OmaHeck: Midsummer Classic

In July, I was really fortunate to go to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It was in St Louis at the new Busch Stadium. What a great venue with fantastic views of the city! We hit the Home Run Derby, and then the Game the next evening.

President Obama attended the Game, and created a bit of a security issue as every attendee had to go through these airport-like security lines. It took us 2 hours. Inside there were snipers on the roof, Coast Guard at the portals and a general buzz about being in a venue with the President.

Hitting. Big Bombs... That's what the Home Run Derby is all about, friends. Here's home-town favorite Albert Pujols (Prince Fielder eventually won.) I was cheering for Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer.

There was a lot of celebration. Fireworks, dancing, honoring volunteers, extremely cool Air Force flyovers, and a fair amount of eating great ballpark food!

Here's a shot of yours truly with the game in the background.

Here are things I learned at this event:

1) The grass is always greener on the Jumbo-Tron. Really, it's unnatural. I'll see if I can get some more pics shortly.

2) While the President has a gift for oratory, his delivery to the plate could use some work. He almost one-hopped the opening pitch, and would have if Pujols hadn't reached across the plate to scoop it up.

3) My 2x zoom camera is really outdated.

OmaHeck: Secret Stuff

This morning I was lying in bed trying to decide whether it was time to get up and get ready for church or not.

There was a rustling in the hallway and I was pretty sure Tate had made his way down the hall. He never made it to our room, but I heard him open Dane's door. With paternal discresion, I called out "Don't wake up your Brother!" To which an already awake Dane responded with a "chirp."

Shortly thereafter (I still haven't decided at this point that it's time to get up) I hear Dane belting out Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll": It's been a long time since I rock and rolled. It's been a long time since I did the stroll. Oh baby, let me get back, Let me get back, Let me get back...

When I asked him later to sing some more, he looked at me cock-eyed and informed me in no uncertain terms, "That, my friend, is classified."

OmaHeck: The Blogpology

It has been *several* months since I last updated the OmaHeck blog.

By several, I mean that I have made roughly 3 entries since June. Dane will tell you that "several" means 5-7, but more like 7. Because he needs to know how long until we arrive.

Recently, I have come under serious fire for my blogging, or lack thereof. Both Sister and MIL have noted on numerous occasions that there isn't any update when they check the site. Before I go missing, or have some strange accident befall me, blog updates must occur.

I really have no excuse. I come from a writing lineage. There are several published authors in my family, even in my generation. Writing is fun. And it isn't like nothing is happening in our little neck of the world... it's just that I have been busy. Yep, you heard right. When forced to prioritize, the blog got my vote for something I could live without updating. For a list of other things that were prioritized below the "gotta get done" line, see my lack of exercise, lack of yard work and son who still refuses to ride without training wheels.

Here's the real skinny (not talking about my wife here, this is a metphor, because the rest of you don't understand when I say "here's the bag of food" - love ya baby!): In July I took on a new job. Same company, same title, same office, same contact info, etc. I just inherited all my partner's accounts as he took a new role in our organization. It has also been recruiting season. I am the head recruiter for Union Pacific at BYU, and that takes some time. Opportunities abound. I am excited as the first 6 months of this one close out. However, I get emails about once a week from someone in another time zone that says something like "Dude, go to bed!" Usually, I'm way ahead of them: wireless and blackberry let me do email in bed!

So today I am working, but now I am taking a break. The reality is I probably do too much of the former and inefficiently manage how I do the latter. My guess is that I could find a week long course in how to do both with better yield. Fact is, I took a day off yesterday so I could go to the office, shut my door and turn off my phone and get to some things that needed to be complete before Thanksgiving. I did go to the Temple before I went in to work, so that worked well for me!

Not complaining! Just stating facts. I like my job more than I have liked any before it. And right now, I am feeling really blessed to be there.

In the interest of keeping you interested, here's a list of things you can expect to see in short order on this blog (and for those who would rather follow on Facebook, these entries will be automatically posted to my FB account, which you can access at www.facebook.com/Anderprise):

• Disneyland Vacation
• Franny K
• Dallas
• Halloween
• MLB All Star Game
• Instant Replay in Baseball

See you on the blog side

OmaHeck: Truly International

Best Kid Quote!

Today with about 15 minutes left in church, Tate looks at Cyndie and, with as straight a face as ever, says, "Mom, sometimes do you want to sell me to a Mexican circus?"

Neither of us laughed out loud, and that was evidence of a modern day miracle.

OmaHeck: Father's Day

So I am pretty much the luckiest guy around. I have a father, am a father, have the wonderful opportunity to raise 2 future fathers.

My sweet wife is the vehicle to my fatherhood, and the boys make the system complete.

I feel so much love from all of them, and they made this Father's Day a wonderful event. Here's the evidence

Dane made a great Father's Day Tie using some yarn and a bag of M&M's. I LOVED smelling like chocolate all during church!


Here's my sweetheart, looking fine... and proud of herself for the celebration she orchestrated (and kept secret!)


