Soccer is king!

As most of you know Dan is slightly over the top obsessed with soccer. Since day one of Austin's life he has been gradually brainwashed into have a similar obsession. When he was an infant I was not allowed to dress him in any clothing that had sports logos other than soccer. Dan has let up a little on Logan, but not much. So now after four years of careful cultivation Dan finally gets to start living vicariously through his children. Austin is the smallest kid on his team, but I think he puts forth the biggest effort. He plays the whole game, refusing to sit out at his turn, which is fine since a couple kids on the team refuse to come in. It also will not surprise you that Austin is actually pretty good. So here are some pictures and highlights of the next Beckham.


In this picture Austin is actually teaching his teammates about Air Bending (if you watch Avatar then you know what I am talking about). The video below is of Austin and his best soccer buddy.

Creation is a challenge

So I have been really searching for great art out there on "the nets" and rediscovered an old friend. In the rediscovery of that friend and following links to other amazing artists, I find that I really miss doing the illustration and fine art I used to do. I have become so involved in graphic design that I think I am starting to lose that side of me. So in an effort to redevelop lost talent, and from inspiration of old and new friends I am setting up a new blog to showcase that art. Just a chance to make me keep going. I figure if I have somewhere to show it, then I guess I better create it. Also since no one will pay me for it, I might as well do it for myself. So go to www.tanniesmith.blogspot.com to check it out. Tell all your friends too! (this is in a desperate attempt to gain clients of course.) :-)

And the winner is...

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback. The winner was a pretty close shave between Russell and Trent. I did go with Trent, just for the fact that he made me remember a term from my childhood that I had completely forgotten. So thanks again and whenever we meet a jerk we can all just call him/her a "Stupid Idiotic Dumb Retarded Clutzoid Headed Nong nong."

Sometimes we need more words

Sometimes I feel limited by my words. I really do not swear or try to use strong language, but what if calling someone a poo-poo face just doesn't cut it? Dan had a lunch with this (poo-poo face) guy he has the pleasure of working under. At this lunch he was basically told that Dan needs to stop being lazy and start working more hours. Now here is the funny part. Dan has been working consistently from January, 9am - 2 or 3am sometimes at late as 4:30am. This is 17 hours on the low side which averages out to 102 hours a week (So actually it is probably closer to 150.). So he told Dan that he needs to be there by 7 in the morning (which by the company standards, work doesn't start till 9am, so Dan was not coming in late, just so you know) and then to not leave until 10 or 11pm. So that is about 16 hours a day which makes 96 hours a week. So in other words this ***moron head*** forgot to look at the facts and just wanted someone to blame his own lateness on. He told Dan we wasn't working enough hours to get the job done, and then gave him less hours to work. Then he told Dan he had to stay after everyone else has left. Which is funny because he already does that. However dummy head, leaves early everyday, turns in projects late, and comes into work late. Hmmmmm. I suggest to this worm of a man, that the next time you want to blame your own laziness on someone else, you get the facts straight. Dan of course is so angry, but can't do much about it (except secretly start recording this dorko-hickos hours and Dans and turn them into the managing partner at the end of busy season) so I am ranting for him. That way he can know that he can read my rant and yell silently in his head in agreement. So to get back to my "not enough words" I sure would love some posts on some great alternatives to call this booger brain. Something that would just feel right, yet still be clean and follow the standards of clean vocabulary. Then Dan can read them and feel better. Here is my own special contribution. Thpppppppppppppppppp.

Dan who???

Well it IS that time again. Right smack in the middle of tax season, which means no more Dan. I keep expecting to just eventually grow numb to his absence. Letting it just seep into my daily routine, but then he shows up for Sunday and is so much fun, I have to start all over with realizing that he is literally only there on Sunday. I wake up Monday and it's like "who was that mystery man?" I don't know if any of you noticed in the video of Austin in the previous blog, I ask Austin if he wants to say anything to his dad and he looks up and says "who?" and I have to repeat "you know, your DAD." So that about sums it up. "Oh where, oh where has my little Dan gone?"

Climbing Monkeys and Daredevils

Since I am once again the dreaded accountants widow, I have been trying to take pity on the poor man who is stuck in an office instead of spending time with his family in the beautiful weather we have been having. One way of accomplishing this is by being better at taking pictures and video of some of the activities we have been doing. I have noticed a consistency with these videos, and that is my boys are B-O-Y-S. In the first video Austin has just learned how to climb the monkey bars. Litteraly at the moment of this video and takes to it like a natural. The second video is Logan thinking that he is a professional stunt man and jumping off a car with all the grace associated. Unfortunately he has yet learned how to actually jump. So with that said, please enjoy a peek at my life and hopefully Dan will be able to see these someday too.

It's never the same

Just when I think I have a handle on the whole motherhood thing, something happens to show me I know nothing. I am not sure why we like to put our kids in the same mold. It would be nice if what worked for the first kid, worked for every kid afterwards. Without going into details I recently had a situation where Logan had a literal melt down. I tried all my tricks as a mother. Everything I learned from Austin and four years of experienced mothering, and nothing worked. I just looked at him with all the same feelings of helplessness and insecurity that I felt when Austin was a newborn. It was so weird feeling that way. I was under the delusion that I "got it." I knew how to be a good mom now, because I already did it. Just like riding a bike. Unfortunately I have learned that Logan is NOT Austin. He is actually his own little person with his own, and very different, needs. It is like a trick. I feel like someone is pointing at me and saying "ha ha you thought you could ride, but you have to relearn that bike each time you get on!" So now it is time to let go of all my old tricks, learn some new ones, and really get to know the uniqueness and wonderfulness that is Logan Zachary Smith.