As a family we dedicate Monday nights to spending time with each other.  We plan activities for this night (bowling, watching movies and the like), learn more about God and sometimes we make desserts. 

Tonight, we decided to read in the scriptures and talk about a few of the things that we believe and why we believe it.  We asked Jacob to collect the scriptures so that we could read.  He went looking and only discovered my set.    Although I am ashamed to relate this part of the story, it was pretty amusing and a good lesson for me. 

As Jacob returned downstairs, he had but one comment.  He said, "Dad, your scriptures are so dusty!" 
   
"A verse a day will keep the dust away" ~Anonymous~

Well, after breaking the curse of 86 years in 2004, the Boston Red Sox have won another World Series now in 2007.
I suppose that we are going to have to endure another year of BoSox fans coming out of the woodwork and claiming their allegiance to this east coast team.  Congrats to all you bandwagoners...enjoy it while it lasts!  This Series was an utter waste of my time.

Am I bitter?  You betcha.  Now we can get back to football.

The kids and I walk to school every morning with two other moms and their kids.  There are 11 of us in all...quite a crowd!!!  In order to reach the school, we have to cross a pretty busy road.   All of us moms get a little uptight at that crossing because the smaller kids sometimes forget that they need to "look both ways" before crossing the street.
So on one of our recent trips, my friend's daughter, Morgan, decided that she wanted to run up ahead. This is not an unusual occurrence except that it is my children that are usually the ones running ahead.  Katie called to her to stop but Morgan, like most of our sweet children do at times, decided to ignore her.  She kept walking so Katie called again with more intensity.  Morgan stopped. Katie told her to wait, Morgan took a few baby steps.  Katie said, "If you don't stop I'm gonna spank you!"  Morgan took another step.  So Katie told her that was it, she was going to get a spanking. 
All the while the other kids were walking and talking.  They don't usually pay attention when another child is being scolded. Or so I thought.  As we got closer to Morgan, Jacob started walking a little faster and with widened eyes and an embarrassed look on his face he said, "Awkwaaarrrd!"  It took me a minute to register what he had said and then I just started laughing.  Katie (Morgan's mom) and Trisha (another friend and mom) were snickering.  It was just so perfect!  I'm not sure but it may have saved Morgan from the spanking she was dangerously close to receiving.  The biggest kicker came as I thought, "Wow, how did Jake know when to use that word so perfectly?" He simultaneously asked, "Mom, what does awkward mean?"

Amie

Do any of you belong to a homeowners association?  We do.  In fact, our entire time as homeowners has involved membership in an HOA. 
What makes a homeowners association run well? 
Some people would say it is a good HOA board that can make honest and sound decisions.  Others would say an association that provides much needed amenities like cable tv and wireless internet.  I have even heard people say that the refreshments at the member meetings can make or break an HOA.

I have been the president of our HOA for the past year.  I do not claim to be the best president in the world, but I have done my best to maintain the peace and ensure that association needs have been met.  Tonight we were supposed to vote on new officers for the HOA board.  I have anxiously planned and waited for this meeting to arrive...we even provided terrific refreshments for the attendees.  One problem though...no one showed! 

This caused me to ponder on all of the activities in my life where people have depended, or currently depend, on my participation in order to be successful. Home teaching, moving the neighbors, church activities, raising my children, etc.

So, should someone ever ask me, "What makes a homeowners association run well?"  I will answer:  Member Participation.

Participate people, participate!
Lesson Learned.

• Amie is 30 weeks pregnant with our 4th child.  She is a girl and we will call her Olivia.  We have already scheduled Amie to be induced on December 21st.
• I work at a company called CirclePix (www.circlepix.com.)  I was also a part of starting two businesses last year (2006).  A commercial cleaning business which is currently making money and a fantasy sports website that has simply been a drain on resources thus far.
• We are still Mormons.
• We went to Disneyland with the kids earlier this year.  Unbelieveably fun!  We will post some photos here soon.
• The Chicago Bears are off to a dismal start this season;a 2-3 record with a loss to Detroit  -- the defense is decimated with injuries and the offense has already flatlined.

So, if you have any words of encouragement as I begin this daunting task of maintaining a blog, please send them my way.

Peace and Love.  Eric