Jeff's Mad Mod Skills

One of the ways for people to brake into the gaming world is through mods. For those of you not familiar with gaming terminology, this is simply taking a popular game already in existence and coming up with some modifications for that game, ie: new ships, characters, maps, etc. so that the game is expanded and enhanced. Gaming companies really like this because they can see your work in their platform, and it makes their game even more popular since you have to own it to even be able to use a mod.

Jeff has been working on a mod for "Empire at War" now for a few years. Now that he is in school, it has helped him make it quite awesome and it finally became ready for upload onto their site. It has taken off like wild fire. He uploaded it only a week and a half ago and has (as of 9:30 this morning, the numbers change quickly every minute) 2,579 downloads. After you receive 1,000 downloads you get a "HOT" sticker placed next to your mod so people know that it is popular. Jeff received this sticker after only three days. It's really quite an accomplishment!

Now, lets just hope that Jeff's future employment possibilities think he is as talented and hot as all the gaming nerds think he is!

Below are some screen shots from his mod. These, of course, are mostly put on here for Scott, because he is the one that will appreciate them the most being a fellow game nerd.

Way to go Jeff!!!! Keep it up.

Jessi's Great Day!

Jessica had a great day today. She said it felt like it should be her birthday or something.

About 5 months ago she entered one of her short stories into a writing contest at school. She had pretty much written it off since she never heard anything about it. This morning in first period someone came in with a plaque and it was for her! She got second place!!! Way to go Jessica. I really hope she can make it with her writing some day, she is very talented.

Then she got home. Aaron and I spent the day out together today. Jessica has been wanting to learn to play the bass for a while now, and has been looking into getting a bass. One of the things Aaron wanted to do today was look around at them to see what she could get. An all day, long story short, we were at Guitar Center and happened to go look at their used gear. We found this little beauty there for only $150!! It played great, is nice and light weight and has a smaller body for her female frame. Aaron couldn't resist, he had to get it for her. I guess Jess has landed on his Achilles Tendon. He is excited to start up her lessons and have a music store buddy.

All in all I think Jessica's day couldn't have gone better if it was her birthday. What a spoiled little girl she is. But, we have amazing kids, and they both work really super hard. I guess it's okay to spoil them now and again.

Holy Hot Dog Batman!

We were grilling hot dogs for dinner tonight. I got the hot dogs at Costco and wasn't even thinking when I bought buns. Ha ha!!!! I guess you don't have to ask "Where's the beef?"!!!

Pike Place Field Trip

I forgot to blog this last week, if you can believe that! I thought my days of field trips were over, but I got to go on one last Thursday. Jessica's cooking class went to Pike Place Market and needed some parents. It was a cold day, and you can only do so much at Pike Place before it becomes boring, but I got to hang out with Jess for the day and that made it worth it.

This little boy was so cute with his gigantic hot dog that I just had to get a picture of him. No, I am not a child stocker, I just couldn't resist. We were all laughing at him he was sooo cute!

This is one of the bathrooms that we used. The doors were so low that it was almost uncomfortable to use them. You had to pee fast so people wouldn't look in at you.

There was a cork board outside the bathroom that people sign, and the girls all wanted to add there John Hancock to the list.

A while ago, when I was at the market with Jeff and Jessica we found this donation square and thought it was so amazing that all our names were on one square. Well, since I had my camera I just had to get a pic of it. If only Cathy was spelt Kathy then it would be perfect.

Tulips?

So, I was thinking for something fun and different to do on a nice Sunday afternoon was to drive over to Skagit Valley for the tulip festival. It's a 90 minute drive, but sometimes the drive is half the fun. Off we went. I just have to say - NEVER go to the tulip festival!!!!!

Traffic was out of control. I can't believe how many people were there just to look at a field of flowers. A field is about it too. We passed field after field of empty dirt. Finally we came to a daffodil field and that was pretty, but by then we were all getting kind of grumpy. (just take a look at Jeff's face, that pretty much sums is it up).

