New Year's Resolutions...one week later

So here we are, one week into the new year. I've gone to the gym once since the year started...and it was packed. I imagine that if I go again, it won't be so bad anymore. This aspect of Human behavior makes me laugh. It is amazing how people make "new year's resolutions" and lose track of them after a really short period of time. It is almost gotten to the point that turning a goal into a new year's resolution is the same as relegating that goal to joke status.

In fact, to me it is a joke. Every time someone talks about resolutions to me I instantly think of an experience from back in the day (I must have been around 8 years old or so). One time my mom and dad were setting the lofty goal of trying to curb our sibling infighting (I don't remember exactly what drove them to this...and it wasn't a 'new year' type of goal, but I am still reminded of it anyway). They made the following rule: "Anyone who says the word 'shut up' to their brother or sister has to do the dishes that night after dinner."

I think the rule was enforced once, but it wasn't long until we figured out that if we all told each other to shut up with every other word out of our mouth...the rule could not possibly be enforced. I'm not exactly sure, but I think it was Julie who was bold enough to start it all. I can vividly remember how it happened. We were all sitting around for a nice family dinner and we all started telling each other to shut up over and over again...while laughing hysterically.

It still makes me laugh to think about it. After having kids, one of which is somewhat unpunishable, I can only imagine my parents frustration with this incident. But that thought only makes it seem more funny to me now (sorry mom).  

This year I can gladly say that I will not break any of my new year's resolutions. This may either be because of my awesome willpower, or maybe it will be because I didn't make any...you can judge. One thing you can be sure about is that if you tell me about your "new year's resolutions" I will act interested, and be polite, but in the back of my head I am laughing and imagining telling everyone in the room to shut up.

2008 Year in Review

Looking back over the last year, it seems like nothing happened….i.e. just the same ole thing every day. But after conducting intense discovery efforts and subpoenaing the right documents (from H-bomb), I have reexamined my conclusion. Here is some of the evidence that was uncovered:

Travel:
We started the year in Salt lake with a late Christmas celebration.  

I got my skiing in, and we got to go to the standard places (restauraunts, shopping, etc.) that we always go to in Utah.

In the next couple months I found myself in:

Houston...then

Washington DC.  

These last two shouldn't count as travel per se, because I was getting beat up by my work.  The next ones count though...

DISNEYLAND!!  And then straight to...

San Diego, for some fun in the sun with Heidi's family.

Logan had his first real beach/ocean expirience.

Heidi got some kid-free time with some friends in chicago:

While she was gone, I got to play stay at home mom.  I had an awesome time.  I don't get a ton of time with the kids, so having this time was great.  We went to parks, swimming, a movie, etc.  But in the end, we were all REALLY happy when Mom came home.

  

Then I made my way back to Utah to lecture some kiddies in the colledge of Engineering at the

While in Utah I had this daydream that me and my brother-in-law went to Wendover and I won ~$200 playing craps.  It seemed so real...but I wouldn't do that, right?

To end the year we spent some time with friends in Austin for Thanksgiving, and then with some other friends in Houston just after Christmas.  We didn't take pictures though, because my friends are ugly (we should have just taken some of ours and their kids though).

Family fun:

We had us some good old fashion family fun around home.  We took the kids to a bunch of movies (Wall-E, Clone Wars, Bolt, etc.).  And we found many other ways to take advantage of the finer things in life.

We got 1 snow day in Dallas.

We visited museums.

And made it to the first MLB game for the boys.

Holiday Fun:

We found a 2-second period where the kids weren't bugging each other.

Went tree hunting, and bagged two of them.

Christmas was awesome.  Santa came through.  I was hoping for some coal as it may prove to be valuable in the near future.

Went to an awesome ICE exhibit (hopefully Heid blogs the holiday stuff...it was fun).

Kids—
Austin:

This little rat is getting so big, I can't beleive it.

Turned 7, and had a long period where his smile was a little goofy.

Started 2nd grade.

First year playing baseball, and he did great.

Awesome at soccer.

Had a long run with Karate, but has moved on to...

Gymnastics.

He didn't pick my favorite Halloween costume,

But in the end, he has straight A's and is a great kid.

Logan:

Logan turned 2.  He found his inner whineyness, but has become much more fun.

He has his own fun activities like gymboree, and now gymnastics.

You'll note that the first three pictures here are of Logan the double-bibbed drool monster.

But now, he has mostly kicked that habit.

He wore Austin's old Buzz costume for Halloween.  Austin was a year older than Logan when he wore it...and it was huge on him at the time.  Logan is a big kid, and tons of fun.

Me/Heid--

Heidi and I had a busy year.  We did many things that have been mentioned on this blog (e.g. I took the patent bar, we went on dates, and one man-date).  We settled in our house, extended our patio, and...

A man cave was born (aside from this awesome virtual man cave).  

I am sitting in this cave now watching Utah beat up on Alabama in 120 inches of HD signal.  Feels good.  Heid doesn't like this man cave much, although she spent countless hours painting it...which I really appreciate.

We had a close call...

A tornado came within 100 yards of our home, but we made it through with only a few bent trees.

We did one really nerdy thing:

Yeah, we are conservative whacko's and we went to Glenn Beck.  He was really funny.  We knew it was nerdy, so we took the above self portrait to capture the geekiness.

Also in 2008...29 years old!!!

2008 will be the last year that me and Heid are in our 20's.  We feel old, and feel like we look old...but I'm sure in 2018, we'll look back and feel differently.  I love Heidi more than ever, and it only seems to grow stronger every day.

At the end of 2008 I am greatful that we are all Alive, healthy, one year wiser, and if nothing else…we are a great family, unparalleled in its awesomeness.  

See what I mean?

There's more I could show, but I've proved my point.  I think I'll think twice the next time I say it seems like I am stuck in the rut of my daily grind.

Happy New Year!!!