It's Pumpkin Spice Latte time!

One year ago...

I can't believe it's already been a year since Obama took office. Heck, sometimes it feels it's been even longer. Even though I did not vote for Obama, and even though I still feel that McCain would be a better President for this country, I still pray for and hope that Obama does an amazing job in office. So far his first year has had some up and down moments. Moments that are yet to be fully realized with positive or negative results (ie: Universal Healthcare, etc), but I hope his remaining three years get better and better for this country he is leading.

With yesterday being Inauguration Day, I found this video on CNN and thought it was a great representation of the monumental day and just how profound it was. And even a year later, after hearing part of Obama's speech, I am still moved! Definitely one of the best I've ever heard. Now if only he could get this country turned around and headed back to prosperity. Enjoy the movie...

That's MY King! Do you know Him?

Watch this video! It's only three minutes and nineteen seconds. Watch it when you can sit and focus for a couple minutes. Listen to the words. Let them soak in. Thank you Jesus, for being all of this and so much more!

Man vs Food - Houston Edition

On June 5th, 2009, two men entered the arena of battle.

Their oppenents? The Mega Mel Burger for each.

1 1/2 lb of hamburger
1 lb of bacon
1/2 lb of cheese
A large sliced tomato
A large sliced onion
A large sliced pickle
About five cups of sliced lettuce
And a large hamburger bun

This is my video journal of the events that unfolded that day.

A day where one man fell valiantly in battle...

A day where an old foe was vanquished...

And a day where a new and glorious legend was born.



Enjoy the journey, and keep both hands and feet inside the car at all times...

Mega Mel #1 - The Challenge Has Been Accepted! from Erik on Vimeo.

Mega Mel #2 - My Opponent Has Arrived! from Erik on Vimeo.

Mega Mel #3 - A small wall and needing some space. from Erik on Vimeo.

Mega Mel #4 - Losing my partner but gaining a crowd! from Erik on Vimeo.

Mega Mel #5 - My Partner Throws In The Towel. from Erik on Vimeo.

Mega Mel #6 - My Fan Club! from Erik on Vimeo.

Mega Mel #7 - Four...bites...left... from Erik on Vimeo.

Mega Mel #8 - I AM VICTORIOUS! from Erik on Vimeo.

Last post (maybe) about E's birthday

Here are a couple more videos for my fam back home who were not able to make E's birthday. Here are a couple videos of him riding on the horse.


Evan riding a horse - Part 1 from Erik on Vimeo.


Evan riding a horse - part 2 from Erik on Vimeo.

More about E on his birthday

Couple videos from yesterday/today. First one is from last night, walking to J's first softball tourney game.
Walking to the ballpark from Erik on Vimeo. The second one will come after it gets done uploading, and when I have time tonight to get the code, since I'll be at J's second softball tourney game, and then at my boy's birthday party! PONY RIDES FOR THE KIDDOS!


Happy Birthday #2 to E, early morning from Erik on Vimeo.

Youth Baseball Day at Minute Maid Park

Yesterday was exactly as the title of this post describes. Thousands of young baseball players were able to tour Minute Maid Park, walking on the field (well the dirt AROUND the field), and then enjoy the afternoon game of the Astros vs the Cincinnati Reds. We arrived at the game way earlier than we meant to, which meant we had to wait even longer in line until the gates opened, but we were very close to the front of the line, so guess you gotta count your blessings when you can. Once inside, we got to another staging area and then waited another 15-20 minutes. After that, we finally were able to walk on the field, and the outcome of it all it recorded in the video below. It's a little long, but if you care to watch it, enjoy.


Walking around Minute Maid Park from Erik on Vimeo.

After we walked around, we were then let in to go to our seats. We still had over an hour until the game started. That would be fun to watch if we didn't have a 2 yr old (as of this upcoming Friday anyway) who wasn't having it, and did all he could to get around us so he could run free. Poor guy. Then, if that wasn't enough, the sun came around and we got ROASTED! My little shorties got toasted, but not as bad as the poor unshielded patch of skin on my bald head! Guess it's just one more thing to put on our "remember to do" list for the next day game we go to, since we never go to day games. With it being so hot, we ended up leaving after the 6th inning because we just couldn't take it anymore, and felt the kids just weren't protected from the sun like they needed to be. We tried to hide from the sun up on the pavillion area, but a "lovely" old woman named Ann gave us the evil eye the whole time...making sure we didn't cross one INCH over this painted line on the floor, which had EMPTY seats on the other side of it that noone ever came and sat in. God forbid we get into those seats until someone comes to claim them, or please forgive us for stepping past that white line into an empty chair's space! Goodness gracious...WHATEVER, LADY!!! Drove me insane. Almost so that I am 'this' close to writing a letter to anyone at the Astros that would listen. It was insanely hot, and we only wanted to get our baby out of the heat...I don't see the problem, especially since our seats were WAY better. Oh well.

All in all though, it was a fun time, and I'm pretty sure this will be an every year thing to do. Hope you enjoy the video of the beautiful Minute Maid Park.

Video Friday!

Here are some videos of the past week. Keep checking back, as I have about 4 or 5 to upload!


Pre-ride vid of "Tour de Houston 2009" & the KSBJ booth from Erik on Vimeo.


Post "Tour de Houston" - 20 Mile ride thoughts from Erik on Vimeo.


