Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
One Year of Blogging
I am happy to say that this week marks the one year anniversary of the Broadbent Family Blog. Thanks to all reader comments for making it worthwhile. Now to reflect on other one year anniversaries:
1. One year of being married to Sheralie: Still living the dream in Provo, Utah in our little duplex on 100 South. Our neighbors that stored prodigious amounts of venison from his hunting adventures had just moved out, and a new couple who had so many movies they could run a video store - I was able to introduce Sheralie to "The Karate Kid". Sheralie was a few months pregnant and we were getting ready to head to Chicago for law school.
2. One year on a mission in the Philippines: In Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, with a brand new Filipino missionary by my side (Elder Nolasco). He was about the easiest guy to train though, since he already had plenty of experience.
3. One year of blogging: 50 posts (almost once a week), with two spin off blogs and lots of friends and family to check up on via blogging.
Jeff at about 1
Laird at about 1
1. One year of being married to Sheralie: Still living the dream in Provo, Utah in our little duplex on 100 South. Our neighbors that stored prodigious amounts of venison from his hunting adventures had just moved out, and a new couple who had so many movies they could run a video store - I was able to introduce Sheralie to "The Karate Kid". Sheralie was a few months pregnant and we were getting ready to head to Chicago for law school.
2. One year on a mission in the Philippines: In Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, with a brand new Filipino missionary by my side (Elder Nolasco). He was about the easiest guy to train though, since he already had plenty of experience.
3. One year of blogging: 50 posts (almost once a week), with two spin off blogs and lots of friends and family to check up on via blogging.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Happy MLK day and Winter Solstice!
Ok, well January is not a very exciting month, but today is a rare convergence of MLK day and winter solstice, so that's something. I'm not sure if we really needed another holiday so soon after the Christmas holidays, but we might as well use it and it does add a lit bit of spark to the otherwise cold, dreary month.
Speaking of winter, I should point out that winter is one of the times we are glad to be in Houston. As our non-Texan friends bemoan sub-freezing temperatures, we don't have it nearly as bad. It did get down to 33 the other day and I had to use my ice scraper (used about once a year since Chicago) to get the frost off my windshield (Sheralie's car gets the inside spot). Not nearly as bad as the Packers-Giants game last night in Wisconsin, where the game temperature was down below 0. It looked brutal. Here in Houston, we are living much more comfortably. It's not California, but it's not bad.
Since it is election season, I will give you my pick for president. No one has asked for my endorsement, but some of my readers may be in jurisdictions that vote in primaries soon, and they may not be up to speed, which, after over a year of campaigning, can only be because they have lived with their heads in the sand. Pete's pick for president is...drum roll please....Ron Paul. You can go to the Efficiency Blog to see a more detailed analysis, but the man is from Texas and believes in small government. Kudos to him. He has absolutely no chance, but he has inspired a small but loyal fan base. In any event, don't forget to vote!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Broadbent times
Sheralie gets another award for getting all three kids ready for church every Sunday and getting them there on time.
Jeffrey and Laird hanging out ready for church
With baby Lucy - 2 months old
Laird's fish "Blue" bites the dust
Lose a fish, gain a nephew (good trade)! Congrats to my brother Phil and his wife Jen! Wade Richard Broadbent, born 1/9/08, 8 pounds 6 ounces
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Ode to the internet
Isn't the internet great? Cue Kip from Napolean Dynamite singing "I Love Technology". I'd like to take a minute and recognize the top 10 websites that currently influence my life:
10. Netflix.com - the best video store in the world.
9. Weather.com - I guess people in the old days watched the 5:00 news weatherman. I'm way ahead of them.
8. Yahoo Finance/Movies/Sports/My Yahoo - There are a lot of good news sites, but I like Yahoo a lot. Maybe it's their longevity, maybe it's their free fantasy sports games.
7. Harris County Public Library - Now that libraries are online, I can find my book or movie, have it sent to my branch, and pick it up quickly. It's brilliant.
6. Craigslist - National classified ads absolutely free. If Ebay is not well designed to handle it, chances are that Craigslist is.
5. Blogs - Blogs are great. Much better than newsletters or Christmas cards as a way to keep in touch with people. I would particularly like to mention my cousin Heidi's blog and recognize her work on the Bloggies and award her a "Best Overall Blog" (However, if you don't know Heidi, I don't think you will get much out of the blog). A companion site to blogs is sitemeter.com which can track how much traffic your blog gets.
4. LDS.org - While the church is sometimes slow to adopt new technology (modems at the church are still dial up), I am glad they have worked on this site. I never have to worry about where the ward list is - because it's always online. As well as audio and text talks, scriptures and other resources.
