Holli and I got to go to a pre-screening of Fireproof before it was officially released.     We both thought it was a great movie.  Definitely recommend you go see it now that it's out.

Also, if you're in Indy, check out http://www.fireproofindy.com/. This is a site my company Cylliance donated in conjunction with http://www.marriageministries.net/.  It's all about what's going on around Indy related to Fireproof.  We did all of the design and programming.

Also, if you're in another city and want a Fireproof site branded for your city to promote events, etc, let me know.  We built the site with a structure that would allow us to put any other cities on top of it.  Think FireproofLA.com or FireproofChicago.com, etc....

For about the past month or so I've been thinking a lot about what photo sharing site to use to post family pictures.   I've considered flickr, snapfish, shutterfly and some others, but I finally settled on using the photo application in Facebook.  We have a ton of pictures I need to do something with.

I guess Facebook's photo app is pretty basic, but it's easy to use and I love how it integrates into my Facebook account.

I added a couple photo albums and I'll be adding more in the future.

Here's the catch though -->  You have to be my "friend" to see the photos.   I didn't want the world looking at our photos.  so...want to be my friend?   It's easy to sign up, you can view my profile here and register for free and add me as a friend.   If I don't see your friend request come through, then I know you're not interested in seeing pictures of our marvelous boys :)

Bill's Facebook profile

Sue & Steve's Wedding Album

Our day at the Indiana State Fair Album

As I add more photos, I'll update the blog to keep you posted.

What about you?  What photo sharing site are you using?   Any better recommendations? 

We made the plunge and got 2 iPhones.   One for me and one for Holli.   First off, I have to admit, I LOVE IT.   Holli loves it too.  Our Verizon contract was up, so it was a clean switch without any early termination fees.  So far the AT&T service has been great and I'm definitely used to the virtual keyboard already.

Things I Don't Like:

• No way to sort Exchange email.  
• That's about it :)

Things I Like:

• The email interface is great.
• The app store rocks.  So many awesome apps you can install.  Some apps I'm using:
  • Facebook - I have my facebook status synching with Twitter now.
  • Pandora Radio - free streaming music piped through the iPhone
  • LifeChurch.tv YouVersion Bible - very nice interface
  • Evernote - tracks my notes and voice notes and integrates with a web version
• The Google Reader has an awesome iPhone interface.
• Love the GPS and maps
• The web browser is great, so much better than the IE browser on my old Treo.   Although, I can't stand the Safari browser on a PC.

Holli is even using her phone to check emails.  I'm so proud.

Sunday was a banner day in Chicago for a Cubs game.   Grandpa Vance got 4 SWEEEEEEEEET tickets and took Camden and I and Cam's cousin Andrew.  We had an absolute blast.   This was Camden's first Cubs game and it could not have been better.

1.  The Cub's won with a rally in the bottom of the 8th

2.  The seats we had were incredible.  Front row, first base line.

3.  The weather was perfect.

4.  We were in Wrigley.  How perfect is that?

5.  Camden got to spend a bunch of time with Andrew and Grandpa Vance.

6.  We ate peanuts, hot dogs, cokes, lemon freezes, pizza and maybe another hot dog.

7.  We got lots of cool Cubs stuff.

8.  Camden got a ball!

We were close to the visitor's pitcher warm up area and the catcher spotted Camden and tossed a ball to us.  (Thanks Chavez)!

Andrew made Camden a sign to hold up during the game which said "My first Cubs game - but not my last!  Hi Mom!"   Too cool.  Can't wait to go back.

I feel like our lives recently have been just like the Willie Nelson song "On The Road Again".   It's been a busy summer of travel.  Lot's of short weekend trips.   We just get home and settled and then it's on the road again the next day.   The boys have been awesome in the car and on the trips. It's been lots of fun, but I'm getting worn out.    We put 3000 miles on the car in about a month:

Chicago, then Milwaukee, then Chicago, then Tennesee, then Chicago.  I think there might have been another jaunt in the middle there too, but I can't remember now.

Lot's of family time and lots of time seeing other family members.   Lots of birthday parties and fun stuff.   The boys love staying at hotels.  I need to get some pictures posted at some point, but you know how that goes...

It truly has been an awesome summer so far.   I can't believe tomorrow is August 1st.  Going fast + I need to find some time to play more golf!  Anyone out there in the Indy area want to play?

