I'll let you in...

If you're not ready to have your life changed then quickly close this tab. Here's your assignment for tomorrow. Go to Los Gordos on the corner of Tehama and Pine. Order two pastor tacos "el jefe" style.
Much thanks to Jeff Humbert for going to Los Gordos so much and ordering your tacos in such a way that the entire restaurant now excepts "el jefe" style as an actual way to order your tacos. Was that a run on sentence?
They melt chesse between the two corn tortillas before they pound on the pork, onions, and cilantro. $5 that will change your life. You can thank me later. I realize this picture is probably from a weird picnic and there is an anglo handling the plate so you can bank on it not being authentic...but it's the best google could come up with. The chips with pico top it all off. Jeremy and I were there today. It's a once a week staple. Meat, grain, dairy, fruit, vegetables and Los Gordos!

Next few days

Leave tonight for camping...Lake Siskiyou (ridiculous amount of vowels)...Gafners...smores...amazing!
Get back...Lead worship at Stirring...mom comes into town.
Leave kids with moms...Alyssa and I head to Sac for 1.5 day to ourselves...celebrating the 10 year anniversary...a little late but much needed.
Getting ready for all this to happen with 3 kids can send you to the loonie bin!
Cya in a few days!

Sabbath

Slept in...thanks babe!
Omelet's
Genesis
Went to the gym
Played with the kids
Lunch with Jason (Yuet Bistro...amazing)
Hang with the fam
Madagascar...dinner...baths for kids...
Alyssa headed off to book club
Chillin'
Great day
How was your day of rest?

God and sleep training

So God showed me something the other night.
We are sleep training Moses. (Letting him cry at night without getting up to feed him every three hours). It's good times...if you don't have kids just program your alarm to go off for 30 minutes every 3 hours...repeat until you feel insane...then do it two more times!
We know what's best for him.
We don't want to him to be 14 and still needing mom every three hours for a snack.
We didn't abandon him...we heard every cry...we were deeply concerned...but we're more concerned with who our son will become then with his instant gratification.
After a half and hour of screaming that sounded like someone was poking him with spears, Alyssa went in, patted his back, and reminded him we were here.
She didn't feed him...that's not what he needed. He fell back asleep when he realized that we were still here with him.
I was talking to Christian about this today. I think we get addicted to feeding times and when God decides to start shaping us and let us "cry it out" we don't know what to do.
Part of maturing in Christ is realizing he is with us even when he's not giving us baby food every three hours. We get those pats on the back at different points in life that remind us of his presence and we are able to rest again knowing our father is with us and hears us when we cry.
He knows what's best.
He's concerned with who we're becoming.
He knows that adults drinking breast milk usually don't get invited back to parties.
Jesus likes to party.
Our kids teach us the coolest stuff!

I'm alive

Longest blog silence ever...sorry
10 days in Riverside
Didn't open my computer once
Lots of time with friends and family
Gained 87 pounds
Played 3 rounds of golf
Three great Christmas celebrations
Ridiculous amount of gifts for our kids
New years celebration...three words...if you were there...you know!
Drive home...8 hours 15 minutes...I didn't drive the speed limit...I own the grapevine...I'm gonna write a book on traveling with kids...it's gonna be called, "the art of ignore." pretty catchy don't ya think?
I'm back...It's good to be home!

Started a new book tonight

The Drama of Scripture by Craig G., Bartholomew and Michael W., Goheen
Good stuff so far.
There were 358 women in my house tonight for a Christmas card / craft thingy...I escaped.
Great Sabbath today.
Slept
Played with my kids
Got pulled over for speeding right in front of Zeke's school and got let off! Is it physically possible to go 35 mph on Churn Creek?
Took Zeke out for a video shoot for a Christmas film
Helped Alyssa get the house ready
Went to Sean's to avoid the estrogen party. Thanks for dinner dude!
Read
Blog
Bed

New series

We're starting a series called Simple at the Stirring.
I spoke yesterday to kick it off.
Matthew 13...the weeds...Worry and Wealth...God has a better way.
I really desire a simple, focused, single-minded life.
I want the life that is truly life!
Go check out the podcast. It should be up in a day or two.
I'd love to hear thoughts.
Had a great Sabbath today.
Slept in...time with fam...worked out...amazing food...time with friends...Heroes...amazing!

