This picture pretty much sums up what we will be up to.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Happy 4th of July Week.
Probably won't post much this week, but hope you have a safe and fun 4th of July. If you are on the lake stop by to say "hi". If you come by on the land locked side of the house at the right time you might even get watermelon and a burnt hot dog.
This picture pretty much sums up what we will be up to.
This picture pretty much sums up what we will be up to.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
He's 9.
Hard to believe that on June 17, 2002 Steph and I had no children, we lived in our brand new house on the west side of Sioux Falls, and I was still working in TV. Then that afternoon it all changed. Maxim Thomas was born.Maxim changed my life, and it is safe to say he will change the life of most everyone that he is around. Steph and I were always amazed at the care, love and heart that he has for people, and now that he is older and away from us more, we get unsolicited reports back about how good of a kid he is, and how nice he is.
He has a super gentle spirit, and he can make my day brighter with his smile and hug. Well, he is 9 now and to celebrate he wanted a week of birthday parties, we negotiated down to just 2 parties. Last night was the first with our family and a few people who might as well be family. I think the party broke up at 11:30 p.m. while Steph took 30 minutes to cleaned up, he put together a 250 Star Wars lego. We think it might be a record. Then to cap off the night the birthday boy and I sat on the couch and watched X-Men: Wolverine until about 1:30 A.M. when I fell asleep...he was wide awake.
He slept in his favorite spot on the couch with the SDSU Jackrabbits blanket.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
To The Man In The Flag Bandana....
Dear Mr. Flag Bandanna and Backpack Runner Guy,
Yesterday afternoon as I was about 3 blocks into my 4 mile run through the quiet blocks of Huron's west side neighborhoods you overtook me with a running pace that most 17 year old cross country runners would be drooling over. I have no idea where you came from, but there you were on the other side of the road, startling me and then waving and flying by at your 7.5 mph pace.
I could make up excuses of why you, at your age, overtook me sooooo easily...I was still getting into my stride, I really hadn't been feeling too good yesterday, I was carrying extra technology (an iPod, a heart rate monitor and watch, and my keycard that lets me back into the building) that made me heavier by at least 24 ounces...but really you just smoked by me and smiled and waved.
Then I took notice of what you had on...it was flag day yesterday and to celebrate you had a bandanna on your head that was designed like a flag...cool, I'll give you that, I have been known to rock a bandanna now that I am a long hair. The other thing that totally wipes out my thoughts in the above paragraph...I thought I was carrying extra stuff, you were rocking a backpack. I assume it was a "hydration-style" back pack, but in the mesh carrying compartment I could see a cell phone, maybe some keys, I think I saw a baseball hat, and a copy of War and Peace...along with a gallon of water.
So what did this do to me? Well, first off I realized my pace was pretty weak and I should have stepped it up a bit, so I did, and you never were more than a block and a half in front of me on the entire route, which by the way is MY route and I found it first so no more passing me on MY route, if I want to have a slack run I should be able to enjoy it alone, not have some uberfit older guy sprint past me with his American flag bandanna waving to me in the dust....only to make me run faster and get in better shape.
When I did finally catch you around the Roger Kasa Baseball fields it was nice to exchange pleasantries with you...it went like this.
(Mr. Flag Bandana was now walking at a slow pace)
TOM: Hey good day for a run? So now you are walking so you can pass me in a block or 2 again?
FLAG BANDANNA DUDE: Naw you are good, I'm just cooling down, almost done...hey, keep at it, have a good one!
I enjoyed our little exchange and got a little jump in my stride for the next block or so, well...at least until I felt like he wasn't watching me anymore, then I kicked it back down to my 6 mph stride/jog.
In all reality it was nice to see someone else out running (and out running me)...and it is only the 3rd person in 4 years I have encountered running on the streets of Huron, besides the time I ran into the entire Huron High School cross country team and as we met they all wanted to high 5 me...that was cool.
Well I'll be out again today at about the same time, same route...I'll wave when you go past.
Yesterday afternoon as I was about 3 blocks into my 4 mile run through the quiet blocks of Huron's west side neighborhoods you overtook me with a running pace that most 17 year old cross country runners would be drooling over. I have no idea where you came from, but there you were on the other side of the road, startling me and then waving and flying by at your 7.5 mph pace.
I could make up excuses of why you, at your age, overtook me sooooo easily...I was still getting into my stride, I really hadn't been feeling too good yesterday, I was carrying extra technology (an iPod, a heart rate monitor and watch, and my keycard that lets me back into the building) that made me heavier by at least 24 ounces...but really you just smoked by me and smiled and waved.
