Campbell's 1st party for her 2nd birthday

I know that is a weird title, but I couldn't figure out a way to say it shorter and not be confusing.  Campbell's birthday this year falls on Thanksgiving Day.  That created a whole world of logistics problems for the family so we decided to have 2 parties.  1 in Springdale and 1 in ElDorado.  Yesterday was the Springdale party.  She had a lot of fun.  I'm still not sure she knew the party was for her but she loved the party just the same.  

I started culling pictures to post but honestly, this one here sums up the whole thing. After the party in ElDorado I'll make a gallery combining the two parties.  Happy Birthday to my little girl!

Howdy pardna!


Noah has the Husky Hoedown at school today. He borrowed some western wear from a friend and he is set. He practiced asking his teacher to doe-c-doe at breakfast and when I left him he was stomping his boots loudly into the front door of school. Tonight is the actual hoedown with games and dinner. Campbell and Jenna still aren't feeling well so I don't know if he and I will be going stag or if we'll have dates. Either way will be a lot of fun.

"And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva..."

Feeling pretty good about our marriage right now.  We were invited by the Marriage Enrichment Council to participate in an Oldie/Newlywed game.  So Sunday night we joined 7 other couples on a stage with the full intent of not embarrassing ourselves.

Fortunately the questions we were asked matched up with things we knew and we won. At the halfway point we were way ahead. One couple that had been married about 40 years made a furious comeback but we held them off and took home the grand prize of a dinner and movie.  When I get some pictures I'll post them.

Porcelain Serenade

Noah singing to his long lost Phenergan-

Sung to the tune of Lady Antebellum's "I Need You Now"-----

It's a quarter after four, I'm by the throne and I need you now
Said I was done but I can't go to bed and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now

Yes the stomach bug is running it's way through the household. Campbell on Tuesday. Ann and Weldon on Wednesday.  Noah on Thursday.  I feel like I'm walking around with a big bullseye on my back waiting for it to hit. My fingers are already starting to split from all the hand sanitizer.

The king is dead, long live the king

It's no secret I am an Apple fan. From my first Powerbook to my current iPad 2 I've been hooked by the combination of software that makes sense and truly brilliant engineering.  Steve Jobs' legacy will be measured by people way more qualified than me to say what he was and was not. I never met the man so I can't tell you if he was a good father, friend, or boss. I did admire him though, as a person who could turn a vision into reality.  We have so few of those people in this world and now we have one less.

Here are 2 of my favorite things about him.  One is from a commencement speech at Stanford and the other is a photo that has been around forever and I have no idea where the original came from.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

Multitasking parents

When you are a busy family of four you have to combine tasks. Sometimes this teaches the parents more than it teaches the kids. Tonight the parents learned not to combine coed bath time and teaching colors to a 1 year old.

Mom-What color is Mommy's shirt?
Campbell-Whyt
Mom-Good
Dad-What color is Daddy's shirt?
Campbell-Bwue
Dad-Yay
Noah-What color is Noah's pecker?
Campbell-------
Noah-It's peach Campbell. Can you say peach?

2011 Pink Ribbon Luncheon

Today was the annual Pink Ribbon Luncheon at the Convention Center in Springdale. It's one of those days that happens each year so it's fun to be there and reflect on the past year.  It's also fun because its the first time I see most of the race committee peeps since the Spring.

 
This year Jenna was asked to be 1 of 15 or so models for a 'Give Breast Cancer the Boot!' fashion show. She got to parade out in front of a sold out room in some knee high kicks, while I sat at the table with a cupcake tray in front of me. It's sad how much my willpower relies on her.


I always love the luncheon but I was grateful I didn't have much time this year. I had to get back to work so I missed the Melissa Carroll tribute. It's great to celebrate survivors but this year we lost a true champion. She embodied everything beautiful in the human spirit and we should all strive to live with as much dignity and grace. Another reminder the fight goes on and lives are truly at stake.