Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Things that make Daniel happy

Okay so below is a slide show of stuff that makes me happy. In case you don't know the first picture is Lacy, then Winston, then Ashley, then my new redneck white trash sprinklers in the front yard. Yup their not buried.
Who would of thought that sprinkles would make me happy. I must be getting old.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Ian's talk

Ian gave a great talk in Primary yesterday. He had pictures to remind him what to say and he said almost all of it with no help. He talked about being reverent. He had a great time practicing at the make shift podium and microphone at our house.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

In keeping with Ryan's tradition....

Ryan made a comment about things getting weird if comments didn't keep pouring in. In my effort to keep up with the Bosworth's, I submit the following randomness:







I wasn't going to post this until I realized the dedication to Billy Mays.

Noah and grace

I don't know what Heather is talking about, in this picture at least Noah looks almost angelic. Gracie looks cute as usual.
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kearl kid pictures

I'm sure that you will all be relieved to know that the free photographer that I came across on some random person's blog was not some scary 42 year old man, but was indeed a very nice LDS girl in her twenties. She took some cute pictures of my kids (and Heather's see next posting) though everyone agrees that Hazel gets the most photogenic award for this photo shoot. And yes she did take the 100 or so pictures for free and gave us a CD with all the pictures, she just wants practice so that some day she can be a professional photographer. And yes Hazel is roaring like a lion in her picture.

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requesting help from the technogeeks

I assume that I can have the blog alert me of new postings and/or comments by sending me an email: 1) is this a good assumption? and 2) how do I make it so?

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Progress you can see. Finally......

We have had a lot of help getting things done in our basement.  We are really grateful for everything that everyone has done.  It seems like everything we have done up to now (except the first few days of ripping stuff out) isn't really apparent.  We spent a lot of time redoing the wiring, adding light switches and replacing light fixtures.    Last weekend, we finally made some visible progress.  Jake, Eric, Brent, Daniel and a guy from the ward came over and helped us and we got a lot done.

Work done so far:

  • All the wiring that was in or near the water has been replaced

  • Every room has it's very own light switch (in a logical location) - Yea!!

  • New light fixtures in several rooms (needed more than 1 40 watt mini-bulb to make it not feel like a dungeon)

  • Added light fixture in family room

  • Centered light fixtures (instead of wherever they were before)

  • Moved the wall and Heather now has a laundry _room_ instead of a laundry closet

  • Closed in the wall to the storage dungeon and opened up an opening for new french doors

  • Removed big box on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs (was put there because of a lazy electrician)

  • All exterior walls have new insulation

  • Drywall in the pink room

  • Drywall in the blue room



Work left:

  • Window box in the blue room

  • Drywall in the yellow room

  • Drywall in all of the closets

  • Drywall in the hallway

  • Drywall in the family room

  • Wetboard in the bathroom

  • Install french doors into the office

  • Move 2 wires in the ceiling (where the electrician went around, not through the top plate.... Crossing my fingers - hoping it is easy)

  • Add 2 new outlets in the office

  • Fix all the holes in the ceiling from pulling new wires

  • Do all the taping and mudding (I think we will pay somebody to do this)

  • Lay new flooring in the bathroom

  • Put down new carpet pad and all the carpet

  • Redo the window wells so this NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER happens again

  • Keep tabs on a good realtor in case this happens again


As I look at that list, it seems like we have more to do than we have done.  As I look at the basement I am pretty sure we are well past the hump and entering the home stretch.

Here are some pictures of where the basement is at right now.



Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Last night's ceremony...

Last night as Heather and I were talking, a small ceremony took place. It was very small and unassuming, but it definitely signified a major event in both Heather and Noah's lives. It got me thinking a little about ceremonies in general. Everybody knows you are getting married long before the wedding. The ceremony doesn't annouce anything that was unknown. If you skip your graduation, you are still a graduate. Attendance is optional. The ceremony is usually just a capstone. The work is done before you enter the ceremony.

Last night's ceremony fits all of these descriptions, but it was much smaller. The ritual has been performed. If you weren't paying attention, it was easy to miss. As we were talking, Heather looked at me and said "Someday, _your_ boy is going to have a little boy, _just_ like him. I feel bad for his poor wife."*

It is now official. Noah is a boy, and Heather is a mother.




