Metro-d'oh-me

My long awaited Bears trip to the Metrodome didn't end the way I hoped it would. The Bears dropped the game and their shot at the division lead making for a disappointing outing. That's not to say the trip didn't have any interesting moments.

For starters my buddy Scott and I located the concession stand that sells what amounts to an enormous hot dog on a loaf of bread. I must admit I had a hard time downing the last three bites but perhaps eating a sandwich before I left for the game (in an effort to avoid buying any food) had me struggling. But how could I resist the opportunity to conquer a hot dog that nearly requires a third hand to eat?

Heartburn...here I come.

So with my checks puffed with the final bites of my hot dog the time came for the National Anthem. I stared at the big screen thinking the guy looked very familiar. Is that the guy from the Miller High Life beer commercials? Looks just like him. I found the resemblance to be quite ironic and then noticed the High Life patch on his shirt. It was indeed him...and he's a great singer. He led a keg rolling contest later in the game. Interesting double duty.

The game started well for the Bears after a 65 yard Devin Hester touchdown reception. It looked like the Bears were going to go up 14-3 when they were stopped at the goal line and the Vikings immediately tossed a 99 yard TD to swing the momentum. It was a frustrating game to watch from there as the Bears lost by 20.

The Third Dimension

Aidan and I hit the theater this afternoon for a matinee of Bolt.

I wanted to have a guys outing with Aidan and considered the new Madagascar cinematic cartoon offering until I found out we could see Bolt in 3D. I'm a sucker for sitting through a movie with things popping out at me and thought it would be cool to expose Aidan to this for the first time.

We donned our cyber shades, kicked back and took it all in. Aidan asked me once if I thought I was going to get hit by something flying from the screen, but for the most part he sat still and transfixed causing me to wonder if he had fallen asleep at one point. He did move when I offered him some fruit snacks at the halfway point and would later go into great detail explaining how he knew they were Batman fruit snacks and not Spider-Man because he could feel the wheels on the Batmobile fruit snack. Not even the darkness of the theater could impede his fruit snack expertise.

I give the movie a big toe up (thumbs are trademarked, right?). The opening sequence was phenomenal, the 3D was fun and the little hamster stole the show. Fun for the kids and I thought it was good stuff too. I even laughed out loud several times...mostly at Rhino the hilarious hamster.

VIDEO: Deur the Musical

We've been a little video happy recently which gives Kellen more to watch in those moments when I need him to sit quietly (like when he's out of bed and Aidan is not). He is still very entertained by watching himself (and his brother) on the computer.

"Pipio Concerto"

"The Reluctant Singer"

I'm trying to do some serious taping and Kellen resorts to physical comedy. As long as he's laughing at my attempts to have fun I guess we're having fun.

"Kellen's Medley"

Kellen really does nail these songs most of the time but bringing out the camera changes everything of course. Still it's a good taste of his expanding musical repertoire.

VIDEO: Dunk Contest

This video goes out to my brother Ryan in honor of the many times he and I would borrow Grandma DeBruin's video camera so we could film our epic driveway dunk contests.

Special thanks to Grammie and Papa D for hooking us up with the hoop. Our basement is now a full fledged multi-sports complex complete with nets and hoops allowing us to stage basketball, soccer, football, hockey, baseball and golf events on a daily basis.

VIDEO: Wii Are Getting Fit

I had threatened to purchase a treadmill or some form of indoor exercise equipment with winter approaching and Rachel decided the Wii Fit would be more fun (and usable) for the family as a whole. Aidan and I have been working out every morning and I must say jogging through a tropical island setting (animated or otherwise) is more enjoyable than trying to jog in the brisk Minnesota air. Just put the controller in your pocket, run in place and away you go!

Kellen has proven to be quite an effective trainer dictating to me which exercise I should do next. He also likes to take his turn on the balance board when we're finished. We help him through some "up...down" stretching as shown in the video.

Also shown on the video are a few of the balance games which utilize your weight distribution on the board. Everything from skiing to your character dressed as a penguin balancing on a slippery iceberg. Aidan enjoys those games and loves the running. He's all hips and pumping arms as he jogs along. Looks kind of like an Olympic speed walker and his feet leave the ground just as much.

In the aerobic section you can also use the board for step aerobics, add the controllers for a boxing workout or hula hoop your midsection into shape. I've tried a bit of the yoga (more of a workout than I thought it would be) and will dive into the strength focused units when I'm feeling manly.

Completely Random Memory from Out of Nowhere 3

I feel the need to decipher where these thoughts come from though I guess labeling them random should be enough. Last night the local news ran a story on how loud the Metrodome is during football games so perhaps the mental imagery of a loud arena environment lodged itself in my head and was there when I woke up this morning.

Anyways...

Several years ago in Chicago, Rachel and I braved the snowy expressways and headed to the United Center for an Aerosmith (and Lenny Kravitz) concert. I found it to be an interesting scene as they've been a around for a long time and the crowd was therefore very diverse. We saw everything from youngsters who were into their new songs knowing nothing but the current album to the older generation of fans yearning for them to play their classic tunes. There were also quite a few families and of course the overly exuberant super fan whose ticket was for the seat right next to mine.

He told me about how they had come to the arena that night with no ticket wanting desperately to see the band and happened to scored two seats while looking for a seller in the parking lot. Then, when the music was at a level making conversations with your indoor voice impossible he began telling me about how he wanted to see them when he was in college in 1979 but he was too...well his words were "but I was too wasted." I smiled knowing if I talked in a normal voice he'd have no clue what I said and responded "Yeah, I was two." He looked at me squinting and leaning forward not hearing what I had said (just as I intended) and in my desire to return him to his state of singing and dancing with his equally exuberant wife instead of conversing with me I simply smiled and said "Yeah, me too!"

PHOTOS / VIDEO: Phone Camera

I finally figured out how to transfer photos and videos from my new phone (reading the manual helped a lot). I'm not one of those fancy guys who emails stuff from his phone but my new mobile phone has a USB cord for direct transfer. I'm sure never to miss a memorable moment now.

Here are a few things from the past few months...

A beautiful fall day at A.J.'s place

The terrific soon-to-be-twos

Who says you can't be stylish while running errands?

Or at least attempt to be stylish.

This is not a great video but it shows the boys' current household item turned toy. They are currently very attached to two flashlights and take them everywhere. This laser light show took place in the Kohl's parking lot last night (see story below).