Finally we came across one field of tulips. It was very beautiful I have to say, but SO not worth all the time in the car and the mass amounts of people there. It was just insane!! And, whenever you get into situations like that people are just so rude. We had just had it, so after we saw the one field we decided not to try to see any more, and we just bailed.

On the way home though we stopped off at Burger King and all got kids meals and had fun playing with our new Sponge Bobs. It was a very interesting day, but I can't think of anyone else I would like to spend a crappy day with :o).

Sunday Drive

It was just too beautiful a day to sit at home, so after a good run, and an hour or so working in the garden, we took off for Nolte State Park. Unfortunately, when we got there it was closed, who knew, so we decided to head off to Flaming Geyser State Park instead. Funny, the road to that park was closed - Are you kidding me! So we took this HUGE detour and just traveled around Enumclaw and the surrounding area.

In the end we just had a good drive and great company. Jessi summed it all up when she said in between laughs "I love my family!". We had a great time.

The mountain was beautiful today. Jess took this picture on the move as we drove by. Enumclaw my be full of very weird inbred people, but it sure is very picturesque.

Of course you have to have gas station pop on any road trip!

Just enjoying the sunshine in Safeway parking lot. What losers.

Holy Freckles!!!

LOVE this picture!

Huge dorks!

Jessica's First Photo

I'm starting my new photo project, and here is my first picture done for that. I was just feeling really sad this morning looking at just how tiny my little girl used to be. That is the one thing that is hard about restoring all these photos to put into books. You realize just how fast time goes. Everyone that has the little ones at home, cherish every second, even the crappy ones. Before you know it they will have one foot out the door and then just gone. Ya, I'm having a lot of missing my little babies today!!!

This is Jessi's hospital picture. She is not even 24 hours old yet. So tiny!!

Holy Hail

We were having a lot of hail storms yesterday. Some of the stuff falling from the sky was pretty impressive. The High School kids were walking home from school when these babies were falling. Yuck!

Easter

Aaron Turns 41

Happy Birthday Aaron!! Here is his group gift that we all went in on - a Wah peddle for is guitar. Mom also found a birthday present she bought Aaron in 1979! So he got that too, a little tiny microscope. How funny!

Okay, I have to tell you a funny, but naughty thing, but oh so funny!! So, Aaron was trying to pose with his pie, and I just wanted to take a picture of him blowing out the candles so I said "Just blow em!" and Jeff said "That's what she said". I asked what kind of kid I was raising and he said "A funny one".We were laughing so hard it was pathetic.

Happy birthday again Aaron!!!

Easter Baskets

We had a lot of fun getting in touch with our inner child today. We spent the morning shopping and getting fun Easter stuff to fill baskets with. Then we spent the afternoon making sugar cookies and decorating them, and coloring Easter eggs. I can't remember the last time I colored Easter eggs. It was fun!

When we were all done we made up baskets for our friends and went around and delivered them. Jess and Tori did three and I did two. Everyone loved getting their little Easter treats. Fun times for all.

Spring Break Party

Jess spent the day hanging out with her friends. They took off and went bowling, and then back home for lunch and hanging out. I think she had fun. I spent the day shopping while she was bowling, and then just cleaning up after teenagers.

27 Dresses - but not really

Girls week continues with day two. Teresa and Mike have a new business adventure with buying storage units. Teresa seems to enjoy it, and she gets a little bit of extra money. It seems like too much work to me, but I'm not doing it :o).

Anyway, in one of the units they bought, this gal had tons of formal dresses. I don't know if it's always a bridesmaid, never a bride or what, but unlikely. She had quite a few wedding dresses as well. I think she had some sort of business going, but dresses she had. Jess went over to try a few on to see if there were any she liked. With two more Homecomings and at least one Prom in her future formals are good to have. Most were not that flattering, but she found three that she liked. Two will need a little work, but if I'm saving money, I don't mind. They will look good when we are done.

This is her favorite. It's a beautiful dress, fits her nicely and needs no adjusting.

Her second favorite. I have to do some re-designing, but with some time and stitches I think this dress can look really cool.

Her third favorite and the last one we took (the rest we just left, not for Jess) Again, a little bit of magic needs to be worked with this one, but once done will look really nice as well.