Sweet Moments

With three little girls, life is busy. Megan and I are constantly on the move, always helping at least one of them with one thing or another. In the whirlwind that is our lives these days, it can be tough to remember to cherish the sweet moments that spring up when you least expect them. This evening presented me with two specials times with Abby and Emma.

Tonight Meg got a much deserved evening away with some friends for a movie night. She took the Rubes just in case she got hungry. That meant it was just Abbs, Emms and I hanging out. We dug up our stack of Christmas books and read almost every one. It was fun to see which ones they fondly remembered from last year, and which ones will quickly become favorites this year. After story time, they got in their PJs and hopped in bed. Prayer time, song time, then sleepy time, at least that's the standard script. The girls clearly weren't tired so I made them a deal; they could each pick a book to look at as long as they were quiet. I had work to do, and knew they wouldn't fall asleep quickly. After about ten trips into their room, and multiple warnings, slow-to-get-it-daddy finally realized this wasn't working. I took books from the girls and said it was time to sleep. Well the flood gates opened and it quickly became flip-out time.

I realized they were both exhausted so I told them I'd lay down with each of them until they fell asleep. As Emma is our night owl, I laid down with Abby and just watched her as she began to fall asleep. I could just tell that laying by her put her at ease and she was out within minutes. As I watched her fall asleep, her short little life flashed through my mind. It was just yesterday that she was our new baby. Here she is now, a big four-year-old. She's picking things up so quickly that it just blows us away. As I continued watching her, it struck me that this must be how God watches our every move. He loves us so unconditionally, so completely and so sincerely. He must do a lot of smiling in all the sweet moments He sees in His children each day, just as I could not supress the big smile on my face as I watched her.

With Abby asleep, I moved over to Emma's bed. She was beginning to wind down, but was still feeling a little squirrely. I laid next to her, and as we have many times before, we close our eyes, about two inches apart from each other and we peek at one another. We keep peeking until we catch the others glance and then we giggle. She'll play the mommy and tell me to close my eyes and go to sleep. I'll pretend to do so until I peek again. We do this for a bit until it's time for kisses. Emma has just recently discovered butterfly kisses, and she loves them, which I totally dig. After many butterfly kisses on each cheek, back and forth, it was time to say good night. I kissed her nose one last time and left her with a smile on her face that will have me smiling until tomorrow morning. On the week of Thanksgiving it is sweet moments like these that I'm so thankful for.

September Rewind

The month of September has always been a crazy month in the Fordice family. With both Abby and my birthday in September, as well as my Dad's and older brother's; in the blink of an eye September has come and gone, in the wake of a tidal wave of birthday cake and wrapping paper.

With the cousins at Grandpa Wayne's birthday party. Ellie, Cami, Carter, Abby, Ruby, Hailey, Maisie and Emma.

Abby holding Carter (Jay and Michele's new little boy).

Abby opening gifts at her fourth birthday party.

Singing happy birthday to Abby. The theme of her party was Barbie Mermaidia. Megan did a great job with the cake!

Emma enjoying some cake!

Ruby continues to be a mellow little girl. It's amazing how quickly she's growing! You'd think with our third daughter we'd remember how fast they learn and grow, but it's honestly like we're experiencing it for the first time. She's such a joy.

Smiles are not a rare occurance with Ruby. She's our constant smiler!

At the end of the month, Megan and Ruby went to the woman's retreat in Salem. While they were away Daddy got a nice taste of life as a stay-at-home dad. I'm happy to say I was up for the task and that I did well, but man alive do I appreciate Megan and her ability to stay home with the girls each and every day without losing her mind! We had a very fun weekend that included playing at the playground, cotton candy ice cream, trips to the zoo, library and carousel and church (yes, I got them ready, hair done and everything! :)

Abby and Emma ready for the zoo!

Hood to Coast 2007

For the last year and a half I’ve been running consistently. I began in an effort to drop some weight and get in shape. When asked last fall to be a part of the Relative Effort Hood to Coast relay team, I eagerly accepted and turned my efforts to staying in shape so I was able to be a part of this difficult race without embarrassing myself. Now a couple days after the race, I’m pleased to say I accomplished that goal.

The Hood to Coast relay is called the world’s largest relay race. It begins at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, and ends 197 miles later on the beach in Seaside. Each team includes twelve members who run three legs with 1,000 teams competing.