Then I took notice of what you had on...it was flag day yesterday and to celebrate you had a bandanna on your head that was designed like a flag...cool, I'll give you that, I have been known to rock a bandanna now that I am a long hair. The other thing that totally wipes out my thoughts in the above paragraph...I thought I was carrying extra stuff, you were rocking a backpack. I assume it was a "hydration-style" back pack, but in the mesh carrying compartment I could see a cell phone, maybe some keys, I think I saw a baseball hat, and a copy of War and Peace...along with a gallon of water.
So what did this do to me? Well, first off I realized my pace was pretty weak and I should have stepped it up a bit, so I did, and you never were more than a block and a half in front of me on the entire route, which by the way is MY route and I found it first so no more passing me on MY route, if I want to have a slack run I should be able to enjoy it alone, not have some uberfit older guy sprint past me with his American flag bandanna waving to me in the dust....only to make me run faster and get in better shape.
When I did finally catch you around the Roger Kasa Baseball fields it was nice to exchange pleasantries with you...it went like this.
(Mr. Flag Bandana was now walking at a slow pace)
TOM: Hey good day for a run? So now you are walking so you can pass me in a block or 2 again?
FLAG BANDANNA DUDE: Naw you are good, I'm just cooling down, almost done...hey, keep at it, have a good one!
I enjoyed our little exchange and got a little jump in my stride for the next block or so, well...at least until I felt like he wasn't watching me anymore, then I kicked it back down to my 6 mph stride/jog.
In all reality it was nice to see someone else out running (and out running me)...and it is only the 3rd person in 4 years I have encountered running on the streets of Huron, besides the time I ran into the entire Huron High School cross country team and as we met they all wanted to high 5 me...that was cool.
Well I'll be out again today at about the same time, same route...I'll wave when you go past.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 09, 2011
We are going mobile...
If you are reading the Living On Liquid / LakeHaus Productions blog on a mobile device we made things a bit easier for you.
After 5 years of publishing and over 52,000 hits we have realized that people read this blog while in cars, in school, during meetings and yep, even in the bathroom. So that means a lot of you are hitting us up on your phone. So now when you click into Living On Liquid / LakeHaus Productions on your iPhone, BlackBerry or Droid-based OS...we SHOULD come up a little cleaner and easier to read on your smaller screen.
Just another way we take care of you...making it more convenient to read our boring blogs when you should be listening to the guy reading, word for word, the PowerPoint at the front of the room.
After 5 years of publishing and over 52,000 hits we have realized that people read this blog while in cars, in school, during meetings and yep, even in the bathroom. So that means a lot of you are hitting us up on your phone. So now when you click into Living On Liquid / LakeHaus Productions on your iPhone, BlackBerry or Droid-based OS...we SHOULD come up a little cleaner and easier to read on your smaller screen.
Just another way we take care of you...making it more convenient to read our boring blogs when you should be listening to the guy reading, word for word, the PowerPoint at the front of the room.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Boat Photo Shoot
I wish I could say that Moomba Boats hired me for a photo shoot...or any boat company for that matter...but this picture was actually taken with my BlackBerry while I was in the water with a life jacket, swimming with one arm while not letting the phone get wet.
I snapped a few, (did I mention this was taken with my phone?) and then final edited this picture...no this wasn't taken in the night or evening, 3:00 p.m...full sunlight. Proving what I have told many people...an expensive camera doesn't make a person a professional photographer. (AND For that matter a great wakeboard boat doesn't make a great wakeboarder!)
I snapped a few, (did I mention this was taken with my phone?) and then final edited this picture...no this wasn't taken in the night or evening, 3:00 p.m...full sunlight. Proving what I have told many people...an expensive camera doesn't make a person a professional photographer. (AND For that matter a great wakeboard boat doesn't make a great wakeboarder!)
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Riding In Cars With Kids.
Steph, Maxim, Brecken, Meatball (more on that later) and I piled in the car on Saturday after shooting a wedding and headed south to Hesston, KS to see my sister and her family and bring home my 16 year old niece. The tailwind was great and we pushed 22 mpg in the Expedition all the way down..that was THE enjoyable part of the drive down.
After listening to 4 movies the kids were watching, one of them 2 times, listening to Brecken ask every question 5 times, witnessing him eat everything in the car, and watching Maxim run the battery in his iPod down 3 times...we rolled into H-town around 1:30 AM and it was party time. Meatball (AKA Kolby) and Maxim were up until 4:30 AM and they were loud and rambunctious. We didn't sleep too much that night.
Went to church at Rev. Brad's and Sally called us out during "sharing time"...Sally with a microphone to the rest of the church throws me under the bus...
"this is my brother Tom and his family from South Dakota...they haven't been down to see us for 7 years."
OK I know it was a while, but after the last drive it might be another 7!