The downtown eatery

I know Nate already pimped this place but I gotta add my two cents.
My buddy Paul David is managing this place called the Downtown Eatery.
Do yourself a favor and go. Open till 4pm during the week. Friday and Saturday nights.
The food and service is amazing.
I told Paul I was posting a blog and to prepare for a line out the door today so don't let me down.

Sabbath

Last night was the best night of sleep yet for Moses!
Alyssa let me sleep till 9:30...it was amazing.
Hung with Sofia and Mo in the morning.
Picked up Zeke.
Family grocery trip...always good times...picked up some soup in anticipation of fall
Put kids down for nap...got an episode of Heros in.
Played with kids after nap
Went to the Osborne's for Davey's 4th B-Day...pizza, pinata's, and bikes...good times.
Got home...kids in bed...finished season one of Heros.
It's been a great day of rest after a really crazy week.
How was your day of rest this week?

Great Sabbath

Dropped Zeke off at school.
Alyssa took Moses in for doctors appointment.
I put Sofia down for a nap.
I GOT A TWO HOUR NAP!!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow...it was amazing.
Nate called me half way through my nap but I'll forgive him in 7 weeks...It's what Jesus would do!
Picked Zeke up from school.
Put Sofia down for a nap.
Put Alyssa down for a nap.
Threw Moses in the stroller and watched Zeke fly around the neighborhood on his bike for an hour.
He's seriously nuts...standing on the pedals to ride faster...jumping over speed bumps...cannot believe he learned how to ride his bike a couple days ago!
I hope this isn't the season of E.R. visits in our future.
Took the kids to the Osborne's went out to dinner with my wife...thanks guys...it was awesome!
Came home...kids in bed...watched some Hero's...don't even think about telling me what happened tonight on the season premiere...we're almost finished with the first season.
Great day!

Three kid Sabbath

Not as restful!
Moses didn't sleep at all last night.
Woke up...got kids ready...ran off to get Zeke to school a little late...he's been doin' great!
Got home...put Sofia down for a nap...joined her...awesome!
Cleaned house up
Made lunch...Sofia got a hold of some cherries...stained face, hands and carpet...opps.
Picked up Zeke from school
Went to help Derrick move for a little bit
Spent some time on Skype with the McIntyres.
Rebecca brought us a Calzone the size of my oven for dinner...it was amazing....thanks Rebecca.
Had the Osborne's over for some swimming.
Put kids down
Watched first two episodes of Heros...couldn't help it...we got caught up in the hype...we're hooked!
Bedtime.

Crazy Sabbath

Moses isn't sleepin' much at night.
Up in the mornin' to hand out backpacks and supplies to students and gift cards to teachers at Cypress Elementary...it was amazing...so excited about the ongoing relationship we have with them...the kids were freaking out!
Went from there to Zeke's orientation to Kindergarten...what the heck my kid is in kindergarten! He flipped out for 35 of the 40 minutes we stayed. Screaming and crying. All the other kids chill...hanging out with each other...I'm trying to shove donut holes in Zeke's mouth so he'll stop crying...hopefully tomorrow looks better.
Drove straight from there to have the end of Moses' wiener cut off at the doctors. (What point was God trying to make with circumcision?)
That was the crazy half of the day.
Got home...ate lunch...said goodbye to Alyssa's family...we all crash for nap.
Swim with Zeke.
Rosetta comes over with some pasta shells for dinner...out of this world...amazing Rosetta!
Kids in bed early.
Contemplate the severity of three kids...unbelievable!

Cute pictures

Alyssa said the Gary Coleman pictures were unacceptable so I posted a couple were Moses actually looks cute. The second one is the classic Lance furrowed brow...he nailed it!
Sean and Rebecca came by and brought some gumbo and jambalaya that has changed my life. Thanks guys.
Thanks for all the blog love and text love and email love. I've been showing them all to Alyssa...we feel very loved.
We have to stay at the hospital till Wednesday morning because there are some special antibiotics that the baby needs. We appreciate the prayers!

4 more pounds!

