Pete's Bog

My Coaching Debut

2010-01-30T22:20:00.002-07:00

So pictures will be coming but I had to blog about my first coaching experience with sports. I coach all day long in the computer/tech sector but sports? Yes, sports. I couldn't believe it either, and we won (16-10)! I have to admit I needed some help on making sure I was calling the right positions at first, but I am quick study. It was so much fun standing there at the sidelines watching the patterns they were running and trying to analyze how we can get them to improve. It really does come down to basics and running the best patterns, the right patterns. The boys always had a big smile when you would yell out their name and let them know they were doing a good job. I think we are all probably a little like that.

I will post some pictures when Brandi has them downloaded and has sent them over.

Who needs to TV??

2009-12-28T23:36:00.001-07:00

So here they are, my prodigies. I couldn't resist taking this picture it made me so proud that my kids had traded in staring at one screen for hours for an interactive one. I have tried for years to get them to learn programming but I will take playing with Webkinz for right now, well at least the oldest two, Sadie is "typing letters", oh so close.

I guess you know where my priorities are, but I don't let these teaching moments slip away. Diversity awareness is very important to me. I took the time to introduce them to an entirely new experience of using a MacBook. I did ease them into using the more energy efficient netbook first, I wanted them to really understand responsible computing first and then how to embrace change and differences.

Disneyland at 30+

2009-12-11T10:56:00.001-07:00

Disneyland is great. It feels like it hasn't changed in the 15 years since I last visited. It feels like I have though. I don't remember my feet hurting this much. $20 felt like a million, now it feels like $20. The rides went faster and lasted longer. If I bend down so my eyes are at exactly 42" off the ground it all changes, the rides are just as big and fast as I remember and the treats are just as sweet. Its fun to see Disneyland through the eyes of my kids.

Peter - Sent from Mobile (G1)

Our first lunch to Disneyland

2009-11-14T14:42:00.001-07:00

So here we sit, enjoying a round at the Training
Table. This is one of Brandi's home town favorties. The ride down from Idaho was snowy and we saw at least 14 accidents. We will be careful but the way down should be clear from here out.

Day 1 is half way through...

Peter - Sent from Mobile (G1)

Last Days of Summer

2009-08-16T20:59:00.001-06:00

This week the kids start going to school again. Its hard to believe that the summer is over. Brandi would remind you that it doesn't really end until the last weeks of September. The air has already started to cool (even thought temperature will most likely spike once or twice again) and the night are getting cold. Today it feels like the fall and I guess that is why I am refelctive and borderline melancholy.

Things I did this summer (in no particular order),

Changed to oil with my own hands (haven't done it in years)

Built the swing set and anchored it down after it fell apart within the first week

Officially got burned out from my job

Took a nice, long, lazy vacation

Put spinklers and sod in on the north side of the house

Started training for a triathlon

Supported Brandi in her preparation for a half-marathon

Tried to swim in Rigby lake but about died

Successfully swam at the college pool but ran out of steam

Drove to Mesa Falls and saw them, well one of them

Planted a couple of trees and cut the sprinkler line...and then fixed it

Matthew caught a fish we put it back, someone gave us a replacement and then I gutted and cleaned it myself with no help, we ate it too

Celebrated 3 of the 4 kids with the oldest turning 8

10 years from the first date with my wife

Planning really works

Things really do get better with age

I now love my wife and kids more than I did at the beginning of summer, overall time well spent

Peter - Sent from Mobile (G1)

Why we do what we do

2009-08-01T23:09:00.001-06:00

As I was heading out to the garage I looked down and noticed this little footprint on the back of my flip-flop.

Thoughts start to flow when when an image puts your little kids in a different perspective. This made me think of how they are really a part of us and we are a part of them or that we hopefully become a part of them and they are the best part of us.

Matthew's Animal Kingdom

2009-07-26T20:03:00.001-06:00

"Here's a mountain, here's a zoo. Here's a elephant, a bird and a giraffe in the zoo. And there is a guy on top of the mountain" -Matthew

So Matthew saw my cake post and he wanted me to also "blog" his pictures. When asked what he wanted included in his "blog" he dictated what is quoted above. I have to say that the zoo turned out pretty well.

Award winning cake

2009-07-26T19:43:00.001-06:00

So here is my cake I made of play-doh. The fish on top was in commemoration of the completion of the fishing trip from Father and sons. We caught the fish, cleaned it and and yesterday we ate it. This was a big deal because I cleaned it myself and didn't rely on any one else at the campout to help us out.