My anticipation for the race centered on the physical demands it would place on my body. As the race unfolded, however, I quickly realized that it was as much an emotional assault as it was a physical strain. During the entire 30 hours we raced I slept for just 3 hours. My diet was unbalanced and sporadic. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

As you run a total of three legs, you go through a progression of thought with the start of each leg. The first is challenging but not much different than a regular jog when you’re training. Maybe you’re running at a weird time, like the middle of the night, but you’re ready for it and your energy level is good. Then you try to sleep a little before your next run which is approximately ten hours later as the other eleven members of your team run their legs before it’s your turn again.

The second leg is a challenge because you’re physically tired due to a lack of sleep. Then your diet comes into play as it’s difficult to eat a good meal at odd hours. So you start to run and realize that you just don’t have the energy you had for your first run, and, oh yeah, I get to do this again in another ten hours! When your second leg is finished you are relieved, but your third leg is hanging over you like a ton of bricks. You try to rest and eat right so you’ll be ready to give it your all on the third leg, but it’s more a mental challenge than it is a physical one.

Finally your third leg begins and with each step you remind yourself that this is it, you’re almost done. I had the thrill of running the final leg of the race which meant I got to run into Seaside and across the finish line. Exhausted and thinking only about the next step to follow, I trudged along coming into town. As I approached the Seaside promenade I passed teams who had already completed the race. They clapped and cheered me on. It was just the encouragement I needed to propel me to the end. Then finally, I saw the finish line and heard our team number and name called. It was a beautiful sound to my ears and an accomplishment for our team that will not soon be forgotten!


It was huge for me that Megan was able to make it out to Seaside to be there for the completion of the race. She and Ruby were waiting for me as we crossed the finish line as a team. The race alone was a big highlight for me, but sharing it with Megan made it even more special.


The team I ran with was a group of relatives; all tied to the Brackett and Hanna families. What a blessing it was to hang out with this group of relatives for the 30 hours and 14 minutes it took us to finish the race. Van #1 consisted of Michelle and Brian Monroe, Dave and Sarah Hanna, Grant Brackett and Becky Brackett. Van #2 consisted of me, Glenn Brackett, Linda, Ricky and Brandy Brackett and Chris Grant (Dave and Chris are missing from the team picture above). Although I knew everyone prior to the race, with the exception of my new friend Chris, it was so much fun getting to know everyone better as we encouraged each other on through each leg of the race. It was fun meeting up with Van #1, who we only saw every six legs, to exchange stories of success and humor. The only disappointment of the race was that poor Chris hurt his knee on his first leg. And I only say it was a disappointment not because he couldn’t finish his legs, but rather because we didn’t get to hang out with him for the remainder of the race. That’s the only thing that would have made the experience more fun for me!

The day after the race, muscles in my legs that I didn’t know existed throbbed. Sitting down and standing up was arduous, and forget about stairs. And I slept like a bear in hibernation. Overall, it was grueling, painful and a complete blast. If asked today if I’m in again for next year, I’d say “Yeah baby – 110%, as long as everyone returns!” The fun of the race for me wasn’t the individual feat as much as it was the overall accomplishment of the team and the fun we had running the race together.

Thank you Relative Effort for making such a positive, lasting memory!

Scott

Adjusting to Life with Three

"Please stop hugging and kissing Ruby!", "Please give Ruby some space!" and "You're too big to get in Ruby's swing with her!" are common phrases you'll hear often in our home these days. What a joy that Abby and Emma have embraced the addition of a sister to our family, but what a challenge it is in protecting little Ruby from her big sisters smothering love!

Meg and I feel blessed that the adjustment to life with three children has been fairly uneventful. We didn't know exactly what to expect as the temperaments of Abby and Emma differed so much. Ruby is a mellow little girl, only throwing fits when it's time to eat. She must have learned that from her daddy!

We are thankful to God for how the first three weeks with Ruby have gone. Meg is getting a fair amount of sleep (and some late night movie time, during feedings, to catch up on chick flicks), Abby and Emma are loving their little sis and daddy is trying to help stay on top of all the chores, as three children certainly means less "free" time to get the little things done around the house.

The hardest adjustment for us has been the balance between parenting a two and three year old, with the diligence in discipline and stamina required to keep up with them, and the parenting of a new born, which requires the constant attention and meeting of her basic needs. Separately, those are tall orders, put them together and you've got yourself a crazy adventure! Good thing we're up to the task.

