CUPCAKE$!

There's apparently some sort of economic crisis brewing out there. While it probably should have, this fact had no effect on our recent decision to make cupcakes.

February 15. Our sugar-centric spending spree begins with the purchase of a "designer cupcake kit" distributed by Chronicle Books. Never mind asking what connection a publisher has to with home baking, the better question revolves around why otherwise intelligent adults would pay over 20 dollars for a box of paper cups. We then drove to Orson Gygi (some 40 blocks) for frosting tips and sprinkles. Just try and argue with the logic. Cost: about $15. And lastly... we swung by the grocery store on the way home for cake mixes (red velvet is GO!), frosting and cherries. Another ten bucks.

Tracy, Hailey, Evan and I decorated the batch you see here. (Can't remember where Eden was).

While some turned out nicer than others (ahem), they all tasted less garish than they look. Was it worth the almost $50? Probably not. Amusing enough to do again? Stay tuned.

Guitar Hero

Evan "starred" in his fourth TV commercial recently. A low budget, but modestly charming spot for a local furniture company. The entire thing was shot with still photos and then animated to look something like a flip book. (When I have the file handy, I'll post the actual video.) I was proud that he let loose like this. He's a funny kid, but usually a little shy around new faces. His favorite part? Being paid in pizza and doughnuts. Clearly, he inherited this keen sense of economics from me.

Early 09

Tracy...
Finally has a Facebook.
Didn't swear in church.
Works harder than anyone I know.

James...
Is (unsuccessfully) pitching new business.
Has discovered liquid acrylic inks.
Is still trying to figure it all out.

Eden...
Is going to India in November.
Has started lacrosse.
Never gets to sleep in anymore.


Evan...
Has new shoes. (size 9)
Built a homemade crossbow.
Finally got a haircut.


Hailey...
Had all four wisdom teeth pulled.
Is always sewing something.
Misses her friends.


Meowzilla...
Is constantly laying on your stuff.
Demands new water every morning.
Doesn't really have a name.

Is This Anything? (Part 2)

"The King of Kong"

I loved this documentary.
Nostalgic. Funny. Touching.



There, I did it... A movie review. (not really)
Does even this qualify as a post?

Holiday Miracle

This was our company holiday card. The miraculous part? It not only went out in time for the holidays, it also shipped with a small red light that gave the flame a semi-convincing glow.

The Bird

Evan and I took advantage of a Monday off to go skiing. We don't do it nearly enough (he frequently tells me) and it shows... for me anyway. I'm guessing things you only do once or twice a year don't really qualify as hobbies. No matter. It was still really great. Decent snow, blue bird skies, absolutely no lift lines.

Even though I've been skiing longer, I'm not sure who's teaching who here. He's always ahead of me and patiently waits to make sure I've not fallen off the side of the mountain. He even hit a jump in the terrain park just off Mid Gad. He didn't exactly land it. In fact, it was ugly. I still gave him the five bucks anyway. He earned it.

Birthday Tomfoolery

Hailey turned 19 today.
We celebrated yesterday.
She is a lovely girl with an infectious laugh.
We are very proud.

Apologies in advance for the low quality video.
And even lower quality singing.

What is a Christmas Spirit and How Do I Get One?

Here we are, on the very brink of Christmas, and I'm still not quite feeling it.

That's how I started this post last night around 7 or so. I couldn't finish. I stopped there and saved the draft, assuming I wasn't going to make anyone's holiday with the rest. Not sure what causes this type of feeling to pervade. No young kids in the house... Work that won't let up until the absolute last minute... Getting to be an official bearer of bad "now you can't make your car payment" economic news.

I'm back here again, because it all turned out okay... thanks to Tracy.

After giving up on the post, I went upstairs to join the others as they prepared to open the customary "one" present on Christmas Eve. Two actually. Somewhere along the line, pajamas were discounted as a present and instated as the uniform you are required to wear while opening your one present. Fair enough.

We cracked open the pajamas. Evan and I now have matching pants, the girls just changed while we turned our backs.

This still didn't do the trick. Hmmm...

Tree decorated and powered up? Check.
Stockings hung with care (hooks actually)? Check.
Pajamas donned? Check?

We just sat on the couch. Collectively not feeling it.

Tracy got up and mumbled something as she went into the bedroom. She emerged seconds later holding a single, folded, white piece of paper containing a collection scriptures and hymns. It was essentially just the program from our Church Christmas party. Knowing we need all the help we can get, we saved it for this very occasion.

We took turns reading the verses. It took just a few minutes, but changed everything. Feeling slightly more ambitious, we tried a few of the songs. Some a capella, some with Eden on guitar. Did it sound good? Probably not. But we were trying and that, I've found, is sometimes enough. We eventually moved from Christmas hymns to other stuff. Mirah, The Beatles, Songs from the Juno soundtrack. Eden appears to have actual, real live talent with an acoustic guitar. Hailey has a lovely voice. And Evan... he can make almost any medieval weapon out of Silly Putty. Simple, unsophisticated... a perfectly Rabdau moment. Tears came to my eyes (but no further) more than once.

Maybe next year we can get there a little earlier. We'll see.
Either way, I am grateful for who and what I have.

Cheers -

Pearl Harbor

No pictures today.
Just words.
I'll try and let them go without concern.

Every day as I drive home from work, I feel different than I did the day before. Not drastically, just a little. Not a revelation I suppose.. In spite of their seeming sameness, the days are their own. And there's a momentum underneath it all that started way back and has moved in just one direction ever since. Apparently today is the first day that I've ever felt exactly like this. I'm guessing tomorrow will be the same.

Dad turned 75 on a Thursday a couple of weeks ago. We couldn't make the drive to Boise until Friday. Mom planned a party for the day after that. Some family came, some friends. Genuine people I think, their kids too. They counted all the armadillos. Dad said they could keep them. Grandfathers do things like that. Their mothers said they couldn't. Mothers say things like that. Dad was a good sport about the armadillos, the party and everything else.

Have you ever been at someone's house and seen the kind of family portrait where everyone is dressed the same? Khaki. Denim. Ridiculous. I used to make fun of those.

Work is heavy. Christmas is close. It takes more effort than it did before.

Nature's Return

Remains of a summer garden.
Pocatello, Idaho. October 2008.

One Month Later.

Thus ends an inadvertent thirty day posting hiatus. Not sure why I stopped. Not sure why I'm back. I guess I had to remind myself that it's better to do things than not do things. So here I am. But I'm still lazy... (ask Tracy) and would get too hung up on words to talk you through the last month. These photos will have to do. Recently we:

Played hooky to get one last look at fall.



Stayed up past bedtime to prove that we were once hip.
(Or at least knew people who were)


Celebrated the final game of team United Nations.
(Evan isn't actually six-foot seven)

Learned that the sidelines are often more interesting than the game.

Converted Tracy to the truth. (about street tacos)

Said farewell to Barb and Zach...


And another memorable (losing) season.

Conspired with teenagers.

Did something entirely different.


Sorry folks, it's the best I could do for now. Things are fine here... everyone is holding their own. We have been relatively busy and it feels good. Time with the kids, time with family, time with friends. Lots of dinners at home. Boggle. BS. Battlestar Galactica. Sometimes the best things are just simple.

October 11

It was warm recently.
The television says it will be again soon.
Today it was like this.

Fish On.

I recently discovered a 17 minute snippet of video from our BC fishing trip this summer. After I hacked off the sixteen minutes taken from inside my windbreaker pocket, this little gem remains. Sigh. I am clearly not a genius. However, if you listen closely you should hear at least three "Eh?s" offered by Sim, our genuine Canadian guide.