Look at our creation.

We have been having problems with our basement flooding and it all came from the drain outside our basement door getting clogged during a really hard rain. So first my father and law and I built a tiny wall under the deck to stop gunk from flowing down the basement stairs from under the deck, but we were still getting stuff in the drain because it would fall from our tree.

Finally, my father in-law and I were able to spend the good part of the day today building an awning over the basement stairs. My father in-law had the plan, but we worked together to build it, and I am happy to say that I actually did a lot of work. I will be the first to admit that my talent in building things is small but with the help of my father in-law it is sturdy and looks good and I learned a lot. Now we just need a good hard rain to see its effectivness.

Thanks Paw-Paw for your help and vision. It was a successful day and I am really happy at the job well done and for the things I learned. Your guidance and expertise was amazing. You truly are a talented man. We kept saying that we better be careful people might actually believe we know what we are doing.

Before anymore time goes by....our most recent big adventure was the family (and when I mean family, I mean the WHOLE family) vacation to Topsail Beach! Neither N or M had ever seen the beach. N loved it. Or should I say, he loved to run up to the water, and then run away from it when the waves crashed. By the end of the week, he was getting brave! M on the other hand was not fond of it at all. The first time we walked to the beach, she screamed and wouldn't get down. Then, by Friday, she was more brave. She said it was "too loud."


The week was spent at the beach, going to Wilminton to the battleship (I leaned 2 things--- 1- don't wear a skirt when touring the battleship and 2- I DON'T like closed in places!!), cleaning up sand, looking for sharks teeth, cleaning up sand, Richard and I going out for a lovely lunch, cleaning up sand, shopping at the only grocery store around (oh how I missed you Kroger), cleaning up sand, watching a fabulous fireworks display thanks to mother nature, cleaning up sand, N getting everyone to play hide and go seek, cleaning up sand, going to the aracade, cleaning up sand, going putt-putting...oh, and did I say that there was a lot of sand to clean up!!!

It was a great time! Some of our favorite times when it was just the 4 of us. No offense to the rest of the family, but those few moments that it was just our small family was priceless. All the other times were great and fun-filled and we were just glad that we were finally able to go on a vacation that lasted longer than 1 day in our almost 6 years of marriage. In the words of N, "when can we go back?"

Trip to the Zoo

When our family took went to the temple it was an interesting experience. The temple itself was great, it was everything else that wasn't so great. M got sick on the way up and threw up in the van, at the hotel, at the temple, the van again on the way home and didn't get better until the next morning at home. We must thank my sister who was a lifesaver. She took care of the kids while we were in the temple and was a big help while M was sick. We did get to go to the zoo, however it too was somewhat disappointing. What we didn't know was that many of the good exibits close at 4:00 and we didn't get to the zoo until after 3:00 thanks to mapquest and its terrible directions to the zoo. Lets just say that driving through D.C. by going through crowded neighbor hoods was not fun. So, because of our late start we missed the big cats, the rhino, the monkeys, the reptiles and others. There was one good part about zoo however. There was this seal that took a liking to M. There were a whole lot of people around but he or she (I am not sure what gender the seal was) for some reason decided to do some tricks for M. I am not the greatest cameraman so please excuse the shakyness, but it really was cool. You also have to put up with the cheesy clapping, "oooooooh's" and baby talk. But it really was pretty cool.

Hello from my TTI conference.

Just click play. It may take a moment to load. I found this cool website at my conference this weekend.

Our first warm weather walk.

Monday was such a beautiful day that Melinda and I decided that for Family Home Evening we would take the kids on a walk. I had to work late that day and Melinda had to go teach a piano lesson so Grandma and Nanna-Sue offered to watch the kids and they took them on a walk. So when I got home, Melinda and I met up with them on the great trail that runs along Sundail. It has been a great addition to our neighborhood and I love having it so close to our house.It was great, when Melinda and I showed up, both kids came running up to me shouting daddy and gave me bigs hugs. I love being a daddy.N loves going on his bike.M wanted to try N's bike and Nanna-Sue was so good at helping.

Believe it or not N took this picture (with a little help from daddy but not much) What a good looking bunch of women.

This is all of us who enjoyed our first warm weather walk. This is going to be the first of many. Melinda and I love doing it and so do the kids.

Fun in the snow!

Once again, the snow has kept me home, and I took advantage of it and spent some time in the snow with N. It was so much fun. The community snow hill is at McCarg Elementary School and the slope was good today. Last year, N was to scared to go down the hill. This year, there was no holding back. When I thought he would be done he kept wanting to go more. It was so much fun.Suprsising, N was quite good at scaling back up the hillside. I had my doubts because I know how hard it is for me to do so.

He is my little snow champion. He had a blast.

