Hmmm, I need to add some pictures in here. Text only is boring.

5,4,6,7

James and I can't find a decent group to beat up with our foam weapons. We'd better form one soon (maybe I can grab some guys from work or church) or we might turn those weapons on each other.

Dad came by for a week visit. I always love it when my dad comes. We have great conversations about everything and the kids love him. Scott gets all teary-eyed when he leaves. Scotty-boy loves his Grandad. We saw movies, went to Garden of the Gods, checked out guitars, got some steaks, the kids got some toys... we did all sorts of stuff. I wished my parents lived much closer. I miss seeing them a lot.

When my dad did come he handed me my Christmas present. He built and painted an electric guitar. He already told me he was going to do this and the way he made it sound over the phone was that it was one of the 'test' guitars he was putting together for his boys. I thought it was going to simply be an art piece to hang on the wall. But when I opened the case, there sat a genuine, fully functional Hickman Stratocaster! It plays great! It inspired me to take my playing much more seriously when he gave me that and them introduced me to the Digitech RP 350 at Guitar Center. I'll get some pictures of my new guitar up. Thanks dad! And thanks to Jill for letting me buy an 350! The 350 even came with some recording software. Time to practice and lay down some tracks!

I have also been dabbling in sculpting, molding, and casting pewter with those molds. It's really fun to do, watching metal melt down and pouring. Caitlyn, my 3 year old, got too close when I was doing a pour and I told here to stay back, "Dad is pouring lava!" She ran away. Whatever works right?

3. I love hiking and camping. The weather patterns for spring here on the Front Range can be chaotic however. A warm day can be followed immediately by a blizzard day. I kid you not. So you really have to check the weather before you head out. Dunno if I mentioned this but Chris helped me pick out a nice pair of Merril hiking boots that I am dying to try out.

2. James and I walked into the open house and both applied for our concealed handgun permits. It should take a few more weeks to get the permit in the mail. James already has a holster and has been wearing it for some time to get used to it. I still have to purchase one. I think the most useful times that I'll be carrying the weapon is when we go camping and hiking. With the permit I can just throw the weapon into backpack and still be legal. In the Pikes Peak National forest which we visit regularly many times each year you can go target practicing practically anywhere.

Ok. Got some breathing room so let me post before the moment is gone.

1. It's real nice to have found a whole lot of blogs from the old friends. Friends make me happy. It also makes me happy to see them and their families doing well. I'll add some more links to their own blogs over to the right side soon.

Oh man. School is a drag... It's eating my time and my blogging is heading south already. But to be honest it's one of those good kind of drags. I'm learning tons.

Ok, so I don't have a lot of time so I am going to list the things that I WILL talk about more in detail.

1. Leah Gardner lives! I haven't heard from her in a long time. Of course she is wanted by the feds for unspeakable crimes so she changed her last name and integrated with some family somewhere. Check out her blog... uh look into the comments somewhere here, the link is there... no time to copy it.

2. Gun permit in the works!

3. Hiking season is returning!

4. Visit from the Bob!

5. Finding a boffering group not panning out.

6. Grabbing the guitar again!

7. Pewetering. Look it up for now.

8. Jill's Belly is getting bigger in the good way ;)

9. An after school special that warmed my heart.

10. Ha. Aprils Fools on number 9. Suckers...

11. Friends blogs links posted.

12. Trip to DC.

13. A foul, foul smell.

14. Pampered Chef... girl stuff I want to rant about.