Necklaces

16 November 2008, Sunday

I made pancakes and sausage for dinner and then we talked to grandma and grandpa Jackson on the computer. The kids and I had a "clean up" race. They cleaned up the loft, their bedrooms, the library, and the family room (what they had cluttered during the day) and I cleaned up the dishes. They won, but just barely. Jana helped keep them on task, but Samuel surprised both of us by straightening up the entire downstairs, without help. Then he went upstairs and helped Dallin clean their room. Dallin made and "animal slide" invention. Kind of like a zip-line for his stuffed animals between the front door and the balcony. Jana let him keep it up for another day or so.

17 November 2008, Monday

Kaylie is so sweet to Nathan. When he starts fussing, she comes up to him and says, "Calm down." "It's okay, baby." and other motherly phrases.

The other night, we had our babysitter, Emma, over to watch the kids while Jana and I went on a date. The kids were all at the counter eating dinner when she arrived. Emma smiled at the kids and Sam screamed and put his head in his hands. He started yelling, "I don't want to look." We finally got him calmed down and he said, "I don't like when people have necklaces on their teeth." Emma has braces.

And its out! SketchUp 7!

I don't usually talk about myself much here, except in reaction to something my kids do, but I've had a big week so you get to hear a little about me. As most of you know, I've been working at Google for the last year and a half. I work on SketchUp, a 3D modeling tool written for designers, not CAD jockeys (no offense to CAD jockeys, ahem). SketchUp is by far my favorite Google product. @Last software, the original creators of SketchUp, was acquired by Google about a year before I got here. Fortunately, we have been able to keep the same passionate development team together (except for a few additions, like your truly). I really love working with these guys.

Today, it has finally gone public that we are releasing SketchUp 7. You can even see a video with me in it on that page, though I can't really recommend my acting. I work on the 2D presentation tool called LayOut. I helped develop the new curve tool, the editable paths, the move rotate and scale manipulators, and the in-place group edit. It has been a great year and I'm really proud of what we've come up with.

So that's it for this week. It has been a crazy few months. I think we're all looking forward to Christmas break!

The Fishing Trip

3 November 2008, Monday

Jana had parent teacher coference with Sam's teacher. She said he is doing great academically. She said he can be pretty intense at times. That's our Sammy!

Tonight, Jana taught a family home evening lesson on self-discipline. Sam was SO good tonight. He sat still on the couch, listened, raised his hand to comment, and was very very well behaved. Both he and Dallin still need the little treat (tonight it was three Skittles) to focus on during the lesson to keep them under control. They don't get it until the lesson is over, but it is out in the open where they can see it, and more importantly, where I can eat it if they get crazy. I know it is just a bribe but it is worth it in my mind.

5 November 2008, Wednesday

Jana put Kaylie down to bed today and told here that she loves her "infinity squared!" Kaylie replied "I love you... rectangle!" Jana was puzzled for a couple of minutes and then she figured it out. Something to do with the "squared."

6 November 2008, Thursday

Jana took Sam, Kaylie, and Nathan shopping and survived. Sam kept asking "Am I being good, Mom?" The kids were so good, Jana bought them each a doughnut. Kaylie didn't like hers and she decided to give it to Dallin. I was surprised. I'm usually her favorite food disposal.

8 November 2008, Saturday

Our neighbor and I took the boys fishing this morning. We bundled up and drove up to Estes Park to fish at Lake Estes. It was pretty windy and cold. We stayed for about an hour. The kids got a dose of reality when our neighbor cut up the worms to put on their hooks. He caught a fish and let each of them reel it in. He finally released it, but caught another bigger one and kept it. We went on to another place to try and get out of the wind. The boys had fun playing on the rocks and I got some more practice casting. It was really my first time fishing is years and years.

When we got home, I asked our neighbor if we could watch him clean the fish. I had never seen it done before and thought it might be nice for the kids to see where meat comes from. It was too gruesome and I should have left the kids at home. Dallin really freaked out and told our neighbor that he shouldn't do that. He said, "How would you like it if a fish pulled out your guts?" We tried to explain that people eat meat, and in order for us to get it, an animal has to die. I think it was a good lesson, but probably premature. I hope Dallin doesn't decide to become a vegetarian.

Jana took Kaylie and Nathan with her shopping today. They went to Bed Bath and Beyond for some curtains and then Jana told Kaylie that they were heading over to Michael's. When they got there, Kaylie asked for Uncle Miles. She asked a couple more times and Jana finally figured out that Kaylie had thought Jana said they were going to "Miles."

Jana got a lot of complements for Kaylie and Nathan at the store. There was a mother and daughter that came over to talk to all three of them and they couldn't stop oohing and ahhing over Nathan and thought Kaylie was adorable.

9 November 2008, Sunday

Kaylie keeps asking to go to "Grandma's airport." We think she says this because she has gone with me to pick her up at the airport and she thinks Grandma lives there. Jana tells her "She's not at the airport." Then Kaylie asks, "She went to Grandpa's house? But I love her at my house."

Halloween Pictures

I've been pretty lousy at keeping a journal the last two weeks. I guess having a new baby is just making me tired. However, we have been taking pictures. Here are some pictures from pumpkin carving and halloween night.

Here are the the kids and me carving pumpkins. Dallin carved his own pumpkin this year. Kaylie drew her own face this year. It was about the size of a quarter, and I enlarged it on her pumpkin. Sam drew his pumpkin face, including the ears and mustache. Dallin drew and carved his own face. I'm not exactly sure what all the holes are, but he couldn't be outdone by Sam's mustache and ears. Cute Jana and Nathan. Jana helped me clean out pumpkins this year. It was very nice. Nathan in his ghost onesie. Here are the kids on Halloween night. Sam was a knight, Dallin was Spiderman, and Kaylie was a ladybug.