Just a BlinkProof Time Flies

In January 2008 Peter and I joined a small group from First E-Free Church, Minneapolis. We meet about 2-3 times a month and share a babysitter to study God’s word and have fellowship time with other people from our church. This turned out to be a great way to grow in our faith, strengthen our marriage and bond with new friends. Jeremy and Becki Kobielish; Ted and Kimber Carter; Corey and Jessica Sanborn and Doug and Beth Brown.

Over the summer months we are taking a break from our meetings but we got together for a BBQ at the Carter’s house on June 29, 2008.

It just happened to be Molly’s Birthday so we brought cupcakes for dessert.

Molly took a break to flip through some books on a miniature sized easy chair.

Ryan absolutely loves watermelon. I think he ate about 5 or 6 pieces. He is just like his parents!

We had a great time letting the kids play around as we enjoyed the nice summer breeze from the screen porch. For more photos visit the Flickr set!

I am coming up on my first anniversary in a few days, the first anniversary of joining my local YMCA.  About this time last year, one of my co-workers asked if I wanted to start going to the “Y” with him in the mornings before work.  I had been wishing I could figure out a way to start exercising and I jumped at the chance.

Here I am almost a year later and I’m still going!  3 days a week, every week…I’m actually quite proud of that accomplishment.  Anyways, I’ve also been spending a little time here and there researching different excerise regiments and continually trying to refine my workouts.  The main thing I have discovered over the last year is that I’m a big fan of exercise: you can do anywhere, is free/cheap, and is very effective.

One such exercise is the good old-fashioned pushup.  I have always kind of liked pushups and have been working them into my workouts for awhile now.  Lately, I have read some things that have suggested that high-rep pushup workouts are just about the best upper-body workout you can do – much better for you than the famous bench press.

On to the point – in my daily browsing of the web, blogs, and articles I go through due to my work, I came across a post by a fellow PHP programmer for the one hundred pushup training program.  I found via Facebook that a bunch of PHP programmers around the globe were taking on the challenge so I decided to join in.

The goal is work through a 6-week program to build your strength so that at the end you would be able to do one hundred consecutive pushups!  I think what makes this program so appealing is that anyone can do it, it’s free, and only takes at most 30 min. a week.  There is a routine for any age and ability.  To further illustrate how appealing this is, I have already recruited a number of people to join me.  My wife, my good friends the Donovans, my parents, and a few others are all going to try it.

For all those that are looking for a quick, fairly easy, free way to jump start your push to better health, give the one hundred pushups challenge a try!

Today Peter was Mr. Mom as I went off to work and he did the childcare. The kids love the attention from their Daddy. They are always playing just a little rougher, louder and longer than they do with me so of course Daddy days are always a hit! This afternoon he set up the kiddie pool and hose in the backyard.

Molly is on day 5 of a cold and Ryan was diagnosed with an ear infection today. He started acting out of sorts on Sunday but by Tuesday morning he complained of a head and earache. He did comment without prompting that, “My heart feels great!” Ryan was very grateful for everything I did for him even through the groggy heaviness he possessed from a fever of 102.1 degrees. After I put a cool washcloth on his head and neck he told me he loved me and that [the washcloth] felt so good. His sweet and blurry tone pulled at my heart strings even more than normal.

Molly and I had some rare alone time with each other as Ryan slept off his fever. It was fun to play with her without parenting a 3 1/2 year old at the same time. She smiled often as she realized that I was indeed still paying attention to her and just her!

We spent most of today with the shades drawn as the house seemed to ache with the kids. The general feeling was happy but we all knew that we weren’t running at full steam. Finally after supper the three of us walked around the block. Ryan only made it 1/2 way before hopping into the stroller. I only hope boredom doesn’t set in tomorrow!