A bucket o' random

Paige, today, just after I got home from work: "I think I need to start drinking just to take the edge off. Like, maybe right before I drive to pick Ella up from school."

Ummmm, yeah. Sounds like a plan honey!

She clarifies as I write this: "The drink is not because I have to pick up Ella. It's because I have to take the boys at what should be their nap time. Every. Single. Day."

Oh yeah, much better now!

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Ella, today, within 5 minutes of her mother's comment: "These boys are driving me craaaaaaazy! Every day, they do something to drive me nuts!"

Hmmm, maybe she needs a drink too?

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Via Jared at The Gospel-Driven Church comes this. When asked by an interviewer at Boston.com to describe what it is he believes, this well known Christian pastor responded with:

I embrace the term evangelical, if by that we mean a belief that we together can actually work for change in the world, caring for the environment, extending to the poor generosity and kindness, a hopeful outlook. That's a beautiful sort of thing.

Interesting. Isn't there something, or someone, you know... missing from that answer?

Head over to Gospel-Driven Church and read Jared's rant and the comments. Interesting discussion.

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Via The Corner, comes this article and a quote from the US special envoy to Sudan. You remember Sudan? "The only country in the world led by a president indicted on war-crimes charges." The place racked by civil war, starvation, and death at the hands of a Islamic government. The Lost Boys of Sudan. The place where journalists take pictures of a vulture stalking a starving child. Or women are arrested in Khartoum for wearing pants and punished with 10 lashes.

The special envoys approach toward this fine upstanding government?

"We've got to think about giving out cookies," said Gration, who was appointed in March. "Kids, countries -- they react to gold stars, smiley faces, handshakes, agreements, talk, engagement."

Cookies? Gold stars? Smiley faces? This is seriously our policy towards third world dictators? Wow...

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Paige says, after posting the two above articles, that I am cantankerous and negative.

Maybe I need a drink too?

So how about an inspirational youtube video?

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Told you it was a bucket o' random.

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Says Paige: "It's a big bucket of something alright..."

:)

Nummy nummy... Dunkin?

When Luke wants something to eat, he says "nummy nummy!"

Today, when we picked Luke up from nursery, he said "Nummy nummy Dunkin?"



Is it bad that our 17 month old knows what Dunkin Donuts is, and expects one after church?

Would you roll the dice?

My cousin Ron has an interesting post up on his blog, asking basically the following question:

Would you chose to have children, knowing there was a 25% chance they would be born with a serious illness (namely, CF)?

Head over there and take a look. I am sure he would welcome your comments.

Hands across our playroom

Grandma came over to watch the kids for a short while today. She somehow had the crazy idea that they should see if they had enough Little People to make a line all the way across the playroom. They were close, but only made it about 3/4 of the way.



Even when we tried to strech the line with one more little person, it still didn't quite make it.

"That's just how God made me!"

Noah has gone to bed hungry the past two nights. He has refused to eat his dinner, because he didn't like it, therefore he has gone to bed with a rumbly tummy. Last night was even delicious roast beef and mashed potatoes. What kind of kid doesn't like roast beef, a pile of mashed potatoes, all smothered in steamy gravy? That's almost un-American.

Tonight Paige is setting up a garage sale, so I am on kid duty. Unlike my lovely wife, who cooks things like green beans, I prepare "healthy" and "nutritious" meals for the children.

Otherwise known as frozen pizza.

Which, of course, they scarf down with no problem.

I was complimenting them on how well they were eating tonight, and attempting to convince them that when Mom works very hard to make us a tasty dinner, you should eat it without complaining, just like you are eating the pizza.

Noah: "That's just how God made me Dad!"

Me: "What is how God made you bud?"

Noah: "Well, some people like green beans, and some people don't! And I don't like green beans. God made me that way!"

Nice try buddy. You still will have to eat your green beans next time...

Warning, political post ahead

So first there was the prayer to Obama...

Then the creepy kids singing how Obama was going to change the whole world...

Then there was the praise song to Obama, not so subtly comparing him to Jesus...

And now this?

I just shake my head in amazement. It's creepy. How about just saying the Pledge of Allegiance? Or the Star Spangled Banner?

