play ball, nerd alert, 79!, stop lock and drop (by Ben, not to be confused with something Rachel would post!)

This morning began 8 weeks of tee ball for Ethan and 8 weeks of coach pitch for Aubrie and Boston. Ethan's game was first at 9:00 a.m. They moved the games to Rio Vista Park which is another 10 minutes further than the previous location. We headed out early and got to the park with 5 minutes to spare. I dropped Rachel and the kids off at the field and then proceeded to park. Unfortunately I dropped them off at the wrong fields and did not realize it until I had already parked and returned to them. I grabbed all the stuff and headed to the other fields which were a bit of a hike. Needless to say I was tired and sweaty by the time that I got to the field. I got there in time to get everything out of the bag and organize the boys and then send them out into the field. The game went well and I was still able to recall every boy's name. Ethan seemed to have a great time, but he bores easily. I had to make sure to keep him engaged as much as possible. He likes to bat and run. He is not a big fan of playing in the field watching others hit. Rachel was able to watch about half of the game and then took Sophia to the park that was next to the field. Sophia was being a stink butt and needed to run around. It will be nice when she is older and will not require so much attention. The game wrapped up and I got all the stuff together and then made the hike back to the car and got Rachel and the kids and we were off to get something to eat. We had to make the proverbial stop at Wal Mart first to pick up some of the essentials that were eluding us at home. We then headed over to Cracker Barrel but they were too busy. We then went to Dennys, but they too were too busy. We finally find the 5 & Diner at 75th and Bell and had a great breakfast. The waitress got our food out quickly and it was great. The kids did well, but Sophia was already an hour past her nap and we had to take turns walking around the restaurant with her.

We finished breakfast and then headed over to the fields where Aubrie and Boston were to play. There were a ton of people there and we got everyone unloaded and then headed over to the field where the magic would begin. I am very happy this year to have Aubrie play in coach pitch. She is very athletic and my only hesitation in putting her onto this team with Boston was due to the fact that she is already doing so many other things. It is amazing how many activities kids have today. There almost seems to not be enough hours in the day for homework and activities and family time. We are working hard to keep a good balance. Aubrie and Boston both played very well and both hit well. I have been working with them in the backyard by throwing balls to them and grounders. Aubrie played catcher the whole game and tried her best to stop all the balls that came her way. She liked being the center of attention. I am not even sure who won the game but I was glad that they had a great time and more importantly that they were able to play together.

We headed home and watched what was left of conference for that afternoon. The afternoon session was great and there were some great talks. I still made the mistake of laying down to watch conference. That is never a good idea for me as I have the tendency to drift off. After the last session of conference Rachel and Michelle took off to get their toes done. I was glad that Rachel was able to get away with her good friend Michelle. It is important to me that Rachel makes time for herself and does things that she is interested in doing. I know that guys get out of the house and go to work and get to do lots of things that wives do not get to do. It is only fair that they are given time to do things that peak their interests. Rachel got back and I was already dressed and ready to go to the priesthood session. Rachel wished me luck and I headed out. Rachel was taking the kids to the park while I was gone. The kids love the park and it was fun that they were able to go and have fun with their friends. I got to conference with 5 minutes to spare. My dad was there already saving a row for me and my brothers at the back of the cultural hall. It is really important to me that I am able to meet with up my dad and brothers for the priesthood session every six months. I know that we are far from perfect in this world, but it does make me happy to see that we are where we are supposed to be on that particular night. The session was great and many things seemed to be pointed at me specifically. Especially honoring and appreciating your spouse. I am so fortunate to have Rachel for my eternal sweetheart. I am still perplexed as to why it is that I don't treat her as well as I should as often as I can. I guess that what they say it true. Often times you treat the ones you love the most the worst. I probably butchered that saying, but I know that Rachel is the most important person to me in this world and I do take her for granted and all that she does for our family far too often. I know that she knows that I appreciate her, but actions truly speak louder than words. Some of what transpires is learned behavior, but I am positive that the Lord will not accept that as an excuse for not treating Rachel the way I should at all times. I continue to try to improve and love her at all times and under all circumstances. I will eventually treat her the way that she deserves to be treated always.

