While Mom's away the Dad will play...

As many of you already know, Barbara traveled on a mission trip to Amman (the capital city of Jordan).  This is especially cool, as she is following up in ministry with many of the same YWAMers that I worked with years ago on my trip to Jordan.  Unlike construction (the focus years ago), Barbara's trip is focused on prayer ministry.

The key thing everyone needs to realize is that this leaves me alone with the kids for a week.  One of the traditions we established on a past trip Barbara took is to break out the cook book and hand select meals that we would prepare and eat together.

Here's a shot of Stephanie with her completed twice-baked potatoe topping-

Stephanie hand grated the cheese, cut the green onions and (most importantly) hand-dolliped the mayonaise.  I should also add that Stephanie handled all the measurements.

Not to be out done, Jacob handled the marinade and other "surprise" side dish.

Jacob was a measuring and pouring machine.  From the look on his face, he may enjoy cooking more than football.  Not a problem, his Dad enjoys eating more than football...

Here's a shot of the finished product.  The potatoes turned into a joint effort as Jacob handled halving the red potatoes and then Stephanie added twice-baked mixture.  Of course the potatoes went back in the oven for the full twice-baked effect.

 The meal complete, Jacob and Stephanie were not shy about posing.  What was the main dish you ask?  What special, mom's away let's fill the cracks of the heart, dish did we cook up?

Here's a closer look-

 That's right - lamb chops!  This is a special dish as it's the exact recipe we cooked up last time mom was away.  Nothing satisfies like a fluffy white lamb... chop.  We have another little piece to the tradition.  Last year, I had never watched an episode of Man v. Food... last year we ate lamb chops and watched about 5 and a half hours of Man v. Food.  We popped the Netflix disc in the Wii and watched another few episodes of Adam in Man v. Food.

The wine, lamb chops and red potatoes were excellent - Ruth Criss couldn't have done any better.  And the company was EXQUISITE.

Jacob's name in LIGHTS!

So his name isn't in lights - it was in the newspaper (the Oakhill Gazette).

The mainstream media wanted to make sure that Jacob received his proper due for making it this season as an Academic All-American.

And I know what you're thinking, even thousands of miles away, it won't be the last time we read his name in the newspaper.

Jessica's Performance

This weekend is the school's dress rehearsal for, The Music Man.

Jessica, who will be in High School next year, is in the play and I CAN'T WAIT to see her perform.  The performance will be the last weekend of the school year, like May 19th through the 21st.

I said "like" May 19th... the ACTUAL date is May 12th through 14th.  What's a week amongst friends?

And yes, you read my note correctly.  Jessica will be in HIGH SCHOOL next year.  That means I will be the unfortunate parent of a High Schooler.  I say unfortunate not because there's anything wrong with Jessica - she's amazing.  I just remember when I was in High School, and hanging out with friends.  Their parents would come by... and well... I won't share with you the thoughts I had about their parents, but some words that might have been in my mind as the High Schooler were nerdy, stiff, old... and now, well, I'm the parent.

Stephanie will also be in the play, but absolutely not in HIGH SCHOOL next year.

Stephanie State Championship

This coming weekend our youngest daughter, who I must remind you is just 9-years old, will be playing in the Texas State Soccer Championship tournament down in Houston, TX.  What's even more remarkable is that the team she plays on is for 10 and 11 year old kids.

Yeah, you guessed it... she's THAT GOOD.

Jacob's Birthday List

Here's side #1 (Turning 11-yo means you have substantial need...):

 The list is a little out of date... he already worked and bought himself a new baseball helmet


And here's side #2

I don't know why he's asking for Game Cube stuff... apparently kids today have figured out how to play Game Cube games on the Wii.

Jacob Academic All-Star

We've had a number of AWARDS ceremonies of late.  One of the most recent was for our son in baseball.

Jacob plays in the Cedar Park Youth League.  The team he plays on is the Indians.  To quote Jake-
  We're pretty good, we've won almost all our games!

This time we aren't celebrating Jake getting a game ball.  Which he has been awarded... mostly because he, "Totally crushed this poor kids high fastball... sending the beleaguered ball to the opposite fence."  Jake turned it into a double without even hardly running.

This time, he was named among the leagues Academic All Stars.

I took another shot of Jake waiting patiently to receive his honor-

Patience of Job that boy's got!

