Adobe...

I think I have spent the majority of the last 10 days using an Adobe brand computer program in some way shape or form at the office and at home for our business.

Remember on the movie Wild Hogs where the computer nerd guy gets the tattoo the Apple Computer icon? I'm thinking my next tat will be of the Adobe icon...

"You guys aren't gonna wear helmets?"

Fair Week.

Basically I spend most of next week at the SD State Fair, I know to some of you snobby-types that would sound like a lame time. Our family has some ties to the fair as Bob was the manager for a few years in the mid to late '70's, so Sally Sue and I did some growing up right there on the fairgrounds.

The company has a booth at the fair that is basically my responsibility...so as a bonus to those of you that read this blog and will be attending the fair...if you see me at the booth, come up to me and say the secret pass word "Hey Thomas!"...I'll get you a cool flashlight or a bottle of water or something cool.

Except Skipper and Verlie you guys get a peppermint candy and that's about it.

Didn't anyone think about this before they built it???

(CBS) A supercomputer used to predict weather patterns and measure the effects of global warming is itself one of the top contributors to pollution and global warming in the Great Britain, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.

Everyday all day school...

Last year Maxim went to Kindergarten on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays...this year is first grade...real school!

They started last week Wednesday, and on Thursday evening he asked when his next "at home" day would be...I explained the concept of weekends to him and he seemed to understand.

Last night we were playing baseball in the yard and while we were picking everything up he said, "can I have a day at home weekend tomorrow?". I laughed...we long for those for the rest of our lives.

Until we hit 63 and retire like Skipper and Verlie, then it's mess around time while the wife works to support the family.

Samantha K.

LakeHaus Productions is Steph and my side business, it is a combo of my video and still photography passion, (and schooling) and Steph adds the business side of the operation.

I have been taking quite a few pictures lately, and am getting behind on the editing process, but here is one that popped while I was editing tonight.

Samantha K. is super easy to photograph so I didn't have to do much to make her look good besides push a couple buttons.

Dak-Fest

I'm on my yearly "booth duty" tour representing the electricity factory at local fairs and farm festivals, it amazes me how happy you can make someone by giving them candy or a free pen.

It is a great study in human behavior to watch them look at our booth and all the cool stuff we give away or have lying on the table. You can actually break the fair-goers into a few different groups in their etiquette concerning giveaways on a table.

THE BAG LADIES: Usually retired, carrying a huge hand bag and a page of address label stickers with their address on them. These ladies NEED every piece of give away material you have, and also a few more for their grand kids. They will always tell you, "I'm picking up another one of these for my grand kids." (Yeah, lady your 6 year old grand kid really needs a refrigerator magnet and a little case of toothpicks and breath mints) (Wondering about the address label sheets??? that is so they don't actually have to fill out the "register to win" sheets)

THE CUDDLERS: These are usually middle-aged to older men, who don't feel like they should take anything off of your table without first talking to you about what your business does. Deep down inside you know they could care less about your energy service and they want the shiny key chain and a hand full of peppermints...but they feel the need to "buy you lunch" before they take your stuff.

THE COOL KIDS: Usually between 16 and 40 something...they walk by, see all your cool giveaway stuff, but totally act like they don't want anything...only to send their buddy or kid over to grab the nice pens, and key chains...then they end up asking for a hat too.

THE BEARDED ONES: My colony friends...they love the heck out of fairs and exhibit booths, old young, male and female, they all sign up for the "register to win" prizes, even the 8 year olds...they take every single piece of paraphernalia, informational document and giveaway toys. These guys are my favorite...they are the reason I don't have to bring anything home after the fair is over!

I think I usually fall into the "cool kid" category, except today....SDSU was giving away ice cream...I went back 2 times for SDSU ICE CREAM, got my bowl from the same lady...she said, "Back for more, huh?" I didn't even care..."Yep, I said...getting this one for my wife." (Sidenote: Stephanie wasn't along) It was great ice cream...always has been the best.

Maxim...The First Grader.

I know it happens to every parent, so I don't want to say it, but I really don't feel like Maxim is old enough for first grade...but he starts this week.

Brecken.

Kolby got some bling...

I wasn't quite sure about this...but Steph wanted her little one to have earrings at 6 months. I have to say I really like it, I couldn't watch them do it, but I like the outcome.

The Wedding Dance

Why didn't I think of this for our wedding, Steph?

Amber K, this is how you should roll into your big ceremony!

Kolby is afraid of our dogs.

Our 2 dogs are about as laid back as dogs could be...they both love the kids and have never ever shown a mean side at all, with that said, we don't think twice about the boys climbing all over them or playing alone with them. If we were concerned the dogs would have gone a long time ago.

So the other day Kolby, Lilly the English Pointer and Annie the German Shorthair Pointer went for a little walk. The dogs were running through the fields looking for rabbits and pheasants and Kolby was just fine...until Lilly came running up to greet her.

