We know what causes this

Christmas Dinner

2011-12-26T16:31:00.000-06:00

Turkey and Ham for Christmas.

It's 3:45 AM on Christmas morning. Just put the 18 pound turkey on the smoker. Lump charcoal and soaked hickory chunks. Dampers at 1.75 on both top and bottom. . Injected turkey with Tony Chachere's creole butter and rubbed with Fishers roast rub. Beer can turkey.

Cooked for 9 hours and meat thermometer read 165 when done Very juicy and moist turkey. Huge hit.

Ham was a pre-cooked/sliced ham. Put on digital Masterbuilt Smokehouse smoker for 3 hours at 230 degrees. Also injected with creole butter and glazed with sugar rub that came with it. Great smoke flavor and tenderness.

Very pleased with the smoked turkey and cooking process on the Big Steel Keg. Never had a problem with the dampers and the temp getting above 250. Just a few minor adjustments with the dampers during the cook It's getting easier to use.

First Beer Can Chicken on the Keg

2011-12-11T19:16:00.001-06:00

I tried out some beer can chicken on my new Big Steel Keg. Here are my notes and photos...

2 beer can chickens

Lit fire at 10:40 am. Outside temp is 39 degrees. Smoker got too hot at 375 in about 10 minutes.
Put chicken on at 11:10. Starting temp 200 and should rise soon.
Put all soaked wood chips in at once.

Dampers are both at 2. Put water in the diffuser bowl for the first time.
Time 12:00. Dampers dialed in at 1.5 on top and bottom. 240-250 degrees

Chicken done at 4:00. Overlooked a little. 4 hours would probably do it just fine.

Chicken was a little dry but tasty. Need to wrap the diffuser in foil so it's easier to clean.

Big Steel Keg. My new toy

2011-12-04T20:11:00.002-06:00

I just picked up this baby. It's awesome and I am going to have a lot of fun. There is going to be a learning curve for me since I have really never used charcoal before...especially lump coal. I have had two cooks so far and they were both successes. I decided after my first cook that I will take notes so I can track what I am doing and learn.

Today I wanted to grill for lunch. Here's the story.

Grilling ribs and chicken legs.

Rubbed ribs with muenster rub, salt and pepper. Got keg to 200 and put on soaked wood chips. Dampers are at 4 on top and 3 on bottom to get heat closer to 275. Put ribs on at 10:00.
Shit. 10:13 temp rose to 350. Turned dampers to around 1.
Not sure if my fire is out. Put chicken legs on at 10:30. Moved dampers to 2 on top and 1.5 on bottom. Put bottom at 2. Trying to get temp at 275. Time crunch for lunch. Dampers at 2.0 and dialed in at 275. Now11:23

Pulled chicken and wrapped ribs at 12:00. Over cooked chicken. Temp was close to 190 internal for chicken.

Pulled ribs at 12:45. 2:45 cooking time. Final temp was 315 when wrapped and pulled. Waiting for to rest.

Chicken was actually pretty good but a little chewy by being overdone. Kids loved them and that's who ate them so that's good.
Ribs were very moist and fall-off-the-bone good. Used Sweet Baby Ray's sauce and that complimented the rub nicely.
After the cook, open the vents all the way to get to 700 degrees to burn off and clean the grill. Worked nicely. Very happy with my first attempt at ribs.

It's finally here

2011-09-01T10:46:00.002-05:00

It's game day for North Texas. We take on Florida International University in Miami. They won the Sunbelt Conference championship last year so it's a tough task for our first game. Dan McCarney is going to be great. can't wait for kick off.

The yard sign is in the ground (yes, i need to mow)

Facing the Giants

2011-08-03T10:23:00.003-05:00

This morning's faith share meeting was very good. Today's Mass reading was about how Jacob and Caleb wanted to take the Isrealites into the Promised Land. Caleb was a part of 12 'investigators' that went to scout out the land across the river. All but Caleb said that the land was too dangerous and that it was invested with giants. The Lord had delivered his people from Egypt, split a Sea, leveled mountains and still they doubted that He would deliver them to safety. So, God made all of that generation wander in the desert and die.

The discussion in this morning's meeting was about how we face our own giants. Do we run away scared, looking to the negative all of the time, play the blame game, etc. Or, do we face them and ask for the Lord to deliver us? I for one tend to do the former much more than the latter. I have to work on that daily.

Being a father of 6 kids is not easy. There is tremendous stress financially and emotionally. I am commissioned only and have the only household income. It's tough...a man should not have as much grey hair as I do at age 33.

But here's the thing...I'm married to a wonderful woman who believes in me, and most importantly, believes in our Lord and that he will provide for us. I believe in Him too but it's such a blessing to have a partner for me to fall back on. We have to face our giant together every day.

1987 Rules with RBI Baseball

2011-07-31T14:01:00.003-05:00

Back in the 4th grade (1987), Nintendo came out with one of the greatest games ever invented...RBI Baseball. My brother, friends and I used to play for hours and hours. We knew every lineup of every team...who to substitute for, and all the intricate details of the quirks of the game. There were many 100 degree summer days where we had games played and tournaments held.
Even in college my roommates and I kept a win/loss tally of games played. I think we did the math once to figure out how many hours we played that year...in all, it was about 2 weeks worth.

Last night, we reunited with several other friends and had a RBI tournament again. This time, some of our kids actually played (that was really weird). We had 17 in the bracket and it took over 7 hours on 2 game systems. One room had a large flat screen TV and the other was a 100+ inch projector screen with surround sound. It was a sweet set-up for some 8 bit graphics.

I finished in 2nd place to my old roommate, Jeremy. It was fitting that he and I would be in the final series. We played a best of 3 series and he beat me two of the three by one run each game. It was a blast. Below is my trophy...