"Tour de Houston" sponsor alley...KSBJ booth view from Erik on Vimeo.


Evel Knievel, WATCH OUT!!! from Erik on Vimeo.


Angel vs. the Window from Erik on Vimeo.

Csssssssssssss

Being an IT geek...I HAD to put this video up! Enjoy...


Auto Tuning from Casey D on Vimeo.

Kids at the ranch

We took the kids to a "farm" (aka few acres) that a nurse B works with, and her husband, have set up. It's usually only got a few animals running around in it, but with the Rodeo starting up, it's overflowing with cute little chickens, piglets, etc. Here are a few videos pieced together to show some of the cuteness that ensued. My kids look so freaking cute in cowboy/girl hats, that I'm starting to be okay with them. Who knows, maybe I'll get some boots and a hat myself some day! HA!

http://vimeo.com/3464764

***Update: Sorry, embedding this video isn't working, so you'll need to go to my Vimeo site and view it. Enjoy!

Oysters don't like A

We were at Ling's chinese buffet, a new chinese buffet in Atascocita, and I dared the kids to try oysters with me. I knew they were grosser than gross (basically like swallowing a huge slimy booger), but I had B tape it on my Blackjack 2. The lighting made this horrible, but you can get the gist. Listen for him puking off-camera at the end. Poor kid. I'm going to hell. :)


Me, A & J trying oysters...then A puking it up. from Erik on Vimeo.

Happy 8th Birthday J!!!

My little princess turns eight today! I don't know why eight sounds so much bigger than seven, but it does to me. She's always been older than her years, but I thank God that she still has little glimpses where she seems her age. Here is a couple minute video after she opened her presents this morning, before we went to school and brought cupcakes for the class!


J's 8th Birthday Mornin' from Erik on Vimeo.

A's first Bball game of 2009

This is the first year we got any of the kids in the church's basketball program. With how well they ran the soccer, it was only natural to try A out here to see if his skills are good enough or if he's too good. With two games into the season, I'm speculating that he is far and away the best kid I've seen play. He scored about 18 points the first game that they won't about 40-14, and he scored 16 of the 20 points in the following game that they won 20-18. Sure, I may be biased, but the kid has a sweet stroke, understands the game and where to be, and even his defense is better than average. He can dribble the best on the team, but has no left hand yet. We'll work on that. Here are a few vids of the first game. The first one was of player introductions...make sure to watch until one of the girl teams comes out and realizes it went to the wrong court...hilarious, but they didn't know and their coach didn't help them any. The second video is of the first few minutes of his first game. Listen to how involved the church gets at making this feel like a real game, with the sounds and music! Kudos to Second Baptist for making this such a fun experience for the kids!

Player Introductions Opening Game - Avery Bball 2009 from Erik on Vimeo.


Opening minutes of A's 2009 basketball season from Erik on Vimeo.

KSBJ's Liz Jordan flying with the Thunderbirds

Our afternoon drive host Liz Jordan was able to fly with the Thunderbirds a little while ago, and I totally forgot to put the video on here. What an amazing experience she was able to sit through. Enjoy with sound turned on AND UP!!!

Hawkeye party and end of year vid fun!

Iowa Hawkeye Outback Bowl Party in Texas from Erik on Vimeo.


Evan's American Idol Audition Tape #1 from Erik on Vimeo.


Evan's American Idol Audition-Take 2 from Erik on Vimeo.

A Christmas Tale

Here is the first video posted with my new Flip Ultra handheld camcorder. This is A & J telling the Christmas Story. They don't know it, and I don't remember hearing them say it like this, but they make some funny comments, and afterwards it gets even goofier. Enjoy!


The Christmas Story, according to a 10 & 7 yr old. from Erik on Vimeo.

It's a...nice day...for a...white Houston!

It snowed on December 10th in Houston! For us Northerners, this was a blessing to see a little bit of home during this holiday season. If only it could have happened on Christmas day! Either way though, thank God for the snow! This video shows how the flakes started, then a while later after it had been snowing, and then even a while later still once it had accumulated a little. All in all, I think my area of NE Houston had about an inch of total accumulation. Would have been more if the ground would have been colder.


White Houston '08 from Erik on Vimeo.

Call + Response

Please watch this movie...literally.

Tuesday Morning Videos

Avery, warming up before his first ever pitching debut, in the "bullpen".

A - Warming up before his first pitching performance of his career! from Erik on Vimeo.


Avery strikes out the first batter he faces! Signs of what will be a promising pitching career! HA!

A - Striking out the first batter he faces! from Erik on Vimeo.


When I was at jury duty last week, I had to walk to the bus stop for my ride home. It was a long 10+ block walk in an area I wasn't super familiar with downtown. It gave me time to look around and see more that I'd like to come back for, like restaurants, pubs, jazz clubs, etc. I stumbled across the JPMorgan Chase Skyscraper that had been decimated by Hurricane Ike, and when I say "stumble across", I really mean it. I wasn't looking at any of the tall buildings, just the local store fronts and then next thing I know I look up and there I am, by it.

JPMorgan Chase Skyscraper - "Post-Ike" from Erik on Vimeo.

Marvin Gaye - National Anthem

This is just amazingly sick!  Marvin Gaye singing the National Anthem at the NBA All-Star game in 1983.  I saw it during the Olympics, for a Nike basketball commercial.  Man, this might possibly be the best performance of the song that I have personally heard.