I guess in the 5 or so months that Kolby has been alive she hasn't seen the dogs up close and personal. SHE WAS TERRIFIED of the "moving stuffed animals". It took a good minute or two to calm her down.

We thought it was a one-off situation where they just surprised her and frightened her, so we tried it again...this time with the dogs inside the kennel...same result.

I guess the only way to cure this is to get a new puppy for her to sleep with and grow up with...that way they will be about the same size for a while and bond really good together.

Anybody got a good duck hunting, water-loving chocolate lab that is about to have puppies? It would be great if it was here in time for duck hunting season...I mean so Kolby and I could take her new dog out in the duck hunting blind.

Capped off a great week.

As I mentioned, Steph and I hosted 6 parties in 7 days this week, we had a blast...but today was about our family.

We slammed some drive-thru fast food after church and the kids took much needed naps. I worked on my retaining wall/lakeside beautification projects and Steph worked on her tan and a book.

We decided to get out on the water around 6pm and almost had the lake to ourselves...so those are nights we push the kids to do things on the water. The boys have loved the tube this year and are very comfortable in the "big water".

My buddy Jared dropped his kneeboard to us this morning cause he thought the boys might take to that pretty easy. AND THEY DID.

Brecken and Maxim both loved it and we saw a side of Maxim in the water that we don't see too often...he was pretty aggressive about getting back on after he fell and didn't quit.

We capped the weekend with some good family time in the living room...now if I could just kill the 3 flys that are bothering me right now!

Another Party

Summer kind of started out slow in the "party at the lake" department. It still hasn't really been super hot out and because of the rain and cool weather it seems like my buddies that farm have been working when they usually have some free time.

This week changed that as we had family and friends over 6 of the last 7 days...one last party today and we are going to take Sunday off for ourselves...I think.

Steph is a trooper with all of her house cleaning and cooking...it takes a special woman to host 20 some guests, make a gourmet meal, and back a boat trailer into the lake...oh yeah and take care of 3 kids.

1,000 words

Backyard Visitors.

This is what Steph and I woke up to on Sunday morning...we have a pretty cool backyard.

A Couple Of Faceplants, And A Flying Brecken

Fun night on the water...Steph and I both face-planted hard. Steph's was way harder and caught on video, so we post those kinds of things to show how tough she is.

She was doing a surface 180 to ride into the wake switch...she took it waaaay to slow, and caught an edge. She is pretty "diesel" to take a slam like that and still get up and ride.

I rode with Brecken as usual to cap off my sessions...he loves jumping the wake a little bit, and on this one we got a little out of control. The legs and arms that are flying around are Breck's I've got a hold of him by the life jacket! Grandma Penny and Reece DON'T WATCH THIS!

The Next Jack Johnson

Penny Calls Out Justin Morneau

If you knew my Grandpa Walt you remember that in retirement he spent his summer evenings watching the Twins and calling Tom Kelly a "dummy". He loved the Twins, but he always thought he could manage them better than "The Skipper" Tom Kelly. (in all reality, TK and Gardenhire do miracles with basically no budget)

Well, I saw a little bit of Walt in his daughter last night. As my mom and I were watching the Twins and Oakland in the 2nd inning the Twins load the bases, and Justin Morneau steps up to the plate. Then Penny says, "Well, Justin hasn't done anything for a while, so he needs to get something done here." The count goes full and it looks bad for number 33. I joked with Grandma that Justin wasn't gonna get it done this time...then he cracks one to right. GRAND SLAM!

So there you go Justin Morneau, I guess Grandma Penny needs to call you out more often. By the way after the Twins went up by 10 I told Grandma Penny that it might not be enough...the Twins got beat last night 14 to 13.

Maxim's Adventures Before School Starts.

Maxim knows that the freedom of summer is quickly coming to a close, and he wants to fit in one more "bacation to Aberdeen" and a trip to a place with a Toys R' Us.

Maxim has grown up a lot this summer, he is even trying things his 3 year old brother is already doing. I say that in jest, but it is almost the truth, because only 2 days after I snapped this picture of Maxim all alone on the water in a kayak, Brecken was all alone in the kayak as well.

The boys love our neighbor's kayaks! Thanks G and K.

Fun Day At The Zoo

We had a great day at the zoo yesterday, as did half of the city of Omaha...75 degrees and a light breeze, it was actually hotter in the desert dome than out on the pavement. It was a full as I have ever seen it.

The kids loved the monkeys, gorillas and of course everything in the aquarium.

Hitting some shopping areas today and heading home...fun weekend with the Fast girls.

Omaha Weekend

Headed to Omaha for the weekend with the Fast girls...tell me Maxim and Brecken aren't the luckiest boys in the world!

You Fill Up My Senses...

John Denver's song "Annie" has a line that says, "you fill up my senses...like the mountains in spring time, like a walk in the rain"...and on and on. It's a song about being in love and comparing it to the rush and emotional feeling you get while experiencing nature.