Movie Review: Transformers / C+

Take one of my favorite directors, Michael Bay (The Rock, Armageddon & Bad Boys) and add one of my favorite toys growing up, Transformers, and you can't go wrong, right?

Transformers tells the story of alien robots who can take the form of everyday machines (cars, trucks, home electronics, etc.) and their visit to earth in search of the allspark, the greatest power source in the universe, something they need for their race to continue to survive. Throw in half a dozen humans whose lives intersect with the mission of the robots, and you've got yourselves a fairly interesting storyline.

What I liked: Transformers has quite possibly the best action scenes ever put on film. The fights between these huge robots is breathtaking. As they focus on each other and their battle, buildings crumbling and cars being smashed and flipped is just an after thought. I dug the transformation process the robot aliens underwent as they switched from machine to robot and back again. The sheer number of moving parts as they transformed was amazing. The lead actor, Shia Labeouf (I Robot, Disturbia), did an incredible job, just about carrying the movie single handedly. He plays the high school hero who befriends the good Autobots and helps them in their efforts to find the allspark. Another noteable performance was that of Josh Dumamel (NBC's Las Vegas) as the captain who first witnesses the arrival of the evil decepticons.

What I didn't like: For all of the incredible action, and intriguing characters and storyline, I was hoping for a better overall film. The complete package felt like a car commercial/cartoon show to me. For a Michael Bay movie, I was expecting more, as I've seen him pull off large ensemble films in the past with more passion then was on display here. I didn't like how difficult it was to connect with the robots. They tried hard to give them personalities, but I just never felt they were characters worth rooting for.

Overall: I would certainly recommend this movie for the CGI accomplishment and action sequences alone. The action is absolutely incredible, as is the performance given by Shia LaBeouf. The plot is compelling enough that you won't ever be bored, and the pace of the film moves at a rate that will keep you ingaged. It's great summer fun, as long as you're not looking for the perfect complete package.

PG-13 / 2 hours 24 minutes / Dreamworks / Released: July 3rd, 2007

Movie Review: Live Free or Die Hard / B-

The fourth installment of the Die Hard franchise is one I've been eagerly awaiting for years. It's been long rumored, and I honestly never thought it would come to be. It's a film I was hoping to love before stepping a foot into the theater as I had high expectations.

The film centers around a terrorist plot to shut down all major computer systems that run the nations most important institutions - financial, tranportation, utilities, etc. John McClane (Bruce Willis) unhappily accepts the simple errand of picking up a computer hacker (played well by the Apple commercial's Justin Long) who the FBI want to question as the takeover begins to unfold. The simple errand turns complex and before you know it, McClane is knee deep in bad guys and the chaos begins.

What I liked: Bruce Willis shows us that he's still got it. From silly one-liners to tough-guy stunts, he's in top form in what continues to be his best character to date. The chemistry between Willis and Justin Long is very good, both humerous and uncomfortable as they must work together to figure out what's going on. The pace of the movie is fast, as director Len Wiseman (Underworld, Underworld Revolution) keeps the action moving. The bad guy, played by Timothy Olyphant, is believeable and dangerous, but not because of his size and strength, but because of his brains and planning - a realistic redirection for the digital warfare that's waged this time around. It was PG-13, which meant there wasn't as much language and gore, however, it was dangerously close to an R rating, so be forewarned.

What I didn't like: Towards the end of the movie there is a scene that seems to be jammed in for the sake of adding more action. It's involves a jet fighter, and you'll know what I'm talking about as soon as the scene is under way. The relationship McClane has with his daughter is strained. It fits into the plot well but is a result of a father who hasn't been around for his daughter.

Overall: Live Free or Die Hard is a great addition to the Die Hard franchise, and I believe will not be the last. Made for $110 million, it's just about broken even at the worldwide box office after just one week in release. If you're a fan of the franchise, Bruce Willis or just looking for a fun summer movie with a solid plot, you won't be disappointed.

PG-13 / 2 hours 10 minutes / 20th Century Fox / Released: June 27th, 2007

A Note About My Movie Reviews

Ever since I was a little boy I've loved movies. I had dreams of directing movies. To date, the best job I've ever had was the few years I worked as a projectionist at the movie theater. Movies are great because they take you to places you realistically can't go, to see things that you just can't see in real life. They are a mental, entertaining vacation for a couple hours in a cool theater or in the comfort of your own living room.

