New Year's Eve 2009

At the cabin this year. Grandpa cleared off the pond and built a bonfire in the fire pit today. Tomorrow we plan on ice skating and towing Julia in the sled on the pond. Both parents got ice skates for Christmas. I brought up my hockey skates, sticks, and some pucks. If all goes well I might even think about buying one of those portable hockey goals.

Momma Momma Momma

Snow Boots

Santa's Little Helper

It's nice to have a little elf on Christmas morning to hand out presents

Looks Good Dadda

Christmas vacation: great for finishing up those projects that have been dragging on for over 2 months.

As you can probably tell, I finished five (one not pictured) window sills this weekend in or next to the dining room. Only 12 more to go! I'm officially halfway done. Before you tune out, this weekend's home project resulted in one of my favorite experiences with Julia so far.

Since I've been home a lot recently, Julia has been my shadow. She is the most adorable 2 year old I've ever seen (both her personality and her cuteness). I'm not the only one who thinks that by the way. We've been blessed. In addition to her desire to be around me, she always wants to hang out when I'm doing projects anyway. She likes to see what I'm doing. Yesterday while I painted she red books on the dining room table or just watched me from the step ladder made seat.

After a few minutes of watching me her little personality started to shine through. There was about a 5 minute spell where after every brush stroke Julia would say:

"Oh, looks good Dadda!"

After a handful of those praises she switched to:

"Good job Dadda!"

And then a few:

"Love you Dadda!"

Of course, after the I love you's I got a hug and a kiss. She went on for awhile more mostly telling me how good my hard work looked (looks good Dadda). I loved it. There's nothing better then to hear your daughter tell you how much she loves you, encourage you, and tell you that you're doing a good job even if she is only 2 years old. Actually, it probably means more since she's so young and sweet. She really is an amazingly happy (but intelligent) and loving little girl. I have so much fun being around her now. The only problem is that I just want to hug her all the time but it doesn't work that way. Julia also really likes to play with me too.

I think these windows look good. Maybe you do too. Even if you told me otherwise I wouldn't listen. Julia said they look good and that's about all that matters to me.

Domo Arigato Chichi

Merry Christmas!

It's A Bit Of A Dilemma

Yes, yes it is Alex. Over the past few months I've been going back and forth over whether or not to continue my cell phone service. In the end I decided it's something that we could live without but that it's also something we enjoy using. So, given our current situation, I've decided to "enjoy life" a little bit and keep my nerd hip accessory.

That's not my dilemma. My dilemma is the iPhone. After 2 years the battery is going out. Due to the way it's designed the battery doesn't get replaced, the entire phone does. I'm pretty sure this is a convenient way to get a new iPhone as other friends have gone this route. However, there are some really slick gadgets out there and I'm wondering if I should ditch the iPhone for something else. I don't want to get a new iPhone that is a lot like what I already have nor do I want to get the same new old phone I already have. That is, if they even still support the original iPhone (they are phasing it out other ways).

So here's what I'm looking to find: a phone that has a camera, email, text messaging, and web surfing similar to the iPhone (i.e. it looks like it does on a computer). In addition, integration with iTunes would be great but not a requirement since I already have a spare iPod. I don't use many apps and the ones I do use could easily be replaced with shortcuts. One unit that impressed me was the Palm Pixi on Sprint. It makes the iPhone look like a brick even though it has an actual keyboard on it. I think this has everything I'm looking for but without the trendiness and features I won't use on an iPhone. I played with a Pixi at work (a guy just got one) and it was pretty sweet.

My contract has expired but Stacey's doesn't until August (or some time months away). So, we'd have to pay a couple hundred to switch to Sprint. Then again, Sprint is way too expensive. Looking at ATT's other phones nothing really appeals to me though. Maybe if I see one in person it will change my mind. I guess if worse comes to worse I'll just have to suck it up/settle with a newer iPhone. Ho-hum.

(I realize that this post is trivial considering the time of year...and uber-consumer young American yuppie. All I can say to that is WHAT-EVER.)

Story Time

Yes, this was Julia's idea.

I Now Pronounce You

Man and Nintendo. Sorry ladies, this stud is taken!