Viva Las Vegas

So like I said Alicen and I went to Vegas for a weekend. We left McKinley at grandma Kettenring's house and Taitan was somewhere (can not be said). And we where off. We had planned on leaving Saturday morning, driving down straight to the game and then stay over a night and drive back. However on Friday, my great boss asked if I wanted to leave early on Friday and get a head of the snow storm. I said "No, we will be OK" but after a while of thinking about it. I thought it might be a good idea. So I called Allie and she found us a room for the night and I left at like noon and we took off. The weather did turn bad as we dropped the kiddies off but once pass Alpine we had blue Sky's all the way down. We stayed at the Luxor the first night and that was fun. That night we walked one side of the strip and went to the M&M store, Coca Cola store, and mostly mall stores at the Planet Hollywood Casino. We just enjoyed the Vegas night (even if it was cold). We did not go to bed until 3 am. Saturday morning we checked out, drove to Walmart because I forgot Alicen's Hair spray and got in major trouble. She will deny it but its true. Then back to Planet Hollywood to check into our new room for the next night. We really did not know what to do so we went to find the Nike store and I thought it was in the Mandalay Bay casino but only found Nike Golf. So we got back in the car and headed to the Pregame Party.
We got to the Sam Boyd Stadium almost right when the Pregame Tailgate party started. So we got free popcorn, we ate a cold Hot dog and Burger and got a free Monster energy drink. We bought some Hawaiian nut necklace to hang in the car and looked at a sweet lifted Toyota Tundra. I even got to sit in it. I was excited. Then we listened to the battle of the marching bands between BYU and Arizona. Arizona was louder and played great pep rally music. Then we went into the stadium to get the game started. We had pretty good seats. We could see the game really well. They had a fly over with F16 from Nellis Air Force base and Had The Hoff (David Hasselhoff) sing the national anthem, with a huge flag on the field. It was nice.
The game on the other hand was not a great. I mean on the first play BYU get a Personal Unsportsman like conduct. However its the first play of the game, tension is high. Bad call. Then BYU looked like they did not want to win or even play. Give Arizona props though, they played good and tough. They wanted to win. BYU's team was just off. The defense was slow, Max Hall has lost confidence in himself since the TCU lose and the offense just could not get things moving. Anytime something good happened, a penalty killed it. Also the referee's where horrible. They couldn't get a call right if it was told to them. I have never seen a crew of officials like these ones. It was bad, both teams by half time where booing them. Every call took 10 minutes with a review. Its was sad to see BYU lose, Alicen was mad to spend money on tickets and then not even see them win. Its just the way the game goes. BYU just needs to learn to win night games. They lost all three this year.
At least most of their offense is back next year and maybe they can make a run at the BCS again. We can only hope as Cougar fans. We left the game early and Alicen put in a complaint about the Referee's and a fan that got out of hand. Then we took off to dinner at P.F. Changs. We sat at the bar because we did not want to wait for a table. It was fun as Non drinkers to see the bar tender make the different drinks. We had to ask a couple times what he was making; and he in return asked why we dont drink and couldnt figure it out. We had a lot of fun talking. After we went out on the strip to look around. Found Nike and a couple other stores to look at.
As we went back to the hotel for the night, we waited for the elevator to our room we saw BYU's Offense Cordinator and wished him best of luck, and a good played game. He looked depressed and down. But he gave us a little thanks smile. As we got on to a full elevator we can some kids and parents think I was a player. They all looked at me and you could tell was trying to figure out who I was. Then when we went to get off they all said "Good game" and "Good season" I just had to laugh that they thought I was a player. Made me feel good even though they lost. That was pretty much our weekend. We head home the next morning. Although we stayed up until 2 am that night too. A nice little trip and vacation.

WaaaaHoooooooo!!!

I finally got a comment on my blog, someone might actually read my blog. I am so excited. I am as happy as happy can be. Some one took the time to read my post and comment. This might be the happiest day of my life. At least since my blog page has been up. I just want to run to the top of Mount Timpanogos and scream "Hallelujah!!!"

