Making birthday cards with the boys.

Making birthday cards with the boys. Feeling pretty crafty. I used Sara's Cricut to make the shapes. They try and get you to purchase their pre-made shapes, but I managed to overlap enough shapes to make a Lego minifigure. They didn't even have a triangle shape, so I had to use some upside down 'v's for the slope of the body and a letter 'c' for the hands.

James has a bit of a routine where after he's tucked in for bed, he asks to go to the washroom and then spends a...

James has a bit of a routine where after he's tucked in for bed, he asks to go to the washroom and then spends a good 10-15 minutes sitting on the potty reading books to himself. A while back, we tried to reduce that time by removing the books from the washroom. First night in, things are still taking a ridiculously long time, so I decide to check up on him (he's been known to take creative license with the use of toilet paper). I peek in the door and he's sitting there with his diaper in his hands unfolded in front of him like he's reading a newspaper and he's intently going over and "reading" all the pictures printed on the outside of the diaper. Sometimes you just can't win...

Yes!

Yes!
http://kottke.org/14/02/david-attenborough-narrates-curling

Just got the 4.4 update on my phone, so I can finally make these.

Just got the 4.4 update on my phone, so I can finally make these.

Google + Lego = Obvious post

Google + Lego = Obvious post
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4TIkhm2tWc&feature=share

The auto-awesome version

The auto-awesome version

James has unique fashion sense.

James has unique fashion sense.

The venerable gentlemen of bow tie club.

The venerable gentlemen of bow tie club.

Sara put a bunch of carrots on the table at lunch time.

Sara put a bunch of carrots on the table at lunch time. James yelling and almost in tears, "No carrots! I don't want carrots!"
Me, "Don't worry, they're just for mom. You don't have to eat them."
James sweetly, "Can I please have some carrots."
Sometimes...

Nate, "'T' is the first letter of the alphabet."

Nate, "'T' is the first letter of the alphabet."
Sara, "Um, no."
Me, "Well technically it is the first letter of '*The* alphabet'"
Glares from Sara.

Nate, pointing at his middle finger, "This is my god finger."

Nate, pointing at his middle finger, "This is my god finger."
Sara, "Why?"
Nate, "because it's the biggest..."

Just started auto-backing up some old photos to Google+.

Just started auto-backing up some old photos to Google+. Found this old set of Nate eating an ice cream cone... #nostalgia

Made mini-gingerbread houses as a family last night.

Made mini-gingerbread houses as a family last night.

Yay, Google+! Auto-Awesome Year Highlight Movie

Yay, Google+! Auto-Awesome Year Highlight Movie

We were explaining winter solstice to the boys this morning, and how the effect is exaggerated at the poles.

We were explaining winter solstice to the boys this morning, and how the effect is exaggerated at the poles. Nate goes, "When it's summer at the north pole you better get on a boat quick!" Which sparked a debate between Sara and myself about whether or not the ice was permanent at the north pole. As we're discussing and Sara is Google-ing the answer on her phone, Nate pipes up, "Adults sure aren't very smart. You forget a lot of things..."

Christmas Pyramid

Christmas Pyramid

Signs you may be a nerdy family:

Signs you may be a nerdy family:
James, "I want to be as old as Nate."
"Well, if you sent Nate into orbit... "

I don't usually post links that verge on the political, but I thought this was an extremely good read.

I don't usually post links that verge on the political, but I thought this was an extremely good read.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/08/david-simon-capitalism-marx-two-americas-wire

Put the tree up today.

Put the tree up today. Later we watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer together (Sara's tradition). As soon as the movie started and the FBI warning came up, Nate goes, "It's too scary, let's turn it off." James goes, "It's okay, I'm not scared, my Dad's right here."

Title

Signs you may be raising a megalomaniac: Your son yells "WITNESS HISTORY!

Signs you may be raising a megalomaniac: Your son yells "WITNESS HISTORY!" at the top of his lungs while attacking his younger brother.

From art show at church

From art show at church

Nate staged a small venue limited run performance art piece the other day.

Nate staged a small venue limited run performance art piece the other day. He spent most of the day preparing in the "quiet time" room. A photo of the sign he made for the show is attached. Visitors were required to press a green button he made to enter the show. Once in they were seated and the lighting adjusted (the hallway light needed to be off). He then placed his toy electric guitar on a small red box (his "guitar amp") and pressed a button on the guitar to play one of the pre-recorded songs. He then went inside a box he had prepared with a happy face drawn on it and a hat on top. He then stuck his hands out of two holes he had cut in the sides of the box and began waving his hands to the music (his rendering of it can be seen on the sign if you look closely). I have no idea where he gets these ideas from, but wherever it is, the supply appears to be endless.

Sara and I went to one of the major chain bookstores today.

Sara and I went to one of the major chain bookstores today. They had a series of children's board books based on famous literary classics, including a few of Jane Austen's works. Naturally, Sara needed to pick one up. As she was paying for it, she struck up a conversation with the clerk. They both started geeking out about how cool it was. The clerk, "Isn't it neat how they're making these kid's books based on famous movies?" Ummmm.....

Birthday Supper for Oma

Birthday Supper for Oma

In Focus: Always Awesome

In Focus: Always Awesome
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/10/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2013/100611/

Family morning at the zoo. Loving the way my new phone handles.

Family morning at the zoo. Loving the way my new phone handles.

Fall fun

Fall fun

Nate and James got a gold fish last night. This morning, Nate was excited about how he was going to train it.

Nate and James got a gold fish last night. This morning, Nate was excited about how he was going to train it.
"Well, Nate, that won't really work, because you can't talk to your fish."
Thinks for a bit, "I know! I'll use hand signals and moving my head to teach it what's good and bad."
"Unfortunately, you can't really train gold fish, they aren't that smart."
"Why? "
"Well, they have really small brains."
"James has a small head... "

Testing out the slow mo mode on my new Moto X. (Wait till the end)

Testing out the slow mo mode on my new Moto X. (Wait till the end)

Making the most out of Autumn.

Making the most out of Autumn.

Our boys aren't ready to give up summer yet, so we've hit a compromise, they wear shorts under their pants.

I love Rdio for things like this. Our two year old requested "duck party" music this morning.

I love Rdio for things like this. Our two year old requested "duck party" music this morning.

Wishing I was in Seattle, with my good friends the Iflands.

Wishing I was in Seattle, with my good friends the Iflands.
http://www.brothers-brick.com/2013/10/03/brickcon-2013-starts-today/