That song comes to my head a lot when I'm outside...climbing, kayaking, hiking, skiing, biking or mowing the yard for that matter. Today that song was in my head for the wrong reasons.

As loyal readers know I bike to and from work a lot, I hadn't rode for about 4 days so I got up this morning a little early, because of the head-wind I would have to pedal into, and hit the still wet roads.

It has been raining almost every day here in Beadle county, and things are saturated to say the least. So when I set out to ride today, I was looking forward to smelling some fresh cut hay fields with a little rain on them to make them more "smelly". The funny thing was...for the entire 18 miles this morning, I smelled a bad combo of: wet, stale carpet, and hunting dogs fresh out of a slew.

I wrote it off to the fact that the rain has been falling for weeks and everything is a little musty...so thanks to the rain for "filling up my senses" with some funky earth smells all morning.

Penny Was Right!

TULAREMIA RUNS WILD...SAVE YOUR KIDS!!!!

Earlier this spring my boys found some baby rabbits, they played with them all day, carried them in a 5 gallon bucket, and even carried them around in a rain boot.

Grandma Penny came out the night after the boys found the rabbits, and of course they went back to the nest of rabbits, picked all 8 of them up again and showed them to Grandma. I am sure she was impressed with my parenting, an she was pretty insistent that the boys be scrubbed from head to toe with a anti-bacterial soap of some sort, then pressure washed 3 or 4 times over. She told us the boys could get "tularemia" from rabbits. (For the record it is pronounced like it reads, but just run it together "Tulare"-"Mia")

I had never heard of Tularemia, and joked that it is some disease that originated in Tulare, or that my mom was a little bit overboard in her cares for her grand children. I was of the mentality of let boys be boys, jump off roofs, playing in dirt, play with dead birds, etc.

So with the breaking news today of the epidemic in Sioux Falls, I have to say, "mom was right." Click here for the tularemia story from the Argus.

For the record, the boys played with the rabbits for about 2 days then kind of forgot about them, and I wanted the rabbits to die. I know cruel, but we have enough rabbits around so it didn't bother me that this litter of 8 wouldn't make it. Most animal moms don't return to the nest after humans touch their babies, especially after my 2 young Jeff Corwin's unsettled the birth place. Crazy enough there was 3 younglings that survived out of that litter.

The boys have not shown any symptoms of Tularemia either...that we know of, unless symptoms include, not listening the first time, punching a sibling, and refusal to wear shirts and shoes at all times.

Flobots - NO HANDLE BARS

I know I have an obscure taste in music, and I'm fine with not listening to what is on any genre of popular radio today. So sometimes I think I'm all alone on the music I like, so I wanted to share some with the readers.

I found this band the other day, and I can't get the song out of my head.

I am sure Uncle Skipper will download the whole album on to his MP3 player and rock it down G-City's Main Street.

Pretty good message about today's world politics and the abuse of power, but that is a blog for another day.

Happy 7-7

I celebrated the 7th day of the 7th month by putting $37.77 worth of gas in my car. I admitted my addiction of all things 7 to someone over the weekend, and they thought I was obsessive compulsive...a little bit I suppose.

I know I am not the only person with this addiction to a number, I am just glad that gas prices are way down from a year ago when I put $77.77 worth of gas in the Expedition and our boat. I thought that was super cool...then I thought it was way to much to pay for gas.

6th of July Insomniac's Post.

I'm lying in bed writing this post...it's 12:30 a.m. and I should be exhausted, but all I can do is look out at the water, with the FULL moon shining on it. Our family played hard this weekend, and everyone else in the house is sleeping away.

Not me...thanks to my dad I am an insomniac. I sleep like 5 to 6 hours a night...so this is kind of my boring time, I don't want to be up and walking around the house doing things. I am afraid I would wake up the kids...so I lay here and try to fall asleep.

Most things I "try" to do I get pretty good at, but "trying to go to sleep" is one thing I have not become proficient at.

So that's it...probably the most boring post I have ever done here at the old blog. Anyway hope you all had a great 3rd of July, 4th of July, 5th of July and hope you are sleeping now that it is the 6th of July and you have to go to work in 8 hours.

Rockwell...

Thanks to Grandpa Bob for turning his backyard tree into a Norman Rockwell painting waiting to happen. Notice the "cape"...Maxim and Brecken ran around all day with their Superhero capes on.


We buy them thousands of dollars in toys in a lifetime, when all they need is a rope and a little help climbing a tree.


I think the only time our boys wore any type of shoes this weekend was to go to church on Sunday morning.

Mike and the Angel.

The real TV news looked like Entertainment Tonight last night with all the celebrity deaths. Charlie's Angels was a little before my memory of pop culture life began, but I do remember that Farah was hot and every woman tried to do their hair like her...some still do. Mike Jackson was more my era.

I'll never forget when Thriller came out. I think my cousin Brent had the record, we listened to it all the time at his house, and some of those songs are still on my MP3 player.