City Center- Las Vegas, NV

So over the weekend Alicen and I went down the Las Vegas Bowl to see BYU play and the night before the game we walked a little of the strip. What we saw shocked us- the new place going up call the City Center is huge. Its owned by MGM and will be opening next year. We had to actually ask a cab driver what it was. We where so surprised by its size we had to take pictures (however these are from online).

We could not believe its size. It takes up a whole city block (we where told about 76 acres) and that it would have its own zip code. Its own zip code!! It is a monstrous place. It will have a hotel, casino, sports arena, Condos and shopping centers. Really everything a little city could use. It is just huge. We could not believe the work being done on it. What was funny is I took a picture and sent it to one of my works outside salesman- Chase. To show him and have look at the project. He was not too excited about it. Not sure if it was the text (not a texter) or the fact I sent it to him at 2 am. Either way he was not impressed. I just cant believe our salesman did not travel to see if we could get any concrete material sold. Just to see this thing makes me think- and we are in a recession. Anyway I showed construction photos but the last one below is the finished product to be seen. Its going to be cool to visit when done. Take a look.

(The picture just does not do justice)

Kettenring's Christmas Outing

So Tuesday night (Dec 16th) was the annual Kettenring's Family Christmas Outing. This year it was just the adults and/or kids. No grand kiddies allowed. So Alicen and I got Sally to babysit the kids. The Kettenring's met for dinner at the Blue Iguana to eat. Its a Mexican joint in the heart of down town. We had my parents, Mike/Robyn, Alicen/I and Jayson/Paulina (his girlfriend).The food was OK usually its way good, I got the De Pollo salad thinking it would come in a shell. No such luck! It was a weight lifters dream meal though, it had lettuce, onions and a hefty plate of chicken. All protein there. It was good though. I am not sure what anyone else got, I did not ask either. I tried to get Jayson to eat the Burrito Grande with me but he was a chicken, because he claimed to be sick the night before. Hence the salad. But I think he was just scared to try and out eat me on the burrito.

After Dinner, we went to the Clark's Planetarium to see Santa vs the Snowman. Its a short movie about Christmas. It was even in 3D too. We had to wear these funky glasses. The movie was pretty good. The kids tried to grab the 3D effects when they were on the screen, as did my Dad (a kid at heart). The movie was only 30 minutes long but in that thirty minutes it gave you a head ache and made your eyes sore having to really focus. It was still cute and fun for the kids and kids at heart. After we went for ice cream shakes at Arctic Circle and spent time talking to each other. Well kinda! The best communicating we Kettenring's can do when we are with each other. Merry Christmas to all.

Freak of Nature

What a Freak of Nature!! But so cool if it was really possible to do. Who's on board to do this with me?? Any takers?

End of the semester!

So as of Tuesday night I am done with this fall 2008 semester. And boy is it long over due. I did not think it would ever end. By the end of Tuesday, I only had my Anatomy final and a math test to finish up. My anatomy final didn't start until eight pm. So I got some extra study time not that I really took too much effort into studying. The harder I have test for anatomy the worse I have done so I looked over it all and get with what I knew. Not the smartest thing to do but I think I did better. We will only see in time (I will not know until Monday) because my teacher will fail me if I ask before Monday, he is the Anatomy Nazi of SLCC (and he said it him self). As for math, I took that test after my final and I got in the 90% range. I have not done that all semester. So that class is looking up.
Now that the semester is over, I do not know who is more excited for me to do done for a while. My wife or me. She has been stressing over school more then I have. I am happy to be done and have a brake. I have not had for over a year. I have gone fall, spring, summer and fall again with out stopping. So this brake is needed for me and my little family. My kids have grown big with out me. And now my wife can calm down a little. A little brake before going into my last semester for my associates. Yeah. I am just happy to be done for a little while. I am tired of going from work all day to school all night.

Oil changers should be shot! Maybe twice!!