You would think, purely as a matter of common sense, that someone might have gone "You know... having the kids sing and chant to Obama like a bunch of little North Koreans praising the Dear Leader might not be the best elementary school project."

In case you can't understand the kids...

Song 1:
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama

Song 2:
Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!"

Hooray, Mr. President! You're number one!
The first black American to lead this great nation!

Hooray, Mr. President we honor your great plans
To make this country's economy number one again!

Hooray Mr. President, we're really proud of you!
And we stand for all Americans under the great Red, White, and Blue!

So continue ---- Mr. President we know you'll do the trick
So here's a hearty hip-hooray ----

Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!

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I saw this preview in the theater the other night...

Based on his previous "documentaries" I am sure this will be a well thought out, fair, balanced, and open minded examination of the topic. Just like his other movies were.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little...

Disney, Part Deux

If you recall, Paige and her mom took Levi and Noah to Disneyland for their birthday.

So when September 21 rolled around, we headed to California again to really stick it to the Magic Kingdom. Three birthdays, one day, approximate savings of $206. As good Americans of Dutch heritage (otherwise known as "cheap") this opportunity was too good to pass up.

After dropping the boys off with Aunt Gina and Uncle Tim, we hit the open highway. The only incident of note on the trip out was wandering around the lovely town of Indio looking for a gas station. We finally found this one...

Which had some interesting signage near the front door...

Discredited televangelists and "ladies of the night" seem to me an odd definition of "the world's greatest customers" but, hey, whatever floats your boat.

We arrived at our hotel in the afternoon, with enough time to play in the miniature waterpark attached to the hotel. Levi and Noah spotted this when they went to Disney, but unfortunately were not staying at the hotel.

The waterpark had a giant bucket that slowly filled and then dumped every few minutes. It took a few rounds, but I finally convinced Ella to come under the bucket with me.

We're under there somewhere...


Looking like drowned rats...

After we started shivering from the bucket dump, we would hang out in the hot tub until the next one. Paige attempted to get a cute photo of us in there. Jason NOT cooperating as usual!

After what seemed like months of waiting for Ella (only because it actually was months) we headed off to Disneyland the next morning. She was giddy with anticipation.

We walked into the park and hit the security booth, where the following conversation ensued:

Disney lady: "Sir, is that a pocket knife in your pocket?"

Me: "Uhhh, yeah."

Disney lady: "You'll need to take that back to your car or your hotel. You can't have it in the park."

Long pause while I stare at Disney lady in a state of utter incomprehension at what she just said...

Me: "You've got to be kidding me. Seriously?"

Disney lady: "No, you can't take it into the park."

Really? A pocketknife? It's got a 2" blade on it! She only noticed it because, by some freak coincidence, my t-shirt wasn't covering it. There have got to be 1000 people already in Disney at this point carrying a knife. But no, she was serious.

So Paige and I discussed the plan. I was going to walk back to the entrance, slide the pocket knife into my pocket, and head back to a different security booth. Meanwhile Paige and Ella would get our tickets and meet me at the front gate. Surely this was a foolproof plan for defeating Disney's silly "security" regulation.

Ummmm, not so much. I executed the above plan flawlessly, up until I got about 10 feet from the security checkpoint.

Voice from behind me: "Excuse me sir!"

Me, turning around: "Yes?"

Just now noticing that this guy is dressed in an official looking Disney shirt, and flashed some type of official looking badge...

Disney security: "Were you asked to go back to your hotel to leave your pocketknife?"

Me, still trying to grasp that Disney is this serious about a tiny pocketknife: "Uhhh, yeah."

Disney guy: "And did you?"

Me: "Uhhhh, no."

Disney guy: "You are going to have to leave and come back without the knife."

At this point I think I asked again if he was really serious. He was. Grrrrr....

So off I went, back to the hotel. Luckily it was only about a 10 minute walk back. I left my extremely dangerous weapon back at the hotel, and started the walk back to Disney, updating my Facebook status as I walked: "Jason Addink is now walking BACK to Disneyland, defenseless, with only my mad ninja skills to survive. Way to make the kingdom magic guys. Sheesh..."

