on the road again & other updates

I've been stagnant for a while in my work travels (not necessarily bad either way), so I have a couple of trips coming up. Tomorrow (now that I look at the time, today...) I head off to AlbeQUAKIE New Mexico to do a technology trade show for a few days. I get back on Friday, at which time we'll load up and drive to Denton for the weekend. We're having a joint birthday party for Ava and Mackenzie who turn 3. We're also going to do a condensed R&R weekend on Saturday night at the Gaylord Texan with our good friends Will & Aprill. We normally do a whole weekend at a Bed and Breakfast, but this will have to do this year, and it will be nice :) We'll get to see my brother Chris and his wife as the fly in Sunday night to drive a uhaul truck full of stuff to California. That unfortunately means that yes, they are looking more permanent out there.

For those who are counting, Jillian is approaching her 33 week of the pregnancy. Which means time is drawing nigh on which we'll have a second child in this world! She's feeling fairly well, all things considered- as long as she takes it easy. We had another Dr's appointment today, and baby looks good! I ask for your prayers as we approach the change to baby #2, not only for the normal stuff, but that we've also been trying to figure out what to do. To make a long story short, she's getting a bit of a run-around with her new school district about taking an extended time off. So, just lift us up in prayer is all I'm sayin'

a bike for her birthday

Grandma Lori came in town for a long weekend to celebrate Ava's birthday early. In tow was Ava's own big-girl princess bike!! We promptly took it to the park to test it out...

fun with friends

Ava had her friend Maylee and her brother Kent over to play today. Maylee came decked out in her cheerleader outfit. Thankfully uncle Russ had sent her a Montana outfit- so Ava had to put hers on. They were too cute playing in the backyard not to capitalize on the photo-op...

running for office

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=46832&altf=Boesfx&altl=Dpmmjot

I couldn't resist...

Only God makes butterflies

Ava learned a new song in bible class this morning, and couldn't stop singing it at lunch and when we got home. So you know me... I had to get it on camera-

pirates

Arrrr, ‘tis a dismal day indeed that I be missin’ such a thing as this. Dontcha know that today be ‘talk like a pirate day’. And a fine idear that be too. With a wee bit more pirate in the world, there would be a lot less bellyachin’ and carrin’ on about them peoples what causes ya pain. If they bugs ya, then they walk the plank. It be as simple as that. ‘Course ya must temper that with a fair bit ‘o keel haulin, just to be fair. And can ya even contemplate the way meetns’ would be run? “Look ya mangy dog, ya either complete them there functional specifications by time I counts to 5 or I’ll have ya sent to the deeps to spend some quality time with ol’ davey jones!”.It’s the pirates life for me – arrr.

singing to gama and papa

Here's Ava singing on the phone to Jillian's parents (gama and papa)... Not quite as good of a show as she has done before... but cute nonetheless...

3 year old pictures...

Saturday evening we went out with a friend from church who just so happens to be a fabulous photographer to get Ava's 3 year pictures made.
What turned out was absolutely incredible! Click the link below to view the slideshow. Does it make me a softie if I cried some watching it?

http://cozyimpressionsphotography.com/Ava/

Now the challenge is to pick prints... donations anyone :)

baby bumblebee

Apparently we're all about performing for the video camera. Lucky you guys... so here's Ava squishin' a baby bumblebee...

tiny dancer

We were having a good time last night playing around the house, when Ava decided it was time to dance. So I pumped dance music up from the TV, and we entered what soon became 'dizzy dancing!'

Ava singing to her little brother

Ava decided to sing to her little brother tonight... WAY CUTE!!!

somersault ava

This video is a little older as well. Apparently Ava was inspired by all of the Olympics I was watching and had a go at somersaulting one night. I didn't get the camera out in time to get her doing a whole one, but she did.

fun times in a hotel

When I was in Houston for the week, Jillian and Ava came to visit for a few days. Ava had a fun time 'on vacation' in the hotel. The following videos are what ensued in the hotel room...

Inc 5000

My company hit the Inc. 5000 last year again! Woohoo! Read all about it-
http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2008/company-profile.html?id=200830730

We're very on target to hit is this year as well!