Here are my 3 favorite MJ songs...for the record anything he did after the BAD album is junk....after BAD was the Wacko-Jacko era.

(If you click on the name of the song you get the video from youtube.com.

#1 Billie Jean

#2 Smooth Criminal

#3 Dirty Diana

Pictures for a lifetime...

I am pretty sure we all have a few pictures that have been deemed "family classics". They are the ones that resurface at graduations, weddings, etc. We already have a couple of them in our family, and I think I have posted some here.

We got a couple more pictures in the last couple days, and as I was looking at pictures tonight I knew I needed to share 2 of them.

The first one was taken with my BlackBerry's camera, but it turned out really good...Kolby sitting in her car seat with the cool new sunflower hat that Grandma Penny got her. I love it when Steph wears hats, so it is natural that when Kolby put one on it would melt me.

The other one was a picture that Steph snapped of the boys "running away from home". I am pretty sure Maxim was the mastermind behind their life on the road, as he told Brecken, "Come on let's get out of here and run away." As you can tell he took his most important possessions in his right hand, that is a plastic tote full of Star Wars guys and Super Heroes.

Both of them in white t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops, ready for life on their own...if only it could be that easy.

They actually got pretty far before they turned around.

Old Summer Jobs

Do you ever long for your old summer job...you know the one you had in high school and college. I know a lot of folks who read this are still doing their old summer job, working on the farm, but I'm talking about the minimum wages, minimum work load summer job, that basically gave you gas money, Taco John's money and movie money.

This morning I had to run out to the baseball field to take a picture of some new signage that my company sponsored, and the field crew was out getting the diamond ready for a baseball clinic. I instantly got the desire to take my shirt off, and drive around the "tri-plex field groomer" and also a rake, not to mention mow the afternoon away in the outfield. Those were the days.

Then it was into the office at the electricity factory, and when I went to get my coffee, I ran into my old boss from the Water Department. What a great first summer job that was working for the water department with Bryan W. We logged miles on every street in Huron, went into some disgusting basements to change out meters, and weed whacked around fire hydrants.

One of the funniest stories ever to come out of that summer was on one of our first days, we were called on the city of Huron's 2-way radio frequency. You see the water department employees all had "call signs" like Doug T. was "W-4"...some other guy was "W-12"...etc. Well Bryan and I were out on assignment (whatever that was) and we hear over the radio "W-4 to W-dipsticks, you got a copy?" Bryan and I looked at each other and he smiled and said that must be us.

So I answered the call, "This is W-Dipsticks, go ahead." Little did I know that all city of Huron employees with a 2-way radio heard that...we were the "W-Dipsticks" for the rest of the year.

Yep, some days I would trade jobs with a guy mowing outfields in a second...as long as I could have my job back a little later.

"Stoke" Defined

Cousin Erkel and I went out in his Malibu last night...perfect night in the water, on the water and in the boat. After a couple sessions we ran over to the dock to pick up "the boys". My nephew Carson is in town for a few more days and he wanted to wakeboard.

He pulled on our Jr. sized board and I gave him all my coaching ability and within about 5 or 6 pulls he got up for about 50 meters. The smile he had on his face was amazing. He got back in the boat a short time later and was still just one big smile.

He talked about it for quite a bit in the boat.

That night he was on the phone with his mom telling her about how he wakeboarded, it may have only been 20 seconds, but it is what it is...I know the feeling it's what surfers call "stoked". You get this feeling that you don't get on dry land, and you spend your entire life thinking about when you can get that feeling again.

My new favorite baseball player is...

I guess in the back of my head I always thought my favorite Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was on the juice. He went from a real likable outfielder who hit 30 or 40 HR's a year to a guy that smacked out 60 and had a body that looked like the Statue of David.

Well, the report is out there...he failed a test in 2003, no big sup rise. Just another little dagger in baseball's back.

With that said, I would like to tell you about one of my new favorite baseball players.

He plays for the Huron Park and Recreation Coach Pitch White Sox and is number 77, because an older kid had 7 already. He turned 7 years old today, in the batter's box he has trouble with the low pitches, but he doesn't quit trying, and if you pitch one up around his shoulders he can really smack it, and he does it with a smile. He kind of hustles to first base, his mom works him over for not running fast...he'll catch on to that later.

He is good in the field and always thinks about his mechanics before he throws to first...he actually hurt his dad's hand the other day throwing the ball!

Congrats son you are my favorite baseball player, even if you play for the t-ball version of the other baseball team in Chicago...Happy Birthday

Liquid

For the last 4 days this blog has been perfectly named...at least for the rain that surrounded every moment of our weekend in Montana and our drive back to SD last night.

It rained pretty much the whole time we drove through Yellowstone.

I had some free time on Sunday so Steph and I went rock climbing east of Bozeman, only to get completely soaked and hailed on...I used my climbing rope bag as a helmet/rain coat so I could pick up all of our gear and not get pelted to death by the grape-sized hail. Then on the hike out I slipped on some mud and fell into a huge puddle and Steph got a good laugh out of that.

