Father's Day tradition

Last year, I decided that for a gift I would give myself time with my kids. As we went to the zoo last year, I decided to take them to the Living Planet Aquarium. Sharadee took the day off as well and joined us and we had a lot of fun.

Tigger liked the sea turtles more than the Caimans in this tank. He had a lot of fun running after his sister.

"I've got my eye on you!" Kanga at the other side of the Caiman tank

They both thought the shark tunnel and tank were pretty awesome, but I couldn't get a good picture of both of them. They kept screwing around. Dang kids!!

Roo (living up to his pseudonym) waved at all the fish from Angels' front pack. He was fearless and adorable.

What is not shown is that this megalodon jaws was sponsored by  a dental office. I like the kids' faces in this one.

Kanga had no problem with this. Tigger didn't think he would have a problem but then did. Not surprising.

I love getting out with my family and we had a lot of fun looking at all the fish and animals. The last time we went they were in a remodeled supermarket, which they did great things with. Now, they have their own building that is, for lack of a better term, awesome. They have expanded and had a lot of cool areas including local fish and animals. There were some good activities including a 4D short movie. Roo didn't like getting sprayed in the face with water, but he was very curious about the giant moving pictures, even if they were out focus (he wouldn't wear the glasses). We had dinner at Firehouse Pizzeria and enjoyed a nice evening.

In addition taking the kids to the aquarium Angel also got me two gifts. She had been holding onto one of them for about six months apparently - an extended battery for my phone. The other was the complete America's Test Kitchen cookbook. I've already made cream cheese brownies and sugar cookies from it and found both really good.

For another year I am very happy to be a dad and I love me three children very much. It's exciting and terrifying to see them growing up.

They did some worksheets at church this year and they were as enjoyable as last year.

Kanga:

My Dad is _31_ years old. (plus or minus a year)
My dad is really strong, he can lift a _10 pound baby_. (Roo is getting bigger, so I might be able to life a 15 pound baby soon.)
My dad's favorite color is _red & yellow_ (although it looks like she wrote "red 8, yellow," like the dye).
My dad's favorite food is _lasagna _. (and she spelled it "lavonua." Wish I could say I spell it better.)
My dad always says, "_do you know I love you_", (She usually answers "yes")

My dad is the best at _everything_. (Shhhhhh. Don't tell her the truth.)
My dad's job is _answering questions_. (Yup, she know my job.)
My dad laughs when _my baby brother laughs_. (It's hard not to.)
If my dad had time, he would love to _eat a lot of lasagna_. (Can't say no to that.)
My dad and I like to _work in the garden_. (I don't know where that comes from.)
My dad really loves _my mom_. (NAILED IT!!!!!!)
I LOVE my dad because _he makes the best pizza_. (I make the crusts while they pick the toppings.)

Tigger:

My dad is _5_ years old. (Plus or minus 27 years.)
My dad is really strong, he could life a _house_. (I've been working out, but not Mr. Incredible style).
My dad's favorite color is _red_. (Yup).
My dad's favorite food is _everything_. (or at least almost everything.)
My dad always says "_Boo!_" (I think you're projecting, little boy.)
My dad is the best at _ making everything in his cookbook_ (the one that I got as a gift.)
My dad's job is _to fix things_. (Sometimes I fix things for people, but not in the way he may be thinking.)
My dad laughs when _he says "Boo!"_. (Only when it works.)
If my dad had time, he would love to _play some cars with me_. (That would be really nice, Tigger).
My dad and I like to _play cars_. (I didn't know we did it that often, but I apparently need to do it more).
My dad really loves _cars_. (Okay, Tigger. I get the message. We'll play more cars.)
I love my dad because _he putted my hinges on_. (I took his door off the hinges because he slammed it so much. That morning I had put it back on for him. For the record, he hasn't slammed it again.)

It's fun to see me through my kid's eyes. I'm not sure I want to see what they say in ten years.

Tis done!

Last night I submitted my capstone project for my Master's program. It may not have been a thesis, but it was a challenge. I'm finishing my last class, which looks like it ends at the end of July, and then I'll be done. That is assuming that everything is satisfactory.

This project was really stressful for me. I had less than a month to complete it, which is a fair amount of time. The difficulty arose when I started working on one of the choices and couldn't figure out how to do it. I knew what I needed to do but just couldn't conceptualize it. I contacted my advisor after a week and a half of trying to figure it out and while I got the answers I needed, he mentioned that the time might be too short to continue that option and suggested doing the case study review. I didn't really want to do the case study review, but I conceded that it would be easier to plan.