So I finally got a Saturday morning to get out and change the oil in the Tahoe since we have had it. The sensory system in the SUV has been saying it for a good week or so. Anyway as I got under the Tahoe to get started I noticed the bolt looked a little stripped (like the one pictured above). I thought I would get it off anyway. NOPE! I worked in it for an hour, then had my cousin Danny look at it, he tried with some sockets and vise grips but to no luck. That thing was stuck and the grips has just stripped it more. So I had a couple more options, I took the closest one, I went over to Bill Platts house to see what he could do. He builds fords (mostly mustangs) from scratch and such, I thought he might have something. He tried sockets and a power wrench, the bolt did not move. He said the first problem is "its a Chevy" and second "its an aluminum bolt, so its going to strip easy." Not want I wanted to hear. Finally out of desperation to get the oil change I called my father in law, the "All Fixing Guru!". If its broken, stuck or fixable he can do fix all. So we drove out to Allicen's parents house and after 10 minutes he had the bolt loose. He had to hold the wrench on the bolt while I used my foot to push the wrench. It came off though. We got the oil changed. It took all day, four people and four trips to the local Check auto parts to get the Tahoe running. Don't ask on checker problem- just remember when a hot chick in tight pants is in that store no good service rep comes your way. So much for studing for finals today.

Christmas Aloha!! Brah!

So we decided to go to my parents Christmas party for their ward. Their theme for the party was an Aloha! So everyone wore shorts, Hawaiian t-shirts and when you walked in the bishop brick gave out lays. It was really a fun night. I think McKinley had more fun running around with the other kids and creating havoc. They served pulled pork, shredded chicken and rice. It was an OK meal for a huge ward. For entertainment, they had their bishop read- "A Hawaiian Christmas story." It was so funny, he tired to sound like an surfer dude. It was full of words like brah, dude and sweet. It totally rocked! It was just nice to be back in my parents ward and talk to the people I knew that where still there. No too many left.

The best and worse part of the night, was going home. After clean up was over and done my mom realized, she had left her keys to the car on the table and most likely had them thrown away. It would have been ok, if it was not for the fact that those were the only keys to the car. So being the good son (and the fact she would not let me go home with out helping) I got gloves and started checking the dumpster out side. As we looked around inside the church, many of the Men in the ward asked what was going on, and once found out were like "too bad for you" and took off. Only two guys asked to help, the biggest help was Bro. Provert, he is a stud. He got all excited, jumped into the dumpster and started throwing bags out. He had a hard time getting in and said "how to bums get into these things?" and when he went to get out and struggled he said "how do bums get out of these things?" He is really funny. Lucky for us, the Lord was on our side and the first bag out of fifteen was the bag we needed. I had already made a mess of one tables scraps, so it was not all in vane. We are just lucky we did not have to go through all 15 bags. It would have taken forever. My mom was praying to find those keys. We took pictures and had a good laugh about it. Bro. Provert had cake icing all up and down his sandals. Which we felt bad about. It was a good ending to a bad situation.

Christmas Tree Hunting 2008

So we did our annual Christmas tree hunt over the thanksgiving weekend. Like usual it was hiking up and down the mountains to find the right one. We went up above Kamas in the Uinta mountains. Its the usual place we go to find tree's. Alicen does not like the area so finding the right tree is hard for her in that mountain area. Once we got bundled up and ready to go we first went down the mountain and hit a river, no luck with tree's in that area. Then my mom called from the higher mountain area and we went that way just to find no good looking trees. The trees are good from afar but far from good (when you get close to them). We figured we would have to top a tree to get a good looking one. But at last no good tree. Alicen decided to go further up the mountain road to see if there was anything else. So we did. From there we found our tree. Alicen decided the tree she like was down a steep slope and on an island surrounded by the river and stream brake offs. So I was the lucky one to go get that perfect tree. I made my way over and lucky with out getting too wet. The perfect tree was thin, shorter and really nice. So I cut it down and rather then carry it across the river and streams I decided to slide it across the ice to Alicen. Well as I did that it slide to the middle of the stream and stopped. Our tree was out in the middle. Duh!!! So lucky I did it by a man made dam and I helped it a cross. I am just glad the dam held. Once we got back to the group of us that went we realized we had the wrong tree, it was really short and not full looking at all. It looked better out on the Island. But it was too late. At least the ranger did not stop us or it would have been a hefty fine. Once we got home we put it up to find Alicen did not like the tree at all and it was too thin, no body to it at all. But we made it work because that was the tree she wanted. I was not going to get a new tree and/or buy a new one. It looks a lot better with decorations on the tree. It was just funny how much she liked it until we got it in the house.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