Then last night was the kicker...we drove with the windshield wipers on for 600 miles!

I can't tell you how ready for sunshine we both are!

Devill's Tower & Yellowstone National Park

A funny thing happened on the way to Kansas City...

First off I want to say that my wife is the most understanding person I know...aside from my folks who we pawned our kids off on for an extra day this weekend.

Steph's high school reunion has been on our planner for a few months now, and it happens tonight in the heart of downtown Kansas City at some trendy restaurant. A bunch of her girlfriends have been planning their reunion on facebook.com for a while, and I was looking forward to putting faces and names together, to go with all the stories that Steph tells me.

Thursday was going as planned until I got on a conference call, and it seems like a weird schedule of vacations, business travel and my willingness to do anything as an employee that could help the company landed me in Montana for the weekend and into Monday afternoon.

I called Steph and passed the news to her and she was excited. I was dumbfounded. She wanted to come with, and since we already had Grandma Penny and Grandpa Bob taking the boys and the Fasts looking after little Kolby it made total sense.

So we left yesterday, hiked around Devil's Tower, today we are hitting Yellstone NP (my company serves YNP and I have work to do in the park), we are also going to do some rock climbing in the area. Tomorrow morning we are climbing in the Bozeman area and I have to do a little work on Sunday, and then a bunch on Monday...then driving home.

Steph said she would rather hang out with me in the mountains and go rock climbing, hiking and do some shopping in Bozeman than go to some stuffy Kansas City reunion to listen to people brag about how great their life turned out.

I was totally ready to be MR. STEPHANIE DECKER/GLANZER for a weekend, but instead thanks to my super fun job, we get to tour around Montana....together this time. It's nice for me to travel with my wife for work...did I mention that our kids are back in SD? Boy we will miss them by Monday.

Passing of the Breck-Flu

You have heard of the the perils of the bird flu, the media has scared you with the swine flu...well, our friends and family experienced the Breck-Flu.

Here is how it went down...

Brecken was the initial human carrier, (we think he got this new strain of flu from a combination of handling dead animals, wiping his nose on his shirts, eating grapes off the floor, drinking water from our well, and a scrape on his knee he received while skateboarding).

Brecken passed the bug to Maxim, Maxim passed the bug to Kolby, Kolby passed the bug to Stephanie, Stephanie passed it to me, in the mean time we also knocked out Jerad and Angie Fast as they spent time at our house on Saturday night while Maxim was infected and in bed...in the mean time Grandma Penny and Grandpa Bob also got the 24 hour knock down from the Breck-Flu.

So to keep from anyone in our house getting sick again we are going to enforce a medical glove and mask policy for all visitors, or we will just use video conference to invite folks over from now on!

Thanks Brecken!

Saturday In Pictures

Here was our Saturday in pictures...except for the part where I worked for 7 hours on a retaining wall project in the yard.

Brats on the grill, perfect day at the lake.

Grandpa and his vaqueros taming the Old West.

Maxim riding all by himself. (notice the look of fear in Cookie's eyes)

Brecken and his "Buckle Bunny" Kolby getting her first riding lesson, and not really enjoying any of it.


Brecken and Grandpa driving the "tractor".

We capped it off with ice cream at Zesto...no pictures of that.

Wrapping Up May Birthdays

Today is the day we celebrate my cousin Jon's birthday...as I blogged about before May is a busy month for our family and extended family as far as birthday's are concerned.

Jon's, which is today, puts the end to our run which averaged about 2 per week.

So Happy Birthday to the guy that was basically the brother I never got from my parents. Jon and I have stories upon stories to tell our boys about things we did when we were young.

Here is one...I don't even know if Jon remembers this or not...we must have been about 10 or so, and I saw the Lone Ranger movie, and in the movie the Lone Ranger and Tonto cut their hands and shake hands to become blood brothers (long before the HIV epidemic). I always thought it would be cool to have a brother...Jon has 2 so this wouldn't have been a big deal to him...so my only alternative was to have a blood brother.

I don't remember the circumstances of how both of us were bleeding at the same time, (which probably happened more than once), but we both had little tiny cuts on our fingers and we mashed the tiny splattering of blood together to officially become brothers of blood.

So Happy Birthday to my Blood Brother...how's that for an obscure childhood memory?

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend as our friends from Sioux Falls came to the lake for a little Summer Kick Off party.

The kids lived on the trampoline and had a blast...I think 11pm was the average bedtime for all of them.

This picture below of Brecken pretty much sums up his Memorial Day Weekend...I have 4 or 5 pictures of him from the weekend and he has a soda in his hands in each picture. He has been cut off and is now going through withdrawal.

Maxim picked today's video...

Maxim loves Ben 10 Alien and he wanted to choose today's video post, he chose this video from youtube.

