Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mr Mom

I worked from home today, so I could be home when Sydney and Ryan got out of school. Deni is at Women's confernece at BYU today and tomorrow.

At 10:30am I took a bike ride and made it back just in time to throw some shorts over my spandex and run get Sydney from school. I don't mind wearing my bike shorts when I'm around others that are dressed similar, but there's something about riding my bike to pick up Sydney in my bike shorts when there are tons of mom's picking up their children.

Novell had more layoffs today. Of course the first day I work from home, they have layoffs. Today was the last day of the quarter, so I'm assuming they were attempting to meet some type of numbers. It used to be that we only had to worry about year end (Nov), but it appears that it's going to be at the end of each quater now. Great. My job is safe now... at least for another quarter, right?

Sydney said some funny things tonight.

This evening I told Sydney that I loved her. Her response was "I love you google" Not knowing for sure what she said, I asked her to repeat herself and she said "I love you google - it's more than infinity"

Dinner was.... Macaronni and Cheese, at the kids request. Maybe they just know better than to have me cook anything else.

While Sydney was saying her prayers tonight, she said "Please bless that mom will drive home safely and that she will learn how to be a better mommy." I'm sure this could be taken a number of ways, but it was a very pure and innocent statement by her. Deni is currently at Womens Conference at BYU and although I'm not certain, I'm sure that Deni told Sydney that she was going Women's conference to learn how to be a better mommy. I guess we'll see once Deni reads this and see if I'm right.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Running

I ran 2.2 miles today treadmill. Nothing spectacular, but I really don't like running, so it's an accomplishment.

Monday, April 27, 2009

The Jar

A while back, Deni challenged me to a weight loss competition. There wasn't a clear way to win, nor was there a reward, so since that time, I've gained 6 -7 pounds. I'll show her.

To be honest, it wasn't motivating either of us and with me, it was cursing me.

And then the idea came to me.

Each of has to exercise for 30 minutes a day, for at least 5 days a week, with the workout completed by 8pm, else a dollar has to go into "the Jar". With the proceeds going to some future Trip we'll take together. I proposed the idea to Deni and she thought it was a great idea. We both needed something to motivate us, and apparently $1 per missed workout does it. Deni's statement was something to the effect "you aren't going to get any of my money".

Case in point, the day we flew out to DC, Deni was sick and it was snowing... but guess what, she exercised. Me, I didn't get time to exercise before Deni "MADE" me go to the airport. Matter of fact, I was on my way to exercise when Deni and used my co-workers to "distract" me. So she said, I needed to put a $1 in the jar.

I think I could have fought that one, but went ahead and put a $1.00 in the jar, thinking it was going to be the last dollar I put in the jar. Let's just say, $2.00 is my limit. Deni gets a big smile on her face when I have to put a $1.00 in the jar.

Friday, April 24, 2009

12 years ago today

12 years ago today, it was snowing. How do I remember, well today marks our 12th year wedding anniversary. Wow - twelve years of blissful marriage.

I am truly blessed. I have (hot sexy) loving wife and two beautiful children. I am so happy to have met and married my best friend.

Deni, I'm sure glad you can still surprise me after all these years. Thanks for the DC trip, it was a wonderful 5 days.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Priceless

Pinewood Derby Kit - $4.50
Cutting, sanding, painting - 4 hours
Winning your first Pinewood Derby Race - Priceless

This was Ryan's first Pinewood Derby race. Can't get a better reaction than this.

Ready for the celebration, even before the car comes across the line.

Ryan wanted his car painted like the flag from Amazing Race. It was only fitting that he won, the "most likely resembles a Reality TV show." Every kid got an award. Yesterday, jokingly I told Deni that Ryan should get the "most likely resembles a Reality TV show" award and surprise... he got it. He was so excited to get that award. He was pretty impressed with this "Amazing Race" car.


Victory Lane.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Pic from DC

Here are the final Pictures from our DC trip. We had such a nice time and are grateful for our hosts. (Uncle Ken and Aunt Tricia.... and for Shannon giving us the Tour of Downtown.)