After the Priesthood session my dad and brothers and I went across the street from the stake center to El Caminero to have a bite to eat. Marco and Juan Lorenzana along with Taylor Price also went. It was fun to sit there and catch up with everyone. I have really become great friends with Marco. We are kindred spirits and see the world the same way. I hope that we are able to work together in the future and impact the lives of many people for good. After we had filled up on some good grub I headed back home. Rachel and the kids had just put on Iron Man. It was a great time and the kids and Rachel really enjoyed the movie. Rachel had not seen the movie before and really liked the special effects. The kids stayed up until 10:30 p.m. and had a great time. Rachel and I put the kids down and then Rachel crashed. I was able to get a lot of work done in the office. I am still behind. It is hard to be the secretary, AP person, AR person, Sales Manager, etc. It is my own fault that I try to do it all. I will eventually find someone who I can trust and bring them in to run the business. This will really free me up to grow the business and be more effective.

This is not me by the way! Aubrie asked if this was my picture as I was posting this!!!!

I have decided to get Lasik surgery done this coming Friday. Before the surgery can be performed I need to be out of my contacts for a week. I started this Friday night. I forgot how much I do not like glasses. I look like the biggest nerd on the planet. It is very limiting to have the glasses on. I am looking forward to not having to deal with contacts anymore. Every night when I take my contacts out it feels like I am pulling sandpaper out of my eye. It will also be nice to swim with the kids and be able to open my eyes under water. I have not opened my eyes under water for years. It is the simple things that you miss sometimes. Friday morning there will be no more glasses again ever!

On Friday morning I was invited to play golf with Marco, Juan and Gary (Marco's father-in-law). I had another lesson earlier in the week and had gone to the range a couple of times to continue working on my game. Everything came together that morning. I was hitting the ball well. I was not very good off the tees, but my short game was awesome. My chipping and putting were the best ever. At the end of 9 I looked down at the scorecard and realized that I had shot 38 on the front! That is only two shots over par. I could not believe it. I had never shot in the 30's before. We started to play the back. I bogeyed the first 4 holes. I was a little deflated, but then battled back and shot a 41 on the back. 79! That has always been a goal for me. I was glad to do it. My next mark will be to continue to work hard until I can shoot par. That seems a far way off, but I know that with proper instruction and hard work I can get there. I have always wanted to be consistently good at golf and feel that I just may be on the precipice of that goal. The great thing was that I stopped by the range later that afternoon to hit a couple of balls and learned some new things that will help me to play even better. Marco had the people of Olive Garden sing to me to help celebrate the 79 and then later that evening had the waitress at Black Angus bring me out a brownie ice cream concoction to celebrate again. He is great and I am glad that he was happy for me.

Last night Rachel was really wiped out and I wanted to make sure that she got lots of sleep. I grabbed some pillows and a blanket and headed into Sophia's room. I crashed on the floor. I slept fairly well. Sophia stirred a little through the night. She woke up around 6:45 a.m. As soon as I heard her I prayed that she would fall back asleep but she did not. When she spotted me on the floor she chucked her bottle at me and hit me square in the head. She laughed and had a great time at my expense. I got her up and took her downstairs so that she would not wake anyone up. I changed Sophia and we went outside and looked around. I love getting up in the morning now that it is cooler. I open the front and back doors and let the cool air to run through the house. Sophia loves to walk outside and discover whatever she can. We were able to hang out for quite some time. Rachel and the other children to did wake up. I had to wake Rachel up around 8:30 a.m. to get her up and ready for conference. I took Sophia downstairs and went about picking up and getting breakfast ready. I was watching Sophia out of the corner of my eye. She was walking back into the family room and stopped. She then locked up and started grunting and shaking. Then presumably she dropped a loaf into her pants. I always laugh every time I see this. I am so glad that we learn how to use the toilet. It would be awfully uncomfortable to be walking with someone and have them stop then lock up and then emit a terrible odor. Random thoughts from the deepest recesses of my brain. Not very deep!

The weeks are really starting to fly by. It is amazing how every year seems to go by faster and faster. Work is going well. I had to fire a couple of workers who were stealing from me and being dishonest. I really want to smack them around, but realize that I am much better off not having anything to do with them and just put it behind me. Our little family is doing well. Rachel is still very much the spiritual rock of the family. She makes sure that we have family home evening every Monday night and you can really notice the growth in the children. She also makes sure that the kids know that we are not to watch sports on the Sabbath. I need to go hide upstairs to catch highlights or scores. I won't give up the fight! We are making our way through and are grateful for the blessings that we have. We are grateful for great friends and good times.