Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! It has been an absolute fantastic day. We woke up around 7:30 this morning and we mostly watched my Cousins open up all their presents. They had quite the amount of loot to open. Laura and I had quite a few gifts exchanged between us as well. I think my favorite gift came from Laura, the First two seasons of "The Office". A close second, if not tied with, is a gift from my mom "Fire Emblem" for the Wii. I liked all the gifts I received they were all well thought out and I really enjoyed them. I even enjoyed all the clothing I received which is a rarity. I'm not much of a clothes person and if I'm getting it as a gift for Christmas it had better e something good and they all were.

Laura's favorite gift was from me. I got her a new digital camera. It was really nice and she loved it lots. She was so excited about it. I'm really glad she liked it.

We spent time playing together and eating. My aunt made a fantastic meal. Really yummy side dished and stuff. Mmm...

Now Christmas night has come and I am truly sleepy. It has been a wonderful day and very tiring. I was Santa's helper in building up some of the gifts that needed putting together last night. It was lots of fun. I can't wait for next year... Pictures to come later...

Christmas and such...

Well it has been a long while since I've had the time to properly get on here and place a post.  The nerf war did happen and we did have some video footage and then there was video footage malfunction so I never did get to posting anything about the war.  It was fun and for the first time I have been around playing it, someone was bleeding.  Not a lot but enough to say blood was shed during one of our wars.  It was actually quite humorous.  Another war is being planned soon to be held out in the snow.  It should be fun.

For the Christmas holidays we were invited down to visit with my Aunt and Uncle who live down in Utah.  We are having lots of fun.  I enjoy hanging out with their family.  My aunt and Uncle are really easy going.  My uncle is a Mac user and my Dad is a Windows users so for years the two of them have been having a computer showdown.  I inherited it from my father because of my preference for computer type.  The stand off is over really.  Mac now has the ability to run Windows OS and vice versa.  So really there is no Mac/Windows division on the computer anymore.  So ends the computer standoff between my Dad and his brother.  Unless windows does something different it really is a moot point.  Though I'm sure it s a point that will still be brought up again and again.

I'll have to get a picture of the Christmas Tree before all the presents are gone.  The gifts are bulging out from under it.  My aunt likes having the gifts in a particular way under, or in this case around, the tree.  At first when she told me I thought she was joking, but when I brought in the gifts my wife and I had my aunt rearranged the gifts as she added in ours.  I thought it was humorous because a couple of weeks ago I had to rearrange the presents under our tree back in Rexburg because  it was getting too messy.  I would say it was a genetic thing but she married into the family, which means she's probably the only normal one along with my wife.  My mom also married into the family but I'm pretty sure that is where I picked up some of my stranger habits.  I love you mom.

I just looked outside and it still looks like it is the middle of the night, it's 7am.  I miss the sun at this hour.  Well I have to go practice my gaming skills as I'll end up going head to head with my uncle.  He got C&C 3  and he started reading all the interesting things he can do with his armies.  He always beats me at these games anyway and I'm a little worried he may crush me again.   Thought I might have had a chance but who knows now...

The Chronicles of Nerf War Continues...

Once again the call to arms has been made. An opportunity to enact revenge, to regain some dignity, to regain some honor. The call has been made to many and we await to see who will heed that call. With every passing moment the time and day draws near. Due to construction the battle field has been altered. Dirt mounds have been moved, some reduced but still there all the same. The battles will be intense and the demand on each and everyone will be high. Heroes will be sought and heroes will be found. Men made as such due to the fight. Men that will rise from the ranks to prove they are worthy of the weapon they hold. This is no matter to laugh at. The only form of protection will be little plastic glasses. The time will come and it will prove to us who the most valiant are. When Saturday arrives the day still new, new Nerfers and Veterans alike will join together to decide who the victor is. With victory comes the honor and bruises. With the arranged battle time photographs will be taken and a new story to be told...

Got Twins?

I suppose more than anything this post is mainly for my sister-in-law Beki. As you may know from reading my wife's blog Beki was pregnant with twins. The long wait is over both as they were born earlier this week almost a month and a half early and they are both healthy and strong. Laura and I are looking forward to meeting the twins and seeing the rest of her family again. We are already trying to get over to Scotland again for a summer internship. We really miss being with Laura's family. I'm an uncle three times over in only two births how cool is that. Laura was told by our nephew Cameron about having two new little sisters. When Laura said we were trying to get money to come and visit he had the answer ready for her. "You get it from the bank and then you get on the plane to come and visit. Don't forget to bring Stuart." that was about the gist of it anyway. So I now have two nieces by the names of Willow and Daisy. Well if all things go according to plan (and unfortunately the success rate of things going to plan is a bit low) we'll be in Scotland for Christmas 2008. I most definitely hope things go according to plan...

Clock repairs and Crazy old Ladies...

