Clearing out the "best of" off the camera

These pictures came off my camera after sitting there for a couple of months. Consider this the "best of" collection from Easter to today. Enjoy!

Continued...

Day Off today

I took today off so that Heather and I could go out to eat for lunch. We went to a new place called "Charlie Brown's" that just opened up not too far from our place. We were pleasantly surprised at the lunch prices and selection. I had a mouth-watering Hickory burger, and Heather had a French Dip sandwitch, both very good. Aubree ate fries and was also pleased. We rarely get to have lunch together so this was very nice. And don't believe a word Dad says, we do NOT constantly eat out, only on special occasions and and when company is in town.

Happy 35th B-day for Daddy

Lunch at Uno Pizza, for Daddy's Birthday. Aubree playing with the "table toys" available.

Isabelle with her 4 year trophy, it's all over...

Aubree and I working our way through Costco to get Isabelle's flowers for the recital.

On my way to Toronto again

On my way to Toronto, flying out of LaGuardia Airport

Working hard in the office

So i am here in Toronto this weekend working away with a huge team of Canadians and consultants doing simulation tests on our new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system in Canada before we go live in July. I left at 4am to get to the airport and it's close to midnight and I am still here in the office typing in thousands of manual PO's and Kanban tickets for the system (grunt work). I can't wait to do this again tomorrow and Sunday, and Monday.... :(

Working hard in the war room

Pack Night - Pinewood Derby

Tonight was Pack Night and once again, Heather is in charge of this once-a-year event where we have the pinewood derby (this will be our third). We went over to the church on Monday with the Blom family (primary pres and YM pres) to setup the room and put the track together when we discovered that the track, which is normally stored in the upstairs attic, was missing. So I put on my detective hat and started calling everyone I could think of to find out where it went (it was there a few days ago). I called the Bishop, 1st Councilor, Ward Mission Leader, Activities committee, two High Councilman, both English and Spanish speaking missionaries, and two other wards/branches that have access to our building. I then checked the outdoor shed, and the dumpster all with no results. Also missing is all the wood we use every year for our booths for the Christmas party. I suspect we may never know who cleaned up the attic. So Bro. Blom (who is very handy with tools as a profession) committed to make a new track by the next night. Let's just say he had to spend all day building it and we cut it pretty close.

I got the honor of performing the announcing (hey, give me a mic and I'll make John Madden proud!) and I was also responsible for tracking the cars and rounds with a program I found on the web which calculates the lanes and who goes when etc. We got ready to start the racing when the alarm bells started going off in the church and smoke started billowing out of the Kitchen. They decided to heat up those large pretzels for the concessions stand and there was something that burned on the oven heating element causing the smoke. So I got to call the fire dispatch and try and cancel it (the fire engines showed up, but they were updated by dispatch and left). After that, the event went off very well and once again, Heather did an excellent job of organizing and running the event. I keep telling myself that this stuff gets easier once you do it more than once, but I'm just humoring myself to keep sane.... : )

The three winners for the race.

The new track

Cutting Grass on a Friday afternoon

We have officially started half day Friday's at work so I get to go home at 1pm during the summer months and do yard work. The grass is getting really long due to recent rain so I took a snapshot of the backyard. This Saturday was our 12 year Anniversary, so to celebrate we took a drive up to Target and purchased new silverware and a new knife set. It may not sound glamorous or exciting, but It's what we both wanted and we are very happy. Now we just need new dishes (didn't like the selection).

Dance rehearsal - Isabelle

Isabelle is getting ready for her dance Recital. Today she had a full rehearsal and got to dress up in her costume. This will be her 4th year in dance and she can't wait to her her 4 year trophy.

It's Saturday

Aubree's first ride in a "car cart" she even stayed in the whole time.

Matching Outfits, how cute

Aubree and Isabelle have matching outfits from OshKosh

Eating out at Olive Garden

We haven't been here in quite some time, gotta love the Alfredo dipping sauce with breadsticks.

The new Corporate Headquarters, they better get to work!