Sadie wasn't totally pleased with the execution on my design but thought it was 'good'.

Peter - Sent from Mobile (G1)

The Ward Garden

2009-06-27T16:10:00.001-06:00

The Beans

The Potatoes and Corn

The Potatoes, Squach and Beans

Here are some pictures of what we have done this summer to bring up some food for ward members. This spot has grown all from rain fall this year, no watering...yet.

There are over 300 feet of potatoes, 120 feet of onion and, and about 300 feet of beans.

Working for the weekend

2009-05-29T00:39:00.001-06:00

Well, I have to say this has been a crazy week and to try to wind down I am going to write up a weekly post.

This week we put up what has turned out to be the neighborhood swingset. The kids are loving it, and honestly that makes it all worth it. I remember swingsets growing up and and I can't say I have one bad memory of those things. I am glad to pass that on (hopefully.)

We have family coming into town this weekend and I am looking forward to it. I think it will be fun to relax a little after the last couple hectic weeks. Just this week I think I worked 51 hours, finishing that last one just a few minutes ago at midnight, and it was only Thursday! Last week I lost track, it started Sunday night at 9 when an emergency surfaced and ended Thursday about 3 or 4, I guess it was almost 93 hours straight. I am so looking forward to time with family. Family really has started to take on that part of my life, that part that you hear older people talk about, that part where they really the most important thing in your life. I am finding they are my greatest joy, they are my comfort.

I am now ready for bed, this was just what I needed to wind down, what would I do without this little handheld?

Pete

Why fishing really is enjoyable

2009-05-23T23:33:00.000-06:00

Matthew and I went fishing today. Thw two of us jumped in a fishing boat with a trolling motor and trolled around the lake casting for trout. We didn't catch a thing, but we got a lot out of it.

I have never really fished much and the times I have fished never really caught anything substantial. I thought fishing was not a good use of time, just sitting there, waiting. Today was different, Matthew and I talked and floated around the lake, no distractions just us talking about fishing and and the weather. After today I realized that if spending times with him cost me a boat it would be worth every penny. Time spent "just doing nothing" is sometimes the most valuable time we have with our children. Spending time with these little kids, doing what they do, will pay possibly the biggest dividends for seemingly so little doing. It will be something I look back on with fondness for a long time.

Our day at Cordon Park

2009-05-16T16:19:00.002-06:00

With the weather finally warming (note the date of this post) the kids and I headed over to Cordon Park so the kids could swing and go down the slide. The bees and birds are out (literally and not figuratively, which by the way, I have never really understood why the saying came about) and the breeze is really just a breeze. This is probably the third nice day this year.

Earlier today we were over at the Ward Garden planting potatos and trying to figure how to get water to the other stuff we will be planting next week. One of the farmers in the ward offered up some good land but we still have the challenge of watering (sprinkling as they say) until we flood irrigate later this month or next. I am becoming quite the farmer through this little experience (I have been asked to start a ward garden for those that might need some food through these unsure times.)

Well time to get to watching the kids...

...Out

What do Hannah Montana and lip gloss have in common?

2009-04-29T20:28:00.000-06:00

Just ask Sadie, she will tell you, they have FUN in common. Oh to be a little person and be happy with a little chapstick. Whatever happened to being happy with the little things? You know what I mean? I remember being happy with getting a full pack of Wrigley's Big Red, back when they used to have 17 pieces.

Well have a good one.

Life isn't fair...just ask Matthew

2009-04-26T19:10:00.001-06:00

So these two were playing the The Game of Life. Can you guess who knows their winning and who thinks they should be winning?

Actually Matthew has a question about how to calculate his pension payment. I should have made a crack about the UAW, but then again it probably would have bankrupted the game like it is bankrupting the funniness of this blog.

Out....

Mom's weekend out...

2009-04-25T19:14:00.000-06:00

Here we are just watching Bolt. It turned out to be a pretty good movie.

Does this picture make me look fat?

How to be happy...

2009-04-21T13:38:00.001-06:00

I was just asked if I was having fun. I immediately thought of all the things I would that would make me very unhappy, thought of all the things that are preventing those things and then decided I was in the positive. I was happy. There are times when we think there are things that are making us unhappy, the reality is if they weren’t there we could easily be miserable. Example, “boys these shoes make my feet hot, but on the other hand they are keeping my feet from being burned by the 120 degree pavement.” Then again you should probably ask yourself if the reason you are on the pavement in the first place is because of some choice you made, maybe you should start looking at how you make choices and stop blaming your shoes.