Jessica's Birthday

You probaby noticed tax day this year.  It was April 15th like it's been every other year in my lifetime.  What may have escaped your notice is that it's not just Tax Day.  It's also Jessica Daniels Birthday.

Fourteen years to the day, last week April 15th, Jessica was born.  It seems as appropriate today that Jessica was born on Tax Day as it did back then.  Afterall, her mother Barbara is still accounting... still doing people's taxes.  Still counting beans... and legumes... and kids after all the car doors are shut.

We did have a new development this year.  Jessica was invited to be a part of the National Honor Society-

But what's a pamphlet without the honoree's name EMBLAZENED for all to see-

Feel free to blow up the picture and read Jessica Daniels for your self.  Meanwhile, let's all recite the Honor Society Pledge-
  I pledge to maintain my high scholastic standing, to hold as fundamental and worthy...

Any pledge never sounds as good as when your teenage daughter is reciting it with a gaggle of her classmates.  Here's a picture of the family's most recent 14-year old.  Pretty as ever...

Jessica, she of Tax Day birthright, is the one on the far right...

2010 - Best of...

The following posts are meant to SUM up the past year.  At times we blogged well, timely, concisely.  At other times we blogged, not so well, not so timely.

I feel kinda weird going into 2011 knowing that you guys aren't up to speed so here's a summary of the year -

2010 - Best of... Fire POWER!

Witness the awesome Fire Power of the Texas Daniels-

This is LITERALLY the power of FIRE-

This is figuratively firepower (of the miedevil times)

 This is the Fire Power pose-

 Check out Jacob's Fire Power (see that club bend and give under the strain of his immense swing)

If you know how to spell miedevil you get a gold star!

2010 - Best of ... head gear

One thing we Daniels pride ourselves in is HEAD GEAR.

Yeah, head gear does include sunglasses-

And the weather report tonight, Jan 31st says we could get SNOW AGAIN this week.  Snow once or twice a year - PERFECT!

2010 - Best of... Duos & Teams

The Best duos and teams of 2010-

2010 - Best of... Fashion statements

When it comes to fashion, the Daniels clearly set the bar-

Somebody's flossin' (and they shall remain nameless)

Just call me - TREND SETTER!

The WET look is IN, BABY!!

Jessica showing off her first swimsuit-

2010 - Best of ... Christmas Presents

This year you probably heard that we went with the Rock Band theme for Christmas-

But... as good as the Rock Band presents were, it can't compare with the ulitmate Christmas present we gave our Brother-in-law Jaime.  What can compete with a Superman Snuggie!!!

That thing doesn't fit everyone like that-

2010 - Best of... Kid poses

I won't waste a lot of time with descriptions, but here are the most incredible kid's in the most incredible poses-

2010 - Best of... Shrinking Kids

I'm not sure the cause... allergies are pretty common this time of year in Austin.  Something about Cedar trees that aren't really cedar trees, but really Junipers that cause some strange affects.

Everything seems back to normal, but it seemed like our kids ripped a page out of Alice in Wonderland and started shrinking-

Whatever the cause, they seem to be back to normal - and even getting bigger.  Which, I must tell you, as a parent can be depressing at times.  Next year, Jessica will be in High School.  I remember when I was in High School, and what I thought about my high school friend's parents.  Now, I'm in the dorky parent role... Yeah, you're right, dorky doesn't quite capture it.

2010 - Best of... Sporting Events

While in San Jose for the wedding of my nephew (incidentally, this is the same nephew that was like the 9-year old ring-bearer at my wedding to Barbara) and his fiance, turned Bride after the ceremony Jacob and I were given TWO great seats to the Sharks game.

AWESOME!  Jacob is just incredible at sporting events.  Unlike every other ten-year old I know of, he loves to watch the whole game... the whole game (even after he's done eating nachos, hot dogs, skittles, root beer and cotton candy).

Here's the view

oh yeah, here's a shot from the wedding.  The most awesome guests are seated in the front (like we were)

2010 - Best of... FOOD

As you probably read... I can do the Mr. Mom routine.

One week, while my loving wife was in Washington DC, and I was home watching the kids, we went through a cookbook and MY SPAWN selected all the meals we would be eating that week.

The hands down favorite of the week was... Lamb Chops

Yeah, I'm like a better Dad than Wolfgang Puck.

What if...

We meant everything we said?

And if we didn't mean it, we couldn't open our mouth and form the words?

- ERIC