Saturday Songs: Madeline's Song

Now, If We Could Just Get Her To Tape The Daily Show...

Giggly Running Girl

Hi - this is Ainsley. So, I woke up all happy & such yesterday, and after breakfast me & Daddy played upstairs while Mommy took a shower and got dressed. We played the "Chase me!" game - it was fun!

First Words!

Prepping for St. Patrick's Day

Much dancing. Life is good. Slainte!

My "Laugh Out Loud" Moment Of The Day

Thanks to Tripp for posting this:

Birthday Cake Mash-Up

All right, fine - she really IS my daughter:

Many thanks to Matt for videotaping the moment - I was having too much fun being part of it to actually think about pictures/videos/any kind of recording device.

A few still shots to enjoy, too:

Baby Noises

In which Ainsley makes noises guaranteed to bring her parents to hysterics...

Back Home. Back in the Saddle. Back to Work. Back-packing. We're Back!

I do love me a good "theme" title.

After a hellaciously long day yesterday, we are back home and back to packing. Our plane departed from Eugene, OR at 5:40ish yesterday morning, so we were up at 3:30 to shower, finish packing and bundle Ainsley into the car for the ride to the airport. Thankfully, everything ran ahead of schedule yesterday - both of our flights got in early, and there was enough room on both flights for all three of us to sit together AND for Ainsley to sit in her car seat and not squirmy in our arms. Not so fortunate were my sister- and brother-in-law, whose son was, shall we say, less than happy about being on an airplane again.

Got back to Barrett late last night and we've been busy packing and handling house stuff this morning. Closing payment cash prepared - check. Copies of drivers' licenses sent to the mortgage officer - check. Final rent payment mailed to the landlord - check. More work to follow later this afternoon.

So I'm back in the blogging saddle, too: here's yesterday's Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals:

Well it had to be didn't it, love them or hate them I bet you've been asked about New Year resolutions. So with no more fuss here is this weeks Friday Five;

1. Do you make New Year resolutions?
Just the one: to be healthier this year. More running, more gym time, less mindless face-stuffing in front of the television (he said as he scarfed down lunch while blogging...).

2. Is this something you take seriously, or is it a bit of fun?
I do look at the new year as a fresh start, but let's face it: in the eternal scheme of things, our calendar is pretty meaningless. I mean, they just skipped a bunch of days converting from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, so the resolution I make on a Tuesday isn't really going to change the world.

3. Share one goal for 2008.
21 June, Duluth, MN. Grandma's Marathon. 4:00 or less.

4. Money is no barrier, share one wild/ impossible dream for 2008.
DEBT-FREEEEE!!!!!!

5. Someone wants to publish a story of your year in 2008, what will the title of that book be?
The Tar Baby Syndrome: How Complicating Your Life with a Move and a Second Child Under the Age of 2 Doesn't Get You Out of the Mess of Being You. Foreword by Dr. Phil. Celebrity Endorsement by Hillary Clinton: "I was all ready to be the Leader of the Free World until Scott Johnson's life-changing book convinced me to step back, re-prioritize, and take a frigging vacation!"

AND here's a video synopsis of our time in Oregon with the whole family:

Pax,
Scott

Later addendum: The mention of any particular politician is for humorous purposes only and not intended to indicate any feelings for or against any such politician. Honestly, I'm happier than a tornado in a trailer park that I'm moving to Iowa after their caucuses and before our own here in Minnesota. So don't get any funny ideas! :-)

WALKIN' In A Winter Wonderland!

Friends To The Rescue

The following two minutes of pure silliness are brought to you by a true friend who, obviously, has the brain today:

Overwhelming

RLP posted about Web 2.0 and included this video - it is, without a doubt, more than a little intimidating, but exciting at the same time. I've had some thoughts about what the Internet "means" and how it works for a couple of years now, but never to this extent. Might be time to spread my wings a bit and do some investigating after we get settled down in Ames.

Anyway, here's the video.

Simply Thankful

I don't have much for which to be thankful this year, do I?

Yeah, 'nuff said. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Hey there Hi there Ho there!

So, um, yeah, haven't posted anything other than sermons in a while. Bet all my fans are missing me (yes, I do mean both of you.)!

We've been kinda crazy round here lately. It's pretty much been like this:
Wake up.
Play with the kid.
Run (or not).
Shower.
Go to the office.
Catch up on office stuff.
Make a visit/Read a journal/Prepare lessons for Confirmation-Adult Bible Study/Return phone calls/Plan worship/Write the newsletter article/Watch the kid so she doesn't electrocute herself at the not-so-childproof office.
Go home.
Run (or not).
Shower (or not).
Bowl of soup & sandwich for supper.
Pit Band Rehearsal for "Annie, Get Your Gun/Evening Meetings/Feed the kid/Put the kid to bed/Put the kid to bed AGAIN/Watch episodes of the new "Battlestar Galactica" while listening to the kid sleep.
Collapse.
Repeat.

But it's good nonetheless. Here's one example of what has become the highlight of my day:

Seriously, I'd just about light myself on fire to hear that laugh more often. :-)

We had family visit a few weekends ago, so we took them up to Inspiration Peak in west central Minnesota. Most years the colors are fabulous around the area, but with the dry weather we had all summer, colors weren't so good this year. The view, however, is still fabulous, and we had a great day for a family hike:





So, that's the update from here for right now - we're having fun in Minnesota!

Now, it's off to pit band rehearsal! Wheeeeeeeeee!

Tuesday Morning Video

Big News from Lincoln

The Return of Baby Ainsley 365: Giggling with Daddy

Somebody's giggling!

Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)

We were driving back to Minnesota the other night when the song "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" by Billy Joel came up on my iPod. The sun was setting over a lake to our left as I drove through beautiful Minnesota valleys. I looked in the rearview mirror and my wife and daughter were asleep in the backseat, confidently trusting in my ability to get them home safely. I damn near burst into tears, the moment was so powerful.

I remember hearing this song years ago and wanting to remember it for my child, should I ever be lucky enough to have one. Now that I do, the blessedness of it is even greater than I had ever imagined.

Here is the video of this song at YouTube. The lyrics follow.

"Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"

Billy Joel

Goodnight, my angel

Time to close your eyes

And save these questions for another day

I think I know what you've been asking me

I think you know what I've been trying to say

I promised I would never leave you

And you should always know

Wherever you may go

No matter where you are

I never will be far away

Goodnight, my angel

Now it's time to sleep

And still so many things I want to say

Remember all the songs you sang for me

When we went sailing on an emerald bay

And like a boat out on the ocean

I'm rocking you to sleep

The water's dark and deep

Inside this ancient heart

You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight, my angel

Now it's time to dream

And dream how wonderful your life will be

Someday your child may cry

And if you sing this lullabye

Then in your heart

There will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone

But lullabyes go on and on...

They never die

That's how you

And I

Will be

Baby Ainsley 365: Standing Strong

Momma and Ainsley were playing this morning, and look who's standing!

Baby Ainsley 365: With You Here

And now presenting...Daddy! (and the crowd goes wild - or fills its diaper; we're not sure...)