As today being the day before Thanksgiving (aka Turkey day). I thought it would be a good moment to reflect on what I am thankful for and the fact work is really slow. The major ones are my wife who I love and enjoy being around. She keeps me going and motivated to do more. Not sure if that is a good thing at times though, I am grateful for my kids who always make me laugh (even when I need to be mad) and my family who if any of you know my family that is saying a lot, they are great family to be with . I am thankful for a good job, that believes in values that I believe in, as well as good coworkers that get a long most of the time. I am thankful for schooling as much as I hate going all the time, it is nice to know that I am getting an education that will support me and my family for years to come. I am thankful for my extended family (yes, even a grandmother that pulls her dentures out onto the table, a story for another day). I am thankful for a country that gives me the right to do what I want and gives every opportunity to accomplish those dreams. I am thankful for food, sports, my toys (expansive and cheap), house, cars, and everything else I own. I am most grateful for the gospel that I live or try to live on a daily bases; as well as my family heritage with in that same gospel. I am truly lucky to have the ancestory I have. I just figured I should write a few thoughts on what I am grateful for in my life at this time. I thought the picture was worth a laugh for Thanksgiving. If only this could happen. Getting a turkey would be more interesting. That is for sure! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Football & Turkey

Nothing is better then Turkey and Football, so give thanks to the two greatest activities to come together on one special day. Eat all the turkey you can, then sit back and relax with a couple football games. To bad we have to pick between the Detroit Lions (sorry Josh its true) and the Dallas Cowboys. We'll just have to make the best with what we got At least the food is good, the turkey makes us sleepy and a nap is ok on this day. And if there are the rear few that get a Turkey Bowl on this day of Thanks, just remember to stretch really good, take a hit for a hit and stretch after before that nap. Or you will be hurting all weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Holy War!!!

Its that time of year again, where the citizens of Utah are separated, wives and husbands torn apart by their team associations, families again families, friends vs friends. Yes, its time
again for the HOLY WAR!! Its time for the BYU/Utah game. Oh!! you can just smell the tension in the air, the anger, the fear and the wanting of a win. This is what college football is all about.
This years game is going to be a great one. The two teams have a combined record of 21-1 and it could make or break a BCS game for one of them. Utah is ranked #7 in the nation and BYU is just behind ranked #14 in the nation. Anything can happen for the winner of this game.
The good thing about this season is that the Mountain West has gotten a lot of attention for their ability to win some bigger name conferences and having three conference teams in the top 20 helps too. Its been a great season.
It is funny how the fans of both sides of this game have started to tease, taunt, and get down right mean to the other side. Neither sides wants to let up. I have been talking and taking a lot of trash at work before the start of Rivalry week but I have decided to take a back seat and not say too much over the game,(although I want to say alot). I figured its up to the players and I am going to let the players leave there statment on the field with which ever team wins. However I do have to say Alicen has had great fun getting on comment forums and getting UofU fans all uptight and mad. She calls this fun! she is funny so times. Its just funny, how so many fans on both sides make comments that make them look dumb. Know the facts and what you want to write before you say anything.
I am just hopeful for a good and close game. No blow out, something that comes down to the very end. The team that has the ball last wins the game. Just like a couple years back (the prayer catch by Harline). You Utes fans know the catch! By all means am I not going to let my association go unknown in this blog. I am a Cougar fan! Blue through and through, willing to do my best to root for the cougars in blue. Go Cougs!