Sunday afternoon we went swimming at some friends of the family...beautiful pool and property and the kids loved it. Hit Applebees in the evening and had a delightful time with the Burkholders.
Monday we packed up Cassidy and the kids and headed to Omaha for a halfway stop and to see Steph's brother's family...more of the same as far as movies, and yapping. Brecken at one point had the quote of the day, "Mom, I am hungry AND sweaty." We laughed at that one for a while.
We finally rolled to the WESTSIDE of the lake around Tuesday night, and the kids all crashed out right away...Steph and I watched the NBA Finals and went to bed.
MEATBALL Explained.
Uncle Brad = FUN
He loves to make the kids laugh and run. He and Kolby hit it off pretty quick, and when you are Uncle Brad's favorite you get a nickname...not sure where it came from but Kolby was "Meatball" for the weekend. She would say, "I not Meatball, I Kolby Capri." Pretty sure in Uncle Brad's eyes she will be Meatball for life.
After listening to 4 movies the kids were watching, one of them 2 times, listening to Brecken ask every question 5 times, witnessing him eat everything in the car, and watching Maxim run the battery in his iPod down 3 times...we rolled into H-town around 1:30 AM and it was party time. Meatball (AKA Kolby) and Maxim were up until 4:30 AM and they were loud and rambunctious. We didn't sleep too much that night.
Went to church at Rev. Brad's and Sally called us out during "sharing time"...Sally with a microphone to the rest of the church throws me under the bus...
"this is my brother Tom and his family from South Dakota...they haven't been down to see us for 7 years."
OK I know it was a while, but after the last drive it might be another 7!
Sunday afternoon we went swimming at some friends of the family...beautiful pool and property and the kids loved it. Hit Applebees in the evening and had a delightful time with the Burkholders.
Monday we packed up Cassidy and the kids and headed to Omaha for a halfway stop and to see Steph's brother's family...more of the same as far as movies, and yapping. Brecken at one point had the quote of the day, "Mom, I am hungry AND sweaty." We laughed at that one for a while.
We finally rolled to the WESTSIDE of the lake around Tuesday night, and the kids all crashed out right away...Steph and I watched the NBA Finals and went to bed.
MEATBALL Explained.
Uncle Brad = FUN
He loves to make the kids laugh and run. He and Kolby hit it off pretty quick, and when you are Uncle Brad's favorite you get a nickname...not sure where it came from but Kolby was "Meatball" for the weekend. She would say, "I not Meatball, I Kolby Capri." Pretty sure in Uncle Brad's eyes she will be Meatball for life.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Reading On The Phone.
I'm in Montana for work and in the evenings I basically work out at the "Y" and then watch full sporting events in my hotel room without interruption from HGTV, DIY or DISNEY Channel.
Tonight after I worked out I called Steph...thinking that the kids would be asleep, but Maxim was awake reading one of his new library books to Steph. He asked me in the kindest voice if I wanted him to read to me. "Of course I said."
Let me just tell you there is nothing like listening to your child read to you, especially on speaker phone when you have been traveling for work all week. Shortest 30 minute call I have ever been on!
Home Thursday night!
Tonight after I worked out I called Steph...thinking that the kids would be asleep, but Maxim was awake reading one of his new library books to Steph. He asked me in the kindest voice if I wanted him to read to me. "Of course I said."
Let me just tell you there is nothing like listening to your child read to you, especially on speaker phone when you have been traveling for work all week. Shortest 30 minute call I have ever been on!
Home Thursday night!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Friday, May 06, 2011
Cool Glass
If you know me at all, you know I am a gadget/tech hound...our IT Department at the office knows this and sometimes asks me for help on things...or asks me to test products to use later for mass consumption.
So naturally when my buddy Studer sent me this video, I was drooling for the entire 5 minutes.
One thing that still ticks me off, is that in the future we are supposed to have flying cars...INVENT THE FLYING CARS ALREADY!
So naturally when my buddy Studer sent me this video, I was drooling for the entire 5 minutes.
One thing that still ticks me off, is that in the future we are supposed to have flying cars...INVENT THE FLYING CARS ALREADY!
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Spring = 2 Days
I know, I know, I know...don't complain about things that only God can change, but enough with the cold Spring already. I am pretty sure that crummy weather makes me blog less too.
I think we had one day about 3 weeks ago where it was 60 and then last night it was about 55 without the 55 MPH wind so that felt like 80.
School gets out in 2 weeks for Maxim and 3 weeks for Brecken and all they can think about is SUMMER...but when will it come, we are still waiting for it's good friend Spring and it is already May 4.
