Steelers!

Those of you who know me know that I am a big Steelers fan. Although growing up in SD i was made to watch the Vikings every Sunday. After a while I was fooled into thinking I was a Viking fan, so now I root for both of them. My dad said that he is a Viking fan too, but then why did we go to the Barn after church every Sunday instead of rush home and turn on the game? But if they play head-to-head I will take the Steelers everytime. Nonetheless, I will be rooting for both teams come this playoff time.
I don't give the Vikings much of a shot to make the Super Bowl but stranger things have happend and it depends on what team shows up, how well T-jack plays and if AP can hold onto the football.
The Steelers on the other hand have one of the best defenses of all-time as evidenced by only allowing 300 yards once this season, which is an NFL record. They also went 12-4 against what all experts agreed was the toughest schedule in NFL history. They played the Giants, Patriots, Chargers, Jaguars, Colts, Ravens twice, Eagles, Titans, Redskins, and Cowboys. Save for a botched hike on a punt and two tipped passes they would have probably beaten the Colts and the Giants. No excuses against the Eagles and the Titans they just kicked our tails. So this should be a fun and long playoffs for both of my teams but as the picture below shows, you see where my alliance falls.

Christmas Presents!

Well first of Ann and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We also hope that you all remembered the reason for the season, which does not include helping the struggling economy, but the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ and would recommend the book, 23 Minutes in Hell.
But Ann and I did recieve two wonderful gifts this Christmas season and it includes our two boys. First on Christmas Eve Owen, who will turn 3 in a week, decided that he would start going potty and poopy on the toilet. Besides one really small accident, it has been a tremendous success. Now he just runs to the bathroom and does his business. If he runs out with his pants down that means that he went #2 and we need to wipe him otherwise he is good to go. The first time he went potty we were all there watching, including Sydney. After he was done Ann said that he needed some toilet paper to wipe himself and that he just needs to dab himself. Sydney told her that boys just shake it off and that they don't need any tissue paper.
The second big present is the fact that Cooper has started crawling. It just happend on Saturday night after a week of being on all fours and rocking and diving. Now I have to put the gate back up again, so that will be my project on Sunday after the Steelers and Vikings games. Some people might not say that Cooper crawling is a present, because after all we know need to keep an eye on him at all times and as I memtioned above I need to put up the gate. But the way I look at things is that it is a huge developmental step for him and we are so proud.
Our Christmas week began with Ann's parents at our house for Christmas eve and Chrstmas day. Santa came and brought the kids plenty of toys. We then traveled to Huron Christmas evening through Saturday and are ready to be home. We always have a huge meal with my family, but this time we had 3 of them. Foods included were: King crab legs, jumbo cocktail shrimp, ham, super duper potatoes, tiramasu, prime rib, and of course all the snacking in between. And yes mom the prime rib was very good.
We had a wonderful time with our family and love them dearly. It was good to see Aaron and Shiela all the way from Chicago and it is always fun to see Sydney and Owen playing with their wonderful cousins. Some complain that they can choose their friends but are stuck with their family. I would say that Ann and I couldn't choose our families any better than what God gave us.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

New Pics

 

Two For Biting

Well last night concluded Ann's trip to Baltimore for work. She left on Sunday and took the boys to Sioux Falls to be picked up by my wonderful in-laws. They kept the boys from Sunday until they drove all the way to Brookings yesterday to drop them off. Did I say how wonderful they were? Anyway, while the boys were enjoying their time with Mimi and Papa and uncle Dave and Aunt Abby and Avery, Sydney and I got in some wonderful father-daughter bonding.
First after church on Sunday Sydney and I ate at HyVee (Sydney's choice) and then we went over to Lewis to see the live Reindeer and do the scavenger hunt and get our picture taken with Santa. There was a little something in it for me as we also got to sign up to win a Wii. Which reminds me they haven't called me yet. Then it was home to watch football, which is what I do all day on Sunday afternoons. how thrilled were Sydney and I when the Steelers ended up beating the Cowboys. Now that was exciting. Since mom was gone Sydney thought that she better keep her spot in the bed warm so she got to sleep with her daddy. It sounds cute but anyone with kids knows you usually she them in their bed in the morning and wonder how they got in that position.
Monday brought school and work and poker night at Bart's. Sydney got to play with Carsen, Griffen, and Addison while I lost money. But the fried fish and pheasant were good. Tuesday was show and tell. Sydney took her stocking with her name on it and for the third time this year her good friend Myriah guessed it. Her clues were
1) You use it once a year
2) It has Santa on it
3) You hang it on the fireplace
That night I took her out to eat and she choose Pizza Ranch because of the ice cream machine and of course all the junk you can buy in the entry way. By the way the ice cream machine was broke, but that was ok. Then we went to Walmart to look around and Sydney ended up getting a 300 piece Hannah Montana puzzle that glowed in the dark. How cool!
Wednesday was libraary day the day everyone was coming home so we were really pumped. I picked up the kids at about 5pm from Sandy's house and went home. Corndogs and Macaroni for Sydney, Owen, and me. Peas and rice for Cooper. After supper Sydney wanted to show Owen and Cooper that her puzzle glowed in the dark. So she set off around the house to turn all the lights off. By the time she got to the Christmas tree Owen had had enough and he wanted the lights back on. So he went to turn the Christmas tree lights on and a brief scuffle ensued until Sydney was heard screaming. Yep, Owen had biten her on the back. The situation was handled and included a two-minute penalty to the sin bin. At this point Sydney was screaming in pain, Owen was crying in pain and sadness, and Cooper was crying because everyone else was. Welcome home boys. At that moment I thought about how nice it is that Ann and I are taking the grace-based parenting class. Patience and grace reallly helps you get through these moments.
Well I got Sydney off to church to practice for her program Sunday night took the boys home got them baths and got Cooper to bed. One down two to go. Sydney got home and it was bath, snack, and bed. They both got to lay in my bed with me laying in the middle. I told Sydney that she would wake up in her own bed since mom would be home tonight and she informed me, "I know that dad." Which is one of her favorite sayings. Another light scuffle occured over sharing the queen size comforter, but we got through it and they both fell asleep. Finally. I thought how nice and easier it was with just one five year old. But I wouldn't change anything.
Ann arrived home at about 1:00am and I was up to welcome her home and help carry the kids to their beds. Everyone's home safe and sound. Tomorrow is gymnastics.

Thanksgiving with the Cousins