Building a princess one strip at a time...

2009-04-06T20:48:00.000-06:00

Some changes have been taking place in the girl's room and a princess has been born!

The strips were to girlify the room from the safe tan walls and the flower lights to brighten up the wall with only flowers a girl could love, just ask Matthew. That wasn't the finishing touch though, the nice Himmel from Ikea finished off the room with everything a little girl hoping to be a princess would be.

I got my ticket to ride...almost

2009-04-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

So here we are at the Davis' and I almost won Ticket to Ride. My first time and almost dominated this game, if I would have known about the longest train I could have set the best first time player award.

Thanks for the good times!

Outtie....

These guys are a handful

2009-04-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

If I couldn't blog by sending an email using my phone I defintely wouldn't be blogging. I can snap a picture and record a part of my day in just a few minutes its great. Or maybe I should say (or type in the case) its great!

Zoe has gone to bed a little easier the past couple of nights which leaves a little more time to get some other stuff done.

Well, I need to go clear the drain in the kitchen so I am off...outtie.

IMG00018.jpg

2009-03-31T19:12:00.001-07:00

Yes, I intentionally left the name of this entry the name of the picture.

Zoe and I were just hanging out since she wouldn't fall asleep tonight, she cried for an hour, like real whimpering cried. The kind where you might think something is wrong. I sit here typing on my phone and amazingly the glow of the phone has here sitting calmly rubbing her eyes, but not really falling asleep. I fed her early, well 6:30-ish after getting the kids started with dinner, with hopes she would be tired enough to fall asleep the rest of night. These hopes were dashed on the rocks of reality.

So here I sit...well I guess this isn't penning my thoughts exactly but qwertying my thoughts for the day.

Let's hope she sleeps throught the night.

Peter out...

Who loves me? I do...

2009-03-31T08:19:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the folks over at cameroid.com I was able to take this killer picture of me and myself. I really like me.

Try it out, we had a good time playing around and, honestly what better way to say I love you..to yourself.

PDizzy out…

P.S. – Ben has set the example of keeping a pretty good little journal out on the blog-o-sphere, I might as well follow his lead.

Ok, the G1 is still cool

2009-03-31T07:49:00.001-07:00

So I haven't blogged in quite awhile and I just noticed that the last posts back-to-back are about the phones. Let me explain...

So the G1 is an awesome phone and has a killa' web browser. On the G2 (EDGE) network the internet was screaming fast (as opposed to the G3 that kills your battery). So why then, why did I go back to the black?

I need better email support, the G1 was not built for email, well not the kind of email service that the BlackBerry delivers. I need to get email all the time and need better battery life, BlackBerry is the only thing that can deliver - hands down. The reality is I hate being required to plug the phone in for charging in the middle of the day and I get that away with that with the BB.

I need a phone for two things only, phone and email. I don't need a million apps that really don't do anything.

Well, hope that clears things up. Again, if interested I have a G1 with little use on it if you are interested.

P.S. I am blogging from this BB.

Back on Black

2009-03-29T20:10:00.001-07:00

So here I am posting by email after a long spell away. Thought I would post a pic from the BlackBerry that I went back to after using the T-Mobile G1 for awhile. I am selling it by the way if anyone is interested.

Enjoy...

Why I chose the G1

2008-10-23T20:41:00.002-06:00

So I am the proud new owner of the T-Mobile G1. Now I don't often use the word proud to describe ownership of things but having looked at an iPhone and now handling this I am very happy with how it performs and extremely fast it is. I am actuallty trying to post from the phone and it is working quite well.

Travellers in the wilderness

2008-10-21T12:00:00.002-06:00

We have an outstanding challenge to read the Book of Mormon before our next Stake Conference so I have decided to make the effort to take on the challenge. I am currently listening to Chapter 16 of the 1st Book of Nephi. The summary of the chapter notes that "The Liahona guides their course in the wilderness." I had a sudden sense that we are all living in the spiritual wilderness. I do feel a great sense of peace though as I read that we are promised that if we follow the directions and guidance that we receive from "time to time" we will be protected as we travel through this wilderness. My mind is turned to those of our Heavenly Father's children that may be wandering. Would we not stop to help a stranger if this was a literal wilderness? If they were stranded, possibly at risk of being lost for good? Would we not extend a helping hand? Imagine if you will someone lost and upon being found rejecting or be offended that you would even consider offering a helping hand, it makes reason stare.

