I'm a geek...

I'm a geek for toys, that is.

I love toys. I mean I really love toys. Always have, always will. Kind of silly for an old dude to care about toys, but I like them plain and simple.

For the last couple of years I've been collecting different figures and toys that appeal to me. Right now that means figures, Robots, and cool collectibles. I buy them, look at them, and put them in boxes. Melanie thinks I'm nuts, and she's probably right. But when I talk with other people about what they collect, it turns out I'm not so nuts. My Dad collects Hot Wheels and Trucks. My friend collects Toasters. I simply like toys.

I still roam the aisles of Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us in search of cool figures. And boy, there are some cool figures out there right now people. And with a little more disposable income I simply can't help myself. Recently I purchased these figures below. I loved these for one main reason: the size and the flexibility! A lot of figures are too rigid, have too many accessories, and just don't seem to be made for playing. So when I saw these I fell in love immediately. I would have played with these figures till they broke when I was a kid. So I picked them up, explained to Mel that's I'm a little nuts, and bought Spidey, Captain America, and Iron Man. I'm going back for more later this week cause I really like them.

Here they are...Nate, you should check them out.

I also love Robots...they're hard to find, but when I come across a unique looking classic robot I can't help but buy it if I can afford it. I also really love Japanese style figures and robots, but they're harder to find locally which is one of the reasons I love Comic-con. Lot's of geek out there.

I also really bought these little guys wooden figures below. I missed the first release of these wooden figures and just really like the whimsical feel and style of these characters. Someday they'll be in my nerd-space (if I ever have a nerd-space) sitting on a shelf. I don't care if anyone else in the world likes them...I love them and am glad I bought a couple - they're pricey but cool.

Someday I'd like to score this next robot...I love this! It's pricey though...more like art than a toy. I think when I finally get enough $$ to afford this guy it'll be front and center in my collection.

One last geeked out toy I bought that I really really loved. These are Mad Scientist Blocks. They are wooden, laser engraved, and the perfect play toy for aspiring mad scientists. I won't disclose the price, but I will say they're worth every penny.

Here comes the moon...

Abby wrote this song tonight.

Peano

here comes the moon
shining in the night
here comes the moon
shining in the dark
here comes the moon shining
i love to see the moon shining
every night i am so happy
to see the moon.

end

She has a little piano tune to go with it...I need to record it and share it. It's very cute.

Two more things:

Abby asked what Memorial Day is, and I said "it's when we remember our loved ones who have died". She said "when we have someone we love die, let's write them a note and tie it to a balloon and send it up to heaven.

Today at Maddie's school they learned about dairy. They tasted whipped cream, ice cream, milk, and all the kids were asked what their favorite dairy product was. All the other kids said Ice Cream. Maddie said "milk".

She sure loves her milky!

My little girls...

I'm so lucky to have little girls. I know boys are fun, and I'd love a boy to play with, to take to Priesthood session, to take home teaching, and to add a new flavor to the house...but really, I'm so happy with my girls. I'm a lucky lucky Dad.

I wanted to share a couple of things, just from today...

Maddie

I've never seen a kid so programmed for creativity or pretending like Maddie. She pretends ALL DAY. She has lately been telling us about her brothers and sisters, people who don't exist except in her little head. She is always one princess or another, and I'm always her prince (or monster, or whatever). She's Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Anastacia (her own creation). She does it up in a big way; there's always a new dress, a new dilemma, a new villian. She always relegates Abby to a secondary role (if she's playing Bolt, Maddie is Penny, I'm Bolt, and poor Abby is the Cat). And she always is telling us how it should go, what we should say, who's who...she's kind of a little director/producer/control hound...but it's cute and funny and it's all her.

Tonight when I got home she made up and sang this little song over and over and over. There probably weren't more than 10 words in the whole thing, but she kept singing and singing and singing. And when she was finished, she would run behind the couch and come out as another contestant and do it again. And this isn't simply singing...it's the emotion and drama in her face that makes it so dang funny and sweet.

Abby

Abby is the very most thoughtful kid I've ever met. Last week on her own she wrote a little note to Mrs. Burns and her little class in Kaysville to say hi and to let them know she liked her house. Tonight, for Mother's Day she gave Melanie 3 things....1) a little story book, 2) a note that said Happy Mother's Day, and 3) a recipe. Here's what the Recipe looked like (word for word):

Cookies By Abby

Ingrains
Milk
Sugar (she had this spelled differently this morning but she figured out how to do spell check and corrected it)
Flower
Cholet chips
Butter

Drenches (I believe this is directions)
1. First get out all the ingredients
2. Then put all the ingrains into a blender
3. Then put the cookie dough on a cookie sheet
4. Put it in the oven for 15 minutes

5. When it beeps take it out

6. Then you eat it.

There are adults who couldn't do this. And it's sweet to think that that's how she shows her love for her Mom.

Basically, I love being a Dad to girls. Last Saturday we were all sitting in the bathroom and I was painting Maddie's toes and Abby was painting her own (and doing a great job of it) and I just was so happy to have my little angels.

Favorite things...

Favorite products:
Burt's Bees Lip Balm.
Mango Haagen Daaz.
Ipod and ITunes (sorry MS).
Memory foam.
Comfortable PJ shorts.
Converse Chuck Taylors.
Ear plugs (for use to sleep and on the airplane).
DishNetwork.
DVR.
Diet Coke.

Favorite sites:
NotCot
io9
aintitcoolnews
Uncrate

What my grocery cart is filled with when the girls go out of town:
Doritos
Pop tarts
Oreos

Favorite TV shows (current):
Survivor
30 Rock
The Office
Ghost Hunters
Paranormal State
The Amazing Race

Better week...

This week I got through some big milestones and delivered some good work. Got some good props too. Lot's of visibility for my project right now, and some key execs are watching which is both frigtening and rewarding. When we had completed our work, I sent the announcement email to my GM, who forwarded it to my VP. Wow, that's huge. But it got better when my VP sent it to BV and KT - great recognition and opportunity for me to increase my visibility. I've got GMs visiting my office, and lot's of people throughout the org who are telling me what a good job I'm doing. I'm not trying to be overly prideful, but I also think it's important to enjoy the recognition and take the kudos when they come. And it's nice, to have been struggling for 6 months or so, and to finally getting into a groove. I felt better about my job this week, no question.

Found out that I'll be presenting in Beijing and Singapore next month...kind of crazy to think about little old me doing that, but cool as well. In general, my attitude about this job is to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself so that when I come to the end of it, I can say that I've done it all...presented in front of execs, made tough decisions, managed large groups of people, presented in front of an audience. I hate alot of that stuff, but it only gets easier when you do it. And this job puts me in front of a lot of tough situations that are going to test me, and push me. But this is my extended B-school experience, and I've got to do this stuff here and now. So I'm going to do it. The other challenges that I've faced are:

• Launched and managing my W7 v-team...managing a team of 15-20 people each who will provide a key to my success.
• Presented in front of execs (still planning to in two weeks when I'm in front of G-ggs).
• Present updates and provide guidance on monthly conference calls to 70-100 people.
• Getting other people to pay for the stuff I need to succeed.
• Managing a huge project on limited resources.

Tons more, but I'm tired tonight. In general, this is a tough part of life right now, but a great opportunity that I'm seizing every chance I can.