Re-al

Daddy-daughter date this evening consisted of going to the RSL game. It was nice to see them pull off a win. #1 took a friend on the soccer team and her dad along for a group adventure.

When life gives you lemons...

It also gives you a food shortage, which means you don't have any sugar. Suck it up and chew the bitter agony of defeat:

#1's soccer team lost.

Coach was devastated. Hope is gone. Four open goal misses by his team from a foot away with no defenders. His perfect record destroyed on the third game. How will he ever recover? When will we ever stop mocking his competitive nature with 4 year olds?

The 13 seconds highlight of a 30 minute game...

You get the general idea.

False endowment # 3 completed

Well, as David put it - the arm of flesh was again lengthened in another ceremony of pomp and circumstance - we still enjoy the opportunity to reflect on the accomplishment of graduation. Dad and Sherry Hoffman were able to make the trip up which was awesome. We ate a fun dinner at Los Hermanos. Thanks to all those who provided moral support and prayers as David did this. The highlights were when #2 and I ran into Elder L. Tom Perry in the parking lot and got to have a quick discussion and when David got to shake his hand, have a quick discussion on a conference talk, and get congratulated by him. Here are some of the pictures from the day. (1) Us with Elder Cecil O. Samuelson and his wife. (dumb "professional" cameramen) (2) David with his chair and the dean of the department, Legrand Richards (grandson of... duh). (3) Us.

He is already itching to get back into the classroom... maybe it will pass. S&I denied his request to attend Stanford for the 09-10 year for a Doctorate. Not that it is needed, he can fill any position in S&I now with his current degree, with the only exception of Ivy League type institutes. To teach at those, one must have an Ivy League (or similar level) doctorate or the students do not respect the instructor enough to come and strains relations with the institution itself. (That's what we've been told). It therefore does not make sense - because of the time away from family and money spent - to get a Doctorate unless it would be to further his career at such a school. (Bonus! I like him at home :) ). So, he's continuing his learning addiction without the formal education structure for a while.

Tune in (UPDATED)

We found out how to upload links to a smattering of our favorite songs. You can silence it at the bottom of the site, or you can listen and enjoy. The player allows you to pick songs you want to hear, you do not have to just listen to the one playing! They are now organized by genre so you can pick a style you enjoy and listen for a while. Enjoy everything from #1's favorites "peanut butter and jelly" and "Defying Gravity", to David's favorite modern classical pianist - Christopher O'Riley. If you leave the site open there is about 4 hours of our music selections.

Coach

David is coaching #1's soccer team - the Wildcats! The first practice went very well! We are looking forward to the first game later this week.

Why I cannot do school time.

Today I tried to help Melissa with #1's schooling. That... was... painful... Today's workbook lesson was "the same and opposite". We were trying to help #1 understand the subject. After some massive failings on examples, we got to this part of the conversation.

"What is the same as glad?"
"Sad"
"No, that is a rhyme, not the same. Let's try this again. I am a boy. Who else is the same, a boy? [as I look at #2].
"Some of my boyfriends are boys."
"What the crap?!? Boyfriends...?!? Wait one second - Some of...?!?"

[At this point Melissa is crying from laughing]

Then #2 pops in and says,
"I'm taller than you."
And #1 says,
"Actually, I'm five years old, so you are not."

Crap, crap, crap.

I can't take this - I'm gone...

Family Portrait

We got a new family portrait. It will be available for download at the bottom of the page for a week or two. Character-atures are available via the Simpsons movie webpage.