Camping with 6 kids

2011-07-26T09:31:00.003-05:00

Well, let's not get too ahead of ourselves...camping is a loose term. We actually roughed it in a 2 story lake house with plasma TVs, fully stocked kitchen, 2 grills, a hot tub, and a media room. To the kids, we were camping because we were at a lake. Don't get me wrong, I love tent camping but with little kids, in 100 degree weather, I'll take cabin camping any day. In all, there were 19 of us and we had a blast. We swam in the lake for several hours (I floated on some noodles), hiked a mountain (small hill), and relaxed. The kids played with their cousins and had a blast. Here are some pics...

Way overdue

2011-07-15T09:21:00.003-05:00

I finally remembered my password and log in stuff so I could post. I know that my one reader has been dying to find out what's up.

Well, being a father of 6 in the summer is fun and hard at the same time. You can imagine that our house is a little crowded with everyone inside most of the time. It's still over 100 degrees every day so the kids can't stay out for too long.

Not a lot has changed in my world...I'm shaving my head even shorter now than before so that's good.

We are headed out for a family camping (in a luxurious cabin...not roughing it) next week. I'm sure I'll have some interesting stories when we get back. Peace.

Growing stuff is cool

2010-07-07T10:30:00.002-05:00

Our little garden is actually growing this year. So far, only one pepper but the plants aren't dead...so that's good. The sunflowers took off...over 7 feet tall now.

gotta love the backyard pool

2010-06-02T12:57:00.002-05:00

It's been a couple of years since we had a back yard pool. The kids are loving it!

Number 6...Benjamin Todd Scott

2010-05-05T20:47:00.004-05:00

By the grace of God, Ben came into the world today. Mom and baby are doing great. Here are some pics.

#6

2010-05-04T11:08:00.000-05:00

tomorrow we are having number 6. Holy crap.

Go Rangers!!!

2010-04-28T10:33:00.005-05:00

Last night was the annual Mean Green night at the Ballpark. Oh, what a sacred place the Ballpark is. Such majesty and awe and the greatest game on earth is played there. If you get tickets through the Mean Green, the cost is only $5. We had about 30 in our group and we all had a good time. Plus, the Rangers beat the White Sox 4-2.

T-Ball and back yard camping

2010-04-26T16:21:00.004-05:00

here are some pics of my 6 year old son playing T-Ball. He is so fun to watch. Also, we had a family backyard camp-out. My brother and his son joined in the evening fun although they did not spend the night. My two sons and I slept in the tent and had a great time. We burned a fire in the pit and made SMORES (with peanut butter cups).

kids at the zoo

2010-04-23T12:20:00.003-05:00

I had the job of taking 2 kids from my son's Kindergarten class around the Ft. Worth Zoo yesterday. We actually had a great time and the weather was awesome. Here are a couple of pics of the boys I had to chase...

Easter

2010-04-05T10:25:00.004-05:00

We had a great time at my grandmother's house yesterday. A few drinks, great food, and great company were abound. Here are just a few shots...

preparing the garden

2010-03-13T20:58:00.003-06:00

Today was a glorious day. The sun was out and I had the rare chance to have free time to work in the yard. I mowed for the first time this year and was able to put down some weed killer which should help with my lawn. Right now the only green I have is from weeds...
I am also going to give another stab at growing a salsa vegetable garden. The kids wanted to help prep the garden so all 5 were crammed in a 4X8 space. They did pretty good...

kid pic

2010-03-01T20:52:00.002-06:00

Here's a pic I took at church this past Sunday.

a wonderful random gift.

2010-02-27T08:12:00.002-06:00

My wife called me yesterday at work and asked if I could pick up something at church before 12. Turns out that she was able to go and she texted me that someone had left $200 for us! No note, no names, just a huge blessing. Praise God!!

It's the end of the month and we needed grocerys and our budget was out of cash so this blessing was perfect. I can't wait to be in a position to give gifts like this to other young couples. God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.

don't let the bad bugs bite

2010-02-26T08:50:00.002-06:00

Kids are hilarous. We all know that what they say sometimes just makes you laugh. My 6 year old son wished me a good night last night and said, "don't let the bad bugs bite.". too funny

my 4 year old son also has started calling me food if he is trying to insult me. He'll say stuff like "I'm going to punch you...you potato, or "don't tickle me you sandwich". I've been called worse so I really don't mind.

camping...sort of

2010-02-20T19:42:00.003-06:00

Tonight I wanted to share a great memory I had as a kid and let them build a tent inside to "camp-out". I picked up this tent last year (very inexpensive so if it breaks...no big deal). We'll see how the sleeping goes...probably will be up for a while.

great weekend

2010-02-15T08:53:00.002-06:00

This past weekend was awesome. Thursday and Friday we were hit with snow. Now, it normally does not snow in Texas but if it does, it may last for a few hours. This time we had perfect snow for at least 2 days. Thursday I took the 4 older kids and we went down to a steep hill in our neighborhood to go sledding. It was a blast. We used Rubbermaid trash can lids and another large storage container lid for the sleds. It continued to snow while we were sledding which made it more magical. T-boy (age 4) had to wear his cowboy boots which had no traction so it was hilarious to watch him try to climb up the hill. We made a snow man(more like a snow-blob) and snow angels. It was a blast.