I took a quick drive (hour and a half) up to Connecticut this afternoon for a meeting with the General Contractor, Architect, Electrician, Building owner and our Corporate Sr VP of HR to discuss the plans and build out of our new Corporate offices. Since we divested Dymo to Rubbermaid they are getting kicked out of the offices in 30 days. This office space is about 15 min from the old office. Looks like a lot of work, I have a running bet with the CEO that they are not in on July 1st as planned.... The shining moment of the day was when I ran across an Arby's in Queens and had lunch there, I haven't had a beef n' cheddar since we went to S. Utah last year, man was it good!! (I wish we had them on Eastern Long Island)

Primary Activity on a Friday night

For this Friday, they had a CSI-like activity where rooms were setup as if they were a mock crime scene and the children all got little notebooks and had to solve who the scene is about. This was a pretty ingenious activity and you would just have to be there to understand how cool it really was. The room in the picture is all about "Job" from the Bible, razor (cause he shaved his head), ashes, fire from heaven, picture of his family, his three friends who shunned him, his house was blown over, vacuum (cause his servants died) etc. Like I said, you had to be there. They even used crime scene tape! The other two were John the Baptist, and King Benjamin. Job well done (no pun intended haha), and as usual a load of work for everyone (especially poor me, who had to babysit kids for two weeks while Heather prepared, I feel your pain Job).

Happy Birthday Mom!

We took Mom and Dad out for lunch at "On the Boarder" for Mexican food. It was good. We are really going to miss them when they go back home tomorrow.... : (

Eating out for Lunch for Mom's Birthday

Sunday Dinner with the folks. We had Coconut encrusted Talapia fish with mom's homeade scones. It was very good.

Happy Birthday Isabelle - 9th

Happy Birthday Isabelle!

Isabelle turned 9 today, congratulations.

Isabelle with her B-day presents

Break the Fast with the Bishop

In an effort to try and booster social interaction and feeling of family in the Ward, we as a Bishopric decided to have a "Break the Fast with the Bishop" day after church this Sunday and we had a big gathering at his house. The turnout was really good and I think the event went rather well. Here are some pictures of us having fun at the event (but not too much fun, it is Sunday after all).

Isabelle playing (resting) on the swing

Mom and Dad talking with the 1st Councilor (who is leaving in July), Heather and Aubree are sitting with the Primary President and her daughter.

The Bishop has a really nice house with loads of backyard property. His Son is leaving for a mission in two weeks (to Portugul) and this also searves as an "unofficial" farewell.

Saturday Errands

This weekend we did our usual routine. Dad, Mom, and I worked on the yard until noon, Heather made us all breakfast, then Heather left to get her hair highlighted and we took Isabelle to swimming lessons, then we all combined and picked up Isabelle from Swimming and went to "Smokey Bones" for Lunch/Dinner, then the Mall to get Aubree's ears pierced and dad a nose trimmer from Sharper Image, and then Walmart, then "Party City" for Heather's Sunday stuff, then the grocery store then home... Dad and I are exhausted.

Dad is enjoying some Ribs

Mmmm, Smokey Bones with the folks. Heather loves ribs.

Working in the yard this weekend

Mom and Dad are in NY for a few weeks, so we quickly put them to work (so that they won't get bored). We are re-planting our front bushes and giving the house some much needed curb appeal. Heather and Mom are doing all the work, while Dad and I study the back of our eye-lids and supervise. All this work really wears me out.

Big Truck in Texas

Pretty trivial I know, however I have to find something to take pictures of while on my trip. Because I am in Texas I decided to get an upgrade on my car rental, so I got to drive around a huge truck with a V8 engine (everything is bigger in Texas....). I got a kick out of driving around Dallas in my big truck. While in Texas I have been called "sweetie", "Baby", "Sugar" and my favorite "Little Darl'n". I have to admit it is a bit creepy to have a perfect stranger call me their "Baby" when I don't even know their name.... sheesh.

I'm in Dallas this week

A room with a view. My hotel room is on the 20th floor of the Adam's Mark hotel. I am attending a Wal-Mart RFID onboard forum to gather requirements for Esselte as a supplier to comply with Wal-Mart's supply-chain management demands. I now have to go back to Sr. Management with the bad news that we need to spend a significant capital investment to get into compliance by Jan 07, else we can no longer do business with uncle Wally.

Isabelle was awarded from the School District

Nice work Isabelle! She was chosen from the 3rd grade from the teachers in her school to get the student citizenship award. Tonight we went to the ceremony and she got flowers and a certificate, her picture and name will also be put on the wall at the school. Isabelle always stands out at her school and she already has a goal to become a school teacher some day. She loves school.

