My 10 year take

So, tomorrow marks my 10th anniversary of being a domesticated man. Happily married. Since we already took our trip, and its a week night, I'm off the hook until Saturday. I'm a guy...I wouldn't say I dread anniversaries, birthdays, and Valentines....I'm just your normal procrastinating underachiever. :)

To mark the occasion I thought I'd give you my top 10 list of things learned in ten years. Enjoy.

1. It's give and take. (and hope they take what you're giving)

2. Experts say kids and money are hell on relationships. I say relationship experts are hell on money.

3. Don't say you're sorry....show you're sorry.

4. My wife may always be right, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

5. When your wife says she's going into labor you shouldn't question the fact. (who knew?)

6. Two things you don't run out of: Diapers and Toilet paper. In that order.

7. I think my wife will lap the block several times to make sure her truck is on empty before I get in it. I'm pretty sure she hasn't pumped gas since college.

8. Having an off switch on my ears is handy. (I actually tried that once during a disagreement...not so good.)

9. When you're newly married your smoke alarm may indeed double as a cooking timer.

10. Marriage is work. Hard work. But the benefits are unbeatable.

To my dear wife...I love you. Thanks for 10 wonderful years and two beautiful children. Now get in the kitchen and cook me some dinner! ;)

Have kids. Will camp.

Dad Camp version 4 is in the history books. Despite the diversity (think hurricane winds, rain and 90+ heat) it was a success. We had a total of five dads and ten kids and numerous thieving raccoons. We stayed at Watkins Mill State Park for the third year but did manage to change campsites this time. (We moved across the street) What can I say, we live life on the edge. I did have to run off some squatters when I arrived. They got a bit moody when I told them I'd reserved the sites two months prior. The woman started tossing tent polls and curse words but they did move....right into another reserved spot. The last time I saw them they had their fully erected tent strapped to the top of their mini van driving into the sunset. So, if you plan on camping at a state facility when there isn't snow on the ground, you should probably get a reservation.

And now, some pictures....

No, we didn't lose any children, a couple had to leave early.





Ace is a bit small for camping, so mom brought him by for a visit.

When your four foot tall that's a big fish. Honestly, she just likes to play with the worms. She's my girl.

Smiles for miles

Tuesday's makes kids happy. Now you know.

Ace gets a cake

Our lil guy got to have his first birthday party! The whole family came over to celebrate with great food and gifts. I've come to the conclusion that the best thing to get anyone under two is an empty box wrapped in colorful paper. They'll play for hours with the trash they make and you'll save money! I may market the idea to Toys-R-Us.





The lil man got his very own cake to eat. He's just not too sure what all the fuss is about.









He's supposed to dig in with both hands and eat himself into a coma. Instead, he decided he didn't like icing on his hands. It was a hoot.

He did manage to do a little bit of damage. I'm putting him into training so next year we'll be ready. Cake beware!

A bit of Aloha

So we've been back a little more than a week. I've decided two things: One, I never need to leave my kids for six days. Two, I never need to sit on a plane for 7 plus hours unless I'm in a first class seat...yet another example of why being tall isn't all the glory it's made out to be. Having said that, this vacation was definitely worth the ten years of marriage it took to get there. (that was a joke Sweetie...you know you love me.) We had an unbelievable great time at one of the most beautiful places I've had the pleasure to visit. As soon as they move the islands a little closer to Kansas City International Airport, I'm heading back.

A beautiful wife on a beautiful beach. They seemed to be around every corner. The couple in the background had just gotten married. (not on the beach though...they just stopped the limo to snap a few pics.)

The happy couple at the top of our adventurous hike up Diamond Head. It's the volcano you see in the background of every Waikiki Beach picture. It was an amazing way to start a day.

This is the Byodo Temple at Valley of the Temples. While the temple itself is pretty stunning, the view around it is the icing on the cake.

Overlooking East Honolulu prior to our hike up Diamond Head.

Bargain shoppers paradise. This is the flee market at the Aloha Stadium parking lot. It pretty much takes up the entire parking area and you can buy anything short of nuclear arms here. It's like a huge garage sale.

Okay. I took a ton of pictures. And with digital cameras, why not? If you'd like to see some more pictures you can click here to go to my flickr page.

My next post will be Dawson's 1st bday. (The party ended a few hours ago) Who would have thought the kid that eats everything wouldn't like the cake? Go figure. I had planned a post on a bike event I went to yesterday but was to busy trying to stay hydrated in the 95 degree sun to snap any pics. I'll hook you guys up at the next one.

Technical Deficulties

Due to some Internet provider service issues I haven't been able to post the rest of my vaca pics...hopefully they get it worked out soon. Until then.....