Yeeper Jeeper!

So we sold our 1987 Jeep Cherokee- v6, sometimes automatic everything, no A/C, second or third engine and life time problems. Oh who would not want that type of car. I am actually joking with all of that, I am sad to see it go. We put it up on KSL and at first no bids but then we got a couple hits. I was hoping to not sale it but with winter and the city needing cars off the road, we had to get it moving. So its now sold. We had a couple come pick it up on Tuesday and it was odd not to see it in front of the duplex. however to make this plot thicken, we got a call saying the Jeep is broken, leaking and no good. This is after two days of it being gone, who know what could have happened in that time. Well we decided we better cash the check for the Jeep or risk the chance of losing both. I have felt like a cheater on this matter because we said we would wait until Friday but once they questioned the Jeep and all that we needed some insurance; especially since we signed the bill of sale and title over. That insurance has put me at ease. Its still sad to know that the Jeep is gone, it is almost like a family tradition (or curse who ever reads this) has been misplaced in the Kettenring Family. It was family for so long. It will be missed.

BCS- Biggest Crapping Scam!

The BCS is the biggest waste of time. Not only does no one know how it figures out the ranks but if anyone other then the Big conferences loses, they drop out of the top 25 but a team like Missouri, LSU and Ohio state can have two or three loses on the season and still stay in the top 25. Its bull crap! You have 1st and 2nd place undefeated but then the UofU can only get as high as 7th with undefeated season (so far), as well as Boise St. Its crap that the strength or weakness of a team schedule shows where they rank. A team that is undefeated is undefeated and should rank as so. The college program needs to come up with a better system rather then to sit back and wipe the noses of the so call greater conferences. I just cant believe college teams can pull out a win with seconds on the clock and move up in the ranks when a team like BYU wins by 30+ points and drops two spots because the team they played against was not very good. Or even worse lose a game by a couple points and drop only two or three spots. Its crap! Let the best teams play for the highest bowl, not just the "well its a good bowl with ok money but not the best or highest revenue" College football needs to have a play off system, once the big wigs realize that west coast teams and small schools can compete with the so called elite... then and only then will something happen. Good thing the big schools know how to keep the BCS members scared or the little schools would prove to the biggs they are not as great as they think. On any given day, any team can beat other team, whether east coast school or west coast, div 1-A or div 1-AAA. Any team can beat any one.

President Obama... what the FU...

So history has been made in the good ol' USA! We now have the first African American (to be politically correct). I am a little skeptic and nervous for how he will do as president. What worries me is that there is going to be allot of change taking place but will it be the right kind of change? For example, I read an article about how Obama wants to close down Guantanamo bay prison. But then what are we going to do with all the terrorist and prison mates out there. Ship them all to the US and deal with that when they get here. Come on! Sure that prison is bad, maybe inmates are being torchered, beaten, ect. I see them as people willing to kill Americans, and destroy this great nation. I don't think for one minute that other countries would not do the same to us in those types of prisons. Changes is a good thing to hopeful but if the changes is the wrong way we had hoped for then its going to be a long four years. A long four years! Time will only tell how everything will work out. I hope Obama the best in office, I just hope he does what he promised to do before his election.

Election Day 2008

Today is the day we get to see who wins the presidential race. Will It be Obama or McCain?Alicen and I decided the best time to vote was early and when the kids where asleep. So we went to early voting yesterday. It was nice too, the news had been saying it was a long wait and a long line. Well we must have hit it perfect- we waited maybe 30 minutes. Just long enough to see the weirdo's in line who help pick our government leaders (scary), but short enough I was back to work in time. But we got our voting done and out of the way for the next little while.
I have been saying I would vote for Nader and that its his year, but once I got to the poll I decided to make my vote count so I voted for another. Wont say either way but I did make it count! At least I believe it does. Not that my Utah vote matters in a National view anyway. I just thought it was fun to throw a name like Nader out when conversations start up. It will be interesting to see who comes out of this one. For me, its which of the two evils will prevail. Time will only tell.
What was funny about voting early, was as I did my Math homework last night around 8 pm or so. I got two calls within minutes of each other encouraging me to get out and vote on Election day. I told both parties I had voted already. One of the parties asked if I would say who I voted for. I wanted to get back to my homework before it got late and to not be on the phone arguing about who is better. So I just said their candidate instead of who I actually voted for. I did it for just kicks and giggles. Funny how they ask- when really its none of their business. I just had to laugh about both parties calling around the same time. If I had time I would have said the Ladder party and made it an Ol' Bible Bashing Extravaganza!! Just for the thrill of bashing once again political style. Oh I miss the days on the Mish.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Remember to be nice to the Pumpkins on all Hallows eve!