179.2
Finally in the 170's!
If you're just reading this, I have a goal to be at 175 by the end of summer. 4 MORE POUNDS...4 MORE POUNDS. (As I'm writing that I'm chanting it like they were for Bush when he got re-elected...4 MORE YEARS)
I started at 194.6
Here's the secret...pay close attention.
Last night we took family pics and prego pics with Emily. Can't wait to see em'. I rocked some serious Zoolander poses.
As we're heading home we decide to go see the Dark Knight with the Gafners. Cassie and Guido were watching their kids at their house so we added our kids to the mix.
We're running really late and we haven't had any dinner...it's 8:45pm.
We raid the Gafners pantry...granola bar...goldfish (not real goldfish...the small orange ones that you eat!)...and fig newtons.
We get there in time to see Sean buying all of us a huge popcorn to share. The girls each had two bites of popcorn and Sean and I killed the rest...washed it down with a huge Sprite.
So there it is folks...the secret to weight loss success...none of the books are going here because it's just too out of the box, but trust me.
Random snacks from your friends pantry, enormous bags of popcorn, and tons of soda...that's the secret!
And make sure you eat it really late.
Tell the world...I'm ready to make my millions.

Here's my two cents about The Dark Knight sense I haven't seen any posts about that movie :)
Awesome.
Loved Joker and Two face.
Batman's voice was a little weird and creepy.
Go see it.

Sabbath

Spoke last night at the Stirring
Slept in till 8
Went back to bed at 9 for a nap
Played outside with the fam...
it was nice out for the first time in forever...no smoke
Lunch
Grocery shopping
Nap
Swim
Chipotle
Skype with both parents
Movie
Great day of rest...slept more today than I have in forever

Sabbath plans

Sleeping in
Taking walks
Reading books
Swimming
Talking to family through a computer...thanks Skype!
Playing baseball (in the house...while moms out...ssshhhh...don't tell)
Naps
Good eats
Hangin' with friends
Can't wait!

Weight watcher must haves

I thought I would start a series of posts for my blog buddies that are battling the bulge. (I promise I'll stop using words that start with B...I don't know what just happened!)
I am a weight watchers guy myself. It's not a diet, you just learn to eat good portions. The things I look at in nutritional facts are calories, fat, and fiber. They have a point calculator that takes those numbers and turns them into points. I am allowed 24 points a day for my age and weight. When you are active during the day it gives you more points to work with.
So here's my thought...I've been doing this for over two years now and I've come up with quite a few must haves. You know, the food you can eat that is awesome and low points. Well I just stumbled across Skinny Cow. They have a whole line of deserts but I really like the ice cream sandwiches and they are only 2 points. I love ice cream and the slow churned stuff is pretty low in points but I don't trust myself to just scoop 1/2 a cup. I only give myself a small mug but I find a way to pack a pint in a mug! Now it's your turn. Help a brotha out. Got any low calorie, low fat, high fiber goodness? Hook me up! More to come.

Great Sabbath

Slept in
Family time
Good food
Read
Nap
Movie
Friends
More good food
Time with the wiffy
How was your day of rest?

Sabbath

Slept in
took Zeke to school...his last day is tomorrow...then kindergarten...what the heck!?!
watched a movie...Reservation Road...depressing
picked Zeke up
made lunch for the kiddos, Alyssa made us these veggie wraps...awesome
kids nap...I work out
take Zeke swimming
talked to my friend Trav
hang with kids
go shopping...always an adventure
pizza
had some family from Alyssa's side driving through come and visit
look at homes in Redding on the internet
blog
great day of rest...have you had a day lately to enjoy God and family?
side note...got on the scale this morning...186.8
started out 2.5 weeks ago at 194.6
stoked!
my goal is 175 by the end of summer
i think I'll be under that
i'll post where i'm at once a week for accountability!

2 men and 5 kids in Red Robin

No...it's not a pilot for a new sitcom this summer.
It was mom's night out tonight...so the ladies took off for dinner and a movie.
Nate and I think to ourselves...Red Robin.
Go to a really loud crowded place were no one will care if your kids are screaming.
They all did remarkably well...we left throughly impressed with our kids.
I'm pretty sure I left my aviator's on the table Emily...if someone turned them in can you bring them to the Stirring?
A grandma came up to us at the end of dinner and said she was really impressed with us having the courage to bring out the kids. She said they were really well behaved.
I think it's funny that most people think fathers have absolutely no idea what they are doing when it comes to actually being fathers. I admit...I'm a moron and my wife is amazing...but I shouldn't get a brownie for taking my kids out to a restaurant. Have I talked about this before?