A classmate from high school immediately commented: "I'm sorry, but you have to be pretty stupid to think you can bring in a knife to Disneyland. Who's going to jump you, Pluto? If I didn't know you got a practically perfect score on your SAT I would smack you right now."

Ha ha ha. Seriously, it never even crossed my mind that a pocketknife would get them all in a tizzy. I mean, it's not as if I tried to carry a gun into Disney. I was smart enough to leave all those home... ;)

So I walked back to Disney, figuring that now I would be subjected to a strip search before I could enter the happiest place on earth. But no. One of the security ladies met me as I stood outside the booth (obviously security was still watching me.) She gave me a "go to the front of any line" pass and then WALKED ME AROUND SECURITY WITHOUT EVEN SEARCHING ME! I could have been wearing a full on explosive vest, for pete's sake, and they never would have noticed! Or had that evil dangerous knife back in my pocket. Or had my pepper spray, which they never asked about... ;)

Brilliant!!!

Anyways...

I waited outside the gate for Paige and Ella to get off their first ride and bring me my ticket.

Then we boarded the train...

and headed for our first ride, Splash Mountain. Ella was super excited when the ride started...

but not so much by the time it ended.

We probably should have prepped her a little better. The pitch black screaming plunge in the middle of the ride managed to reduce her to tears. I was a little worried that Splash Mountain might have been the end of the day. But one ride on Winnie the Pooh, and she was ready to go again. She wanted a rollercoaster. So we headed for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We hit the first dark tunnel, and were back to terrified...

but had totally recovered before the end of the ride.

We had discovered earlier in the day, through the magic of Facebook, that our friends Phil and Kate were at Disney the same day with their daughter Kaley. While we were waiting in the line for Dumbo, they just happened to walk up. They joined us on Dumbo, and for most of the rest of the day.

Paige and Ella had one elephant...

Kate and Kaley had another...

And then... cozy!

Small World was next...

The rocket ride. Paige and I attempted to squeeze into a rocket together. That was, ummm, comical. So I just ended up taking pictures...

Phil, showing off his gun(s) on the Buzz Lightyear ride.

Over to the Jungle Cruise, where they apparently had a serious lapse in their park "security" inspections. So I can't have a pocketknife, but the monkey gets a revolver?

After hitting the Matterhorn (used the "go to the front of the line pass"), Indiana Jones (just Phil and I) and I am sure a few other rides that I am forgetting, we headed back to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Kaley looks just a weeee bit terrified, but she did really well on the ride.

Then the girls got some early driving practice in on Autopia.

And Phil plugged up the whole works to take a picture...

We also hit the submarine ride (used the go to the front of the line pass a second time, where they got smart and actually took it from us.) Then our friends headed off for a dinner with the princesses, and we headed to Tom Sawyer's Island.

After a quick refueling on mozzarella sticks, chicken strips, and french fries, we headed for our last rides of the day, on what was by far Ella's favorite...

While the fried food gave us a burst of energy to finish the day, it may not have been the most brilliant idea right before riding a roller coaster. Facing backwards. While attempting to run a video camera. Both Paige and I were feeling a bit queasy at the end of the ride.

And then, before she knew it, the park was closing.

We did manage to find the brick out front that Aunt Gina got for her.

Our friends came over to our hotel that night and we all spent quite a while playing in the waterpark. Somehow, after popping out of bed with the sun, going strong all day at Disney, playing in the waterpark all night, Ella still had tons of energy. But a short while watching a movie, and she was getting very sleepy.

The next morning, we made the trek back to Phoenix, fueled by rich mocha goodness...

(It was just an apple cider that she was stealing from Paige. But the picture was funny.)

Despite the ridiculous "security" policies at Disneyland, we had a great time. We had tons of fun hanging out with friends (an unexpected surprise) and going on all the rides. Ella did great, and had more fun than should be legal for a 6 year old. Too bad they don't do the free birthday thing every year.

Happy 6th birthday kiddo!

Maybe we should send this kid into an ACORN office

He's got the outfit ready to go. Now he just needs a plan to run for office, an inability to get a home loan, and a, ummmm, "girlfriend." I'm sure the lovely employees at ACORN would be more that willing to help him out...

