaster earlier in the week Jeff who is in the military and a past officer of the law was chiding me for my lack of thinking. He asks me why I went for the boys? He instead said, "You should have run and got their car, can't get away without a getaway vehicle!!" I have been mad at myself ever since. The boys car was parked right down the street from my house. I could have easily beat them to it and held their car hostage! I could have commandeered the car and got all 8-10 boys instead of one! Well my lesson has been learned. Some good advice! So I then started to think to myself.....should I set a trap for other teenagers? Just have to see if I get bored during the Christmas break.

Elle and Ava join in for singing!

Our family sang today in church. Gale, Chloe and Olivia had a great song all worked out with harmonies etc. (I was playing the piano) Gale had to leave for church early because of a meeting, so I had all the girls with me on the way to church. As we were on our way Ava and Elle announced to me that they wanted to sing with the family in church. For Ava this was no suprise as she loves any attention she can get. She didn't know the song, but she had no problem with standing in front of the congregation. In fact, she let me know that she could do it by herself and didn't need us. Elle is another story. She can't stand getting up in front of anyone! We were so proud of her this past friday because she didn't cry and break down during her part in the kindergarten christmas play. Well, she wanted to join us and had memorized two lines of the song that she would be happy to join us in.

The song went great and Elle sang her heart out. Ava on the other hand during the parts that she didn't know decided to throw out a couple of thumbs up to the audience, as well as she threw out a few peace signs. What can you do? I do know that her "boyfriend" Twer (tyler) was egging her on. How could she resist not throwing him back a few peace signs and thumbs up?

Boys--you be getting coal for Christmas

So I am ruining the life of 15 year old teenagers. A couple of nights ago I was walking into my office around 9:30 at night. I noticed a car parked down the street with its lights on and about 8 teenage boys running towards my house. I hadn't turned on my office lights yet so I watched them. They proceeded to attack my three lighted, motorized reindeer that I had specially situated around a tree. My little girls even were naming the reindeer. Well, the teenage boys were attacking my special lighted, motorized reindeer and putting them in precarious positions that were not appropriate for my children to witness and were not appropriate for those young men to be doing either. So let's just say I turned into the heat meizer in a matter of a few seconds, I snuck out the front door and ran towards then and right before I pounced on them I screamed at them (more like a scream from Jack in the Shining than a 12 year old girls scream). Well I grabbed two while the others wet their pants and ran for their lives, one escaped because he ripped his shirt trying to get away and left half of it in my hands. The other one just about passed out so I was able to drag him into the house, put him in my office, grab the phone and ask him who he would like me to call. The cops or his parents. He chose the later so we had a talk with his parents. The poor boy was so scared he was shaking. I felt bad as I know I had done similar stupid acts when I was a teenage boy, so I had mercy on him and told him I was not going to make him pay for the reindeer and that he should go home. I suggested that he wait for his parents to pick him up since it was so cold outside, he said he was fine and ran off around the corner. I felt like such a stud for stopping them until family and friends reminded me that it was just a bunch of 14-15 year old boys. SAVE THE REINDEER!!!! my new bumpersticker.

The Christmas Season a Time of Love and terrorizing 15 year old teenagers!

Tis the season to be jolly---and to make 15 year old boys cry and wet their pants. One story at a time right. The last two weeks have been crazy so I have not had time to post, so here goes the catch up.

First of all the Church Christmas party. It rocked. Last year Gale and I were in charge of the church party so we decided to institute (hopefully) a dinner, dance for families. We decorated up the church, got some food and lit up the floor and got a phenomenal DJ. (Who just happens to be in our congregation and free--Go Merkley's!) We had such a good time last year, but I was released from the duty of parties, so we hoped that the tradition would continue. And it did--they showed us up with the party this year. We had great food, but the dancing was the best. Now I will be the first to make fun of you if you are over the age of 30 and you get out on the dance floor and try to rock it out like you did in the late 80's. But when you grab your kids for some good line dancing there is nothing more fun! Our DJ (Scott) had some great line dances for the whole family to rock out to.....follow the leader, the chicken dance, the shuffle, the macarena, the hampster dance etc. I could barely dance because my two youngest Ava and Elle were dance maniacs. I couldn't get them off the dance floor. It was hilarious. Little Elle and Ava can shake some booty!


One of the highlights of the evening was getting to slow dance with each of my little girls. There is nothing better. Although I will admit my girls were eyeing other boys. Doesn't look like Olivia is enjoying this to much is she? I think Chloe is having more fun! Sweet Elle liked our slow dancing!





Even Santa showed up to give out some good candy and presents



Then we had Chloe's choir concert. We decided to sit front and center so we could get some good pictures. I was amazed at how great the three choirs were-- 6th, 7th and 8th grades, they could harmonize so well. Olivia, Elle and I had a great time. If the songs were well--a bit boring I would make Olivia pick out who she would have to marry if the guys in the choir were the only ones left on the earth and she only had 10 seconds to choose. A couple of times we laughed a bit to loud so we had to stop. One young man had us cracking up the whole time. He was a sixth grader who stood up with the choir but would not sing a note. He just stood there while the choir was singing. What made it better was that he had some really long hair that was pretty cool and so he would have to flip it every few minutes to keep it just perfect arranged. We couldn't figure out why he came if he wasn't going to sing.


After Chloe and I went to sonic for an "After choir concert treat" and had a great time just talking. It is so fun to have a child who has a funny sense of humor and is so fun to talk with.