On Saturday, the kids had their basketball games and they had a lot of fun. It was fun to watch them as a parent and see them do well. The kids are out of school today as well but I'm back to work (except for right now).

coaching

2010-02-09T13:29:00.003-06:00

I met with a personal coach this morning and our meeting was great. It's funny how things work out...
My coach, Tim Owens, and I are apart of a business growth group that meets every other Tuesday. Today was a scheduled meeting but neither one of us knew that it was supposed to be cancelled. We were the only ones who went and ended up talking about our businesses. Tim's company offers coaching and I took him up on working together. Starting tomorrow I will be implementing some time blocking and re-structuring to my schedule that I feel will benefit me both personally and professionally. We'll see how it goes.

running

2010-02-02T13:41:00.002-06:00

I am large. I need to run. I don't like running. But I need to run. I also like cookies. I need cookies...wait, no I don't. I need to run. I did run this morning. It was not as fun as eating cookies. I prefer cookies over running. Cookies are fun, running is not. I need to keep running so I can eat more cookies. :).

new commitment

2010-01-31T11:38:00.001-06:00

Ok, I am terrible at writing on my blog, facebook, or any other media besides work stuff. I realize that I have like 2 readers, but that's ok. This blog is supposed to be dedicated to being a father of a large family...the joys, struggles, and laughs. It's also about spiritual stuff as I see fit to post. more to come...

a little overdue...

2009-10-06T09:18:00.003-05:00

yep, I'm posting. The baseball season has come and gone for the Rangers. We can still enjoy post-season baseball and the excitement that it brings.

Nicole and I made another kid...due in May

Still in the mortgage business.

Got a chance last night to relive some precious memories...one of my all time favorite bands, Sunny Day Real Estate, played in Dallas. The first band I was in, Reality Club, had a reunion dinner before the show. It was so great seeing the guys and telling stories. Then at the show, the Glisten guys were there and it was great to experience the show with them too. There were also several old Keller High boys there whom I had not seen in over 10 years. Lastly, my friend Josh was there too. He used to play in Between Thieves and we toured together when I was running sound. All in all, it was a wonderful night.

Oh, ya...the band was freakin awesome. They played all of their early stuff and they were spot on. The mix was perfect. I really hope they come back soon. Nicole didn't get to go as she, and our baby, were sick.

Ok...done posting for a while.

baseball season is here

2009-04-21T20:43:00.002-05:00

Well, the best time of the year is taking place right now. The great Summer classic is upon us and I'm lovin it. Our kids started playing too. We have 2 on a T-Ball team and our oldest is playing softball. I've probably eaten 10 orders of ballpark nachos and a few hot dogs too. The weather has been really nice for the games and the kids are having a blast. They really don't know what they are doing which is hilarous. The Rangers have a chance to win every game if they can get their pitching together. I'll never give up on them but sometimes it is frustrating to watch. I really wish the Mean Green had a baseball team. Maybe someday.

first customer

2009-03-10T12:54:00.000-05:00

Last night I did my first job as Green Daddy. Yea!!

break from training

2009-03-01T10:07:00.004-06:00

I've been sick for about a month straight with Strep Throat at least 3 times since December. As soon as my drugs from the doctor are gone, I'm sick again. Anyway, this has caused a delay in my training. I haven't totally given up on the race yet but I'm definitely looking forward to getting back in the gym...as soon as I get better as I'm sick now.

So far, I have about 9 clients lined up for the lawn business. Hopefully as I start cutting, I'll get a few more referrals to get a total of around 15. This would be a great side income to help us work our debt snowball.

In the words of the Dread Pirate Roberts..."Good work, rest well, I'll most likely kill you in the morning"

holy hell I'm old

2009-02-13T01:01:00.003-06:00

I just went with my wife to see a friend's band play at a bar here in Denton and they didn't go on until 10:30. I should have been in bed for like an hour already but instead, I'm surrounded by college kids 10 years younger and completely out of place. My good friend, Adam, was there too... he and I used to be in a band together. We were watching our old bass player's new band, Constant Seas, at a dive in Denton. It was a great show but we are not built to stay awake longer than 10:00. After a few Shiners and Camels, we were doing alright but I'm so freakin tired, I can't stand it. The show was great and it was good to have a break from the 5 kids but couldn't Emo-kids do their shows like at 7 instead of midnight?

Oh ya, it was too loud which means I'm officially too old. Bring on the Viagra and a pillow...I'm good.

day whatever

2009-02-10T14:07:00.002-06:00

Today's schedule was 4 miles. I ran/walked for 50 minutes covering 3.5 miles...suck it.

day 23

2009-02-03T16:53:00.003-06:00

For some reason I'm fat. I haven't quite figured it out yet. Maybe I shouldn't eat popcorn at 10:30 at night or perhaps I shouldn't eat 10 Oreo cookies right after dinner either. It seems like these examples are hindering my ability to lose weight.

today's schedule was 3.5 miles. I did run 7 laps without stopping and then my left leg almost exploded on the treadmill. To avoid any carnage, I decided to do the last distance on the elliptical.

I'm going to continue to ponder other possible reasons that I'm not losing weight...

day 21

2009-02-01T12:54:00.002-06:00

Today's run was scheduled to be 5 miles. I don't think I have ever run 5 miles at one time in my life. I am still recovering from strep throat so my body doens't have as much energy as usual. I still decided to go to the gym and give it what I had. I went 4.5 miles by walking a lap and running a lap. I ran the first 2 miles at 6.0 and the 2nd 2 at 5.4. I ran one lap at 7.0 and half of a lap at 9.0. I thought I was going to die. It was still a great work out. So far, I'm down 5 pounds from when I started.

GREEN DADDY IS ON!!!

2009-01-31T12:24:00.003-06:00

After this past year's layoff, I have become a big believer in the multiple streams of income philosophy. My new job is going well but I can tell it may take some time to ramp up. I'm also still doing mortgages by referral and due to rates being down, I have had some good business in January and February. Hopefully this will continue to be a good stream.