CINCO DE ROGERIO...that brings me to my next point...happy birthday Grandpa Roger. The family will eat at a Mexican restaurant tomorrow in celebration of your birthday on Cinco de Mayo.
I think we had one day about 3 weeks ago where it was 60 and then last night it was about 55 without the 55 MPH wind so that felt like 80.
School gets out in 2 weeks for Maxim and 3 weeks for Brecken and all they can think about is SUMMER...but when will it come, we are still waiting for it's good friend Spring and it is already May 4.
CINCO DE ROGERIO...that brings me to my next point...happy birthday Grandpa Roger. The family will eat at a Mexican restaurant tomorrow in celebration of your birthday on Cinco de Mayo.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Lake Byron's First Swimmers
After 37 straight days of snow and or rain and no sunshine, the sun came out on Saturday...for like an hour. We went right outside to soak it up and the boys went right to the dock to play by the water.
Maxim begged and begged his mom to let him go swimming...she said "no" a bunch, then she said, "I don't care...go get your swimming suits."
Water freezes at 32 degrees, I am assuming the water temp was 38, but both boys ran into the house got their swimming suits and started to enjoy the dock, their water guns and they got their feet wet.
Then Maxim got brave...he got waist deep and learned the power of cold water...he screamed, and then wondered why his mom "made" him go swimming. I think they will wait for a few days before they go again.
But Easter Sunday the boys were out in the kayak for about an hour while Steph and I did our yearly shoreline clean up...which involved 2 stinky dead carp this year.
Oh yeah, Kolby slept the whole time this was going on.
Maxim begged and begged his mom to let him go swimming...she said "no" a bunch, then she said, "I don't care...go get your swimming suits."
Water freezes at 32 degrees, I am assuming the water temp was 38, but both boys ran into the house got their swimming suits and started to enjoy the dock, their water guns and they got their feet wet.
Then Maxim got brave...he got waist deep and learned the power of cold water...he screamed, and then wondered why his mom "made" him go swimming. I think they will wait for a few days before they go again.
But Easter Sunday the boys were out in the kayak for about an hour while Steph and I did our yearly shoreline clean up...which involved 2 stinky dead carp this year.
Oh yeah, Kolby slept the whole time this was going on.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
He's a handful.
Brecken turned 5 today...when Steph showed him that he can finally pop his thumb out to show folks how old he is, with all the fingers on one hand extended, he said, "I'm a handful!" Yes, little buddy, you are a handful...in more ways than one.Last night we drove to Mitchell with Grandpa Bob to pick up his big present...a kayak. Today the kayak is in the living room and he and Kolby have been paddling around all morning.
He's not as bad as we make him sound it's just that his motor never stops running, unless he is crashed out in bed, and even then he still moves more than any normal sleeping person. The other thing that makes him a challenge is that his motor runs way longer than ours does...think Energizer Bunny here.
Call it middle child syndrome or just the fact that he has some of his dad in him, but if full-body motion is involved and the spotlight is on Brecken, the world is right. Well, today the spotlight is on him. Happy Birthday, Brecken!
Monday, April 11, 2011
I'm running....
Sunday was day 2 of the dreary and misty weekend so the kids were getting a bit bored with going out side in their rain gear and then coming inside and cleaning up, so I said...put on your sweat suits and running shoes, we are gonna run a mile.
I really didn't know how this would go...do kids run...will they quit and I'll have to carry them back...will they be faster than me? All legit questions, right?
Well, we took off, with Kia the wonder dog on the leash. (Side note: if you want the kids to enjoy running take your dog with!) They loved it and Maxim blew past Brecken and I and didn't look back...he was at least 600 yards in front of poor little-legged Brecken. Breck was basically in a full sprint the whole time and was pretty tired last night.
So I might take them out tonight too. P90x in the morning with Steph, 3 mile run over the noon hour and a mile at night with the boys...how am I still a fat tub of goo?
I really didn't know how this would go...do kids run...will they quit and I'll have to carry them back...will they be faster than me? All legit questions, right?
Well, we took off, with Kia the wonder dog on the leash. (Side note: if you want the kids to enjoy running take your dog with!) They loved it and Maxim blew past Brecken and I and didn't look back...he was at least 600 yards in front of poor little-legged Brecken. Breck was basically in a full sprint the whole time and was pretty tired last night.
So I might take them out tonight too. P90x in the morning with Steph, 3 mile run over the noon hour and a mile at night with the boys...how am I still a fat tub of goo?
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
LakeHaus Productions...Going Coastal.
For those of you involved or interested there is a lot of non-wedding shots posted to my Flickr site....on the right hand side of this website you can see the photo stream...just click on those pictures and you will be taken to LakeHaus Production's Flickr page
Saturday, April 02, 2011
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