On Halloween who would have thought

So today at work on all halloween day I was walking in from the warehouse to see both Patti and Sharon working with a ladder. As I got closer, Sharon asked me if I was scared of spiders. Being the hero to my wife, I said no! Sharon said good because we need you to kill a black widow spider that was in there office. I had never seen a widow before. So I was excited to see it. It is way wicked looking. Although I could not see any red markings on it. Anyway I got some paper towels and get on the ladder and swished it. They asked if I got it and sure enough once I squished it, it popped like a berry. It was for sure it was dead. I would have got a bottle and kept it around for a while if I would have thought about it. Just kinda funny to have that happen on Halloween. Go figure.

Oh my Job!!

So like I said a while ago that their are babies at my work that when they whine they get what they want. Well after that out burst I had. I now have another one. I dont like to complain about my work because one- any one can read this, two its not a good thing to do. I am just going to comment on some funny things that go on here. So one day I told my Idaho falls store its their fault things happen in purchasing and with freight. Well that caused a huge mess and I kinda got reprimanded for it. Well ever since a certain co-worker likes to make sly comments about me. I have been called worthless, unknowing, no help, ect. I have said something to my boss who talked to me but nothing came from it. I really did not care just funny how it changes when its the other way. So today this co worker of mine called to see when his transfer truck was leaving. I just told him his truck could ship as early as 8 am (when I scheduled it) or 10 am, or 2 pm or even next week sometime. His freight line he likes is horrible and hard to work with. Once I said that he said "you know this make you look........" He decided to not say anything after that. Good thing too I was going to lay down the law. We don't really see eye to eye. Its just funny that what I say can get me in some pressure but not the other way around. Really I do not care when his transfer leaves because he was a day late on getting us a request, pushed it back two days longer and making it harder on everyone else to make him happy. Its not how it should work.

So I Simpsonized and M&M myself to see what I would look like. Of course I got to pick the colors and I picke blue. I dont think either looks like me really. I could not really change my Simpson character but the MM was as close as I could figure with what they give me to work with. Not too bad I thought.

Just keep saying.... I love my kids, I love my kids!

It has been a long long week for our little family. Mckinley has had a cold and so she has been cranky and winnie all week long. Since she has been sick, she will not sleep longer then 3 hours in her bed. She comes running into our room in the middle of the night and will not go back to her room. If she does go back to her own room, she cries at the door for a couple of minutes tops before we let her back out! And when she sleeps with us- Alicen gets feet in her face and I have to stay in on position all night because Mckinley is right next to me. So for the week Allie and I are working on maybe 15-20 hours. And with Tait being his lovely self getting up twice in the night to eat, sleep is not going too well. Its been a long week and with it being close to the weekend, I am getting to be a little short fused. I don't mean to be mean but its hard to function with lack of sleep.
For instance, today at work (Friday) I just had a horrible day. I messed up an order earlier in the week. Where I ordered a truckload of the wrong grout to our Idaho store and now we will have to cover two freight charges, then our vendor botched an order sending too much product and I have to be the middle man in getting that all fixed. I am ready to be done for the week. But I have to work early on Saturday too. No rest until Sunday, if I am lucky!
I need sleep I am a walking talking zombie. life is just grand!

Happy Halloween!!

Ah!! The new car smell!

