For Those of You That Kept Up

We have been in Minnesota for about 3 year now... Wow... Time flies.. Coming out here was probably one of the best things for me Financial/Health/Career/Mental wellbeing... While you can't see my bank account or into my mind.... I can show you my physical improvements. Most you you know that I started P90X in 2011... I have kept with it until recently. I got a gym member ship a couple of months ago to bring my fitness to the next level. Here is the journey from 2011 to 2013.

Don't make fun!

Apr 2011

Dec 2011

May 2012

Aug 2013

I put in the work! Now it is off to the Pacific Crest Trail! I thought I might share.

Summer

Summer is finally starting to show it's face....

This will be a pretty busy summer for the family. Etsuko and the kids are going back to Japan for most of July. I will be a bachelor for a little while. I am trying to decide if I am going back to Oregon for a week or so... But tickets are pretty expensive.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a handgun. I got a Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm. I really like it. I plan on getting my permit to carry for MN. I don't plan on carrying to the mall, but I plan to carry when I go camping. First I need a safe. I don't want to chance my kids getting a hold of the 9mm. They have both seen and felt it. They know not to get into it, but peer pressure can be a bitch.... Gotta lock it up.

I think our family vacation this year will be a trip to the Boundary Waters. I want to do some camping and hiking this year. Hopefully the kids and Etsuko are up for it.

Star Wars

This weekend was all about Star Wars.... Jacob LOVES Star Wars. He knows every character and can act out any scene...

He was a little disappointed in the original series. After he started watching, he loved the series. Return of the Jetti is his favorite. He love Darth Vader and Yoda... Fiona was very scared of Vader... She loved Chewbaca (spelling?)

On the Wii he has already beat lego Batman and pretty much has been lego Star Wars.. I don't know how kids play those games. I have no idea what is going on and where to go next.

So long monster trucks and hello Star Wars...

Good Things...

It has been a while since my last post....

I have been pretty busy at work and with life in general. I can't believe we have almost owned our home for a year.... Time sure does fly by.

I have recently started a beer brewing club... Well... It is more a meeting of guys that like to drink beer and happen to brew.. I don't know if that counts as a club.

I thought I would use this blog a little different. I plan on posting books and podcast that I am reading and listening to. I like to read leadership, autobiographies, and stories based on true events. The current book in am reading is called Entreleadership. It is a great book by Dave Ramsey.

The last book based on a true story that I read was "Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman" by Jon Krakauer. He also wrote "Into the Wild" and "Into Thin Air"... These are GREAT stories. The story about Pat Tillman was great and sad at the same moment. He was a true Patriot!

Tonight, I rented Zero Dark Thirty... I saw it in the movie theater and loved it. The gal that directed that movie also directed the Hurt Locker... Another really good movie. It show how powerful our military is and the Warriors that serve this great country. They are must see movies.

Well... Thought I post a new entry

New Year

Awwwww.... Yet another year passes....

This year is going to be really good. Big accomplishment for 2012
1. Bought a Home
2. Found another Hobby (Mountain Bike riding)
3. Family is healthy
4. Went to a 90% gluten free diet
5. Good growth year at work
6. Pay a significant amount towards our debt

 2013 Personal Goal:  
I will ride the expert loop (8 miles total uphill/downhill) without stopping

 2013 Financial Goal:
I will be out of debt (excluding Mortgages) by the end of the year

 2013 Family Goal:
We will set a plan to get back to the Pacific Northwest

Here are my goals... There is a lot that is going to each goal, but I wanted to make these goals as specific as I could. I actually think the easiest one to accomplish is my financial goal. The hardest one will be the last one (getting back to the PNW) Hopefully you guys are also setting lofty but attainable goals for yourself this year!

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformation....

As you guys know... We bought a home in Minnesota. For the most part, the house was move in ready. The bathroom down stairs got renovated, but the upstairs bathroom was/is dated.. We didn't want to spend a lot of money on renovating the upstairs bathroom, but we want to update it enough were we can feel like we like it. Last weekend I got the product from Rusto-leum that is suppose to transform your cabinets.. I was a little suspect, but for 35 dollars... I will try anything. Here are the results of the cabinets.. Wood be gone! Rust-oleum Before After Before After Overall we are pretty happy! Next up... Mirror, wall paint, toilet, and flooring...

Summer!

We are already having a great summer!! We got the kids a pool today. They loved it. We have been using the Weber Smoker pretty much every weekend. Today, I smoked some St. Louis style ribs... They turned out great. Next weekend, I will have a Raspberry Wheat beer to go with it! Can't wait!