Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Columbus: from the Temple to the Zoo

Last week we had the wonderful opportunity to attend our Temple in Columbus. Kristy and I always find joy in serving the Lord within the walls of his Sacred Temples. In recent past we have had a very difficult time trying to juggle baby sitters and family members to try and attend the Temple on a regular basis. We think we may have found the cure for this issue. We purchased a year membership to the Columbus Zoo.

The Zoo is only about a 15 minute drive from the Temple and serves as a fun and relaxing form of entertainment for the kids. Kristy and I switch off at the Zoo and attend the Temple individually.

As the year goes by I am sure more pictures will follow of our monthly visits to the Ohio Capitol City.

Molly & Neleha at the Columbus Ohio Temple Posted by Hello

Neleha making friends at the Petting Barn Posted by Hello

Amazed by the Zebra Posted by Hello

My beautiful Kristy at the Jelly Fish Tank Posted by Hello

Kristy & Molly at the Manatee Tank Posted by Hello

Neleha & the Sting Rays Posted by Hello

Playing with the Gorillas Posted by Hello

Adam & Neleha outside the Zoo Food Court Posted by Hello

Thursday, March 24, 2005


Napoleon Dynamite Shirt Posted by Hello

Sunday, March 20, 2005

An Afternoon in Miamisburg Ohio

After being introduced to this lovely town a few weeks ago by Mr. Williams of www.fullyclothed.com I knew I had to bring the entire family here. Kristy and I had been commissioned to watch her Sister's children yesterday so she could celebrate her big 6 year wedding anniversary. I figured there was no better time to head for Chuckie Cheese and since Miamisburg is only a few miles from there we first swung in to the Hamburger Wagon and Wagner's Chips Store.

The Hamburger Wagon is this tiny little Horse Buggy converted into a make-shift kitchen. Two people run the little wagon which only serves burgers. Their process is actually real simple. One simply cooks the burgers in a very large frying pan full of some type of oil. The other worker slices fresh onions and pickles which are laid on a bun. When the burger guy lays a finished patty on the bottom bun the other guy shakes a little salt and pepper over it, slaps the other onioned and pickled bun on top, and then stuffs it in a bag. 95 cents buys you this wonderful vintage burger, no cheese, no sauces, just simply good taste.

The Wagner Chip Store is also very cool. No frying the chips in front of you, just prebagged crunchy goodness. We bought a huge bag and only half made it home. I assume they make the chips there but maybe we just missed the show. The chips are good all the same.

So after our little spin to Miamisburg we headed for Chuckie Cheese. The kids had a blast as one might expect. I find so much joy when I see my little girls smile and hear them laugh, much joy was had at this store sized amusement park.


The Hamburger Wagon Posted by Hello

Wagner's Potato Chips Store Posted by Hello

Chuckie Cheese (Emily & Braden) March 2005 Posted by Hello

Chuckie Cheese (Molly & Neleha) March 2005 Posted by Hello

Saturday, March 19, 2005


Easter 2005 Posted by Hello

An American Easter

Living in America is like no other experience, here we never find the time for the things we always say we want to do. I hear older people often say "I always wanted to do this or go there" yet their life slips bye and such hopes are soon lost. Why is it in America we find the time to do the things that matter least, work overtime, watch a movie, eat-out, play a video game, or watch TV show yet those things which matter most get pushed back for another more convenient time? In our fast-paced society called America, we also express pack our holidays. Easter is no exception.

Just as with Christmas, Easter has been packed in a perfect little box which includes photos with a big bunny, prepacked baskets full of candy and toys, and the messy art of coloring eggs which will for the most part be wasted after found in an egg hunt. In this box one would also find pretty dresses for the girls and maybe even colorful hats depending on what part of America you live. Church attendance on this holiday is only topped by attendance during Christmas. Welcome to the American Easter Holiday.

It wasn't always like this.......in fact long before the big bunny and colored eggs Easter was a real celebration, a celebration that focused on an event that mostly went unnoticed at the time. In fact only a handful of people even witnessed the event, however the impact of this single event would spread it's influence to every person that had ever lived or would live in this world.

"Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen" -Matthew 28-

I love America, always have, I have come to appreciate the funny things we do as Americans. From overloading our senses with roller coaster rides, to clogging our arteries with huge cheese burgers, over dramatizing the importance of celebrities, and even overdramatizing the importance of sports, America is still my land of the free and home of the brave.

During this time of American Celebration with all it's preboxed nature I can still find one very important value still held dear to every American, our freedom. So with that freedom I will continue the American Traditions of Easter, the photo, the basket, the hunt, yet I will also take time to reflect on the most important aspect of Easter, our Risen Savior, Jesus, the Christ.

"Standfast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" -Galatians 5:1-

Monday, March 14, 2005

The Band of Brothers


The Band of Brothers Posted by Hello

This weekend I was given the opportunity to watch nearly the entire series of "The Band of Brothers". Kristy, her sister, her Mom, and our Sister-in-Law Jodie all headed north for an overnight scrapbooking convention and us guys were left with lots of time and kids. So what better to do with time than watch war movies. I must admit this was the best depiction of what I imagine WWII to have been like, the series really pulled me in. I highly recommend to anyone with some extra time to relive one of Americas greatest moments.

Check out the official website: http://www.hbo.com/band/landing/currahee.html

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Its tough being the BIG Sister


Neleha and the "cat" sleeping with Molly Posted by Hello


Last night we found this very funny scene. We recently took down Neleha's crib and put up the new beds we got for the girls. So far things have gone well with Neleha making the big change but last night she must have needed the comfort of her big sister.