Another one bites the dust (Christmas, that is)

>> Saturday, December 26, 2009







It's the day after Christmas and all through the house, all that lay wrapped has been annihilated to dust.

The Westside TeNgaio's made it through yet another year of holiday madness. The feeding frenzy that is Christmas morning was celebrated in utmost righteousness with candy-ingesting-spastic-offspring ripping wrapping paper off at break neck speeds. Then M&M's, french toast and a strong cup of jo (for the old farts, of course) made for a glorious morning.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and wish you all the best in 2010!

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The Nutcracker Comes to Town

>> Monday, December 21, 2009

Madeline, Dad & Ethan in the dressing below the stage

Toy Soldier Ethan & Chinese Girl Madi

Ethan, grandma Tammy (Franchesca) & cousin Jaxon


So we had an exciting day this past Saturday: the kids were in The Nutcracker at the Civic Auditorium. It was a day of fun, yet, chaotic madness.

They had been practicing for 2 months for this and were really excited for "The Big Day", as Ethan put it. This was our first time having the kids in any kind of "professional" (where people actually paid to see it) and we learned a few of things:
1. don't be in a hurry
2. be ready to be in a hurry at a whim's notice
3. when the dance director freaks out, don't take it seriously
4. remember that the kids are supposed to have fun doing this

I'm kind of new to the whole ballet-dance-theater genre. I understand that to perform well you have to be serious and practice, practice, practice. While I was kind of surprised at the severity of lecturing the directors dished out to the dancers in between performances, I can wee why they are they are so stern in their ways: a lot of work went into the performance. And it paid off.

Madeline was one of the Chinese dancers in the 2nd Act. She was so damn cute on stage. She was easy to spot on stage because she was the only one that was getting into it: shaking her booty, doing her gestures and bowing like a Chinese. Classic. Then she kind lolly-gagged getting off the stage (for both performances) checking out all the fancy props, lights and other dancers. What can we say, she loves the limelight and was just milking it!

Ethan was one of the toy soldiers in the 1st Act. He took his role pretty seriously. Cousin Jaxon was one on the mice so he and Ethan got to fight each other in the battle scene, giving it all they had. It was like an army of hyper midgets going at it with toy guns and swords.

Britt's parents, Jeff and Tamera, where part of the performance as well. They had the role as the "Purple Family" in the opening party scene in the 1st Act. They did great. When they signed up at the beginning of all this to "volunteer" in the party scene, they didn't realize how much they would actually have to practice and participate in the dance. In the end I could tell Jeff was having fun with it (he was acting like he was taking shots in the party scene!)

Britt wore herself out. While she wasn't in the performance, she was the one who really did most of the work getting the kids to and fro and getting them ready – the whole time while trying to take care of work related things and everything else involved with the holiday season. In the process she ending up getting sick but persevering and sticking it out. She is way more tougher than I am, that's for sure. Right on Chickeedee.

After being on the go from 7 a.m to about 11 p.m. Sat., Sunday morning was spent sleeping in for the gang. French toast and coffee (not for the kids) is a good way to spend Sunday mornings.

Many thanks to all the family that took time from their busy lives to come to the kids' performance. We understand how Sat.'s can be most peoples day to do errands so we greatly appreciate those who were able to make it.

I think we're taking next year off, however.

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SLC and the Jazz II

>> Monday, December 14, 2009








This past weekend the Westside TeNgaio's, along with the Hubbards and Waldrons, hit the megatropolis of Salt Lake City to watch the Jazz and Lakers play.

We are not sports fans really but a chance to see a NBA game so close to home sounded like a good time. Despite a winter storm on the drive down the trip was a blast. The kids loved the game. It helps that there is an abundance of loud music, lights cheerleaders (Madi loved them) and the Jazz mascot, BEAR.

We got an invitation for the game through Tam's work, (INL), for a reduced price. We were lavished with prime rib and the fixin's pre-game at the E-Center as part of the package and then chilled to watch the game. We've never been to a pro basketball game before. It was pretty damn fun. It's funny to see people get soooooo worked up over games. We had the pleasure of some drunk loud-mouth behind us to fill us in on all the "positive" aspects of each player. It's crazy that some people get so loaded and drop the f-bomb so blatantly even when they are with their kids. I figured all his raving lunacy was just part of the game until I started noticing several people, even from rows away, turning their heads to check out who was making suck a ruckus. Not us, we were chilling alongside some old folks on either sides of us. Funny crap I tell you.

Ethan, Britt, Jeff and I got to go on the floor at the end of half time ad high-five the Jazz as they came back out onto the court. Ethan was amazed at how tall the players were. Then he got to meet the BEAR mascot and get a pic. The icing on the cake was Jeff getting a picture with the Jazz cheerleaders, though.

BTW, the Jazz pretty much cleaned house the entire game. The Lakers (who I thought were going to win) played lousy. The fans were going crazy, especially in the 4th period. A ton of energy in that place!

After the game we all donned our custom made beanies (thanks Tamera) and walked over to Temple Square to check out the Christmas lights. Pretty cool but they didn't have the lights on at the manger display. Oh well. I like looking at the architecture on the old buildings downtown so I was happy. On the way back to the hotel, Britt and I stopped to check out this cool blown glass sculpture in the theater/concert house(?) near the Temple. It's several pieces of red blown glass compiled into a 40' sculpture of craziness.

The rest of the trip went smoothly and uneventful. One thing that Britt and I have come to a conclusion though: we need a new bed. It's pathetic when the hotels you've stayed at in the past year have better beds then yours own at home.