The boys wanted me to open presents as soon as I was out of the shower, so I didn't get a chance to do my hair. The boys tried nearly half a dozen pics of me, Cyndie and the iHome she got me, but every one was blurry, so I snapped this gem.

Dane was in super-tie mode... this one contains multiple coupons for great gifts. I think he's still asleep in this pic.

Me with both boys. Tate in his Sunday regulars, Dane deciding whether to shed his blanket. I am opening a gift.

Tate holding the picture he gave me. I love it! The picture is hanging above the table by my bed.

Being a Dad is a very cool blessing. I love taking on the challenge... and pray daily I succeed.

4th "O" July

Here's a video from some friends' front yard in Omaha. They live down the hill from our old place, so this is only about 60% of the view we had.

Mind you, this is not a municipality or public show of some kind they are peering at. This is a bunch of citizens, a few adult beverages, and several thousand dollars of pyrotechnics. The show slows down about 3 am.

You'll have to visit when we get back.

Whaddaya Think of That?

I am generally of the opinion that most mass entertainment is purely for enjoyment (or tolerance, as the case may be), but I have to say our recent viewing of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian may have changed my mind-at least a bit.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for being entertained. Escapism is a practice I can really hide behind.

The best review we'd heard of the movie went something like this: "If you liked the first one, you'll like the second one, too... 'cause they are essentially the same!"

From the first trailer, the boys had a plan to see v2.0. They loved the original(history and facts are tops!), and were thrilled to see a movie set in a place they'd been.

When Tate was turning 7, he told us definitively that he'd like to go to "a dinosaur museum and an art museum." Our best bet was to take a trip to see Grandma & Grandpa in Washington, DC. Once on the Smithsonian Mall, we hit Natural History, National Art Gallery, Air and Space, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument (or "giant pencil", as it was dubbed).

The movie was fun. As expected, the shortest among us couldn't have had a better time. And when we got home, we saw art breeding art. Dane stated emphatically that "The Thinker" was his favorite character (spoiler alert: when Larry and Amelia ask him for some information, he just keeps saying "I'm thinking, I'm thinking, I'm thinking...") and Dane does a pretty good impression of the voice. After we all laughed at Dane for a while (a relatively frequent passtime here) he told us that he was going to build his own "Thinker" with clay.

Here's his finished product:


Not bad for a little monkey!

Tate watches the news (apparently)

I was teaching Tate's Primary Class (Sunday School for those under 12) a couple of weeks ago. The concept we were talking about was Fast Offerings: an offering made in lieu of $$ spent on food.

Tate wasn't really focused as this verbatim account will show:

Me: What do we call money we give to help the Church?
Tate: Tithing! (Correct and fully acceptable at this point)
Me: Correct. What's a slighly lesser amount we contribute?
Tate: Taxes!
Me: Uh, no. Taxes are more than Tithing, I promise.
Tate: Bailout!

At this point it was all I could do to stop laughing. I explained that Bailout comes from the Government.

Ultimtately, we refocused and he went on to contribute to the discussion.

Tate: Fast Offerings, Fast Sunday. Then why does it go so slow???

10 Things I learned at the Scottish Festival

Tonight the Omahecks ventured south to Thanksgiving Point and the Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Not knowing completely what to expect, I have to say that we learned quite a bit: primarily that we need to be better about carrying a camera with us. Sorry, no photos.

Learning Points:
1) Haggis (at least what they serve at the Heritage Foods trailer) isn't too bad. In fact, Tate is a real fan.

2) Pipe and Drum bands are very cool.

3) The concept of belonging to a "clan" is really appealing. Maybe that's why I flaunt my Batesville roots. Being from Batesville is like being in a clan.

4) Traditions for the sake of tradition has its place (it's generally called kitch).

5) Traditions that bonds those otherwise unconnected is powerful.

6) Traditions that can generate a profit: wicked awesome!

7) 6'9" is freakishly tall. We saw Cyndie's HS classmate and our college friend Kenneth Roberts at the show and even from a distance he's just still really long.

8) The origin of the word "tattoo" comes from a Dutch phrase for "shut off the tap." When the English military bands played the "tattoo", the bar tenders would stop serving drinks and send the soldiers back to barracks. Any guesses where the other usage of "tattoo" comes from?

9) The more swords and weapons, the cooler the tent.

10) There is a special place in Heaven for a guy who dresses in medeival armor and spends an entire evening fighting an incessant line of children. Accosted by pygmys armed with shields and foam swords, he also puts on a good show and lets the children win. Every time.

Oh, My Kids!

For Family Night, we talked about why families are so important. We read The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and told the boys how each member of the family is important and has critical responsibilities.

At one point, things got a little wierd, here are some choice quotes:

Tate: "Does torture rhyme with nurture?" Then in a singing/chanting voice: "To nurture and to torture..." as Dad read some more.

Dad (to boys): Where will you get married?
Dane: "I don't want to get married. I just want to be myself and live with you and Mom forever."
Tate: "I think I'm going to get married in Juvenile Hall!"
Dad: "I was going for 'In the Temple...'"

Somehow, I thing the whole teaching and nurtuing thing could be going better.