If you just read the part above about ACORN and thought "What on earth is Jason rambling about?" (not an uncommon occurrence) you should click on that link above. It would be comical, if it weren't so disturbing.

We only had the hat out because I realized at the last minute that it was International Talk Like a Pirate day. So I suppose this whole post should be in pirate. But I've been fighting a sore thought all week, which makes it difficult to talk like a pirate. Sort of takes all the fun out of the whole day. We did, however, get out the closest thing we could find to pirate hats, and the kids made their meanest pirate faces for me. Avast, ye scurvy dog!

On Friday, Ella celebrated her birthday a little early at school. Paige bought this cupcake decorating kit, and Ella was excited to decorate them with her classmates. Until Paige cooked them the night before, and discovered that the cupcakes tasted like dirt. So the next morning, Ella and I swung by the grocery store to grab some cupcakes to take to school. She perused the entire selection, and decided that these were her favorite.

Is there something a little bit odd about a kindergartner taking breast cancer awareness cupcakes to school for her 6th birthday?

Regardless, Luke really enjoyed the leftovers.

Tonight after baths, Levi remained behind and was unheard from for quite a while. I discovered him silently building a masterpiece. He insisted I come and take a picture.

Finally, we will most definitely not be bringing this picture in to Walmart for development. Have the PD knocking down the door for child abuse if we did...

Life is a vapor, update

Not sure how many of you recall this post, with the video of the husband of a high school friend.

If you do remember it, you should probably read this:

Last I heard, I had five small tumors on my liver, one larger one on my liver and a single tumor on my spleen.

I made up my mind last night that no matter what the news was, I would content myself in knowing that God is receiving glory through His will (Romans 8:28).

I also embraced the concept that this body of mine is an earthen vessel. My body is exclusively for this side of eternity. My soul, however, was not meant for this side of eternity.

Today one of his wife's several Facebook status updates was:

Have I mentioned yet that only 3 months ago my husband and I were told he had stage IV cancer. Had one lemon sixed tumor removed and 7 more in his liver and spleen. And now as of today he has no cancer in his body? Have I? Okay good.

Awesome!

And the Sesame Street word of the day is...

When I got home from work today, Paige cornered me in the kitchen.

"So today, they..."

Never a good start to a story.

So today Paige was giving Luke a bath. Levi and Noah were playing a game on the computer. Since they typically sit like little zombies glued to the glow of the liquid crystal display, she figured they wouldn't get into too much trouble while Luke was getting scrubbed.

I believe it was at this point in the story that she paused with the qualifier "Now before you get too upset, nothing got broken."

Really not a good way to start a story.

As Paige walks out to the playroom, she spots the boys.

Still at the computer.

But with a spray bottle.

And using it.

After yelling some version of "WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!" both boys made a beeline for their room as fast as their terrified little legs would carry them. Paige attempted to clean up the mess, and then went in to talk to them. They claimed that they were "cleaning the computer for daddy." She explained that they were not allowed to clean the computer, or anything for that matter, without asking. They do not get to play any computer games for 1 week. They were told that they could have broken the computer, and that dad would have been very mad if it was broken.

Levi offered money. Not because he felt sorry, and wanted to pay for the damages. He said that he wanted to "give mom money so she would like him again." We have apparently instilled some very odd values in that kid.

Noah, after considering what could have happened, declared that "it could have been quite a predicament!"

Any guess as to what the Sesame Street word of the day was last week?

Of course, after hearing this tale, I went upstairs to check on the damage. The monitor was most definitely not "not broken." It looked something like this:


When I tilted the monitor, water ran out of the corner...

And with water in the monitor switches, the monitor started randomly scrolling through the menu and changing display settings. Lovely.

So yeah... dad was very mad. Instead of getting anything useful accomplished tonight, I got to disassemble a monitor instead.

I attempted to massage the water out from between the panes of glass. I could actually push it around and watch it moving. I managed to push most of the lines off the screen, but couldn't get rid of the big green and blue booger stuck at the bottom.

At the end it looked something like this.

Although as I sit here and type, I am literally watching the little colors in the corner move and shift. Who knows what rainbow of fruit colors will have appeared on the screen by tomorrow morning.

Grrrrrrrr..........