So as we went to get a Glider chair in Pleasant Grove this weekend, we saw this Chevy Tahoe we really liked. So we got the number of the Auto store and we have been working with them to settle on a price. Today we finally got what we where looking for, in the price range we wanted as well. Its a 2001 model and its really nice and a steal of a deal (we did not pay what the stick price says). All power everything, nice tires, a/c, an average stereo and room for a third row seat. Its leather too! with kids that is a plus. We are excited to get such a nice car. We have been looking to up grade to something bigger for our growing family. And Alicen and I are not mini van types of people. Alicen went down on wednesday with her dad and test drove it. He said it looked good and a good deal for what we get. That is as good as gold for me. So we will be driving in style! I only worry with it being a V8 of how much gas, we will go through. I dont see an more then with the Jeep we are driving. We will just have to see.

So Big!

McKinley got her first big girl bed and boy did we go all out. Spencer and his friends Trevor are doing log furniture for a side job and so we had them do a little bed for McKinley and last night was the big night for her. She seemed really unsure of what to think of it. She was excited but not ready for a big bed. The only concern Alicen and I had was no side rails and so if she fell off she would hit the floor. Anyway, we said evening prayer around her bed and then tucked her in. Like ten minutes later we could her knocking on her door to be let out. So we had to put her back into bed and try again. This time was a success, she fell asleep on her bed. Most people say its a hard switch for kids but McKinley is so good with things like this. She does not care. Anyway around 1 am, Allie and I woke up to a thud. I ran into McKinley room and she had fallen on the floor. She was half asleep and trying to walk to the door. It was sad but funny too. We put her back in her bed and asleep she went again. Only this time, we decided to put the couch cushions around her until we can get some rails. She did not fall out again the whole night. She will learn like most kids to know where the edge is. I remember lots of time my sister Robyn falling off the bunk bed from the top. Robyn learned and so will McKinley. It was a big night for all of us.

The Perfect Season No More!!

Oh how I wanted to rent my cloths, cry unto the Lord for help, guidence and direction, and then sulk like a little kid when he gets in trouble after the BYU game. BYU choked on their chances of a BCS bowl this year. The highest they will see is the #8 spot. What worries me now is the they might not even get into a bowl now. Since they lost to TCU on Thursday, a game which they where just not ready for. TCU came out to win and win big they did. The Cougs looked bad for a nationally ranked team. But now if they lose to Utah in Nov. they might not even get an invite to a bowl. Why oh Why did they have to play so bad! They always seem to do bad for a couple of games after their bye week. This year was no different. No one looked good verse TCU. The game started off bad and BYU could never recover. Lets hope they come home and just take there anger out on UNLV. And get some good luck going into the end of the season and bowl bidding. The problem they BYU is facing is that fact that teams are picking up on there routine with plays. Bronco needs to change things up. Its good to run a tight ship on your team but once opponents pick up on your plays you need to get a little more creative. BYU is in the funk right now. Bronco trickery is the key.
Now I have to root for the UofU to make the BCS bowl busters. But even they still have to face TCU and I know they will be ready for the Runnin Utes too. Go Utes!!!

Welcome to Chemisty! Don't Touch Anything!!!

So this Semester I took my first Chemistry class since high school. And the in college I have a separate lab class that I have to take with the course. I know I know what you are thinking, yeah so get on with your rantings. And here I go, I think its funny that in college they still make you do safer or easier labs then in high school. In my class I have drawn molecules rather then see some or mix some together, I got to see small reactions that fizzed a little. I could have stayed home and put alka seltzer in water to see fizz. I WANT SOME HYDROCHLORIC ACID DANG IT!! I work with it at work with out any problems whats a little mess in chemistry. I wanna make BOOMS!! Lets Get hardcore here. Anyway that's all I have to say. Just sick of little labs that have no reason but to take up valuable time in other things I could be doing.

Hello I am Bishop Bret!