For the last few years I have thought about the idea of starting a lawn care business on the side. I never took any steps to doing it until this past December. There is never a great time to start anything that will take up time away from your family, but wife and I talked it over and this Spring, I'm going to give it a shot. This will be a weekend affair and I'm buying into some existing accounts. If I don't like it, then I'm not going to be out much. My goal is to start this business and get it running without any debt. I have enough of that on a personal level and the last thing I need to do is run a business that way. As cash comes in from the business, I'll replace my garage equipment with commercial grade stuff. It's very exciting to think of the possibilities but it is also scary and stressful because I'll be working 7 days a week and not seeing my family as much this summer.

My ultimate goal with my lawn care business is to be the stream of income that gets our family out of debt more quickly. If I can turn this into a full-time gig and hire some crews, then that would be awesome. We'll see...

sick again

2009-01-31T12:21:00.002-06:00

I get strep throat at least 4-5 times per year. On Thursday night I started feeling that old familiar sting in my throat. I went to the doctor early Friday morning to verify that I did indeed have strep. So I'm now on medication and hopefully it won't last too long. The good news about being so familiar with it is that I detect it early before the flu symptoms kick in. I end up having a sore throat for a couple of days. This may slow down the training a little this week. I'm going to try and do my long run tomorrow but we'll see how I feel.

day 18

2009-01-29T14:07:00.001-06:00

Today's scheduled run was 3.5 miles. I overslept a little this morning so I only had time for 3 miles. Again, I've hit my block and can't seem to run all the way. It seems that after 3 songs, my body quits and wants to walk. I'm hoping that Sunday's run will have different results...

day 17

2009-01-28T20:04:00.002-06:00

For the last 2 days we have been socked in with bad icy weather. I did not make it to the gym on Monday or Tuesday. I did however today at around 5:30PM. Today's schedule was a 2 mile run or cross training. I decided to do 30 minutes of the elliptical. It was a good workout and tomorrow brings another long run.

day 14

2009-01-25T16:24:00.002-06:00

Well today was the hated Sunday long run. I was scheduled for 4 miles. I ran over 2 and walked up to lap 13. My left leg was throbbing so I quit the treadmill and went to the elliptical. I did a mile there to wrap up the workout. All in all, it was painful. I did get new shoes so hopefully after they are broken in, it will help with some of the pain.

Day 11

2009-01-22T09:27:00.002-06:00

woke up at 5:07 to get ready to be at the gym before 6. I ran/walked 3 miles again and my left shin started hurting again. The good news is that it doesn't hurt as bad as it did on Tuesday so I think it's getting used to the abuse. I'm going to get new shoes this weekend and that should help with the pain.

Day 9

2009-01-20T19:37:00.002-06:00

Well, today's workout was the first 'run' of the week. I was supposed to do strength/stretch stuff yesterday but decided to play golf instead. It was windy and my game stunk...that's another story.

Today's run was some of the worst pain I have ever felt. I am developing shin splints in both legs so every step is like a knife digging deeper and deeper. I have been limping all day long.

Tomorrow I'm going with the elliptical so there won't be any impact.

Day 7 Sunday

2009-01-18T10:38:00.002-06:00

Holy Balls!!

Today's scheduled run was 4 miles. I went to the gym around 9 and realized it was closed (doesn't open until later on Sunday's). So I decided to go to a park that has a track broken up in 1/8 mile segments. It was about 43 degrees and a little windy. They say it's harder to run outside vs. a treadmill and they are right. I ended up running about 3 miles and walking one. I have since had Advil for breakfast...

It was nice during mile 2 when I started focusing on the music I was listening to (mostly Christian)and the positive messages. It was easier to run when I stopped dwelling on my pain and being out of shape to enjoying the outside, praising God and thanking Him for my blessings. This lasted until my side began to split and it felt like the gates of Hell were bursting through my entire body due to pain. Oh well, hopefully it will get easier.

day 4 training

2009-01-15T12:42:00.002-06:00

holy BEEP!!
I was scheduled to stretch/strength training and then run 3 miles. Remind you that I'm 'a' shape...not in shape. So naturally, it hurt and hurt badly. I picked 4 machines (bench, curls, lat pull down thingy, and a sit up machine) and did 3 sets on each. I then ran and walked 3 miles. It hurts but slowly I think it will get easier.

day 3 training

2009-01-14T18:31:00.003-06:00

Was supposed to do 2 miles of cross training (bike or elliptical). Didn't make it to the gym due to wrestling with some mortgage business. Will make up on Friday which is supposed to be a day off.

half marathon training

2009-01-13T16:59:00.000-06:00

Day 1...didn't do anything

Day 2...scheduled to run 3 miles...ran 2 and walked 1. hurts like hell.

Remote "downloading"

2008-12-05T16:48:00.002-06:00

this new technology called "wireless Internet" is truly amazing. they have these new thingys called 'computers' and their like electronic typewriters...wait, you probably already know about computers and the Internet....
Wife and I are behind on the latest technology crazes by about 5 years so us getting wireless is freakin awesome.
In fact, I can now 'download' on my throne while downloading on the Internet. I'm sure you wanted to know that but sometimes it's the small stuff that is truly exciting!!!

Ya know, the 'throne' forces you to make the perfect 'lap' posture for your laptop...:)

what a blessing

2008-11-26T07:54:00.002-06:00

It's hard to find the words about the community we are apart of at St. Mark Catholic Church in Denton. The friends we have made there and the families that welcome us are amazing. We have been going there for about 10 years (some through college) and we have formed some great relationships. This morning at the Men's Faith Sharing group I attend, we did something special for Fr. Tim. We asked him to come to the meeting and participate which he did. The purpose of this particular meeting was also to let him know how blessed we are to have our priests and to thank him for his service to us. It was a nice meeting and great fellowship.

