guitar hero metallica commercial

I just saw one of the funniest commercials I've seen in a long time:

SWEEEEEEET 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(12) Arizona 71, (13) Cleveland St 57

And just like that, a mostly-crappy season has been redeemed.

kari

I had meant to post a couple comments about Kari on her birthday, and obviously never got to it until now. She deserves much more than I usually give, as our birthdays are 5 days apart and we tend to combine the celebration. I will work on doing better.

Perhaps the greatest praise I can give is in regards to her amazing response and growth through the trials she faced in 2008. This is not to say she did not have her moments of anger, sorrow, and depression. But the woman she has become (and is becoming) as a result of those experiences has been a pleasure to watch and experience. To see a beautiful woman, in all aspects, go through the hell she's gone through and come out the other side even more beautiful just brings joy to my soul. (I use the term "hell" within the context of this earthly life, and with recognition that pain is relative. Everyone has their own hell on earth, so to speak. Many others have experienced things much worse and much more painful, and that is their hell. The 3 miscarriages has been Kari's hell. The context of "beautiful" perhaps should also be clarified. While she certainly possesses external beauty, the beauty I speak of is in regards to her soul. At the beginning of our relationship (with the immaturity of a 19-year-old) I realize now that I was mostly enamored with Kari's external beauty. While that beauty continues to grow, it has become of less personal importance throughout our marriage. I've grown to appreciate the importance of the deeper beauty of the soul, and am now enamored more when that shines through and shows its fruit. I hope that makes sense.....perhaps I'm just digging a hole.)

So, all that to say, you are a beautiful woman, Kari. I have loved to see God reflected and shining in your soul more and more, especially as you turn another year older. Happy Birthday.

2-week summary

We've had an eventful past couple of weeks:

Mason and I were able to make his first snowman after a semi-heavy snowfall (rare this winter).

Due to the "cold spell" we had plenty of time inside,
which usually translates into Mase and I wrestling (Kari tends to steer clear).

We got to spend a weekend at Camp Elim, where we played "guns".....

.....hung out with good friends Dan and Georgi.....

.....and played a little Stolf (Stump Golf).

Fenny gave us Denver Nuggets tickets. Mase had a blast, but also fell asleep before halftime.

Mason was invited to the Children's Museum by one of his girlfriends, Hailey Page.


And my folks sent me a classic b-day card that I just couldn't help but share.

little helper

Mason's always shown himself to be a little helper, but sometimes it can get a little out of hand.

Kari makes an "ow" noise while cooking.

"Mommy, you okay?"

"I'm okay."

"Do you have an owie?"

"No, I'm okay."

Mason thinks to himself for a couple seconds.

"Daddy, you have an owie?"

"No, not right now."

"Daddy, I want you to burn yourself on the oven so you can have an owie and I can help you."

That's great. Maybe he won't grow up to be a fireman after all.

sniff sniff

1st and 25

Since Kari's last ultrasound at 12 weeks she's had 2 successful heartbeat appointments. Last week marked 14 weeks, so we've got the 1st trimester done and just 25 weeks (or so) to go. She'll probably have 1 or 2 more heartbeat appointments and 1 additional ultrasound around 20 weeks, where we plan on finding out the gender this time (or at least trying).