Yesterday was our first attempt at "Media Free Monday".   About a week ago Holli had an idea that we should pick one day a week and hit pause on all media.  This includes TV, newspapers, movies, radios, music/cds in the cars, etc.   I took it a step further and hit pause on all blog reading that I keep up with.

I have to say it was awesome!   We did quite well.    Media Free Mondays are for the boys too.   Holli took them to Cool Creek Park in the afternoon and they played in the creek and had a great time.

For me, the quiet time in the car was great.   I found myself instinctively reaching for the radio button many times.   The quiet drive was great though to do some good thinking.

Monday night was especially good.    Over the weekend Holli and I had planned to spend Monday night watching a movie because we both had forgotten about our pledge.    We remembered on Monday and instead spent the time hanging out and doing some reading.  

Definitely going to continue this tradition.  Just another way to try and live freaky!  What about you?  Want to join us in this pledge?

This past weekend we took a road trip up to Milwaukee to visit my brother Tom, his wife Jess and their daughter Sidney.  Sidney just turned two, so they were having a birthday party. 

We had an awesome time.  It's always so nice to get out of town and spend some good quality family time together.   Although, there were times in the car that I was questioning the "quality" time.  

Do I wish we had a minivan for the trip?  Heck no.  Holli and I decided that instead of our Pacifica we needed to procure a limo.   Not because we want someone to drive us around.  I actually enjoy driving long distances.   There's something about being on the road that relaxes me and it gives me good time to think.   The reason we think we need a limo is purely for the privacy window.  You know that window that separates the driver from the back of the limo?   I think it's sound proof and there's even a part that will block all visibility.

Think about that parents.  It's a perfect solution for car trips.  Stick the kids in the back, put the privacy window up, and you're golden.   Listen to music, chat, or just day dream.    But what about the kids you ask?   Hey, we're not cruel -- Most limos have a TV in the back and mini-fridge, or at least a cooler.    Camden is old enough now to unbuckle himself, get a drink and then buckle back up.  That's safe isn't it?  He could get Caleb a drink if he needed one too.

I think I'm going to go check eBay and find a nice used limo for the new family mobile.  Uh oh, one thought, it won't fit in the garage....It's still worth it for the peace and quiet.

Can you relate?

Caleb Grant is 2 today!   Happy Birthday!

Caleb is getting so big and his words and speech are amazing us.   Today is birthday party day, lots of friends and family coming over to help celebrate!

Caleb's verse:

Numbers 14:24 -->  But because my servent Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

I was reading in Proverbs this morning and came across two cool verses.  I've been trying to read a chapter in Proverbs everyday.   Since today is June 21, I was reading in Proverbs 21.    Proverbs 21:21 says "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."   What a great verse for Caleb's birth day.    So then I decided to go look up Proverbs 6:21 (for June 21) and here's what it says "Bind them upon your heart forever fasten them around your neck."    Good stuff.  It's in reference to keeping your parents teaching and commands in your heart.

That's always been my prayer with our boys.   That God would give us the wisdom to raise them right and that they would bind that wisdom in their hearts forever.

Camden definitely has a love for music.   He especially likes the drums.   The other day he said he wanted to make his hair blue because he wanted to have "drummer hair".   Holli and I didn't miss a beat (no pun intended) and thought "why not?"

So Holli went out and got some blue hair stuff and made Cam's hair blue.

Notice the tee shirt which says "Rock".  He's definitely our rocker!

I'll have to post some video sometime of him rocking out on his drums. 

I heard something pretty funny over this past father’s day weekend.   If you look in the dictionary the word father is surrounded by the word fathead at the front and fatigue at the end.   

I wanted to confirm this for myself, but I found it difficult to find a dictionary.   Nowadays, I think everyone uses an online dictionary and you can only search for individual words on those.   I eventually found one at my parents and looked it up.   I think there were a few words after father and before fatigued, but the main jist of the point was there.

Pretty funny.  I don’t know about you other dads, but fathead and fatigued pretty much sums me up.   With a busy life and two boys (5 and 2), I get pretty fatigued!   And the fathead part…Just ask Holli.   There are plenty of times I live up to that label!

Cheers Fathers.  Let’s try not to be a fathead today.  Also, share this with your wife, maybe she’ll let you sleep in to help with the fatigue…maybe not.