In November I was laid off from my previous job. The response and support from the families at St. Mark has been a true testament to Christianity. So many people have come up to us and offered prayers, support and some even looking for employment for me. Today was particularly wonderful as we received a great blessing.

After the meeting, one of the men came up to me and handed me an envelope with our name on it. Inside was a letter that was typed (so we couldn't tell the handwriting) and $500 in cash. I could not believe it and all I could do was cry. What a generous gift!!! The letter did not say who it was from but only the instructions to return the gift to another family when we are able to. I promise that I will.

Just a few days ago, we received another anonymous gift card in the mail for Target. I am so humbled by the community we are apart of. I certainly don't deserve any of it but I am sincerely thankful. I pray that the Lord will bless these giving families in special ways this year. I look forward to the day when I'll be able to repay these gifts to other families. Praise God!!!

wife and I are hopeless nerds

2008-11-25T20:48:00.002-06:00

We are almost caught up in the 21st century...we finally have wireless networking in our house and we are sitting in our living room on laptops surfing. We are hopeless dorks. I just picked up a new laptop for a new mortgage venture and my mother gave us her old one so now we have 2. I don't plan on surfing all night on the couch every night but it is fun on this first night.

The Saturday Night Offering

2008-10-12T09:16:00.006-05:00

It's hard being a UNT football fan these days. We are definitely re-building this season so our growing pains are tremendous. Regardless of the outcomes, we still manage to have a great time tailgating with our friends and family. Enjoy the pics...

Who farted?

The Rhino and the T-Bone

Little T-Bone and Little Rhino

Soccer Pics

2008-10-05T11:30:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was picture day for our kids' soccer teams. I was blown away by how expensive the picture packages were. Here's to having your own camera and standing behind the expensive camera man...

C-Boy's Birthday!!

2008-10-05T11:07:00.002-05:00

It's awesome how kids don't have the worries of adults in terms of responsibility, anxiety, or pressures at work. A few days ago we celebrated the 5th birthday of my oldest son. He was so pumped that we went to McDonalds and he got to play on the playground. We gave him his very own Buzz Lightyear toy and some gum and suckers. He was thrilled. It's very humbling to see the pure joy from a child and a great reminder for me to be evermore thankful for what we already have.

Guys weekend out

2008-09-30T22:25:00.005-05:00

Last weekend my brother and I took my dad to College Station for his 60th birthday to watch the Aggie/Army game. We left on Friday morning and headed down the road. After checking in the hotel, we visited the campus and naturally, many things have changed from when my dad graduated there in 1970. He was in the Corp so it was really nice to see that part of the campus and experience it with him. The game was really great but extremely hot. We had nose-bleed seats in the end zone but it didn't matter as the atmosphere was incredible. I bravely and proudly wore my Mean Green T-shirt with my Aggie visor. We all had a very special time and really enjoyed each other's company. Enjoy the pics...

Here is dad and brother looking at the Vietnam memorial of the Corp members. Dad knew many of them.

That's me supporting the Mean Green as well as the Aggies.

The fightin' Aggie Band

The final score: Aggies 21 Army 17

This was our spot in the garage. We claimed it at 6:28 in the morning...yes, I said 6:28 AM...

Biggest Loser Update Week 2

2008-09-30T22:19:00.002-05:00

Well for week 1 and 2 my weight is the same. I'm actually happy with this because I have had some unusual events happen recently. On Thursday of last week I found out I am getting laid off from my job. Yes this stinks badly but I'm praying that it will be the best blessing I've had professionally. Secondly, my brother and I took my dad to College Station to celebrate his 60th birthday and watch the Aggies beat Army. It was a great time...for another blog. Needless to say, I had a few beers so I'm happy with not gaining any weight.

My mother is also joining me on this adventure. I won't post her starting weight but currently in 2 weigh-ins she has lost 1.4 lbs. Way to go mom!

just a little patience, ya ya

2008-09-20T15:48:00.002-05:00

From the words of Axl Rose...

I have to admit that it's a little hard to watch my kids playing sports. Part of me is so proud and excited to be watching my kids playing and part of me is impatient with their lack of experience or aggressiveness. Today C-Boy scored his first goal!!! He was running behind the rest of the boys (as usual) but a kick went off the goal post right to him and he fired a huge kick right into the goal. It was awesome. The girls did better as they are now the defenders. They stay back and wait for the ball to come to them and I think this helps them learn what to do and have a purpose on the field. They both kicked the ball in the wrong direction but also kicked it the right way. Wife and I (me way more than her) are working on only yelling supporting things and not trying to coach. I have to keep my mouth shut most of the time so I don't confuse our girls from what the coach is saying. I'm an assistant coach for C-boy so it's OK for me to yell all the time :).

My house is a wreck...poop.

Starting weight

2008-09-19T18:16:00.002-05:00

242. The goal is to lose 20 lbs by the end of the season of The Biggest Loser.

My own Biggest Loser game

2008-09-17T21:48:00.003-05:00

Well, last night was the premier of the new season of the Biggest Loser. This season they have families...half are parent and child and the other half are married couples. I can't quite figure out why I like this show so much. It's probably because I can relate to the struggle and/or the lack of discipline that people have that let themselves get out of control. I'm a pretty lazy mofo when it comes to self-improvement. I know that I'm not 'in' shape...I'm 'a' shape. I don't want to miss my kids later in life or being able to play with them now. I'm about to be 31 and in the worst shape of my life.

Well, I'm going to challenge myself with a goal of focused workouts and weight loss as the season of The Biggest Loser progresses. The show airs on Tuesdays so this will also be my weigh-in day. I'll post my results each week and my goal at the end of the season is to have dropped 20 pounds.