Someday I'll make him type something into the blog...sorry it's been a while. Lots of travel and a super fun holiday weekend.

My Little SDSU Cheerleader...and another birthday.

Steph sent me this picture of Kolby in her SDSU cheerleader outfit today...I'm in Nebraska and she broke my heart that I couldn't give her a big hug and kiss.

I'm not sure she'll be the cheerleader type, but with Brecken and Maxim for brothers she might be the cheerleader that is always the one to be thrown up into the air doing cool stunts...we just have to make sure that they don't practice with her until she is at least 10.

OH YEAH...and Happy Birthday Uncle Lynn!

Spray Paint + Brecken = Graffiti

I was marking the ground where we are going to build a retaining wall the other day, and must have left the neon yellow spray paint sitting on the steps.

On Thursday Steph was in Sioux Falls and I was on vacation to babysit the kids...Kolby was crying and needing to be fed, so I sent the boys outside for a few hours. I hadn't seen them run by any windows so I was a little bit nervous as to what they were up to.

Then like clockwork I saw Maxim and there was Brecken right behind him carrying the spray paint...and before I could figure out what he was doing with it, he started to paint the outdoor fire place.

I jumped up and yelled at them to stop, and lucky for me I caught him before he did any damage! I said, "Brecken, no, no, no, you don't play with the paint."

Then Maxim the consummate professional big brother said, "Yeah, dad I told him to quit painting everything."

So my walk around the house started. You know those Family Circus cartoons where they show the neighborhood and the path that Billy took to do something...well, we have that path in neon yellow.

Concrete steps, landscape timbers, sidewalks, grass, landscape rocks, a bench in the front of the house, and the thing that took the most beating was a little car that the kids can wheel around in...all of it, tagged by the great graffiti master Brecken.

He didn't hit the house or his sister, or anything real noticeable...so we got lucky. I have a feeling we might find a few other things that were tagged. I did notice this morning, when I was cleaning out the dog kennel, that my scoop shovel is now a lot easier to tell from other people's scoop shovels thanks to the yellow paint.

Some people write their names on their property, Brecken just color codes his property.

Another Birthday...Cassidy Bay.

Cassidy turns 14 today...that means she can somewhat drive a car in Kansas...in South Dakota I think she can test for a CDL to drive a semi...we make kids grow up a bit quicker in SD.

Happy Birthday and now you can get a Facebook page right?

Here is a little video of me basically being mean to Cassidy while we were on vacation over Christmas.

One thing folks might not know about Cassidy is that she is pretty quick with her tongue, and very funny...she keeps me on my toes and I like to mess with her.

I so want to fly on this guys planes.

I guess it was only a matter of time before someone realized that nobody pays any attention to their flight attendent's little manifesto prior to take off, so this guy gets it and I am sure everyone got the point.

Kindergarten Graduation

Maxim's kindergarten graduation ceremony was last night, held in conjunction with the spring concert. He wore the little cap and gown and everything...I'll post pictures later.

This morning when Steph went to wake him up for school, he thought she was joking. "I don't have school anymore mom, I graduated."

She tried to convince him that it was a ceremony and that he has school for another few days. He wouldn't buy it. I was still in bed, and he comes in and jumps on me and says, "Mommy says I have to go to school today...tell her I graduated."

I then explained to him that he has to go until Wednesday...he cried.

I dropped him off at the playground and he was surprised to see a bunch of kids at school, so he grabbed his backpack and said, "I guess I'll see you later."

Yeah Maxim, like the last week of school for a kindergartner is real tough...ice cream parties, field trips, recess...just wait until summer vacation starts, I have a job for you hauling landscaping rocks around our yard, that I want done before Memorial Day Weekend. Oh wait, it was kindergarten graduation not 8th grad graduation, I got ahead of myself there.

MAY this be birthday month...

I was talking to a good friend of mine yesterday, and I asked him his when his daughter's birthday was...he thought for a moment, whipped out his BlackBerry opened his calendar and then told me.

I was glad to know that I'm not the only one that needs a BlackBerry to remember important dates, like your wife and children's birthdays.

May is a busy month for our family as far as birthday's go. It starts with Roger and ends with Dr. Jon...Here is today's big celebration.

Happy b-day to my niece Avery!

Cinco De Rogero.

Happy Birthday to my father-in-law...59 again?

Here is a photo that I took of Roger last year...a man, a dog, on his land...and his shotgun is not pointed at his son-in-law.

The Blog About Bob.

My dad got blogged about by the President of his Alma Mater...read about it here.

He claims he's really famous now that he made the Tabor College blog site.

BPM

I heard this story on National Public Radio about a bird that dances to the actual beat of a song by the Backstreet Boys. If they speed it up, he speeds up his routine, and if they slow it down...he hears the tempo and slows down his routine. It made me wonder, if a plain and simple bird, a Cockatoo can keep the beat to a song, why can't all humans?