   This happened awhile ago but for some reason I started thinking about it. after we got back home to Rexburg from the long summer vacation we had several messages to listen to. There were the usual ones from companies trying to sell us something and then there was the few church members inviting us to activities several were from people informing me which time the guys were getting together to play Saturday morning football and how they look forward to seeing me there and then there were about three or so from this older woman inquiring about clock repairs. This wouldn't be nearly as funny if our message on the machine was the factory built in one stating "Leave a massage after the beep" in some weird computer generated voice. Ours states whom you are calling and that we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Yet that did not prevent this older woman from calling us and accusing us of failing to properly repair her clock. Once on all its own probably wouldn't have been funny, but it happened three times. Three times this lady heard the machine identify the number she was calling as a private resident and three times she left a message stating her varying moods when she called and her disappointment for not having her clock fixed. I never did call the lady to explain to her that she was calling my apartment and not a place of business but I figured if she didn't believe me when I said who I was on a voice recording that she probably would just yell at me for not fixing her clock. I of course feel sorry for the repair shop when that lady finally does get the right number cause she'll accuse them of the most hideous customer service but by the time we got back form vacation I have no idea how old that last message was as our time stamp doesn't work properly on the answering machine. Oh well... I hope she got it all figured out.  I'll try and get sound clips posted later...

Spinning...

Upon reading the title of this blog a few things may have come to mind. One could have been that exercise thingo, obviously I am not too knowledgeable about that. Another could have been a bunch of people getting dizzy and getting sick. But would you have pictured an 22 year old hopping onto the back of an 18 year old and being spun around? How about the other way around? If that is would you pictured then I suppose you ought to discontiune reading and skip the moives because I'm sure the image you thought up will be less hilarious than the two videos I will have available here for your veiwing pleasure. For those of you less imaginative folks out there, myself included, enjoy the clips provided. This all came about when I was spinning my Nephew around and after a good spin and getting him dizzy letting him walk around like a little drunk 2 1/2 year old. He loved it. It was his mother's idea (who just created a blog so this is dedicated to her I suppose) to spin me around and then I would spin her. Needless to say the outcome was funny...

This first one is Beki spinning me. The second one is me putting Beki to shame by spinning her faster...

Nerf Wars

The title of this blog may conjure up images of little plastic guns firing soft foam bullets, shooting people that are no further than ten feet away from you, no need for any special gear, and certainly no worries of any injuries. Well if that is what you pictured than you did so incorrectly. These Nerf Guns have been modified to shoot greater distances and the foam darts have been modified as well for distance. The dart now contains slingshot ammo at the head. The gun itself has had safety valves removed allowing for higher pressures to be used to shoot these now lethal foam projectiles. This is no sissy's game. After a game like this you walk away with welts all over your body and a few skinned knees depending on the terrain played. Playing here in Idaho you are gasping for air because it is so thin, especially when you are used to sea level air.

On October 16th of this year I once again took up arms and participated in a very intense Nerf War capture the flag game. There was lots of shooting and just about as much yelping in pain from getting hit. We played in a field behind our apartment complex with dirt mounds because of construction which lead to muddy socks and dirt packed shoe tips. In one of the various shoot-outs while trying to pump up my weapon faster than my foe I missed and suffered the consequences, I was shot in the right ear and immobilized due to the stinging and the ringing of my ear. Valiant efforts were made to steal the enemy's flag one brave soul jumped and rolled down one of the dirt mounds only to be shot squarely in the shoulder walking away in pain and with a huge welt. This battle unfortunately went without any documentation. No photos. Only memories of those who participated and the bruises to prove their valor. Though we do have pictures from a similar war that occurred earlier this year this time the local was a city park.

Due to a lack of odd numbers our teams were unequal so the name of the game was the last man standing. Two teams and the team with the most members still standing won. Our weaponry was scarce but the bravery was not lacking. We even had a female willing to take the hits from these high powered Nerf Guns. Lots of shooting went back and forth and lots of bruising was dealt out. Good times were enjoyed by all who participated. Yet to whom do we owe gratitude for bringing this into our lives here in Rexburg? None other than Jeffery Richard Davis II. He is the one taking aim with the purple rifle.

You may be asking yourselves of whom I am speaking about, in truth that matters very little. What matters is that it is his stockpile of Nerf Weaponry that has enabled us to deal bruises to each other. He is the master modifier here in Rexburg. He may be the only Nerf Modifier here in Rexburg. To some it may sound like a silly little child's game to shoot each other with foam darts but all I have to say is this quote from Matt Riley, another fellow Nerf Warrior, "When the Zombies start coming I know where to run to." That's right Zombies, beware when you invade Rexburg, ID, and any other creature that goes bump in the night because when you get here you'll have some Nerf War Veterans to deal with.

Beki, Aunt Wilma got you a present it's an... ELECTRIC BREAST PUMP!!!

Today, August 18th, is my sister-in-law's wedding day. She'll be getting married in a few hours time on a fairly wet Scottish Summer day. So this post is dedicated to her. A nice story she can tell her twins when she has them in December. After they grow up a bit I suppose...

