Two years ago today, Tegan was born. That got me to thinking I should post some music that was popular back then. I searched for the top music of 2007, but pretty much could only find "Top 40" and "POP" type music... no thanks.
Finally I found a list of the top Indie and Alternative music of 2007... that's more like it. On the list were bands like Arctic Monkeys (1 hit wonders), The Shins (who are awesome), and Arcade Fire.
It would have been really easy to choose something from The Shins because we like that band a lot, but I'm going with something from Arcade Fire. I didn't think it was that long ago that I was introduced to Arcade Fire via SNL, but it was two years ago apparently. They remind me very much of the early alternative music I loved so much when I was younger
I'm also choosing to use a live clip of them playing instead of a video because I think they have such a strong energy. I bet it's even stronger in person.
Arcade Fire, "Keep The Car Running"
Good stuff.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday Flashback 06.05.09
Today's flashback picture was plucked randomly from the pile o' pictures...
Here is Anna and I in front of the Hawaii temple. I believe this is from our family trip in 2000. I remember it was Anna and I and mom and dad that went that day. I forgot a tie and my Sunday shoes, but I remembered my recommend, so I still went in.
Here is Anna and I in front of the Hawaii temple. I believe this is from our family trip in 2000. I remember it was Anna and I and mom and dad that went that day. I forgot a tie and my Sunday shoes, but I remembered my recommend, so I still went in.
I remember the grounds being very beautiful and lush looking. There was something very real about being in such a place as Hawaii, and contemplating the creation of our world. 'You could feel it', is the best way I can explain it.
Anyway, I look forward to being there again sometime. Both Hawaii and the temple there.
Dirt X 2
Yesterday evening, Anna and I filled the second garden box full of dirt. We've been experiencing "June gloom" as far as weather this week, and Anna was determined to get that box full of dirt while the weather was still quite cool instead of just slightly cooler than a scorchingly hot day. So after a couple of batted eyes and a smile, I could resist no longer, and out we went.
Anna had presoaked the dirt for a few minutes to try and soften it a bit, and it worked somewhat. Most of the water ran down the slope so it only soaked in an inch or two. After breaking up a first round of hard dirt, I put the water on a tiny bit to try softening the dirt some more. This time, I gouged the slope so the water would seep into the holes and soften the dirt a little deeper. It worked very well! The dirt began to be a LOT easier to break and dig.
Anna used the two buckets to move the dirt to the box from the slope. We had a good system going. The time we filled the first box, it took us two evenings. This time we did it all in one.
Here's the two boxes filled with dirt.
Now we need to soak the dirt a bit, till in some manure, and plant some seeds or transplant some seedlings. Then the worst part of gardening...
Anna had presoaked the dirt for a few minutes to try and soften it a bit, and it worked somewhat. Most of the water ran down the slope so it only soaked in an inch or two. After breaking up a first round of hard dirt, I put the water on a tiny bit to try softening the dirt some more. This time, I gouged the slope so the water would seep into the holes and soften the dirt a little deeper. It worked very well! The dirt began to be a LOT easier to break and dig.
Anna used the two buckets to move the dirt to the box from the slope. We had a good system going. The time we filled the first box, it took us two evenings. This time we did it all in one.
Here's the two boxes filled with dirt.
Now we need to soak the dirt a bit, till in some manure, and plant some seeds or transplant some seedlings. Then the worst part of gardening...
... the waiting.
Big Girl Bed
Last night, Tegan slept in her big-girl bed! I finally got around to taking down the crib. A night or two ago, Tegan had even climbed into Jennan's bed and was very upset that she couldn't stay there. That was when I knew I needed to make putting the crib away and putting the new bed together a priority.
We've had a second toddler bed for a few weeks, sitting in pieces in the garage. It's a loaner from Josh and Sara. Hopefully by the time they need it back, the girls will be ready for regular sized bunk beds. Which means we'll have to acquire some new bunk beds when that comes.
Anyway, last night was Tegan's first night in a toddler bed. She was so excited to sleep in it. She put up no fight, didn't get up and cry at the door, or any of that stuff that will probably happen at some point anyway. But as far as first nights go, it was great.
Here's Tegan in her new bed. Right after I had the girls room arranged, and the beds made, I called Tegan in to see it. She climbed right in, and played in it for a while. The bed that Tegan is in is not the bed we're borrowing.