What great comfort this sweet sentence gives, He lives. With gratitude I take the guidance and direction offered and move forward with strength and resolve and might I extend a hand to the travelers I find on my way as I have been extended a hand from Him.

Spiritual Thought for Tuesday

2008-05-20T06:02:00.002-06:00

"And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and ^aprosper those who put their ^btrust in him."

So I am out on the road this week, in Texas, and took the time to get up early this morning to read some scripture. I came across this verse this morning and it reminded me of the goodness I have received in life. I have so many things that bring me peace and happiness in my life and I believe that is comes in believing there is a God. I believe he is our Father and that he has given a plan, a template, a pattern of living that will give us happiness and peace in our life if we follow it and apply it. The most beautiful part about it is the fact that it is so simple, don't be selfish. Look for others, put their needs first over your own. I am not perfect at this and often have to be reminded, much like a small child I guess in that respect, but I find when I do that I go to bed happy and at peace.

I have read that the peace given those that follow the pattern of selflessness will be blessed with peace, the greatest of all gifts.

Rome wasn't built in a day, but this wall was

2008-05-18T15:04:00.003-06:00

Spring is upon us and our "outside living space" (as all the shows call it) needs some improvement so we are starting with some planting beds.

It only took me a little over 10 hours of hard labor. I bought all the blocks from Lowes and had them deliver them, I am finding that not having a truck in Idaho has its disadvantages.

Blogs are cool Lawrence

2008-05-09T21:24:00.001-06:00

So just to prove how cool Blogs are I am posting from my cell phone.

I just found out that a friend found out that I have a blog and he was laughing about it. Well, cool people have blogs, I mean just look at me I am blogging from my phone, now that is worth something, it is cool.

So we just got some ice cream and it turned out to be $10/gallon, at that rate gas doesn't sound so bad.

Peter - Sent from Mobile

It WORKED! I am a blogging fool!

2008-04-24T12:53:00.001-06:00

Ok, so I sent the email to the blog and it showed up! Now that is a cool feature. I have seriously wanted to blog more often but I needed a way so it would something more in-line with who I am and how I operate, just trying to stay true to myself.

Well this was a productive day. I am glad I took the time to Google posting by email. To all those that want to know how to do it,

Log into your Blogger account, and click on the Settings tab.

Once there find the Email tab on the second row down and click on it.

In the Mail-to-Blogger section enter some secret phrase to put in there and then save it. From there all you need to do is just send an email. It took about an hour for it to start working, but it was well worth the wait.

You will want to send some test emails to see how it looks when it posts, but there you go.

I can't believe I am acting so passionate about this, but what a great way to keep a simple journal. Before I leave work, or if I am out with my phone I can just throw together an email and post to the blog, a.k.a, journal.

I'm back at it...

My first post by email

2008-04-24T11:48:00.000-06:00

So I have been the biggest slacker with this blog. Brandi has done well to keep up on her blog but I haven't been so hot.

So I discovered this really cool feature called Mail-to-Blogger, just send an email. Now I am at my computer all day...well I am around them all day and I do everything by IM or email. This is exactly what I need. I can spit out an email like a pro, but logging in and getting the picture and all that just takes too long. I may be in business.

So here I go, another attempt to make my life easier by adding another thing to it. If this works though I may be ready to enter the blog-o-sphere.

Life Sentence?

2007-09-16T20:36:00.001-06:00

I decided that I needed to add a post at least once a week and this is the picture of the week.

This week was mostly uneventful but that's what makes life enjoyable. Work is moving along, the kids have started school...and Gracie would correct me and make me tell you that she goes to pre-school, not school. Matthew is doing well and he really likes going to kindergarten.

I have decided to run for the City Council here in Rigby, ID. I have to get signs made up and get them in people's yards so people even know who I am. I have already had one person request that I visit with them so they can ask me the "hard questions". So the campaign promises begin...

Brandi want's to add that living in Idaho is anything but a Life Sentence and that whomever wants the good life should move here (ok, I added that and she really didn't say that, but its true!)

What could be worse than an infomercial?

2007-08-30T06:56:00.000-06:00

What could be worse than an infomercial? Well what about getting woken from a deep sleep early in the morning and being told what product is currently being sold on an infomercial? Being told that there is no mess to clean up, no oven to preheat, and the fact that all those left-overs won't get wasted. What if I told you that the TV is currently 'paused' to make sure I won't miss any of the details, to make sure all of my questions could be answered. To top if all off, this is coming my 6-year old that has a memory like a steel trap, so no detail is spared just in case I can't get out of bed fast enough...and this morning wasn't fast enough.