I've been going to the gym fairly regularly and done cardio work exclusively. Good friends of mine who go to the gym and have for years have been suggesting to me to also hit the weights to get a full body workout. I hate weights so much I can't describe it...but I've got nothing to lose by trying to incorporate a cardio workout and adding some machine weight rotations.

Tomorrow is Thursday and I'll get my starting weight...wish me luck!

futbol

2008-09-14T14:30:00.004-05:00

The oldest 3 kids are in full swing of soccer this fall. This is the first season for all of them so my girls are a little behind. They mostly run around the field clueless of what's going on but with more practices and games, I think they will catch on. C-boy is starting in the youngest league but is also just running around. The good thing here is that all the rest of the boys are too.

Nephew's birthday party

2008-09-07T20:32:00.005-05:00

This Sunday we celebrated my nephew's 1st birthday! My brother, his wife, and son just moved down here from Chicago last week and we got together to celebrate at my parent's house. It was a great time by all and the burgers and dogs were awesome. This is the first party of many more to come...

Disregard the kid passed out in the background...it was a good spot for a nap...

It's Game Day

2008-09-06T09:55:00.004-05:00

Today we embark on one of the greatest times of the year...tailgating. Today is the first home home game for the Mean Green. It's also the first soccer games for our oldest kids T-Girl, M-Girl, and C-Boy. It's a busy day but here's the basic rundown.

7:00--woke up

7:01--put Mean Green yard sign in front yard

8:00--breakfast and misc crap

9:00--turn on College Game Day on ESPN

9:15--gave boys game day hair cuts

10:45--leave for debut game of Ladybugs soccer

1:00--Bulldogs debut soccer game

2:30--head home to pack up truck for tailgating

3:15--arrive at Fouts Field to unleash the tailgating celebration

3:17--argue with parking lot officials about where to park

3:30--set up 'camp', first drink, grill ribs, Muenster sausage, and hot dogs

5:45--stumble into stadium

9:00--leave stadium and listen to post game show

10:00--slam tons of Pepto and Advil

10:03--pass out

more pics

2008-08-25T21:27:00.003-05:00

random news

2008-07-27T12:36:00.006-05:00

Here are some random pics...

Beer Can chicken is the best way to smoke a yard bird. They are so moist and full of flavor...makes you hungry doesn't it.

L-Girl is eating real baby food. Our grocery bill is going to explode...

C-Boy and I are reading the Sunday paper catching up on the news. He later wrestled the paper and lost...

The girls and C-boy are freakin weird...(gets that from their mother)

Happy Birthday America

2008-07-05T16:20:00.006-05:00

This 4th of July was a terrific one. We really enjoyed our annual get-together at Grandma's house. We feasted on hot links, hot dogs, and hamburgers...not to mention countless chips, crackers, and other snacks. The weather was perfect and the pool was delicious. Here are some pics...

I'm a smoker

2008-06-22T13:32:00.004-05:00

I believe I'm becoming an addict of smoking. Yes, I know, I know...but I can't help it. It's too much fun and it is so satisfying.

I have researched for quite some time which smoker I wanted to get. I have had a 'bullet' electric smoker for some time but I was ready to upgrade. I still wanted an electric smoker because with 5 kids, I don't have the time to baby a wood smoker. I know that there are purist out there that say I'm cheating, but I don't care. I care about the outcome and ease at this point of my life. I ended up buying a Masterbuilt smoker. I picked up this smoker a couple of weeks ago and pre-burned/seasoned it the first day. For Father's Day, I smoked some baby back ribs and beans and it turned out very nice. Last night, we had our Financial Peace University instructors over for a cook-out and I smoked a pork shoulder and some more beans. I also tried my luck at some barbecue sauce made from scratch. The meat, beans and sauce turned out great. I smoked the meat for 12 hours at 225 degrees with hickory chips. I smoked the beans for about 7 hours. Here are some pics...

boys will be boys

2008-06-11T21:14:00.003-05:00

Here you can see my two sons and their complete cuteness.

just a little patience

2008-06-02T20:08:00.003-05:00

I am finding that life takes patience...especially with 5 kids. Wife and I (her more obviously) are really tired from our new baby not sleeping through the night. This tiredness and stress is magnified by our other kids who are acting like kids. Unfortunately, there is no mute switch for them or the ability to change the channel to get them to act differently. Hopefully, this trial won't last long...

How to poop at work...

2008-05-08T20:01:00.002-05:00

We've all been there but don't like to admit it. We've all kicked back in our cubicles and suddenly felt something brewing down below. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORK POOP is inevitable. For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.

*CROP DUSTING*
When farting, you walk really fast around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff, but doesn't know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants

*FLY BY*
The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers. I f there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

*ESCAPEE*
A fart that slips out while taking a pee or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are a man and are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

*JAILBREAK*
When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

*COURTESY FLUSH*
The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water. This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.

*WALK OF SHAME*
Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk up the bathroom. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist Can be avoided with the use of the COURTESY FLUSH.

*OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER*
A colleague who poops at work and is Doggone proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under their arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.

*THE POOPING FRIENDS NETWO RK (P.F.N)*
A group of co-workers who band together to ensure emergency pooping goes off without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of Out Of The Closet Poopers, and identify SAFE HAVENS.

*SAFE HAVENS*
A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

*TURD BURGLAR*
Someone who does not realize that you a re in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the Turd Burglar leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

*CAMO-COUGH*
A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential Turd Burglars. Very effective when used in conjunction with a SHIRLEY TEMPLE.

*SHIRLEY TEMPLE*
A subtle toe-tapping that is used to alert potential Turd Burglars that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear a SHIRLEY TEMPLE, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can poop in peace.