As I catch movies, both in theaters and on DVD, I'm going to do my best to write reviews on them that will be listed on our blog. My hope is to keep a list of the movies I've seen, along with my grades for them so I can refer back to them, and to keep friends updated on what films I think are worth seeing. I will use a standard "A" through "F" grading system. The criteria I will use to assign a grade will be both the thoughts and feelings I have for the film once it's over and I've had a chance to think it over as well as how much I enjoyed myself during the actual viewing. I'm not a nose-in-the-air critic who picks every little detail apart. I don't care about lighting, colors or subtle undertones. That said, I can be an over analyzer at times, especially when I catch the vision a director was going for but they just fell short. My goal isn't to spoil anything about a movie for you, but to give you a quick overview along with my impressions.

I hope you enjoy my reviews and I encourage you to post your comments if you've seen the same film.

Ruby Grace has arrived!

Megan laughs often when it comes to my favorite things. From food to music, movies to books, I'm constantly evaluating what I like, always ready with a top ten list of my favorite you-name-it. So it's no surprise that my most favorite thing in life is welcoming a new baby girl into the world. What an incredible joy and what a powerful exclaimation point to God's beautiful creation!

On Wednesday, June 27th, 2007, at 2:42pm, Megan and I welcomed sweet little Ruby Grace to this world. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 6 oz, and was 19.25 inches long. As we stared speechless at this amazing new creation, tears streaming down our faces in complete happiness, it was clear that we serve an amazing God who is capable of designing such a treasure.

The day began with a ton of emotions and anticipation. Once to the hospital, the waiting game began as we worked with our nurse to get labor going. It wasn't long until Megan's water had been broken and the pitocin started flowing. By late morning, our nurse was guessing we'd have a late afternoon delivery. By early afternoon, Megan had made a big jump and went from slow progression to moving quickly. It was fun/scary to see our nurse go from a relaxed state to all out frantic mode! She called our doctor and said Ruby would arrive within the next 45 minutes. Our doctor made it just in time and Ruby arrived about a half an hour later.

Megan did a great job and Ruby arrived with strong lungs. What an amazing experience to see the birth of your child. None will ever top it for me, and again, no other event quietly points to our Creator more loudly than this. What a tremendous joy!

Throughout the rest of the day we were visited by many friends and family. It was a blessing to see everyone, and to watch them meet Ruby. On such an occasion we are overwhelmed by the love of those closest to us and to our Lord for blessing us with another sweet little girl.

Welcome Ruby Grace!

The Waiting Game

We're exactly one week away from our due date for the arrival of our third daughter, Ruby Grace. We are so excited to meet her, but amazed that she's not here yet. A couple weeks back Megan felt ready to pop. She was in pain and much more tired then she was during her first two pregnancies as she's chasing a three and two year old this time around. Suffice to say, she's very ready to meet Ruby, as are Abby and Emma. They keep asking Megan if she can come out and play yet. We keep telling them that she's still cooking!

Because our first two pregnancies required inductions, and Megan's body handled them well, her doctor suggested that we schedule a date. We debated this idea as it wasn't necessary, but decided that she was in enough pain that it would be good to select a date so the end is in sight. So, we have a scheduled induction for this upcoming Wednesday, June 27th. When we picked the date, it was three weeks out and we thought there's no way we'll make it that long. Now here we are, four days away, scratching our heads asking, "How has she not arrived yet?"

We can't wait to get to Wednesday so we can meet her, yet still curious as to if she'll come any sooner. If you know of any labor inducing tricks, Megan will give anything a try, just give her a call with any suggestions! :)

Scott

The Start of a Blog

The rest of the world seems to be blogging these days so why not start one myself? As someone who struggles to find time to make a single journal entry, my hope is that this might be a format that's easier to keep up with.

My goal for this blog is three fold. First, I hope to keep family and friends updated on what's going on with our family. Second, I intend to keep an update of how Christ is challenging and changing me in daily, practical ways. And finally, I intend to have fun through the following of current events (for me that means entertainment!) such as movies, sports and misc events that intrigue me.

I hope my writings will make you smile and encourage you (and hopefully be more frequent then my journal entries!:)

Scott