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SLC and the Jazz I

Some more pics



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Happy Birthday Madeline!!!

>> Sunday, November 8, 2009








Our Madeline turns 3 today!

We had her party yesterday at toddler heaven – Blast Off. It never fails to amaze me how much energy there is in that place when it's packed full of kids. Truly amazing.

Not much to report on other than Madi had a great time and made out like a bandit (time to purge the house to make room for the new stuff). Barbies, Dora the Explorer and tea sets – typical 3 year old girls' birthday loot.

Thanks to everyone who were able to make it. Big thanks to grandma Tam for all the help. And a big thanks to auntie Charish and uncle Clayton taking the time to drive all the way up here to take Madeline shopping for her birthday gift (we love getting books for the kids!).

We love you Madi-cakes!

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This is Halloween…

>> Sunday, November 1, 2009





Well, the best holiday of the year has come and gone. Trick-or-Treating was successful and now Madi and Ethan (as well as mom and dad) are reaping the rewards. BTW, whoever thought of sticking peanut butter inside of chocolate should be made a god.

The weather was awesome for Trick-or-Treating last night. However, Britt and I have been feeling under the weather and passed on our friends annual and awesome Halloween party last night. We were bummed because it's something we look forward to every year but don't always make it. Oh well. Next year we'll represent.

As for the TeNgaio offspring; Madi was a kitty and Ethan was Dracula the day before Halloween (at school) and then a Dead-Prison-Dude-Thing on Halloween. We made the rounds in the neighborhood then headed home to hand out candy. That's when I go the idea to scare kids as they came to the door.

Ethan in his dead-dude-duds and me as a gorilla sat as inanimates. When the kids came to the door – bam! Scare time. Some kids don't scare as easily as others but some parents do, it was pretty fun. Ethan kept at it hiding below the steps in the dark bushes after I went in and scaring the crap out of kids. I can't wait until Madeline is old enough to join in – I think this is the start of an annual tradition.

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2009 Gourd Beautification Project

>> Thursday, October 29, 2009






Just a few pics of pumpkin carvin' at the TeNgaio Manor last night. Madeline was intent on doing hers as far as she could on her own which made it take on the appearance of a jack-o-latern that got in a squirrel fight. Ethan helped gut the gourds, while Britt helped Madi with hers while manning the camera.

Ethan told me that if we didn't have nice-looking jack-o-laterns that no one would want to stop by our house on Halloween. Carving pumpkins is fun but, good hell, I do not know how some people have the patience to make the uber-fancy ones that take hours – it's just plain insanity to spend that much time on something that is going to rot within a few days. Those fancy patterns they sell with the carving tools are enough to make a person start drinking – madness I tell you.

Good times anyhow and the kids loved it.

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A Special Night In The Desert

>> Saturday, October 24, 2009





Britt and I spent Friday night watching U2 perform in Vegas at the Sam Boyd Stadium. Simply put it was a night of magnificence.

Having listened to this band for, oh, only about 25 years(!), it was like closure to be able to see them live. They have been on our "drop bucket list" for a long time. And they did not let us down.

We've never been to a show of this magnitude (40,000+ people) and I for one was skeptical as to how it would be/sound due to the fact that it was outdoors and we didn't exactly have the best seats in the house. But it didn't matter – the sound was fran-freakin-tastic and they had a HUGE L.E.D. expanding cone/screen-thing that had live shots of the band and was the base of "The Claw". Plus. the stage was so that the band had 360 degrees to walk around so everyone in the stadium could see them.

One thing to be said about a U2 show is how much positive energy there is in the air. Bono was accompanied by 40,000 people singing most of the lyrics to all songs – songs of regret, songs of joy, songs of lament and songs of possibilities. One special moment (of many) in the evening is when he (and 40k people) sang "Amazing Grace" as an intro into "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which has always been a gospel song IMO and seemed to couple perfectly with AG.

Another cool thing about the show was seeing many families there. Kids as young as 3 years old were there rocking out with their folks. One kid a few rows down from us was really getting into it – especially when the Black Eyed Peas were playing. Both Brittany and I kept commenting how Ethan would have probably enjoyed this show and, hell, Madi too. They both love music and doing the “mock rock” gig at home.

I could go on but will make this short. One other memorable, yet gross (although I thought it was hilarious), moment was while one the way back to the condo after the show witnessing some poor sap in a limo just in front us on Britt's side of the car puke his brains out the window. Ahh, nothing like watching involuntary regurgitated alcohol (and whatever that dude ate) splash on the road right next to you while doing 40 mph. Thanks for the memory you poor sap.

A special night for the Westside TeNgaio's for sure.

For any U2 fans, here's what they preformed in order:
Breathe
Get on Your Boots
Magnificent
Mysterious Ways
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Stuck In A Moment
No Line on the Horizon
Elevation
In A Little While
Unknown Caller
Until The End of the World
Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy - Remix
Sunday Bloody Sunday
MLK
Walk On
One
Where The Streets Have No Name

Encore:
Ultraviolet
With or Without You
Moment of Surrender

Oh, and by the way, we obviously did not the take some of these pics – I ripped them from U2's site.

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October Rocks!

>> Saturday, October 17, 2009

October is THE best month of the year. Halloween, Britt's b'day, cooler temps and jam sessions with our new band – who could ask for more? Hope everyone has rockin' October.






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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITT!

>> Friday, October 9, 2009

To a beautiful wife and beautiful mom…HAPPY B'DAY!

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