Brett and Deni in front of the United States Capital

Washington DC Temple


Uncle Doug, Brett, Deni and Uncle Ken


Drew, Kara, Brett, Deni, Shannon, Aunt Tricia, Uncle Ken, Uncle Doug

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Lake House

Friday night, we headed down to the Lake House on Lake Anna, Virgina. We left after dinner (and rush hour). It's about a 90 mile drive, but takes about 2 hours. We stayed Friday night and all day Saturday, coming back to Maryland on Sunday afternoon.

The Lake house is beautiful. Wow. Here's a picture I took from the dock. (This is the back of the house).


We didn't have a schedule or anything that had to be done. It was great to visit and veg with Uncle Ken, Aunt Tricia, and Shannon. I slept in until 9:30am EST (which I guess isn't that big of a deal as it is only 7:30am MST) After two fun filled busy days of sightseeing in Washington D.C., it was a good break. We visited, fished, boated, etc.

Here's a pic of Deni out on the Lake. We didn't bring our swimming suits as we didn't think it was going to be that warm, however it was in the 70's. Perfect weather for boating. The water was cold, but not cooler than the stuff we swim in Utah. I would have been really tempted to try skiing, despite the cooler water, had I had a swimsuit.



Saturday afternoon, my Uncle Rich and Aunt Andrea, along with their Son Matt, wife Gabe, and daughter "Lotty" came down to visit. It was good to visit with them.


Sunday was also a lazy day. Very relaxing and enjoyable. We packed up and headed home in the afternoon. On the drive home, we stopped by my Uncle Rich's "new" house in Culpepper, VA. They've lived there for a few years, but I haven 't been to it.

We got a taste for my Uncle Rich's commute (on a Sunday afternoon) and I think I'd have to find a new job. It was a painful drive. Makes me thankful for my 15 minute commute.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Day two in DC

We didn't have time to see everything yesterday, so we decided to head into DC once more. This time it was just Deni, Shannon and I. We left a few minutes after 9am and headed to the Metro. After parking, we bought day passes ($7.80 per person) to ride the metro as much as we wanted that day. When we went to use them, we found out that they couldn't be used during rush hour, which ended at 9:30am. Luckily, it was 9:20am, so we hung out in the Metro station for 10 minutes.

We headed straight to the Holocaust Museum. For most places in DC, you need a ticket. Tickets are free, but you have to go to the place, stand in line, get a ticket and then come back at the specified time on your ticket. (Kinda like a fast pass in Disneyland.) We got to the Holocaust Museum at 10:30am, got in line and got a ticket for 12:45pm.

With our tickets in hand, we decided to head to the Capital Building. We jumped on the Metro and headed to the Capital building. We took this picture, then headed back to the Holocaust Museum.



We had lunch in a park by the Washington Monument and then went into the Holocaust Museum. We spent about an hour and a half in the museum. It was a very sad place. Not a place for kids to visit, although they had a kids section that was very appropriate for kids.

Shannon has a friend that is interning for Utah Senator, Orin Hatch. Shannon texted her and got us a tour of the Capital. So we headed back to the Capital Building. We rode this little cart that the senators take from their office to the Capital building underground.



The tour was great. We had another family from Utah show up and take the tour with us.



On the way home, the metro we were on broke down and all passengers had to get off the train. It was Friday rush hour and took us about 30 minutes to get back on a train, but we finally make it home safe and sound.

Drew and Kara came over for dinner. It was fun to visit with them during dinner. After dinner we headed to the Lake house.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Unknown Solider Tomb Videos

Taps



Changing of the guard - checking his gun.

A day in Washington DC

We caught the metro into Washington DC and spent the day seeing the sights. We did lots of walking and had a great time seeing the sights.

Arlington Cemetery Entrance


Graves at Arlington Cemetery


Brett and Deni at Arlington Cemetery


The Eternal Flame at Arlington Cemetery


Unknown Solider 1


Unknown Solider 2


White House


Washington Monument


Brett and Deni at the Lincoln Memorial


Lincoln Memorial


Vietnam Memorial


Deni reflection


Roosevelt's Dog


Front of Jefferson Memorial


Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial