Old Spice commercial...

Abby and I think these Old Spice commercials are hilarious.  Enjoy.

One more Teddy Roosevelt quote

"In short, in life, as in a foot-ball game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard; don't foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard!"
Theodore Roosevelt, The Strenuous Life (1900)

Even stormtroopers need hugs.

Teddy Roosevelt to his children.

"I am delighted to have you play football. I believe in rough, manly sports. But I do not believe in them if they degenerate into the sole end of any one's existence. I don't want you to sacrifice standing well in your studies to any over-athleticism; and I need not tell you that character counts for a great deal more than either intellect or body in winning success in life. Athletic proficiency is a mighty good servant, and like so many other good servants, a mighty bad master. "
Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s Letters to His Children

Happiness in the park

B-zay

Happiness in the park

B-zay

In the tunnel at the park.

Look at their expressions!

I just had to post this painting.  I've never seen it before and I love the expressions and postures.  Look for a larger version on the web if you can as this one is pretty small.  It's by Eugene Durnand and titled

The Disciples Peter and John running to the sepulcher on the morning of the Resurrection, 1898

Funny's about Obama.

Grabbed this from the blog Right Mind.

You know the honeymoon is over when the comedians go to work. 

• The liberals are asking us to give Obama time. We agree . . and think 25 to life would be appropriate. -Jay Leno
• America needs Obama-care like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask. -Jay Leno

• Q: Have you heard about McDonald's' new Obama Value Meal?
• A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it. -Conan O'Brien 
• Q: What does Barack Obama call lunch with a convicted felon?
• A: A fund raiser. -Jay Leno 
• Q: What's the difference between Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
• A: One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. -David Letterman
• Q: If Nancy Pelosi and Obama were on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink, who would be saved?
• A: America! -Jimmy Fallon
• Q: What's the difference between Obama and his dog, Bo?
• A: Bo has papers. -Jimmy Kimmel
• Q: What was the most positive result of the "Cash for Clunkers" program?
• A: It took 95% of the Obama bumper stickers off the road. -David Letterman 

Moose.

Moose spotted in Moscow, near my place of employment.  Wish I could say I was surprised.

Gunnarisms

When I was pregnant with Signe, a lady I worked with at Westside recommended I write down all the funny things my kids said. She didn't, and subsequently regretted it. As it has been a number of years since I kept a journal I neglected to heed Betty's advice. Well, I think I will finally take advantage of this mostly picture-only blog Nick started as a means to record some of the memorable moments in the lives of our children. My contributions may be sporadic, but hopefully something worthwhile may be preserved for posterity.

Now Signe has always been articulate, and usually says pretty much what she means to say. Gunnar, on the other hand, just turned 3 but has already provided us with years of verbal entertainment. Here I am going to attempt to record as many "Gunnarisms" as I can recall right now. If you remember any I have forgotten, let me know and I can add on.

-When he was about 16 months, Gunnar answered absolutely everything in the affirmative. It was glorious. The child didn't seem to know the word "no"! Nick: "Gunnar, do you have a bomb in your pants?" Gunnar: "Yesh."

-"Nigne". It was a sad day for me when he finally managed to address his sister as "Signe". I miss Nigne.

-Last spring when he was 1 turning 2, he referred to a number of animals by their sounds, not their names. We would drive by a pasture, and he would yell "Yook (look), neighs!" (or moos, tweet-tweets, quack-quacks, etc.). As the weather warmed up he woke up crying repeatedly at the unearthly hour of 4:30 am. "Tweet-tweets youd (loud)! Tweet-tweets scrary." That is when we started putting a fan in their room to create some white noise to block out the birds.

-Last Christmas when he was 2, the kids were helping us decorate the tree. Gunnar had an ornament in each hand and a perplexed look on his face. "These ones don't have parking spaces, Daddy!"

-He loves to use first names for family, like calling Nana Terry and INSISTING on calling Papa Roger. "Daddy, you are Nickeeus and Mommy you are Abbygai" (drop the last "l" sound). He also often says things like, "Mommy, where is Uncle Nick?". Uh, you mean where is Daddy?

-In the car with my Mom, he announced he wanted to sing the song "Jesus has no problems." Nana was a little stumped as to how that song went.

-Also speaking to my mom, he once asked her "Nana, where is your friend?" (referring to Papa).

-My mom's favorite story is from last Christmas in Oregon, when she overheard Gunnar encouraging his cousin to naughty behavior. She walked in on the boys tearing one of her nice children's books, with Gunnar saying "Rip it, Ransom!". My mom reacted in a loud and appalled voice, so Gunnar's solution was "Hide, Ransom!". Luckily they were caught early enough so the damage was easily repaired by tape, and both were the recipients of some corrective discipline. (Gunnar hasn't ripped a book since).

-In the morning, if you ask Gunnar what he dreamed about, he almost always replies that he dreamed about grumpy dinosaurs. Not just any kind of dinosaur, but grumpy dinosaurs. And sometime owyigators. (alligators)

-"BOYS DON'T POTTY TRAIN!!!" Um, yes they do. Your father was a boy once, and I am fairly certain he is potty trained.

-By far, the very best thing to ever come out of that boy's mouth happens when I am blindsided by a squishy hug to the leg, a kiss on the knee, and an "I wuv you, Mommy" before he runs off to play again. A blessing beyond words.

Good article on being a husband...

I'm not sure if there are any other guys who check my blog, so maybe this reminder is just for me.  This is a good article on being a balanced husband.

http://bit.ly/8ZjFZk

Gunnar, Sophia, and Signe

Our neighbor's granddaughter, Sophia, loves to hang out with Signe and Gunnar. Signe is so friendly and welcoming that she makes friends with just about everyone she sees. She definitely takes after her Grandma Holloway.

Tomer Butte Hike

Tomer Butte hike

Tomer Butte Hike

Tomer Butte hike

Hats.

Zane and I have an excuse for wearing hats. Being bald is not always easy. So what was Abby's excuse?

Zane sprung a leak.

Zane can't contain himself. (see chin for evidence)

Signe with a flower.

Signe Noelle Happy Holloway on top of Tomer Butte.

Unidentified flora and fauna.

We went on another hike up Tomer Butte and this was one of the flowers we encountered. Does anyone know it's name?

Gunnar's "pink eye"

The funny thing about this was that Gunnar thought there was absolutely nothing wrong with him!

The internet makes us stoopid.

The following is a good article about how the internet is effecting our brains.

http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2010/06/the-internet-makes-us-stupid/

Reading this makes me want to go read a good, dense book.  Maybe some theology or philosophy...  on second thought, think I'll just go check my Twitter feed.

Zane's cruising.

B-zay is getting closer to walking every day!

Great quote from Chris Haney, co-creator of Trivial Pursuit. (died today at age 59.)

Born Aug. 9, 1950, in Welland, Ontario, Mr. Haney often described himself as a beer-swilling high school dropout whose biggest mistake was quitting school at 17. "I should have done it when I was 12," he said in interviews.