Out of the mouths of babes, if it wasn't so funny to hear an infomercial from a 6-year old with all the same energy as the hosts of the infomercial I would be mad; it did motivate me to blog this early though. If anyone is interested they can call and for three easy payments....

And a Happy Birthday to Chuck, hope you have a good one!

*****

I have to add the fact that I wanted to add some pictures and asked my son what it was called so I could go out and pull some pictures and he ripped off the name without blinking an eye...GT xPress 101. Thanks again to our wonderful and excited host, Cathy

2007-08-15T19:28:00.000-06:00

So the basement is officially complete, at least the family room. Why is this significant? Because it took almost a year. I started last summer and got it to the point that it just needed carpet. Well, we thought we were going to move and decided to just leave it undone and let the next family decide what they wanted to do. We decided not to move and we now have carpet.

It is a blast to have that space down stairs to put the toys and play with the kids. Things feel a little quieter upstairs and I think we like it that way.

2007-07-15T19:06:00.000-06:00

Ahh the dog days of summer...

So we live in Idaho where the temperature doesn't break 90° except for maybe two weeks out of the year. Infact it didn't jump above 50° until late May. Well several weeks ago we were in Las Vegas where the temp was in the 113-116° range (this is all farenheight of course) and that felt hot. We were in the pool most of the time while outside and after being in water that is almost 40° cooler you don't really notice it.

Just today we were inside a church building where I am sure it was maybe 80°, and almost no one could focus because of the heat. Some guys were sweating and falling asleep. I turn to the one next me and asked, do you really think this is hot? His reply was to the affirmative, infact he was wiping his brow. Of course I was thinking back to a couple of weeks ago and thought, all these people would die of heat exhaustion.

I am not sure of what I would prefer if given the choice of the heat of Las Vegas for a few months out of the year or the 3 months of sub-freezing temperatures of Idaho. Well, I guess I don't really have a choice, I live in Idaho...

Pete's what??

2007-07-15T18:47:00.000-06:00

So the name of this blog is Pete's Bog, not a misspelling but rather a take on a peat bog. I have always known peat bogs as a source of energy for heat in the British Isles. Peat bogs are dead plant life that is decomposing, or decompsed and had been known to actually perserve bodies that fall into it. There are large amounts of tannic acid (it is what it sounds like) which tans what ever material that falls into it, or turns it into leather. They found remains of vikings that are perfectly perserved, hair, nails and all.

So I wanted to call this Pete's bog since it sounded like peat bog. Anyway, I have some other stuff to post, so I will gather the photo's and start sharing...

Flowers in water(no)color

2007-05-21T20:48:00.000-06:00

So here is a picture I took with a Sony Mavica on a 1.44MB floppy in the summer of 2000. I took this in San Diego at the San Diego Temple. I loved this picture because of its simplicity and the fact that is was as is, I didn't do anything to it. I have to admit that this picture was recovered from a hard drive so it isn't the true original, but a digital is a digital...so bit for bit it is original.

The great outdoors...

2007-05-20T17:55:00.000-06:00

Here we are at Yellowstone, on the benches outside the paint pots. It was a pretty good day and nice drive

We say several wild animals including some grizzly bears. We were pretty excited to see those. We also saw quite a few bison and elk. We hope to go again soon!

The best way to blog

2007-05-08T20:38:00.000-06:00

So yesterday I tried the BlogThis! link from Picasa and am addicted to this thing. I think this is how I will keep a daily running journal from now on. I am going to put some links on this site so people can download Google's Picasa.

2007-05-08T20:36:00.000-06:00

So this evening at Family Home Evening we were all supposed to draw how we are supposed to be sitting in sacrament meeting. When Gracie was done we discovered that she really drew Grandma Della, the Robot from Chicken Little and Gracie. We thought we would share.

Favorite Pic II

2007-05-08T20:35:00.000-06:00

So this picture is also one of the pictures I like. This was taken on a bright summer day against the front window to the living room. It stands the test of time as probably one of the best pictures I have taken. It will always be one of my favorites.

Favorite Pics

2007-05-08T20:29:00.000-06:00

So this is one of my favorite Pictures that I have taken of my son. I took this as I we drove back from Yellowstone National Park.