3. Ebay - There are very few things I think of that I cannot buy on Ebay. Garage sales are so 20th century. Ebay is like one never ending national garage sale. Not to mention a lot of people make a decent living selling stuff there.
2. Amazon - most of my Christmas shopping was done here. I also enjoy the reviews, selling items and the deal of the day.
1. Google - as a portal to gmail, documents and blogs, you can't beat it.
Please feel free to share any other websites that you find makes your life a little bit better.
10. Netflix.com - the best video store in the world.
9. Weather.com - I guess people in the old days watched the 5:00 news weatherman. I'm way ahead of them.
8. Yahoo Finance/Movies/Sports/My Yahoo - There are a lot of good news sites, but I like Yahoo a lot. Maybe it's their longevity, maybe it's their free fantasy sports games.
7. Harris County Public Library - Now that libraries are online, I can find my book or movie, have it sent to my branch, and pick it up quickly. It's brilliant.
6. Craigslist - National classified ads absolutely free. If Ebay is not well designed to handle it, chances are that Craigslist is.
5. Blogs - Blogs are great. Much better than newsletters or Christmas cards as a way to keep in touch with people. I would particularly like to mention my cousin Heidi's blog and recognize her work on the Bloggies and award her a "Best Overall Blog" (However, if you don't know Heidi, I don't think you will get much out of the blog). A companion site to blogs is sitemeter.com which can track how much traffic your blog gets.
4. LDS.org - While the church is sometimes slow to adopt new technology (modems at the church are still dial up), I am glad they have worked on this site. I never have to worry about where the ward list is - because it's always online. As well as audio and text talks, scriptures and other resources.
3. Ebay - There are very few things I think of that I cannot buy on Ebay. Garage sales are so 20th century. Ebay is like one never ending national garage sale. Not to mention a lot of people make a decent living selling stuff there.
2. Amazon - most of my Christmas shopping was done here. I also enjoy the reviews, selling items and the deal of the day.
1. Google - as a portal to gmail, documents and blogs, you can't beat it.
Please feel free to share any other websites that you find makes your life a little bit better.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Happy New Year
I'm back from vacation - in more ways than one. My 8-week paternity leave is now over, which means I have to get back to a real life routine. Which includes updating this blog. A recap of the holidays:
This year we celebrated Christmas Eve at our own house, with a thinly cast Nativity.
Jeffrey and Laird in Laird's gift from Santa - a new firetruck.
Jeffrey opening up some new Legos
Lucy celebrated her first Christmas
A post-Christmas trip to the zoo with the grandparents and Christina and Charlotte.
Laird giving Lucy some love.
While we look forward to 2008, here are the top 10 2007 happenings in the Broadbent home (consider this our Christmas letter for lack of my desire to write more engaging prose):
10. Bartok joined our home (out back) as the tortoise in residence.
9. We spent a very cold Easter up in Dallas visiting our friends the Smiths.
8. We got our first niece (or cousin for the kids). Pete also enjoyed a couple trips to NYC to visit Charlotte (though that was not the main purpose of the trip).
7. We enjoyed seeing many of our friends and family start blogs. If you are reading this blog, but do not have your own, jump on the bandwagon already.
6. Laird was potty trained (Sheralie gets a Memmy for this event).
5. Pete built a bunk bed and Laird moved into Jeffrey's room.
4. Jeffrey started Kindergarten in August and loves it.
3. We enjoyed a mammoth Thanksgiving at my parents' house with Sheralie's family (and my parents and a few siblings).
2. Sheralie and Pete took a great vacation to Utah for Education Week and had a marvelous time.
1. Lucy joined us on November 1.
This year we celebrated Christmas Eve at our own house, with a thinly cast Nativity.
While we look forward to 2008, here are the top 10 2007 happenings in the Broadbent home (consider this our Christmas letter for lack of my desire to write more engaging prose):
10. Bartok joined our home (out back) as the tortoise in residence.
9. We spent a very cold Easter up in Dallas visiting our friends the Smiths.
8. We got our first niece (or cousin for the kids). Pete also enjoyed a couple trips to NYC to visit Charlotte (though that was not the main purpose of the trip).
7. We enjoyed seeing many of our friends and family start blogs. If you are reading this blog, but do not have your own, jump on the bandwagon already.
6. Laird was potty trained (Sheralie gets a Memmy for this event).
5. Pete built a bunk bed and Laird moved into Jeffrey's room.
4. Jeffrey started Kindergarten in August and loves it.
3. We enjoyed a mammoth Thanksgiving at my parents' house with Sheralie's family (and my parents and a few siblings).
2. Sheralie and Pete took a great vacation to Utah for Education Week and had a marvelous time.
1. Lucy joined us on November 1.
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