A Day in the Life

Today is the 10 year anniversary of our first date. I wish I could write that we had a great time and we spent tonight reliving our magical first date, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work out that way. On our first date we went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant that no longer exists. Then we went to a terrible movie at the dollar theater, Unbreakable (remember the really strange movie with Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson that I think was about comic books, yes that one that was bad). Let’s just say that my first chance to take Andrea out on a date didn’t pan out the way I planned. However, lucky for me Andrea must not have thought that my date was too lame because she said yes the next time I asked her out and the rest is really history. We joke about how terrible our first date was, but honestly for me it was one of my favorites because I got to finally go out with a beautiful girl that I loved then and love even more today! Happy first date anniversary Andrea. I love you!

Our First Date - 10 Years Ago Today

We have spent the last four days in Kauai, and although it has been rainy and overcast we have had a good time. We even got to spend an extra night in LA because we left Dallas a day early so we could avoid another winter storm. Addie has loved it here and has become very accustomed to the beach. She loves to play in the sand and hates to leave. Luckily we got upgraded to a nicer room so the beach is only 50 yards from our hotel room. I’ll spare you the travel log details but here are some photos from the week.

So last week we were snowed in. Now for those of you from the up north, you might not think we got enough snow to constitute shutting down the city but those of us from the South know that ice is worse than snow any day. Last Tuesday we woke up to a few inches of ice. Now we get ice a few times a winter but usually it gets warm and melts in a few hours, but not this time. The temperature didn’t get above freezing until Friday so the ice stayed and didn’t melt. My office was closed twice during the week and school was cancelled the whole week so everyone was locked inside their house. Then on Friday it snowed about 4-5 inches on top of the ice. Luckily it got up into the 50′s on Saturday so everything melted, and everyone escaped their houses since we all had cabin fever. Here is what we did this week to pass the time.

Since graduating BYU Andrea and I still dream of Tomatillo dressing from Cafe Rio. Every so often we attempt to make our own Cafe Rio salads. In case the photos don’t make you hungry, I’ll just tell you they were amazing!

Cafe Rio Salad - How We Miss Thee

Yummie...

Andrea and I have been saving for months to buy a new camera lens. I have been lusting over this lens for a few years but never could justify the price. Well we saved our pennies and dimes and due to my snowed in craziness I finally bought the lens. It arrived on Thursday and I was so excited.

Opening my New Toy

My New Toy - A Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 L Lens

We tried to potty train Addie this week and we’ll spare you any photos from that event, but in summation it was an epic fail. On Friday when we got some real snow we took Addie out to play in it. We got her all bundled up and ready to play. As soon as we got outside I showed her how to make a snowball and how to throw it and she got it. She started making snowballs and throwing them at mom. It was awesome. Also as one would expect from Addie, she spent the whole time running around.

Getting Dressed for Snow

Throwing Snowballs at Mom

A Big Snowball

Throwing the Big Snowball at Dad

Addie also took some time to jump in the melting snow. We got a few photos of her jumping and they turned out cute. She is so active, but after a week in the house, who wouldn’t be?

Making More Ammo

She Loves to Jump

Smiling at Mom

Addie's Current Smile

Hitting Mom Again

We also baked some Cinnamon Rolls. We took photos of the process but since they were so good we ate them all before we remembered to take photos of the final product. Sorry you’ll have to use your imagination…

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls Ready to Bake

Addie looked so cute on her way to church we couldn’t help but take a photo. She is getting so big.

Ready for Church

As you can see we had a good week, eventhough we were snowed in. Thankfully, we are all thawed out now and we are getting ready to go to Hawaii. We leave this week. Yippie!

I have been in Poland for business for the past two weeks and I had the opportunity to go to the Auschwitz concentration camp on Saturday. It was a neat experience, similar to Andrea and my visit to Dachau earlier in the year. Auschwitz, however, was focused more on the terror and pain of the holocaust as opposed to our tour at Dachau. The sheer magnitude of the events evokes emotion from anyone but as I walked around the grounds I couldn’t help but wonder what terrible things those walls and buildings had seen. I took hundreds of photos and tried to take some which showed the importance of the memorial while maintaining the dignity the site deserves. I wanted to share some of those photos with you here. I edited these photos in a nostalgic style because I felt they more accurately conveyed the deeper meanings and historical context behind the photos. I hope you enjoy these photos and they encourage you to learn more about these events. Please click on the photos to view a larger version for a more dramatic effect.

Zyklon B - Poison Gas used in the Gas Chambers

When the liberators arrived at the camp they found numerous evidences of the terror inflicted at these camps one of which was massive reserves of Giftgas, which translated from German means poison gas. This gas was Zyklon B, the poison gas used to take the lives of countless individuals.

Luggage packed but never used

This suitcase just one of the hundreds on display, belonged to Gertrude Neubauer, an orphan child. These bags were packed but never opened by those who packed them.

Barracks lining the road

Auschwitz I was the original camp, serving as the administrative center for the whole complex. The site for the camp—16 one-story buildings—had earlier served as Polish army artillery barracks.

Block 10 - Medical Experimentation

Each building was identified by a block number. Block 10 was the site of horrific medical experimentation.

The Fences

Surrounding the camp were miles of barbed wire fences which at the time the camp was active were electrified. I couldn’t help but think of what each barb on that fence had been through.

Administrative Offices

This building processed each new arrival to the camp.

We also visited Auschwitz II-Birkenau, which was built in October 1941. This facility dwarfed the original Auschwitz. It was massive and although very little is left, the sheer magnitude of the facility is powerful.

The Gate of Death

This gate was the entrance to the camp. Through this gate passed countless trains jammed full of prisoners, where upon arrival were inspected, sorted, and if determined not fit for work, placed in a line leading to the gas chambers.

The Bathroom

The facilities were primitive and too few for the prisoners in the camp.

A Barrack at Birkenau

Unlike Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II – Birkenau did not have brick barracks for the prisoners. They were crammed into these wooden barracks not suited for the rigors of the Polish countryside.

These tracks led people in but never out

My trip to Auschwitz was emotional and gave me a greater appreciation for the events of the past. Seeing Auschwitz is an event never to be forgotten.

Last night we went to the Coppell High School Homecoming Game with our friends the Brights. My mom makes mums for high school students and wanted to make a mum for Addie and a garter for her “date” Bode. When we got to the game Addie and Bode held hands while walking to the stadium and all of the ladies we passed thought they were the cutest kids ever.

Walking into the Game Holding Hands

Once we got seated the compliments didn’t stop, but the kids got ready by putting their guns up for the kickoff and cheering like everyone else.

Guns up for Kickoff

Once the Cowboys scored, which they did a lot, the kids kept their school spirit alive by clapping during the fight song.

It was a fun night and we were glad we could spend it with friends. Final score Coppell Cowboys 52, Dallas Jesuit 7.