She's a very cheeky individual. She's a trickster and sly, which makes getting her all the more fun. Before I tell you how the joke is on her I'll tell you all about the wonderful trick she played on me with her sister (my wife) Laura. I came to Scotland to get married and to get to know the family, knowing that after getting married my wife and I wouldn't have too many occasions to visit for long periods of time. One evening as I was preparing to go to sleep the sisters were telling me all about my soon to be father-in-law. Laura started off, without any prior communication to Beki, telling me her Dad was in a horrible accident. Beki piped in informing me that he lost his eye and that he had a glass one and so the story was built up going back and forth without either dropping the ball. The story was so well told that I didn't know I was going to be the butt of the joke for a few weeks. Soon her entire family knew and my Father-in-law started playing on it as well. Who the heck jokes about their father being in a horrible factory accident and losing an eye. Finally they told me and they all had a good laugh. Goodness I felt like a big dummy.

Beki doesn't believe that her older sister Laura can lie to her. She should have been fully aware of the fact that Laura can lie very well to play a good trick on someone. She in fact lied to Beki about a Birthday present long a ago. Beki really wanted a mobile phone. So younger Laura told a younger Beki "Mum and Dad got you a present that you might not like very much. They tried their best though." Beki asked what it was and Laura informed her that it was a mobile phone like Beki had wanted but it was huge. So big in fact that it would take two hands to operate it. Laura told Beki that she was going to have to look surprised so every night until Beki's Birthday Beki would practices her surprised look. I am told it became quite good in fact.

Now here comes the trick that has been played on our darling Beki. Laura once again is the mastermind behind it. Laura informed Beki that their Aunt Wilma had purchased a gift for her. Beki of course wanted to know what it was and said, "Come on Laura just tell me. You know I can make the surprised look." Beki then guess that it was a breast pump and Laura continued on by saying with a surprised look as if Beki had guessed the real thing that it was an electric breast pump and that it was a very nice one. Electric breast pumps apparently scare Beki and that does not sup rise me much. I would imagine quite a few women would be afraid of a machine of that sort. This morning Laura let us all in on the joke as Beki was in the other room on the phone to Aunt Wilma. As Beki came off the phone her Dad right on cue asked if Wilma asked Beki about the gift. Beki went on to tell us the whole story of how she guessed it and how Laura tried to lie about it but couldn't and informed Beki it was a really nice Electric Breast pump for when she has the twins. Were all trying not to crack up. My father-in-law with a perfectly straight face (Deserving an academy award and an Oscar for such a great performance) asks how did Beki guess. Beki in reply "I don't know I'm just a really good guesser when it comes to guessing these things. It's like a gift ." Well Beki for having a gift about guessing gifts given to you your really gift is the veil that you wanted in the wedding shop that you picked your dress up in.

Beki's real gift on my wife's head, what Beki thought she was getting and a picture of Beki's real surprised face.

Big Shrimps and Kites

My father-in-law went to the farmers market a few days ago and came home with a most ugly surprise. Hew brought home to creatures of the water with a most horrible complexion. These things were hideous in nature. They were grayish and had protruding eyes. Long feelers that were floppy out of the water. These things were gross with there little eyes and pointed face. They were at least six inches in length and looked like they would have loved to rip right through you that is how vicious they looked. He proceeded to cook them and I will attach their most hideous forms below. This image is not for the faint of heart, those who may be pregnant or may become pregnant, or small children. You have been warned, proceed at your own risk.

Right look at those bugs :P. Okay so I can't remember the name but they look like giant shrimp. The two of them take up nearly all the newspaper. They were very tasty as well. They tasted a lot like crab or lobster. Today we bought some kites and I took my nephew Cameron out to go fly them. It was good fun but the kite had to be adjusted due to poor design.

The darn thing kept on folding in on itself but after a wee tie up we got it up in the air as you can see. Long enough for me to get some good shots anyways.

Aside from kites I also purchased a shirt to wear along with my kilt. What a fantastic day :D...

In case you ever needed to know the time in the UK whilst in orbit...

A few days ago we were driving around in England and we came across a most interesting site. A huge garden clock. It wasn't just for show either cause as we were driving back the time changed on the clock face. I was wonder who on earth needed a clock that large. That is when it occurred to me that the individuals in charge of maintaining that clock were actually making sure the astronauts and other space creatures knew what time it was Greenwich standard. How helpful because I know for certainty when I get lost in space I will always want to be able to figure out what time it is around the world that I got lost from...

Standing Stones and Such...

We went to see this huge standing stone a few days ago. The stone is massive above ground which made me wonder how big the stone really is. A lot of it has to be stuck in the ground to keep it from falling over. These stones usually have scences of some sort carved into them. This one just over looks the town that we were near. Near this stone (200 footsteps of my father-in-law's, of which he wasn't at all interested in :P) is an alter made of a tree stump turned upside down with the roots still attached. I have a picture of it over gown and you can barely see it but it is definately there.

These alters are used for rites unknown to me. The significance in the distance between the standing stone and the alter must be present but what it is I also do not know. One of those cool things about history and ancient civilzations that I hope to someday learn. I think one of the more interesting things about this alter and standing stone is the fact that there is not any information nearby. Most of these sites in Scotland do have some sort of commentary along with. My Father-in-law recons that the alter is probably unknown by most...