After putting up the bed we're borrowing (the bed Tegan is not in), I could see that it's a bit taller than the bed we have. I figured Tegan would have an easier time getting in and out of the lower bed, so I switched it with Jennan's bed. I say switched it because where the bed is located helps them know which bed is theirs. Routine helps with the adjustment.
So yeah, we're now officially crib-less, as far as sleeping kids go. We still need to figure out what we're going to do with the crib as far as whether or not we're selling it, donating it, giving it away, or whatever. Looking into the future, about a year from now, we hope to be diaper-less too! That will be a momentous occasion for sure.
We've had a second toddler bed for a few weeks, sitting in pieces in the garage. It's a loaner from Josh and Sara. Hopefully by the time they need it back, the girls will be ready for regular sized bunk beds. Which means we'll have to acquire some new bunk beds when that comes.
Anyway, last night was Tegan's first night in a toddler bed. She was so excited to sleep in it. She put up no fight, didn't get up and cry at the door, or any of that stuff that will probably happen at some point anyway. But as far as first nights go, it was great.
Here's Tegan in her new bed. Right after I had the girls room arranged, and the beds made, I called Tegan in to see it. She climbed right in, and played in it for a while. The bed that Tegan is in is not the bed we're borrowing.
After putting up the bed we're borrowing (the bed Tegan is not in), I could see that it's a bit taller than the bed we have. I figured Tegan would have an easier time getting in and out of the lower bed, so I switched it with Jennan's bed. I say switched it because where the bed is located helps them know which bed is theirs. Routine helps with the adjustment.
So yeah, we're now officially crib-less, as far as sleeping kids go. We still need to figure out what we're going to do with the crib as far as whether or not we're selling it, donating it, giving it away, or whatever. Looking into the future, about a year from now, we hope to be diaper-less too! That will be a momentous occasion for sure.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Future Mammoths (I Hope)
Almost a month ago, I planted a pack's worth of mammoth sunflower seeds along the fence in the front yard. Most of them went into a planter area that used to have a bunch of other bulb type plants.
As you can see in the picture below, the ground was pretty dry. I wasn't keeping up on watering the area. I put seeds in about 8-10 different spots in this section, and then watered it a lot.
Almost a month later, I have only one lone flower that's doing awesome. I put my shoe in the picture for scale, so you can see how big it's gotten. When it was only a few inches tall, it was getting eaten by bugs quite a bit. In fact there was another flower shoot coming up at the same time, but it was getting eaten even more, and it stopped growing.
This is that other flower shoot. It's finally grown some new leaves, but it's still quite tiny. As long as the bugs don't eat the leaves, and it gets plenty of water, I expect it should be able to catch up to the other one.
In another spot in the front yard, I put some seeds, and this lone flower shoot came up. It too got devoured by bugs, but it remains green, and I try to remember to water it as much as the others. Because it's still green, I'm hoping it will also soon sprout new leaves and begin to grow.
As you can see in the picture below, the ground was pretty dry. I wasn't keeping up on watering the area. I put seeds in about 8-10 different spots in this section, and then watered it a lot.
Almost a month later, I have only one lone flower that's doing awesome. I put my shoe in the picture for scale, so you can see how big it's gotten. When it was only a few inches tall, it was getting eaten by bugs quite a bit. In fact there was another flower shoot coming up at the same time, but it was getting eaten even more, and it stopped growing.
This is that other flower shoot. It's finally grown some new leaves, but it's still quite tiny. As long as the bugs don't eat the leaves, and it gets plenty of water, I expect it should be able to catch up to the other one.
In another spot in the front yard, I put some seeds, and this lone flower shoot came up. It too got devoured by bugs, but it remains green, and I try to remember to water it as much as the others. Because it's still green, I'm hoping it will also soon sprout new leaves and begin to grow.
It would be great to see these grow into huge sunflowers. They're suppose to get up to 8 feet tall or something like that. I'll keep you updated.
In other planting news, we still haven't gotten a chance to fill that other planter box in the back yard yet. Things have been super busy. Hopefully soon we can get the dirt in the box, and get some plants growing in them.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Scottish Fair
It's been about a week since I've posted anything on the blog here. I was really busy preparing for the second weekend of my wood badge training. I did get a chance to spend some time with the family during that time though. We went to the Scottish Fair.