Unfortunately, the day didn't go off without a hitch. While we were there, we meet B. T. as his grandpa. He wanted to race me down the hill. I told him I would and we were off. He got ahead of me because...well... I create more friction against the snow. Apparently he lost his balance and fell of his sled and the poor boy did a nose dive into the snow. I say apparenlty because I couldn't see much of it because my sled had turned me around. At the very last moment I was able to see he was off his sled but then it was too late, I hit him while he was on the ground. I cannot say how upset I was. I think I was more upset than he was. Even though it was an accident, I felt a large amount of guilt. He was a trooper, he walked back up the hill with a bloody lip and bruised face and was able to say that he was okay without a tear in his eye. I still can't think about it and not feel bad. I really am very sorry "B".!!!

This was a good shot of N's first solo ride. What a good accomplishment for him.

Unexpected Delightful Day with Daddy

So, I wake up at 5:30 to get ready for work. About 5 minutes later I get a phone call informing me that my school is opening 2 hours late. So I go back to bed until 7:00. At 8:00 the phone rings again, but this time I hear that my school is closed. An unexpected yet pleasent suprise. I knew that tomorrow I would be at work from 8:00-8:00 so I was determined to make the most of the day and play with the kids. I have to say, it was a really great and fun day.
This us just before lunch. We went to Wendy's as a special treat and then Wal-mart.


Together we had a lot of fun. I was no match for the both of them. As they team up they take me down and pin me to the floor. N likes to wrestle with the big bear as we try to take it from each other. M just hops on and bounces up and down on me laughing as she causes me pain.

Then we sat together and read some books. One was about Elmo, another called "A Blessing from Above" and one called "Little Quack goes to bed". It was nice sitting together reading.



During M's nap time, N and I spent a lot of time together, and we had a blast.

It started with some wresting. N is much stronger than you would think.


Then we through a ball back and forth. The kid has a great arm. Plus he was jumping, catching and throwing. I am not sure where he gets the coordination, it must be Melinda because anyone who knows me, knows that I have a clumsy side.

When we got tired we sat down and watched one of N's favorite shows, Dora the Explorer. Then we realized that T.V. can be fun watching it upside down.




We also had a good time building a tunnel out of giant legos.

I sure do love playing with my champ. We are best buds.


I had a great day with M and N. They are the light of my life and I was so glad that I got to spend the day with them. It was a nice treat in the middle of the week. There is no one else I would rather spend my time with than my princess and little champ. I love being a daddy.

Our promise to do better

I realize that Melinda and I have been doing terribly in keeping up with this, so I here by declare that we will do better. Quick, cute story.

We as a family decided to go to the library for family home evening and on the way home we got a couple milkshakes. Melinda let M take a couple sips, but when Melinda asked for it back, M said "No". So I then asked M to give it back to mommy and she repeated "No". After Melinda and I asked a few more times I asked M, "M, do you like it?". After a quick pause while she swallowed her recent sip, she responded, "Uh Huh!!" with the correct influxing telling us she really loved it. We laughed for a good while about that.

Another interesting fact, if you run into Melinda, ask her to say "Wilford Woodruff", it is so cute! For some reason she can't say it. Don't worry, she is a good sport about it.

It's back!!

There are a few shows that I really enjoying watching. They are shows that I will go out of my way to watch. I have even been known to change my schedule so I can see them. They are:

American Idol

Law and Order: SVU

But the best of all time just started back up. I found myself rubbing my hands together, and pounding my chest out of pure excitment. I have never been so excited to watch a show like I have for this one. That show is:

I can thank some friends and their introduction to this addicting drug. I borrowed season 1 and 2 from some friends and then I was hooked. I then watched seaons 3 & 4 online in a matter of couple weeks. What can I say, I fell in love with the show. Melinda has not watched any of them and I wish she had because it would be fun to share it with her. Oh, well she has "Twilight" and I have "Lost". I am ready for a good season. The first episode that I watched tonight was great. I can't wait till next week. The only problem is, I will have to give up "Criminal Minds" because it runs the same time as "Lost" and "Lost" wins. Maybe they have "CM" online.

New Job

No, I am not quiting my job as a teacher. I absolutely love my job and don't plan on leaving anytime soon. I work at a wonderful school, with great administration, good kids, and I love teaching History. But I am beginning employment with the military on a part time basis. Because so many people want to join the army due to the bad economic times, the army is being forced to raise the standards for incoming recruits.

The army administers a test to recuits to determine the types of jobs available to them. If you pass the test, but don't score real high they get to be a foot soldier. But if you pass with a higher score, there are more options open to you.

Some of the recruits need a little help on passing the test, so the military highers tutors to help work with these recruits. I am being hired as one of those tutors. I am excited for the opportunity, I sort of feel like I am serving my country in my own way. The pay is good, and I get to accept or reject recruits depending on my availability. I couldn't pass up the opportunity and am excited for the little extra money to help my family. It's also kind of cool to say..."I work for the military."

Richard's attempt at weight loss

Hello everyone. I am going to try really hard to lose weight this year, but I need your help. I have created a blog that I will report to frequently (at least once a week) reporting my progress. Feel free to check up on it and make comments on my reported successes and failures. I need help and hopefully if other people can keep a check on my progress I will do better than I have in the past.

Here is the blog: http://www.richardthefish.blogspot.com

Thanks
Richard