Archive for Kids
Highlights of My Life
Wow. This was supposed to be a five minute post about the great things that have happened in my life. I had so many great things… Sorry if it’s long, but this is the highlights of the great things in my life from about High School on. There have been so many other great events in my life. I wanted to take time to let the Highlights of my life shine.
Took some time today to think about the past 20 years or so. I’ve done so many amazing things, I’ve been lucky enough to have amazing people in my life and traveled to so many crazy places and I’m only 31.
At 8
I meet Kurinko-ga, who has been my best friend for over 24 years now.
~There are enough stories just in that friendship to fill several books, and even a few lifetime after school specials.
Check out more about Kurinko-ga.
At 16
I started my own recording studio (Aberration Studios) and recorded several local San Diego bands, and musicans.
At 17
I ran my first concrete for local musicians at the Speckles theater downtown San Diego.
~I didn’t make any money on the show, but I’ll tell you what I was proud of myself for being able to put the show on.
I Met Kirsten, my Future wife, in marching band, (insert jokes here) and French class. We become best friends, she dated one of my best friends, drove me crazy, and now I can’t imagine life without her.
At 18
Spent the summer after my senior year in Europe:
Where I walked the Catacombs in Paris
Kissed Kirsten for the First time in Paris
Kicked it at the Berlin wall
Went to a concentration camp outside Berlin (sachsenhausen) Which became the inspiration for the story I wrote Wendell
Traveled to Dresden and Prague by myself. Prague would inspire the Gideon stories I’m working on
Went to College at NYU maintained a 3.1
At 19
Spent two Weeks in Greece with NYU students. amazing place. Was nearly shot by the guards at the temple to Hera in Delphi. (funny story that.)
At 20
Switched Colleges to USC, was kicked out for missing to many classes and not passing my classes. I was spending to much time in San Diego with Kirsten. Honestly USC wasn’t my place never fit in there.
At 21
Went to Germany again with the High School this time as a chaperon, while Kirsten was a student. Not sure how I pulled that one off.
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At 22
Moved to PA in January 2001. San Diego boy had never seen real snow. That was my first Cross country trip.
Moved Eric from Portland to Middletown PA. That was my Second cross country trip.
-During the Trip we were pulled over by a Nebraska State Trooper during a Tornado that had touched down five miles from us. He asked my my moving van was “weaving.” Seriously dude you are the one standing outside do you not feel the wind???
At 23
Kurinko-Ga moved to PA to live with Kirsten and myself.
At 25
Toured around Germany with Kirsten for a week while she was studying in Marburg.
At 26
Got Married in 2004 at the Mount Hope Estate. What an amazing day that was.
Spent our Honeymoon on a Cruise in Alaska
At 27
Flew to Prague with Kirsten, Kurinko-Ga, Eric, Jess and Heather. An Amazing 10 days in my absolute favorite city in the world. So far.
Bought our first house in Millersville PA July 2005.
At 28
Moved back to CA in December 2006 to help Norm and Shirley raise Anthony and Ethan. Cross country trip number 3 with Kirsten, Kurinko-Ga and Smola.
Survived Ramona wildfire October 2007.
At 29
Pics missing
Took a Vacation with the Boys Drove from San Diego to Portland along the West Coast.
Moved back to Lancaster PA May 2008. Cross country trip five with Norm, two dogs two cats and an expedtion.
Bought new house for extended family Aug 2008. Otherwise known as “The compound.”
At 30
March 2009 Started the adoption process for the boys.
At 31
Our First Ultra Sound
December 21st 2009 found out we were having a little girl
First day as Parents
December 22nd 2009 offically became parent to two wonderfull little boys.
May 14th 2010 Our daughter Keira entered the world.
WOW! Wonder what the next couple of years will hold.
10 Reasons I want be a SAHD
My family is the most important thing in my entire life. So it comes as no surprise that I want to be a stay at home dad. We just can’t get the numbers to work just yet, but we are really trying. Many people have asked why I would want to do this, some get it and others think i just want to sit around the house eating bon bons.
So off the top of my head here are 10 reasons I want to be a stay at home dad.
1. Giggle time with the baby.
2. Cooking healthy dinners, meal planing.
3. Making domestic life easier for my wife.
4. Giving the boys guidance to grow into Young Men.
5. Random trips with the kids to play mini golf.
6. Seeing my wife smile when she comes home to a clean house.
7. Cuddle time with the baby.
8. Art projects with the kiddies.
9. Gives me time to think about story ideas while cleaning.
10. The feeling of being loved.
Have you ever been a stay at home parent do you think it’s important?
Ice Cream for Breakfast.
If you are like me and can’t eat any large amounts of dairy before bed without paying for it while trying to sleep, well then this post is for you.
Yes breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So what do I say to my son this morning when he walks in and sees me with a cool bowl of vanilla bean ice cream before 10am? I look him in the face, give him my best over the eye look and say “Yeah I know! but I can’t eat it at night.” Then like a hammer I feel GUILT, man I thought parents could lay it on thick, but my boys do a good job without even saying a word. Guess who’s getting ice cream after his lunch.
I couldn’t finish my ice cream. I sat there looking at it as it slowly melted and just couldn’t bring myself to eat anymore. I sat there thinking I’m setting a bad example. I talk to my boys all the time about being able to control our impulses for what they want and focusing on what they need. Sure I could justify to myself that everyone was talking about ice cream last night before bed time, or that my wife brought a coffe cup full of it t bed with her. I sat in bed wanting some nice chilly ice cream with chocolate syrup. Really though why should I let the actions of others create or contribute to my bad habits?
We all have bad habits we are trying to change. Ice Cream for Breakfast is mine. What is yours and how are you trying to change it?
Category: Kids /
Motivation
A Change
How many changes can I have in one years time. About the only thing that hasn’t changed is my location and that is amazing considering my track record. Since 2001 I have lived in 8 different locations. So now that I’m starting to grow roots into my community my life has shaped some dramatic changes in my family structure. In less then a year I become a father three times over. Twice with the adoption of our two boys Anthony and Ethan, and then again with the birth of Keira.
The Brothers Deeds
Sloth Ethan
Keira Day One
It runs in the Family
Anthony
Keira Pretending to have my hair
Baby Keira
Ethan
So many drastic changes and new demands on my time and sanity. Funny I always thought I was busy before I had kids. What a joke! These three keep me busy every moment I’m home and I love it.
The craziest part of it is how much more motivation I have now that I have less time. Having such a strain on my time has caused me to refocus and reorganize what I want from my life. You’ll be seeing some changes on this web page soon that will be examples of this. Kirsten has really stepped up and supported my writing recently. She has no idea how much a few words can effect my desire to continue with my dreams.
All that being said look forward to the Stories section of this blog to be growing in the next few weeks. Along with some new ventures into the world of blogging and how I want to market myself and my writing.