The UCO semester is over. I turned in grades on Tuesday and finished all of my grading, reading papers and looking over presentations. Whew! I only messed up on two grades and luckily fixed them before the deadline, when grades were due. It is interesting to me how people react when things are bad or life goes wrong. You get to see who the person really is and what their true colors are. I try to teach my kids that when things go wrong is when you need to behave the best. That is what separates truly amazing, people from the rest. What life throws at you or how people behave towards you should never determine your actions or reactions--we always have the choice. Unfortunately, it is sad when you feel the wrath of someone who is in their thirties or forties that by that juncture in their life should really know how to treat another person and they don't. One of my students was really kind and just asked what he did to deserve a D. I told him over the phone he didn't dress nice enough for my class and I didn't like the snack he brought on the last night so it brought his grade down. He laughed and then I told him I messed up and hit the wrong button and he really got an F. LOL! He got an A. The other student was not so kind and flipped out on me. I called her on it (with kindness that took a moment to get) and it became aparent to me that she cared more about her grade than how she treated another person. After talking with her and letting her know it was just a mistake and not intentional she let up a bit--of course when I reminded her of a couple of breaks I gave her in class when she had messed up ,she then profusely apologized. Great lesson for the both of us! We choose how we view life--we really do make our own reality. It does not matter what others do to us, we always have our choice on how we react. As Albert Einstein said, "Great spirits are always violently opposed by weak minded individuals." This nice lady had felt like I had cheated her on a grade and before she talked to me had convinced herself that she was going to get a B, but in reality it was just a mistake on my part. I wonder how often in my life I had convinced myself of something and it wasn't even reality! Okay--enough lecturing!

Okay--have to go eat dinner so tomorrow I will write about the 15 year olds boys.

A Time and a Season for Everything...

I have had some pretty funny days this past week with pictures that I need to put up, but tonight we put up the Christmas tree, played Christmas music and ate super gooey brownies and ice cream. Does life get better than that? As we sat eating our super gooey brownies I thought it wouldn't matter where in the world I was, whether I was eating them on a dirt floor in Africa or a mansion in the South of France I would be happy just to have super gooey brownies, ice cream and my family. In that order of course.

On the serious side I am realizing more and more as I get older how the Lord brings people, events, experiences into our lives at just the time we need them. The events and experiences for our personal growth and development, and the people around us to help us, love us, build us up and in some way lift us up to continue on the journey of life. I have wondered the past couple of days how much I have been the one to build up, love, and just help carry others burdens for a small time on their own journey. In my pursuit of a new business, Ph.D, University teaching, kids tennis, piano lessons, gymnastics lessons and spending as much time as possible with my family that I have in some way neglected others. I guess the spirit always whispers to us the truth of how we need to change and grow. I want to be the person that builds, strengthens, uplifts, comforts those around me and doesn't ever tear down, discourage, or make others journey that much harder than it already is. In our home we always talk about it being a safe place from the world, where you are always loved and cared for, I guess I need to extend that teaching for myself and my children to bring that same feeling to all they come in contact with. Gale, is already there so I am leaving her out of this!

I look in the eyes of my children, and certain people around me and it is clearly evident those who have charity--the pure love of Christ. It is not only in their actions, but it radiates in their face and in their countenance. If you really look you can just see those who have earned this amazing heavenly gift. This new year I begin my own journey to obtain this gift. As I looked over pictures tonight I had to put in a few...I just look in their eyes and see it....nothing that has to do with beauty, but instead a love for all people no matter what type of individual and their weakness and failings! You really see it in most children. Maybe that is why the Lord loved them so much.

Ten years ago I found a picture of a family in Africa. The man had previously been a top television producer in LA living the "fast, Hollywood" life. His two daughters left California to go work for a year in Africa helping the poor and taking care of orphaned children. As he saw his daughters change he quit his job and the family took up residence in Africa. The picture I have of the family is outside of a grass hut wearing simple clothing, (no namebrands!) but what brought tears to my eyes was their faces. I saw charity. So I took the picture and have put it in my journal and carried it with me. In fact, I will carry it with me til I can't carry it anymore! One of my prized possessions. The face of charity. I recently made a new friend who is biking his way around the world. I saw his picture and it immediately reminded me of the family in Africa. It is something that can't be bought, made in a bottle...instead is earned through hardship, struggle, caring for others and understanding the value of each individual human life.

I had to put in some pictures of those around me who exemplify charity, all my sweet girls and wife, My old stake president and home teaching companion, and a former bishop. (There are others of you....but I just don't have your pictures!)

Thanksgiving and my Top 7 list

Thanksgiving was a great time this year. We flew down to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma Aurora in Arizona. The weather was warm and we spent our time swimming, playing tennis and just goofing around. We couldn't have had a better time. (Notice the dollar in Ava's hand--she was constantly snoggin' money from Grandpa.)

We were also able to see cousins and catch up with one of Gale's old friends the Farnsworths.

Just to show how much fun the girls had we took a couple of pictures of "To infiniti and beyond" onto the air mattress.




Okay-so let me be honest. When we flew back from Arizona we left 74 degree weather and landed in 40 degree weather. I had a bit of a hard time readjusting to life in Oklahoma. For the next day I gave Gale all the reasons that we need to live in Arizona. Let me share my list.

1. There are 7 different juice stores within a three mile radius in Mesa instead of the one jamba juice in Edmond.
2. Mesa has a Cosco.
3. There are a gazillion restaurants in Mesa. Not the same 5 we eat at in Edmond.
4. The WEATHER is my type of WEATHER! WARM
5. There are electric towels in all the restrooms in Mesa.....not the kind you have to turn yourself in Oklahoma.
6. I have family in Mesa.
7. There are sidewalks to run on and bike paths and bike lanes to bike on. I have to bike on the road in Edmond.
So I let Gale know of all the differences and why we should move to Arizona. She then reminded me of all of our friends here, all of our children's friends, how much we love the schools, the great piano teacher and tennis coach's and also this is where the good Lord wants us right now. So hence--we stay! (For now..............) Give me a couple of days and I will be back to my Oklahoma self.