I must have been really bad at reading instructions because I didn't see that each case study review (we had to choose three) could only be 1200 words (about two single spaced pages). My response to the first case study was over 1800 words and my second was 1600. Luckily I read the instruction again before starting on the third, so that on is closer to 1000. It didn't take long to cut the other two back to just under 1200 by chopping a couple of paragraphs and cleaning up the others. In the long run it was good. I finished up the other components of the project Monday night and spent last night just doing a final proofreading before sending it off a day early.

I will gladly and willingly acknowledge divine intervention in this case. A week and a half before the deadline I was stressed beyond breaking. At one point I was hyperventilating so bad that my fingers went numb. I just felt like I was getting pulled so many directions (I had a big project due in my class, was trying to give my family the time they needed, and was feeling pressured in my church responsibilities. Angel helped me calm down and reminded me that I had her full support. I couldn't have done this without my wife. I also took it to the Lord in prayer. I can attest that every time I started my nightly work with a prayer I was able to focus better, remember resources, and was generally vastly more productive than when I didn't. As my mother always taught me, "Pray like it's all up to the Lord than work as if it's all up to you." It works. This capstone project is proof. Ten days ago I was a wreck and was considering taking off work in order to finish it. Last night, I watched Ocean's 11 with my wife a still had time to play a game before bed after submitting it.

And the greatest blessing in regards to my Master's. No student debt. Never let it be said that God is not mindful of his children.

Crazy three weeks

Tomorrow my final capstone paper for my masters is due. Needless to say the last three weeks have been a little crazy. I'm happy to say that I finished the paper last night, despite what I thought would happen last week, and will be proofreading and submitting it tonight. This will free up my time so I hope to return to my blogs (and finish my last class).

I do have two books that I've listened to and need to review, but I've decided to wait until I finish the third book (I'll be getting it on the 26th). That way I'll be able to review the series and not worry about giving spoilers. I'm currently listening to The Three Musketeers and enjoying it quite a it. However, I'm not quite half way through and almost everything that usually happens in the movies has already occurred, so I'm excited to see how it will go.

Father's Day was good. I got a new battery for my phone and a new cookbook - America's Test Kitchen's complete cookbook. I'm very excited. I've already made cream cheese brownies and they were GOOD!!! I need to find some more recipes to make. I'll be uploading some pictures of the worksheets the kids did at church that talk about how awesome I am. Last year's were great and this year just about keep up.

Book Review - The Seventh Sigil. The Dragon Brigade book three by Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes

It's rough when you have to wait for a book to come out. While I'm not likely to be one of those that swears off reading a series until it's done, I know a fair number that claim to have. I was very pleased when my usual trip to the library was rewarded with seeing this one on the shelf. Truth be told, I had forgotten a lot of what had happened in the last book, but it quickly came back to me as I started in. The book went well and I enjoyed finishing the trilogy. The conclusion was satisfying, although I'm sure that some may take issue with it. A lot is left open but this story is concluded. I would enjoy reading more in this world - it was creative and different. All in all, I enjoyed the book and was glad I was able to get to it between classes.

Plot: As the world goes to pieces so are the people and institutions upon it. The Bottom Dwellers are preparing to launch a full out war with the countries above and don't seem to care that their actions may destroy the world. Our heroes are faced with the option to sink into the Breath or unite with their enemies to save what and who they can. Stephano is tasked by the king who disgraced his father with leading the assault on the sunken island home of the Bottom Dwellers while Dubois and Sir Henry plot together, trying to find a way to save Freya from "falling without a shot." What's more, Brother Jacob has learned the secrets of contramagic, despite it being considered heresy, and in the process may destroy the very church he left his country for. What's more, Miri and Gytha, Stephano's fellow memebers of the Cadre of the Lost, have been taken to the sunken island along with the royal Rosian princess. But not far behind is the Countess Cecile de Marjolaine is not far behind.

My personal favorites: The characters continue to be awesome, each with their shining moments. Not to mention we get to see Brother Barnaby again and he is just as angelic and refreshing as before. Like I mentioned, I liked the ending of the series, including the way the relationships resolved themselves. All in all, it was a great trilogy.

Considerations: There was a lot of references to the blood magic and the unpleasant nature of it. Again, though, the descriptions were not gratuitous or too graphic. There was no sensuality to speak of, so if you were okay with the first two books, you won't find any surprises in this one.\

I enjoyed the read and while I am glad to have the story line resolved I wouldn't mind seeing other stories in this world. Definitely give it a try now that all three are out. To the total length was 528 pages.