2012 Christmas Card!!!

This is our 2013 2012 (note the typo on the lower right corner of the card) Christmas card. We procrastinated big time this year and rushed through finishing it. Aedhun did not draw anything, bumber. It's not complete without him but Niki did draw his first Chrtistmas ornament which is the blue giraffe. I'm the koala bear obviously and Niki's the moose. The weird square headed dudes are Kason's drawings via Minecraft, Rhuelin's the turtle and Breelahn's the bumpy-looking cat behind the turtle. We sure do love doing these cards every year.

Breehlan Eating Dog Food in Hiding

Breelahn had a phase where she would eat the dog food from the dog dish (and drink from the water dish but that's a different story). Well, of course Niki and I would discourage it but Breelahn would take some food and hide in order to eat it without getting caught. When you're hungry ya gotta eat I guess. One day I noticed the dog's food dish competely gone and that Breelahn was inside a floor cubbart. I, of course, being the diligent father to guide and direct my child to eat correctly, went and got the camera. The resulting footage is as seen here. Enjoy, it's one of my home favorites.

https://vimeo.com/55504981

How Does a 1/4 Korean Red Head Baby Sound to you?

Niki, the tweo girls and I went out tonight to visit one of Niki's friends who just gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl named Aeowyn (sp?). Niki's friend is white and her husband is 1/2 Korean so their beautiful girl was born with wide eyes, brownish red hair and slightly bronzed skin. A beautiful daughter of God now begins the sojourn of her mortality. God bless her, the mother, and father.

He'll Be a Boy!!!

The title is a spinoff of "it's a boy!" after a baby is born. Baby boy's name a will be Aedhun Rean Zechiel. It's pronounced ("ay-din reign") and his name comes from his four siblings as well as Niki's cousin and husband. Aedhun's arrival sure did put Niki and I into a change of mind. We have both concluded that we will have no more babies. But, alas, God had other plans for us. While we are thrilled for his arrival and to be part of our family, I do think, for medical reasons, we'll make choices to prevent future conceptions. In the mean time, Niki and I hope and pray for a healthy baby boy.

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas 2011

We are all Christmas ornaments this year hanging on a Christmas tree. Like all the years, we enjoyed making this christmas card. Here's what each of us drew and what we are.

Darren: The eagle. The eagle has always been my prefered symbolic animal for freedom. And, of course, true freedom is n Christ the Lord.

Niki: The chihuahua. Patterned after our dog Chisos.

Janisen: The kitty at the bottom right corner drining hot cocoa.

Kason: The "creeper". It's a character from the PC game Minecraft that he' recently taken a big interest in.

Rhuelin: The turtle placing an ornament on an ornament Christmas tree.

Breelahn: The frizzy kitty at he center of the picture.

All final editing and coloring done by Niki.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

Christmas Cards

In 2003 Janisen was 5 and this was the first card we made. She drew the donkey, I drew Joseph and Niki drew Mary and the Christ child. Obviously this setting is post-birth of Jesus. Not the exact account of Joseph and Mary traveling to their birthplace to be taxed; but it worked for us nonetheless.

This first card of ours was such a smash hit with family, friends, and my coworkers that teir reaction inspired us to continue to make more and enough to share with others.

All I remember specifically about this card was that Kason drew the dinosaur on the bottom right corner on the picture. In 2004 made him 4 yearts old (his age is easy to keep track of) and he really liked dinosaurs at that time.

In 2005 Niki, Janisen, Kason and I drew ourselves as snowmen caroling in Houston.

Here we were as snowbirds in 2006. Breelahn was born that year and you see her in my wings. in the background you see actual pictures of my parents (left) and Niki's parents (right) converted as snowbirds themselves. My mother called us right after receiving this card via email and laughed hysterically.

Well, in 2007 we were all trees revering the Christ child.

Here's 2008 and there's snow!!! Well, at least in this card as opposed to reality in Houston. Come to think of it I think it did snow in 2009 in Houston. Regardless, I'm drawing a blank as to who drew what. Perhaps an update in the future will explain.

2009 was probably the most detailed Christmas card we made. Neat but it was lots of work, especially for Niki. Still, this is probably my favorite of all cards.

Now we're at this year's 2010 card. See HERE for details.

We look forward to creating these Christmas cards every year. Typically we begin around the end of October or early in November. We finish around the week before Christmas. By "we" I mean that while we all contribute to the end picture it is still Niki that does the final editting, background, and coloring of each card. Without her work and efforts I don't think these card would turn out as good as they do.

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Christmas Card

We have a great time creating our own homemade Christmas cards. We pick a different theme every year and this time it's creatures. Niki drew herself as a dragon (notice her accidentally burning a hole through the song book), I am the eagle on the branch above, Janisen is the white cat, Kason the turtle on the right with a Santa hat, Rhuelin, whole loves to copy his older brother, is the turtle on the left and Breelahn is the unicorn. We are all caroling and since this is somewhat of a fantasy theme, it's only appropriate for our family to say: Caroling you a "fantastic" Christmas.

On 9/11/01

When I returned home from work that day I asked my wife, Niki, about whether or not she had heard of the plane attack upon the Twin Towers. She acknowledged that she had but didn't say mch about it at all. Her main reaction was to sketch on a piece of paper using her Prismcolor colored pencils. After sketching for hours both on 9/11 and 9/12, the above product resulted.