As a drummer I often watch how the music I'm playing moves people. I would say, as a general statement, that the majority of mid-western men can't keep a beat. I would also say that most women can instantly recoginize when they should clap or at what speed they should dance/or bob their head. Which makes me wonder why more girls don't play the drums...Kolby will be forced to play the drums...because if you remember from a post back in 2007 Maxim wants to play the flute.

I worry about Brecken playing the drums...I have a feeling it would end up being a rerun of Animal from the Muppet Show...anyway here is the video.

Sick of the swine flu.

Maybe I watch too much CNN, but I am already sick of hearing about the swine flu...I can listen to ESPN talk about A-Rod's steroid use for months, but if I hear one more story about the pig flu I'm going to start wearing a mask everywhere I go.

I actually don't think it is CNN's fault though, I trust that CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta is telling me things I really need to know about how to keep from being the first South Dakotan to acquire the latest fashion in mutated flu bugs.

Funny thing is...Jack Cafferty might agree with me, that the swine flu coverage is a little overblown at this point.

I actually blame my sickness of the new sickness on our local CBS affiliate, a couple of the reporters think they have their physician degree from the University of Phoenix Online, because the fire and brimstone that they have delivered over the last couple of days has me worried to leave the lake. Very similar to the way their meteorologist have you looking for shelter in the basement when it gets cloudy in July.

I have an idea, let the national networks worry about the swine flu, and the locals worry about flooding, local city government, and the Scotty Friesen Wedding coverage.

End of an Era.

Everyone knows my cousin Scott...he has the personality of a politician without all the bad traits. When he walks into a building, everyone knows him, or will by the end of the night. He's that kind of guy...everyone's friend.

Well, Scooter is getting married this weekend, and I couldn't be more proud of him. He kind of followed in my footsteps, too...as he is marrying a gal named "Steph".

So the clan will be together this weekend to celebrate, and I am sure Uncle Skipper has something planned, that is if his wife let's him pull his Shenanigans.

I wasn't sure the bachelor would ever settle down, and it almost took 40 years, but this is the big weekend. So when you hear the crowd cheering and engines revving on Saturday know that they are celebrating Scott and Steph's wedding vows.

I leave you with Scott's latest "gangsta picture" that he sent to me. Although he looks dangerous in the photograph....it is not really that gangster, to throw up a peace sign, in front of a Hallmark display at a Wal-Mart...but hey, were from the 605 what do you expect?

Been Watching You...

I know that as a father, your kids are watching everything you do, and usually right in the middle of everything you are trying to do. Most of the time that is OK, but this weekend I was setting some of the final tiles on the steps. (yes, there was still some tile to be set...notice I said FINAL)

Laying tile is kind of a "concentration type job" as once you set it, it is there for life, so you don't want to mess anything up, and it seems Brecken wanted to be there for the historic moment of Daddy finally finishing the tile.

He was crawling on me, and messing with my tools, and pretty much in the way. Steph noticed this and said, "Brecken will you help me with the laundry?" His little bottom lip pushed out and you could tell he was pretty hurt that daddy really didn't need his help. In a split second, this whole Rodney Atkins song went through my head, and I whispered in Brecken ear, "you tell mommy you can't, because you are busy helping daddy."

He stood up and said, "Mommy, I can't, I help daddy!"

I gave him some orders on how to help me, and he did them just like I asked. I went out to cut some tile, and didn't see him for a minute.

Then I saw what he was up to. He was asking for his "lizard hat" and a pencil...and a tape measure. It was one of those moments when you realize how important it is to be a good example to your kids.

Steph took a couple of pictures and it made my day to see my "little bear" doing everything I did.

For the record, I changed Kolby's diaper that day and fed her as well, and Maxim and I went out for a great kayak trip, and then fished for an hour or so while Brecken slept. This 3 kid thing is work.

Here is the "Watching You" song by Rodney Atkins.

Stage Presence

Maxim's school had their Spring Speech Festival on Friday, and Maxim did a version of "Hickory Dickory Dock". We worked on his delivery and I told him about stage presence, and how to work the crowd.

I think he nailed his performance, not sure where he got the "bow" from? Must have got that from the Decker side!

I was not the first fool in the water!

All this talk in the news about waterboarding has me itching to get my boat and wakeboard out on the water. Waterboarding has a dual meaning in our family...one lazy summer day my folks were out at the house and a boat went by pulling a wakeboarder and Grandpa Bob said, "that guy is waterboarding."

We got a good laugh, and every now and then Steph and I will talk about going "waterboarding".

On Tuesday night we enjoyed the first night of yard work. There was a bunch of guys fishing right by our dock and we were working on the lake side of the house. I was coming around the corner of the house, when Steph told me not to look at the lake. Of course I did. A couple guys were out there riding...I hope they had wetsuits on. We could actually hear them scream from about a half mile away when they would jump in the water for the first time.

Yard work now...Play In May!

Spellcheck?