* Brief explanation for those curious about what caused this comment. Noah was curious. He wanted to see how well dryer sheets clean a bathroom mirror. When they did nothing, he got them wet. When that left a white film, he tried toilet paper. With the toilet paper though, he was a step ahead. He knew that dry things did nothing, so he went straight to the wet phase. The end result was a bathroom mirror 100% covered in white dyer sheet film with a light spattering of toilet paper pulp. The counter was covered with enough raw materials to do a few more mirrors, including water.

Monday, July 20, 2009

What we've done so far this summer

We haven't posted a whole lot this summer. That isn't because we haven't done anything..... We have even slipped some fun in between weekends of working on the basement. Noah and Matt went on a father's and sons campout. Noah thought it was awesome sleeping in a tent. For the Fourth of July we went to the Plain City celebrations with Heather's sister. Noah participated his first pie-eating contest. The highlight of the day though came with the fish catch. They had a pond that they filled with water before adding fish. The kids got to climb in and catch the fish with their hands. Noah caught a couple of them on his own but had troubles putting them into the bag. Gracie needed a little more help. Both of the kids had a TON of fun running around in the water with the fish. Here are pictures that do a better job describing the summer than I have done.


USU Update




Family and Friends,

I have accepted USU's offer. I'll join the Applied Economics department in July 2010.

We look forward to moving to Cache Valley, but we are sad to be leaving NC. We'll keep you posted.

And now back to the weird stuff.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

You have been warned...

The posts will keep getting weirder until you start commenting.

My Brother the Blogger

My brother used to run his own blog, Dead Seriously. Now he blogs at bycommonconsent, a well-known LDS blog.

Here is a link to his most recent post. (Rated PG for mild underwear and Relief Society related humor)

Here is a link to his other posts.

Awkward

I...can't....look...away...

Friday, July 17, 2009

dad must have one of these...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCiTAJi1yRk

MASS Manifesto (a work in progress)

Manifesto of MASS (Male Allen Siblings and Spouses)

Are you male? Are you married to April, Crystal, or Heather? Are April, Crystal, and Heather your sisters? If so, you will be required to attend MASS on the First Friday of each month, beginning July, 2010.

Q: What is the purpose of MASS?
A: Ryan’s therapist says he needs more male bonding activities. Moreover, the impending move from NC will leave the first Friday (usual meeting time of the Mazda Sports Car Club of North Carolina) a big empty hole in Ryan’s life that must be filled with entirely male activities.

Q: Is there a female equivalent of MASS?
A: Of course. FUSS (Female Used-to-be-Allen Siblings and Spouses) meets the Second Friday of each month. MASS will assume child care duties. Ashley and Jamie are invited of course, even though Ashley is currently an Allen and Jamie* is, well, imaginary.

Q: Where is MASS?
A: Location will be determined by members on a rotating basis in order of seniority: (Ryan, Jake, Matt, Daniel, Eric.) Possible locations include: a member’s home, golf courses, eateries, remote locations suitable for blowing stuff up, and other semi-legal shenanigans.

Q: What sort of stuff do you do at MASS?
A: Activities are also determined by members on a rotating basis. Inspiration can be drawn from the following guidelines:

Stuff we like:
Meat
Shootin’ things
Movies/video games
Blowin’ stuff up
Things with motors
Breakin’ things
Fixin’ things
Feats of strength
Going fast
Dogs
Sports (spectator or participatory)

Stuff we don’t like:
Sewing
Singing
Supervision (although we do like Super-Vision. One activity may be kibitzing about our favorite super-powers.)
Fru-Fru Food
Going slow
Oprah
Cats

Members may add to either list, subject to majority vote.

Q: Is attendance at MASS compulsory?
A: Yes. If you are not there, we’ll come and get you.


*Remember Jamie? According to Eric, she is 23 and studying broadcast journalism. Her family moved from New Hamsphire to Utah recently after most of family had come out to Utah to go to school. She came to USU because her older brother was going here. We have been dating for about 2 months now and it is getting kind of serious. I have got to meet her family when they were visiting a couple of weeks ago.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Schedule

April is attending a workshop this weekend. I'll have the kids on my own.

What we'll do without supervision from April:

Friday Afternoon: Pullen Park!

Friday dinner: Bojangles!

Friday evening: Stock car racing at Wake County Speedway!

Saturday a.m.: Cold cereal and cartoons, what else?

Saturday p.m.: Crying, fighting, peeing.

Saturday evening: Really glad April is home!

Cheap Insurance




Carrying a picture of a baby in your wallet makes it more likely your wallet will be returned if lost.

(OK, maybe not that picture)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

News that may interest some of you







I have an offer from Utah State's Applied Economics department.
Details forthcoming.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009