*WATERMELON*
A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See CAMO-COUGH.

*HAVANA-OMELET*
A case of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet water. Often accompanied by an Escapee. Try using a CAMO-COUGH with a SHIRLEY TEMPLE.

*AUNT BETTY*
A bathroom user who seems to linger around forever...Could spend extended lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An AUNT BETTY makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait to poop when the bathroom is empty. This benefits you as well as the other bathroom attendees

SOME VARIETIES OF POOP YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF~

The King Poop = This kind is the kind of poop that killed Elvis It doesn't come until you're all sweaty, trembling and purple from straining so hard.

Bali Belly Poop = You poop so much you lose 5 lbs.

Cement Block = You wish you'd gotten a spinal block before you poop.

Cork Poop (Also Known as Floater Poop) = Even after the third flush, it's still floating in there. How do I get rid of it? This poop usually happens at someone else's house.

The Bungee Poop = The kind of poop that just hangs off your rear before it falls into the water.

The Crippler = The kind of poop where you have to sit on the toilet so long your legs go numb from the waist down.

The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang = The kind of poop that hits you when you're trapped in your car in a traffic jam.

The Party Pooper = The giant poop you take at a party. And when you flush the toilet, you watch in horror as the water starts to rise.

NOW EVERYONE TRY TO GO POOP IN PEACE

QUIT LAUGHING... POOPING IS A NATURAL PROCESS

The Scott Family Biggest Loser

2008-04-23T21:53:00.002-05:00

Our family has decided to create our own version of the Biggest Loser show. My parents, my brother and his wife, and my wife and I are all going against each other. Click here to see who is winning...

Opening Day

2008-03-31T21:26:00.000-05:00

Today is a sacred, glorious day in our lives. A day when all is good in the world and fathers and sons can unite no matter what happens the rest of the year. A day when the sky is more blue and the grass is greener than ever. A day of eternal hope that is renewed each year...everyone is equal...everyone has a chance...everyone is welcome. I'm talking about Opening Day of the greatest game ever invented...BASEBALL!!!

Baseball has stood the test of time and will continue to persevere through all the tests. Baseball, in it purest form, is the perfect game. It is a game with a 1000 games inside of itself. There are a million scenarios that have to be memorized with all units of the team coming together for a common goal. It's an individual game, but not one person can win alone...it takes a team. It's a mental game and you have to rely on your teammates to pick you up and come together to win.

It's about hot dogs grilling in the backyard, onions burning, and beer flowing. It's about that one pitch that makes or breaks the game...that one hit that gets the rally going, that one play that wins it all.

Most importantly, it's about love. It's about taking your kids to the game to see their heroes on the diamond. For me, last year was one of the most memorable times as a father. We took our kids to their first game and I held my 4 year old in my arms as I carried him through the tunnel to our section to find our seats. As soon as we walked out the tunnel and looked at how big the field was, he let out a huge gasp and sigh. He was speechless and his reaction was so innocent and priceless.

Here's to a new season...

Easter!!!

2008-03-25T22:27:00.001-05:00

Here are some pics of our traditional Easter gathering at Grandma's house. We had a great time and the weather was very nice. Lent is over and there was much beer to be had...praise God! :).

playing in the snow

2008-03-08T08:29:00.000-06:00

Yep, in Texas if you don't like the weather...just wait 5 minutes. Out of nowhere we had a winter storm that gave us about 7 inches of snow. The kids went nuts and wanted to play so badly. I stayed home during the morning to get them wrapped up and ready to go. They had a great time and were trying to throw snowballs at each other.

zone defense

2008-02-27T15:09:00.001-06:00

Well, it's official...we have a basketball team. L-girl entered our world today. Wife and I are very greatful for this blessing from God. Mom and baby are both doing well and are healthy. I am still in awe and delirious to what just happened. I have been so wrapped up in work and busy raising 4 other children that this pregnancy has flown by. I really didn't have a chance to sit down and realize what was going on until late last night. And before you know it, our baby was out. Thanks to all who have prayed for us. We still need prayers and any spare bedrooms you could send our way.

Here are some pics...

little T-Rock

2008-02-24T08:52:00.000-06:00

My mother has been going through old pictures and scanning them to disc. She emailed me this one and said it resembles my oldest daughter. That is both good and bad. It's good because it proves she's my kid...it's bad because she does look a lot like me and not wife.

This picture is great because it reminds all of us of how our parents would try desperately to keep our hair combed and look "formal" for things like soccer pictures. You can see where some of my hair appears wet which means that my mom probably just licked her palm right before the picture and plastered her spit on my head...not knowing any better, I probably thought this was a normal thing...was it?

First Dutch Oven Success

2008-02-18T10:27:00.000-06:00

Today I was fortunate to be off of work due to President's Day. Wife and I are going to still be working as we are getting the house ready for the new baby. This morning I thought it would be a perfect time to try a breakfast Dutch Oven recipe. It was a success and I didn't burn anything. I'm such a nerd that I bought a cheaply made DVD from Cabelas and got some great tips on Dutch Oven cooking. This recipe is from a website on-line (http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/dutch-oven-recipes.htm) and it's called "Mountain Man Breakfast". I don't claim to be a mountain man in the suburbs of DFW, but I have seen a mountain and I am a man so I think I'm qualified to make this.

Mountain Man Breakfast...I cut the recipe in half from the website to serve for 5-6 people.

