Oil...check. Eggs....check

I recently change my work schedule to accommodate some odd timezones. In doing so, I don't see the kids in the morning, but get home close to when they get out of school.  As I drove home Sydney called me. She had called to ask me to help her make brownies. I told her I would help her when I got home, then asked her to get everything. When I arrived home, I found this.

Sydney was ready and from the looks of the back of this brownie mix, she had checked her list twice.  I had a fun time with her making brownies.

It's tradition in our family to leave a little of the brownies in the bowl as a "reward" after the brownies are cooking. 

Syd with her reward all over her face. (Syd also lost her first tooth this week.)

The Creator

For Christmas, Ryan got a cool "creator" lego set. The creator sets allows you to build 3 different things from the same set up of legos.


We first worked on the Convertible.  I think it took around 6 - 8 hours (with distractions in between).

After a few months of admiring the convertible, Ryan tore it completely apart and started on the Semi Truck.

The finished result.

Burgers, Fries and Bears

For Ryan's up coming Cub Scout Pack Meeting, each family was asked to bring a cake as the center piece. Deni decided to make Burger's and Fries.

They look so realistic. Buns = Cupcakes. Meat= brownies, ketchup=red frosting, etc. I don't think there's anything Deni can't do in the kitchen.

Ryan received his Cub Scout "Bear" badge tonight. He's been done for a while but offically received it.  Grandma and Grandpa Berger were able to come and attend the court of honor.

Dear workers at the DMV

Dear workers at the DMV,

I had an hour to kill (aka my lunch hour) so I decided to pay a visit to your establishment. (Ok, my license was expired and I didn't have a choice, if I wanted to continue driving legally.)

I have a few questions that I'm hoping you, as Government employees, can answer. I've attempted to come up with the answers myself during my lengthy visit, but was unable to obtain an acceptable answer.

Question 1. Why do I feel safe walking through Wal-mart but fear for my safety at the DMV?

Question 2. Where are all the normal people? (To help you answer this question - typically when you visit a public establishment, you see a mixture of people from different nationalities, income brackets, and walks of life. But not at the DMV!)

Question 3. Why is it easier to get a Passport?
(Seriously, you require the following documents to get a Drivers license - Passport, (or birth certificate), Social Security Card, Utility bill (with address), major credit card (with address).

Question 4. This is more of a comment than a question. As I sat and watched the 80 year old lady (with her glasses on) attempt to pass the DMV eye exam over and over and over, I grew more anxious and now fear for my own safety as I drive on Utah's highways and roads. If someone can't pass an eye exam with glasses on, maybe you should suggest a good eye Dr, instead of giving them a Drivers License.

- Brett

Planning my garden early

This year I have 215 sq ft of garden space. (37% increase from last year) I planned out what we are going to plant this year and I'm amazed how much I can get in such a small place.

Here's my plan for 2010.

# of plants (# of sq ft used)
4 (4) -Jalapeño Peppers
4 (4) -Anaheim Peppers
4 (4) -Bell Peppers
144 (36) -Corn
7 (28) -Roma tomatoes
2 (8) -Better Boy Tomatoes
16 (4) -Lettuce
4 (4) -Broccoli
2 (12) -Zucchini
2 (12) -Squash
72 (36) -Potatoes
3 (3) -Cucumbers
256 (16) -Onions
108 (12) -Beans
240 (15) -Carrots
2 (8) -Pumpkins
8 (8) -Herbs

Sydney Bob Joe

New year, New camera

We had a little accident last year and broke our little canon camera. Since then, I've been looking for the replacement. I finally found it. Canon SD780 IS. Today I actually read through the manual to see what features it had. There are a number of cool ones.

1. Blink Detection.
2. When you focus on a subject and push the button down half-way, it pops up a little window to show you a zoom of the face, which is really nice

As you can see, I had fun playing with some of the features.


Syd - Green

Syd - Pink

 Ryan and Syd - Green

Ryan and Syd - Red

Who said $10 can't buy happiness?

Last night we ran out to the store to pick up a birthday present for a party Sydney was invited to. In the process, Ryan found a $40 guitar that was clearanced to $10. With his wallet in tow, he decided he had to have the guitar. So he bought it.

When we got home, I tuned it for him and showed him three chords every guitar player needed. G, C, and D. With these 3 chords, you can play just about every country song ever written.

Ryan and his guitar.  I've never seen him so determined and excited about something.

Deni losing Gracefully

Layoffs are horrible

Ever since I started my professional career, I've had to deal with layoffs.   The first few years were stressful. They seemed to always come when we had just made a major life change. A birth, home purchase, etc.  I remember the first time I went through a layoff, we had just purchased our first home and moved in.  The rumors were flying and I was worried, but I didn't want Deni to worry, so I didn't tell her. (which is not typical of our relationship)  Side note, don't tell me something you don't want Deni to know, as we talk about everything. Work, personal, etc.

I did my best to not let it effect me, but did a horrible job of hiding it. After a stressful day at work, I came home, only to get into a fight with Deni. During our fight, it came out that layoffs were just around the corner and that I could lose my job.  Although I had attempted to not let it effect me, it was a major stress in my life and I was bring it home with me.

We made it through that layoff and about ten more since then. After the first few, they got a little easier.  In those early years there was a methodology of how to avoid losing your job.  Mainly not be the worse member of the team. The majority of the layoffs were getting rid of those that should have been fired anyway.

However after all the dead wood had been shed, the decisions started getting harder and harder. They start getting more and more personal each year.

Last year a close co-worker of mine was let go. That was hard for me.  We were hired within the same time in 2000 and our careers mirrored each other through the years.  It was hard to watch him lose his job and struggle looking for a job in the down economy.

Then this year another close co-worker was let go.  Although I haven't known him long, he was instrumental to helping me with the new project I took on this summer.  I'm saddened by the reckless decisions made each year that effect people and more importantly families. 
 
These last 2 years, more than any, have made me change my thinking about my job.  I've changed my thinking from "if I will lose my job" to "when". 


In chatting with friend that lost his job this year, he said something about still keeping in touch and even helping me, if I needed it.

He said:

Well, my friends are my friends and I wouldn't let them down

Wow - I need more friends like this, but more importantly, I need to strive to be this type of friend.