Reynosa Mexico - this week

So I am in McAllen Texas this week to take a tour of our up and coming new manufacturing facility being built in Reynosa Mexico (140 thousand square feet). I was expecting an actual facility, instead I got to see a huge plot of land that they were hauling dirt into to build up for the foundation... It still amazes me every time I go to Mexico to see the stark difference between the US and Mexico when they are so close apart. Tomorrow I am in meetings with the folks who will be providing telcom and Infrastructure related support then I can go home. At least the weather here is a nice balmy 85 degrees.

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER!!

Hosting a party this Saturday

Heather hosted a jewelery party today at the house. I got to take Aubree and go shopping at my home away from home (Home Depot).

Bagel Friday - upcoming trips

Ah, choices. I plucked out a juicy everything bagel today loaded with salt and garlic, yum.

I will be leaving after church on Easter Sunday and traveling to McAllen Texas for meetings early next week. We will be touring our new plot of land in Reynosa, Mexico across the border where we will be building a new manufacturing facility. The following week I will be back in Dallas for a Walmart forum for a couple of days. So, never having been to Texas, I get to spend two weeks in a row there. How exciting....not!

Isabelle playing with Courtney online

Isabelle has been playing online for the past couple of nights with Courtney with her Nintendo DS system. It's fun to watch her interact and play. She spends most of her time typing in messages and showing off her town. Pretty cool.

Isabelle at Cheeburger Cheeburger

Isabelle felt left out last time the girls came and got me for lunch, so they came and got me again this week and Isabelle got to partake this time. She got a cool car that holds her fries and burger.

Sunday Distractions for little miss

Aubree is a bit awnery today at Church so this is her out on the lawn (it is very pleasant outside today). I'm conducting sacrament today and as such I also got to give the main talk (since I can't find anyone who is willing to speak today). Next week we will have a choir musical sacrament meeting (like the spoken word). It should be really interesting because the choir consists of myself and three others (hey, at least I don't have to find talks for next week haha).

Nintendo DS Game - Animal Crossing

Isabelle has a Nintendo DS (like a gameboy but more advanced) and her favorite game is Animal Crossing. The really neat thing about the DS system is that it connects to the internet through a wireless connection and you can play this game and visit other towns that people have built and interact. Not to worry, it has security that you have to allow someone onto your system with a friend code and visa versa. We are getting bored with our town and want to visit the world but can't find anyone we know to trust. Anyway, I'm asking if any of her cousins have a DS and if anyone has animal crossing, so that she can visit them and play together.... please let us know and we will send you our friend codes (yes, Heather and I play it too).

Cheeburger Cheeburger for lunch

Maybe I should have called this blog "Adams family eats too much on Long Island" since it seems this is all I report on lately. It is Monday and Heather and Aubree came and got me for lunch today. Nothing like a hot date with my two girls! There is a new place near my office called "Cheeburger Cheeburger" which as you can guess is known for their burgers (not something easily found on Long Island). It is a really cool place that is dressed up like an old fashion malt shop. Very good food albeit a bit expensive. They have a full "1 pound" burger that if you eat in one sitting you get your picture on a wall (Heather has forbidden me from attempting it, haha). So I now know where to take Dad for a good malted shake now. Good stuff.

Heather and Aubree on our hot lunch date

The weekend at a glance

This weekend was very nice. We just relaxed, did some basic shopping and spent quality time together. Isabelle had her swimming lessons on Saturday, then we ate at Ruby Tuesday's and then went to Walmart and Dress Barn. I actually got to buy Heather a couple of dresses so it was a very good weekend! We also watched King Kong (the girls did not like the movie, but I think it's a great addition to my collection). Conference was really good, we were fairly diligent on Sunday and it was really nice to be able to get the full video online this time with www.byu.tv. I like how they make it on Demand now, so I can pause or replay conference online (score one for technology). Isabelle had a book she made from "Faith in God" for girls and she had a good time writing down the speakers and picking out stories. After the first session though the fun wore off and we got to listen to "I'm bored" all afternoon (payback I'm sure for my behavior when a child, mom would say). Another movie we added to our collection this weekend was Howl's moving castle which is a really good movie if you like this type of animation, the girls and I really like it, it's a great story. Aubree is getting another tooth in so the toothy gremlin is coming out in her (won't eat or sleep). Our trees are starting to get buds on them, spring is coming around the corner.

Aubree, what a good girl.

Look how long Heather's pretty hair is getting, just like when I married her, what a babe!

Isabelle with her mini Hamburgers and mashed potatoes. My girls really know how to eat.