Exodus

The garden has been mowed down and the chickens along with their camper have been shipped off to the country.  The time has come. Our parole has been approved and we are blowing this popsicle stand. We have been given our path to escape the city life. In less than three weeks I will be turning in my badge and gun, packing up the family and heading to the coast! Although it is not the country farm life I have longed for, it's the coast! And we'll take it. I am returning to life in ministry. Returning to old friends, deep conversations, peaceful existence, optimism and joy. No longer will I need to wear a bullet stopping vest and carry a variety of a death and pain inducing devices each day to work.  Words of bile and hate will be replaced with respect and genuine love. Fighting with friendship. Screaming with soft words. Anger with joy.  Oh city life, how I despise you, but oh how I miss you already.


P.S. Standby for new adventures!

His First

I turned off the television this morning to the moans and groans of my media saturated preschoolers in order to find some more brain stimulating activity. Somehow our children fell into a morning routine of about an hour and a half of flat screen induced zombiehood despite our great distaste for kids watching too much tv.  So, a great purge is about to begin. I'm talking Berenstein Bears Too Much TV style crackdown.

This morning's TV strike produced Nathan's very first non-scribble picture. It was pretty dang good. He went on to draw about 3 more pictures of people and his stuffed animals. Drawing is a pretty big thing here. So, this is good stuff!

What the Junk?!

I went out this morning to find this old school British tank in my neighbor's driveway with barrel aimed at my house!

Purely Fantastic!

My Son has a Problem

Chewy

Right after I finished talking smack about the plethora of loveys floating around this casa, I found this idea online and made it for Nate. It took about 20 minutes and $4.

Happy Independence Day Americans!

Yes!

From collegehumor.com

Glamorous

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15 Minute Friend

Diet Pancakes

They failed to see the humor.

Mellow Mushroom Princess

Nathan [To the cute Mellow Mushroom waitress]: "You are a princess!"

Izzy:  "Why did you call her a princess, Nathan?"

Nathan:  "Because she wants to get married."

Melissa [Our single friend]:  "Then I've been a princess for a loooong time."

Done and Done!

The mini graphic novel that was supposed to be done by Izzy's birthday, April 25th, is finally done  - only 2 months past deadline.  Eventually, I will try to get it professionally printed, but for now we will go with the home printed and bound version (note: trying to bind a 30 page book with a sewing machine is problematic, both with the machine and with the wife who catches you wrecking shop on her machine).

Happy Birthday Z!

Written and Narrated by Izzy

Directed by Dad

Written and Narrated by Nathan

Directed by Dad

Dear Dad,

Thanks for wearing longer shorts now.

Love,

T

P.S. Even if you still wore these you would still be the coolest, smartest, most fantastic Pops ever.

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Funky Tacos

I'm not real sure if it looks like a chicken coop, a vintage camper, or a place from which you really would not want to buy a taco.

Windows Open!

It's June...in Texas...and my windows are open!  What the heck is going on right now?!

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Chicken Camper Casa

Thanks to the North Texas tornadoes a couple of months ago there was an abundance of old fence wood panels placed on curbs.  The timing worked out pretty well for a guy with 16 baby chicks looking to build  a chicken casa on the cheap.  So, I gathered a truck load of wind-whipped wood, and slapped together the chickens' new vintage camper-style casa.  I'm not quit finished.  I still have to add some handles, wheels, window shuttlers and a few awesome camper details, but the chickens love it.  I will slap up some new pictures when it is fully complete. 

Easy Drawing Books

Here is a faster and easier version of the "Cereal Box Books."  These drawing books took all of three minutes to make for my kids, and provided them with a morning of creativity (a.k.a. quiet relaxation for me).   Idea from Made.

Signal 20

This morning the family rolled up hard in the minivan to pump some gas at the local Quick Trip.  Before stepping out to give my remaining checking account balance to the pump, I looked over and saw a QT window washer squeegeeing in a full Scottish getup, including an extra short kilt, black knee-high stockings and a 'coon skin hat! This freakin' city is busting at the seams with crazies.