To be sure, the written message says, "They only scratched the surface and they're killing me." Does it reflect pain? Darkness? Despair? How about bondage? Being trapped? These were Niki's emotions running through her on 9/11 nine years to this day. I think it reflects what many Americans felt that day. It is an event to always remember.

Post 9/11 unity and rebuilding is to always remember as well. Pitty we have not rebuilt the nation 9/11 site (Ground Zero) nearly as much as we should. Bickering about what race to use to memorialize the heroes of 9/11. Having a prominent politician hold up a news paper whose article title "Bush Knew" was printed in very large and bold font didn't help matters either. But truth be told, on the grassroots level, many travelled to New York City to lend a helping hand. Many donated time, money, and labor to those affected directly by the 9/11 attacks. God bless them all and God bless America.

One thing obvious to me regarding 9/11 is that man should not place his absolute faith in man. This includes government and politicians. Yes, people should be active in both government and politics but ones' faith is far better served by placing it in God and godliness, or rather, the things of God. Family is indeed from God. Spend time with your spouse. Spend time with your kids both collectively and individually. Hug all of them. Pray with them. Study God's word with them. Sing with them. Go outside with them. Read good books with them.

Niki's moved passed her depressive despair on 9/11 and I hope and pray that all may as well. May we all be blessed with God's love and comfort. May we be God's instruments in furthering His will and works. Let's be good to others. Let's uplift and inspire others. Let's get rid of our own demons and seek peace and comfort for all. Here lays true hope and which hope coming from God, it will weather all social and political storms.

The Dogs

Beautiful girl with gorgeous eyes.

Beautiful girl.

Both dogs fully grown.

Mrs. Darren reading with the Black Lab and new puppy Chocolate Lab. No relation between the dogs other than they are both lab mixes and live in the same house. *IF* we're insane enough to take in another dog, it'll be a small lap dog. Nothing more and, most defitinely, no more after that.

No, Black Lab is NOT demonically possessed and about to kill Chocolate Lab. This picture was taken right when Black Lab began to yawn.

Young (still a puppy) Black Lab, Baby Girl, and White Dog we almost adopted. Didn't work out though. Look who's enjoying the dog treats.

Black lab with nothing better to do.

Oldest Girl snuggling with Chocolate Lab. Chocolate Lab is full grown in photo; you just can't see it.

Family Picture From Family Reunion

From left to right:

Sitting on laps: Baby Girl and Youngest Boy

Middle Row: Mrs. Darren, Darren and Oldest Boy

Back Row: Oldest Daughter and first blessing from heaven.

Little Boy - 20003 - 2004

I'm the King

This video starring Baby Girl always cracks me up.

Kurt and Brenda Warner

Kurt Warner is the two-time NFL MVP–winning quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. Brenda Warner is an ex-Marine turned stay-at-home mom who collects coats for low-income kids and rocks babies to sleep at a hospital for chronically-ill infants. Together they’re the parents of seven, going into their 12th year of marriage, and founders of a foundation that helps disadvantaged children and families. Their formula for success? They put First Things First—family, faith, and giving to others—it’s their family motto, and it drives everything they do. First Things First is an honest, insightful, and entertaining look at life inside the Warner household. Kurt and Brenda speak candidly about their marriage, the values they are working to instill in their kids, things they’ve done right, mistakes they’ve made, the importance of giving back, and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Includes a 16-page full-color photo insert.

Sounds like solid priorities to me.

LINK TO IMAGE HIT

Pics - Family - Woodlands; Galveston

Big Girl w/brothers in Gulf

Baby Girl in the Gulf

Oldest boy & cousin

Wife taking picture

Big Girl and boys to Galveston

The boys and Baby Girl heading to Galveston

Baby Girl at Grandmother's Purse in the Woodlands

Some pics

Youngest boy showing off.

Here's the kids enjoying their aunt and uncles visit.

My sister's husband was accepted to Baylor College's school of medicine. That means THEY'RE MOVING TO HOUSTON!!! They'll be here for at least a few years. We'll see if our kids will get baby cousins to play with within those ears. Perhaps this'll get Mom and Dad to visit us down here a bit more. Not that they're neglectful; but more visits would be nice.

Five Myths on Fathers and Family

W. Bradford Wilcox writes this piece on National Review Online. Here's an excerpt:

1. THE ‘MR. MOM’ SURGEOpen a newspaper or turn on a TV in the week heading up to Father’s Day and you are bound to confront a story on stay-at-home dads. I have nothing against stay-at-home dads, but they make up a minuscule share of American fathers.For instance, less than 1 percent (140,000) of America’s 22.5 million married families with children under 15 had a stay-at-home dad in 2008, according to the U.S. Census. By contrast, about 24 percent (5,327,000) of those families had a stay-at-home mom. This means that the vast majority — more than 97 percent — of all stay-at-home parents are moms, not dads.

The focus on Mr. Mom obscures another important reality. In most American families today, fathers still take the lead when it comes to breadwinning: In 2008, the Census estimated that fathers were the main provider in almost three-quarters of American married families with children under 18. Providership is important to protect children from poverty, raise their odds of educational success, and increase the likelihood that they will succeed later in life. Thus, the very real material contribution that the average American dad makes to his family is obscured by stories that focus on that exotic breed, the stay-at-home dad.

Thats right, men are still the predominant breadwinner in the home. Isn't that how you, your parents, and grandparents grew up? It's a time-tested and proven method of success in the family.

Read HERE for more on the atrticle.