It's the United Scottish Society's Highland Games and Gathering, and it's recently been renamed Scotsfest, but we call it the Scottish Fair. We missed it last year. It was held at the Pomona fair grounds the last couple of years, but it's back to where it was before that, at the Orange County fair grounds. We had a great time.
I guess last year was the first year they had an archery range for kids, but it was our first time. Here you can see I'm trying to help Duncan with his technique.
Now it's Liam's turn.
Then Jennan got a turn too. It was a little trickier doing it lefty though. All the kids LOVED shooting the arrows.
Here are some bonny lasses.
One of my personal highlights of visiting the Scottish fair is eating a meat pie! If they weren't so darn over priced, I'd eat a bunch of them. But one is better than none. Anna thinks they taste like cat food. Anna and I also split a fish and chips, and a banger.
There was a guy there that had a bunch of stations of castle blocks. I think he also sold sets of them too. We didn't buy any, but the kids had a great time building castles and towers.
You know the kids are having a really good time when they're getting along REALLY well. Here you can see that Duncan and Liam started waking arm in arm. It was a nice parental moment to see them so happy with each other.
Another motivation to come to this Scottish fair was to see one of Anna's students, who plays in a local pipe and drum group, compete with her group. She's the young girl with the ponytail in the center playing drums. I also happened to meet the guy on the end on the left at my wood badge training the weekend before. So that was kind of cool to actually know people in one of the bands.
There were also some bouncy type slides and such at the fair this year. You had to buy tickets to go on them, but the kids had been so good, we bought some tickets and let them choose a couple to go on. Here is Liam as he finishes coming down a tall slide.
And Duncan too. Jennan and Tegan were both knocked out by this time. We did this at the end of our day at the fair.
It was a fun time at the Scottish fair.
It's the United Scottish Society's Highland Games and Gathering, and it's recently been renamed Scotsfest, but we call it the Scottish Fair. We missed it last year. It was held at the Pomona fair grounds the last couple of years, but it's back to where it was before that, at the Orange County fair grounds. We had a great time.
I guess last year was the first year they had an archery range for kids, but it was our first time. Here you can see I'm trying to help Duncan with his technique.
Now it's Liam's turn.
Then Jennan got a turn too. It was a little trickier doing it lefty though. All the kids LOVED shooting the arrows.
Here are some bonny lasses.
One of my personal highlights of visiting the Scottish fair is eating a meat pie! If they weren't so darn over priced, I'd eat a bunch of them. But one is better than none. Anna thinks they taste like cat food. Anna and I also split a fish and chips, and a banger.
There was a guy there that had a bunch of stations of castle blocks. I think he also sold sets of them too. We didn't buy any, but the kids had a great time building castles and towers.
You know the kids are having a really good time when they're getting along REALLY well. Here you can see that Duncan and Liam started waking arm in arm. It was a nice parental moment to see them so happy with each other.
Another motivation to come to this Scottish fair was to see one of Anna's students, who plays in a local pipe and drum group, compete with her group. She's the young girl with the ponytail in the center playing drums. I also happened to meet the guy on the end on the left at my wood badge training the weekend before. So that was kind of cool to actually know people in one of the bands.
There were also some bouncy type slides and such at the fair this year. You had to buy tickets to go on them, but the kids had been so good, we bought some tickets and let them choose a couple to go on. Here is Liam as he finishes coming down a tall slide.
And Duncan too. Jennan and Tegan were both knocked out by this time. We did this at the end of our day at the fair.
It was a fun time at the Scottish fair.
monday Music 06.01.09
Today's music is taken from a shuffle on the iPod.
Song #7 because it's the 1st day of the 6th month...
Echo and the Bunnymen "The Puppet"
Anna always confuses Echo and the Bunnymen with The Jesus and Mary Chain. She says they look exactly alike.
Here's a video of the Jesus and Mary Chain...
To me, they look nothing alike, but I'm a bit of an Alternative music snob, so I exclude myself from any comparisons.
Do they look the same to you?
Song #7 because it's the 1st day of the 6th month...
Echo and the Bunnymen "The Puppet"
Anna always confuses Echo and the Bunnymen with The Jesus and Mary Chain. She says they look exactly alike.
Here's a video of the Jesus and Mary Chain...
To me, they look nothing alike, but I'm a bit of an Alternative music snob, so I exclude myself from any comparisons.
Do they look the same to you?
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