Looks like the Washington Nationals are trying to watch their budget in these tough economic times as well...as they could only afford to put 8 letters on their jersey. Either that or the local Huron Newspaper did their proof reading.

Summer is here.

We put up the trampoline tonight...which means that winter is over.

That doesn't mean we won't get another snow, or 10 inches of rain in 2 hours, or a 70 mph wind storm, but it does mean we can lock the boys in the octagon for some cage fighting.

Kolby Cries For Her Daddy!

Steph has left me alone with Kolby 3 times now since she was whelped a couple months ago. Don't get me wrong this little girl is an ANGEL most of the time, except when it is time for daddy to be the sole-caregiver for her and her brothers.

Last night I got home from Pierre at 6:30, and Steph left for town soon after to pick up Maxim.

That left the ever-energetic Brecken and the soft and cuddly Kolby in the care of their extremely road-weary daddy.

Brecken proceeded to scream the words "Pizza Monster" like a madman while eating some pizza, and Kolby woke up soon after that hungry. I fed her and changed her and did everything you are supposed to do, but she started crying, and kept crying for almost 3 hours...until about 5 minutes before Steph got home.

She did this exact same thing a couple weeks ago...cried the whole time Steph was gone, and then quit about 10 minutes before she got home.

A friend of ours told me she cries for me, because I don't smell like Stephanie, and that I should wear or hold a shirt of Steph's while she is gone and I am trying to comfort her. I would be afraid to answer the phone if I was wearing my wife's shirt let alone if someone would happen to come to the door.

I'll deal with the crying...it can't last forever?

Happy Birthday - HO-DADDY!

Brecken turns 3 today...hard to believe the little Hulkster has only been 2 for one year. We think his terrible 2's lasted for about 2.5 years, and are still going.

We celebrated his birthday for 5 days...and he is still not tired.

Here is a picture of Grandma Penny and all of her boys (the one in the grey hat has the look in his eye doesn't he?).

Happy Easter.

Easter is the day when you want to dress your kids in spring clothes for church, but the weather says, "not quite yet".


Our family celebrated Easter by wearing flip flops to church...no shorts yet...sorry Grandma Reece, we will wear the cool shorts you bought the boys a little later in the month.


We also celebrated Brecken's 3rd Birthday this week...like 4 days worth of party!


Today was the big present and cake day...here are some photos from our Easter/Brecken Birthday Extravaganza!

YES...YOU ARE AT THE RIGHT SITE!!!

3 years of blogging on the same template, and I decided to change it up...nothing drastic, just a little spring cleaning.

Like Penny commented, if something is missing that you really liked on the site before, let me know and I'll bring it back.

I'm just here to serve.

School Lunch Program

I ate with Maxim at his school this afternoon. I forgot how much fun the lunch room is when you are in grade school.

Chicken strips, mashed potatoes, corn, pears, a bun and some typically-somewhat-warm 2% white milk, all for a couple bucks. (I think school lunch programs is what caused me to put ice in my milk...both Steph and I can't stand milk that isn't next to freezing.)

Maxim and his best friend Moses ate like champs, and I only had to tell them 4 or 5 times to settle down. I was leery of being "that dad" and going to school to eat with him, hoping he wouldn't be embarrassed, but we had a blast with all the kids at his table.

Here is the commemorative photo of the event...Moses and Maxim.

Kolby being Kolby.

A night as a waiter...

James Valley has a fund raiser event each year that is a dinner theatre format...think the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in Minneapolis, but with farmers and house wives doing the acting. Which actually makes this dinner theatre better than the ones in big cities.

Steph and I volunteered to help as wait-staff for the last night of the event. We were assigned our 3 tables, and I was pleased to notice that one of our tables was Steph's family and a couple other families I know, and then my boy Chris H. and some other folks were at another, so I was in for a good night of fun...and my first ever waiter experience.

I was doing great, and hadn't ticked anyone off or spilled coffee, when I heard from a table behind me, "hey boy, get me some coffee...", or something to that effect.

"Hello, Verlie." I said in my best Jerry Seinfeld to Newman voice.

Looks like "VJ the Great" got his tickets a bit late and ended up in the back row, but in just the right place to give me a hard time all night long. For the record, his wife was a pleasure to be around as she always is, but Verlie must have forgotten this was a "high class event".

He hounded me all night, and even threatened to write bad things on the blog if I didn't take care of him, so for about 5 minutes I tried to do what he wanted, then I thought, "Wait, he complains about me all the time on this website anyway so why should I be nice to him?". So I spent the rest of the night giving him a hard time.

I finished the night without spilling a drop of coffee, water or anyone's food, so it was a success, and I think Verlie had a good time as well. Next year I will request a different area to serve, or maybe I will actually request Verlie's table.

Obama's first "_____gate".

I guess a little hug has led to the Obama's first international public relations problem...here is a little news story about "HUGGATE". Leave it to the Brits to get upset about something like this.

By the way, if the networks start using that word (huggate)...know that I just invented the word...they better give me credit.