Packers Mania

Last week my travels took me up to Green Bay, WI. I will have to say at first impression, I was well... not too impressed. I had imagined the home town of the Packers being much larger and grandiose. But, it grew on me very quickly! We were able to dine at many of the fine local establishments throughout the week. (read: FRIED CHEESE CURDS!!)
On Monday night, my boss Phil and I were able to attend the first Packers preseason game vs the Bengals. This was pretty much a once in a lifetime event so far. Let me just say wow. The fans... Lambeau field... the Packers... all of it... just incredible!!

the one and only Lambeau field

fat guy in front of Lambeau :)

only 17 rows up! Good view of #12 taking care of business...

(had to get one in front of the field)

fun in houston

Two weeks ago I had to be in Houston all week for customer training, so Jillian and Ava drove over and spent a couple of the days with me in the hotel. We had a good time, and called it a 'mini vacation' to Ava since we were all staying in the hotel room together. The girls swam one day, and did a good bit of shopping (just so happened to be Jillian's birthday!)
One night we got to meet our friends Phil and Kathleen (the Dr'S Fung!!) We had a great dinner and Ava had fun watching a big fountain of water. The next night my boss and his family (also joining him for vaca) watched Ava so I could take Jillian out for her birthday. It was nice getting to spend some time together on the road, it sure makes the long trips of the summer easier.

Ava in the hotel

Mi Familia

Ava with Phil & Kathleen

...take me out to the ballgame...

When my parents were in town last week, we all went to the Round Rock Express ballgame. These were after we were 'supposed' to leave, but Ava decided she needed a hot dog at the ballpark, then wanted to sit in the grass and watch some more of the game... :)

a couple of videos from vaca

I couldn't resist posting a couple of videos from our trip... :)

vaca pt II

So I'm finally sitting down to write about the rest of our vacation. After the girls visited grandpa Joe and other relatives in Montana, they went down to Wyoming to spend some time with Jillian's parents. I soon joined them so we could all have some relaxing family time. There was lots of playing in Papa's yard, going to the part, watching Papa catch fish for Ava, etc. We all took a drive down to Vedauwoo after dinner one evening to see the beautiful rocks. I also took a one day float trip with Jillian's dad to do some great fly-fishing on the Platt river. All in all, we had a wonderful relaxing time up in Wyoming.
After we got back home (all baggage included) my parents drove down to hang out with us for a few days. It was great getting to spend so much time with family over a couple of weeks. The unfortunate part, is summer is almost over now!

Ava with Grandpa Joe

Ava hanging out with the Yerger clan

Ava & Jillian at Vedauwoo

Papa & Ava at Vedauwoo

Enjoying a popsicle in Papa's yard

Playing bubbles with friends

One of Owen's many catches of the day!!

vaca part 1

So, yes we're all alive and doing well. We're part of the way through our lengthy travels for the summer. I figured I'd go ahead and post some of the info rather than having one huge post. So I left for Cali after being in Denton for the 4th of July. We had our huge user conference at the office and I spent the week training and entertaining customers. On the last day, we took them out to Morro Bay so they could see the ocean. While I was there Jillian and Ava flew up to Montana to see her relatives. They had a good time getting to see everyone. They then went down to Wyoming to spend time with her folks, and she attended her high school reunion and had a 'quasi' girls weekend with her good friends. Her friends threw her the first shower for 'new baby,' and taking cues from Ava, proceeded to call him Diego all weekend :) After my conference was over, I drove down to Malibu to see my brother and his wife. Then he and I took off for Palm Springs for a 'guys weekend' of two days of golfing in the desert! I then met up with the girls in Wyoming, where we are till next Tuesday. We're having a great time and I'll post more pictures of this leg later on. Just wanted to keep everyone up to speed with our crazy summer!! Hope all is well...

Morro Rock at Morro Bay, CA

Me playing some 65 holes of HOT golf!

The beautiful view in Palm Springs, CA

The girls at Jillian's reunion

Girls Weekend

Princess Ava :)