1/2 lb. of bacon
1 medium yellow onion
3/4 cup of sliced mushrooms
1/2 green bell pepper
2 cloves of garlic; minced
5-6 medium potatoes; sliced
6 beaten eggs; salt and pepper to taste
1.5 cups of grated cheese...you can never have too much

Heat 12" Dutch Oven (I use a 10"...another example of being shorter than recommendation...):, using 20 briquettes on bottom to heat. Cut bacon into 1 inch slices and brown. Add onion, mushroom, pepper, and garlic and saute until onions are translucent. Add potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cover and bake using 13 briquettes on top and 7 on bottom. Bake for 30 minutes. Add eggs and bake another 20 minutes stirring gently every 5 minutes. Cover with cheese and put lid back on until cheese is melted. Serve with salsa.

a random blessing

2008-02-16T21:33:00.000-06:00

Tonight my wife and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary. We invited my parents to go to eat and then to the Mean Green basketball game with us and the kids. Dinner was great and my cousin, who also just graduated from UNT, was able to be our server and it was really nice seeing him. Wife and I are very blessed in that our children do behave very well in public places. Tonight was no exception and they were pretty quiet and did not misbehave. An older couple sitting beside us came up to wife and I during dinner and thanked us for our kid's behavior and they said that they were very impressed with how the 4 little ones acted. It was a great compliment and wife and I are very proud of our children. The greater compliment was that after the older woman finished speaking, her husband came over and handed me a $100 bill as a gift for the kid's savings. I couldn't believe it and I was very very humbled. What a random blessing from a very generous couple. Right after that, I turned to wife and said..."that's what we are going to do as soon as we can." I can't wait to have the financial freedom that we can give so unconditionally as that couple. There's no telling what their story is/was, but praise God for them and I pray that they will be blessed in return.

same ol' sheeeeeeeeeit

2008-02-15T17:49:00.000-06:00

this post is random and intended to keep my vast readers (you 3 know who you are) up to date.

I am working on my taxes and I wish we were getting back more money
wife and I are going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and I'm extremely excited about it. This is going to be great for us and our future.
our 7 year anniversary is tomorrow
My friend, Kelly, and I built a garden to grow salsa veggies
it's cold this weekend
I went to the gym once and ate a salad this week
oh ya, we are having a kid in less than 2 weeks
I looked at my wife with those "eyes" the other night and she blew a fire ball out of her mouth at me and hissed...I guess she wasn't in the mood
our printer broke so I can't print out my tax return
my oldest son thinks he is a chicken
I'm getting into Dutch Oven cooking and am getting ready for a great camping season
so far, I've burned everything I've tried to cook in the Dutch Oven...damn

U2 3D

2008-01-26T21:43:00.000-06:00

Holy crap...if you like U2 or music for that matter, you need to go and see U2/3D as soon as you can. Wife and I went tonight and it was absolutely freakin awesome. I have seen U2 4 times live and their other concert videos countless times and this was the coolest. The 3D effect is great and the sound quality is unbelievable. You will not regret the experience at all.

playing in the leaves

2007-12-30T13:30:00.000-06:00

Over the Christmas break, we went to my in-laws in East Texas. They have tons of trees so naturally, we buried our kids in them...

Christmas snap shots

2007-12-30T13:17:00.000-06:00

Here are some snap shots of Christmas Eve and morning. My dad got a new puppy which my daughters have adored. They are with the puppy every second when we go over there. C-boy got his first bike and is already riding like a champ. T-boy got some new Lightning McQueen stuff and he is thrilled. We had a blessed Christmas this year.

Suprise visit

2007-12-16T10:50:00.001-06:00

We had a surprise visit this morning. Wife's brother Justin was visiting us from the Seminary. He is studying to become a Priest and we are very proud of him and we pray for him. His/our friend, Brett, was also visiting and he just graduated from UNT yesterday. The picture I took of him did not turn out. He is also going to go to the Seminary to become a Priest. They are both in our prayers and Praise God for their answer to the call.

The boys are warming by the fire and, like their mother, they were walking around flashing their chests...crap, I think my wife reads this blog...

The older kids did get to enjoy a bowling birthday party with some of their friends. This was their first time at the lanes and thank God there is bumper bowling. It was funny to watch them wind up to roll the ball less than 1 mile per hour...the game took a really long time :).

Christmas picture

2007-12-11T08:31:00.001-06:00

We tried to take our Christmas pictures the other day and it was an exercise in patience. Nicole took the shots while I sat on the couch coaching my kids to be still. Resistance is futile. These are some of the shots. Peace.

Poop Crumbs...

2007-11-27T19:45:00.000-06:00

One of the funniest things happened the other day...I was performing my morning ritual on my throne and, as most men do, I left a few...let's just say "signiture marks" at the bottom. Again, as most men do, I left them where they lay and did not even comprehend cleaning. My oldest son, C-boy (age 4), comes in shortly after and asks me a truly pondering question. "Daddy, why are there poop crumbs in there?" I am still laughing...

getting ready for Christmas

2007-11-25T20:57:00.001-06:00

Over this Thanksgiving break we decided to put up the Christmas decorations. We also took some time to enjoy some hot cocoa and watch "The Polar Express." This time of year is one of my favorite times. My kids are getting older now and it's so exciting to see their enthusiasm about Christmas. My wife and I make it a point to stress the real reason for Christmas...Christ's birth. Our goal this year is to get the shopping done early so we can really focus on the Advent season and prepare ourselves and our kids to receive the Lord. We had decided in the past to give our kids only 3 presents as this is how many Jesus received. This does 2 things...One, it teaches them to go without and be thankful for what they are given and Two, it saves a crap load of money.

UNT's latest recruit

2007-11-24T10:45:00.000-06:00

Here is T-boy getting ready for Mean Green Football!

Camping 11-2007

2007-11-24T10:30:00.000-06:00

Here are some pics of the family on our first camping trip last weekend. We had perfect weather and the kids did pretty good. I have a lot to learn on how to cook with a Dutch Oven, but I look forward to many more trials.