Sam Goes Pro

I recently obtained my scuba certification (yes, still haven't posted about that, more on it later, seriously) in preparation for a big wedding cruise Sarah and I will attend this year.  I borrowed a friend's GoPro camera to film the open water certification dive.  Turns out the instructor was uncomfortable with that and stated, when I was certified, I could do what I want, but until then...  

If you have never heard of GoPro cameras, I suggest you do two things.  1) Get your head out from under a rock.  2) Go buy one.  I haven't felt the need to own one of these $400 pieces of equipment mostly because the video I see from them is usually from some dude base jumping off a cliff in a wing suit.  I'm adventurous, but I also want to see my kids grow up, so I don't do that.  

The GoPro I borrowed wasn't the newest model, so I needed to get an older, bit harder to find, waterproof housing for diving.  No problem, Amazon to the rescue; two days later the new housing was here.  Unfortunately, and more so, surprisingly, the mounting options I desired weren't available.  No problem, Tacoma FabLab to the rescue.  For a 1/2 hour's worth of design, and then one 3D printed item later, I had my wrist mount.  I'm definitely hooked on FabLab now - you are only limited by your own creativity at that place. 

I performed a test of all the equipment today at Sam's swim class.  It's not earth shattering, but in my opinion it's pretty awesome.  Original footage was 720HD and looks great on the computer.  I took about 30 seconds to edit the clips together, throw an audio track over top, and upload.  Can't wait to see what kind of results I get from some Caribbean scuba diving.

 

Snow Family

We finally had snow this year, 8 days ago, for about 24 hours.  It came in the early evening, and was mostly gone again about dinner time the next day.  Yes, we dressed Samuel in one of Grace's old snow suits.  We don't have a male gender specific one in his size.  He didn't care; he loved the snow.  Besides, his mittens have flames on them, and that's as manly as you can get.

 

When the snow started to fall, we got out into it, and then video chatted with the grandparents. 

Looks like about 3 inches by the morning.  

  

Great photos of the kids by Sarah

Thanks to neighbor Canadian Jessie for all the help with the kids and the Snow Family!  Now, one more photos of Sam, because his expression is hilarious, both in the photo above and the one below. 

Passport Photos

I went to Costco, not for more diapers, but for passport photos.  We will be joining a large contingent of family and friends attending Sarah's youngest brother's wedding on a western Caribbean cruise this spring.  When departing and arriving by boat, the State Department doesn't require passports, but parents worry about what "might" happen and we get them just in case.  While waiting for the photos to be developed, I let the kids choose Mom's next pair of frames.  I think they have style!  Also, I have no clue what song Sam was singing at the time. 

Bell Pepper

The concept of complete disorder takes new meaning with two children in the house.  You never know what you're going to find when you come around the corner, unsuspecting, and find the rest of your family in the bathroom.  At least they are all smiling. 

I'm surprised how Sam has been taking to potty training.  Everyone (literally, EVERYONE) says boys take longer to get into the habit than girls.  It was with this universal wisdom that I purchased 4 of the Costco mega, ultra, apocalypse diaper packs two months ago when they went on sale.  No worries, if Sam really does become potty trained in the next month, I'll only have about 600 extra size 4 diapers laying around. 

For the record, there was not an actual bell pepper in the bathroom.  Sarah made me hide Sam's penis for the interwebs.

Loadmaster in Training

Sarah sent me this photo last week while I was in class.  (More on that later.)  Her caption "Loadmaster in Training" had me giggling as much as the photo.  Grace sees airplanes in the sky, and she knows which one are, and just as importantly, which ones are NOT, C-17's.  The approach path for the VOR DME arc to runway 16 goes right over her daycare.  Her teachers let me know every time when the kids were outside playing as one flew overhead and Grace tells all her friends, "That's a C-17!  My Daddy's in there."  No denying it - this makes me just the slightest bit proud. 

Super Bowl Cheering Section

Regarding tomorrow's football game; we live in a split house.  That is, Sarah is from Denver and her allegiance remains strong.  I consider myself a member of the 12th man contingent.  As such, we have anticipated this game since, oh, maybe week 3 or 4 of the season when it appear as though both our favorite teams were doing well.  Do not think for one second though, that I would teach our children behavior that could be potentially explosive, and marriage ending.  It was their daycare.  I swear it. 

Go Hawks!