Yes, its true! If you have not heard I am offically a Bishop. NO no not of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. No just a bishop in my brother in laws mind. I guess I am too preachy to him and his ordeals in life. Which makes me really sad because I thought I was just being a friend looking to help. However I was just the opposite. I know that I can be overly sarcastic and blunt on things, especially when it comes to church related matters but when its true, and I know it, and someone has served the Lord for two years but still doesn't want to believe it that is when I get irritated. Technically I blame myself on this whole matter. I was told when I left my mission to find close friends in the church and I was lucky enough to have my Cousin Danny around to help me through that rough time after coming home. At times Danny was a real lifesaver and Although he might never have known it I owe him for being there. With that said I should have been there for Spencer. But with school, a wife, and two kids. I slacked on my responsibility as a return missionary to see that other RM's make it too. I just hope that everything from here on out will get better and that I can become more to Spencer then just a preachy Bishop in his mind, but to be a close and dear friend again. All in due time is what I hope for.

Oh the webs we Weave!

So yesterday I get a call from Allie, she was madder then a wet hen about how the State office will not let her change Tatum's name to Taitan (yes, it is officially Taitan now) because we had to white out another name and put Taitan. Well they thought we might have messed with the paper work so they could not help her. She got mad and hot headed and had security call on her. So when I got the call, she wanted me to cool her down, as she got cooled down I was getting my head chew off by Allie. She has a way of doing that when she needs to cool. Anyway I had to take an early lunch to go to the State department to get this paper sighned again. I was irritated with the state officials; although I understand their reasoning. And I was irritated with Allie for yelling at me because I have all the answers (not true) but I was really and mostly irritated that I had to take my lunch earlier then usual. Makes for a longer day when you got earlier. Anyway we got the paper work done and Tatum's name changed finally. He is no longer going to be compared to Tatum O'Neil or said he has a girls name. Its over and done. It is not Taitan and we like it end of story. Although we will most likely call him Tait through out his life.
Anyway, my story continues- After Allie yelled at the state lady and having that whole ordeal. She had to get new tubes for the stroller we have, well she could not get the tires off to replace the tubes and asked the auto shop at walmart to help her. The Mechanic told her "that they do not do that" that they where a tire shop and that "walmart sales shoes too but will not put them on for her either." Well she called me crying over the matter and I had to help her through that. Although that mechanic was an A$$! And should never treat a customer that way, Alicen was getting a little bitter sweet lesson taught to her. Treat everyone like how you would want to be treated. So it was a interesting day at work with everything going on out side of work.

Captain America

such an Idiot!!

I am such an Idiot! I have been so focused on one class in school, I totally spaced a midterm for another class I am taking. The teachers has like 3 midterms which is really weird but I missed on. I am just gut sick over the fact I forgot something like that. Now looking over the discussion board I might have to take the class over because Chemistry is that hard. Seriously how dumb can I be to forget a test, granted it is an on line class. Easy to forget. But now because of my actions I will have to retake the class, set me back another semester of school before I can graduate and start any other program I feel like going into. I am just over the whole thing and I can only blame myself. I need to not focus so much on my anatomy class. Still I am an Idiot!

Healthy Food? Yummie!!!!

So Alicen has finally become a Kettenring. Yes, its true! She has joined the weight watchers club. Most likely one of the happiest days of my mothers life. And by Alicen joining weight watchers means I did too. If she is going to eat healthier so am I. The alternative would be for me to starve or make my own meals. This is something I am not willing to subject myself too, I am way too busy now. Anyway we are both now on weight watchers, and we are having great success on it as far as I can tell. Cooking on the other hand has been a new adventure. I have never seen Allie cook with out butter or sugar, so this has been an experience. I do have to say in her favor every meal has been good. We made some awesome pizza last night. And to prove it was good and not just two healthy eaters think is good because we have subjected to such eating, but her brother Spencer and his friend Trevor came over and ate the rest of what we had- they thought it was the best pizza ever. So we are on our way to so great tasting, low point and healthy meals. We just have to keep it up, I believe we can and will do good. However with Priesthood session coming up; the after dinner might be a killer (the buffet is calling my name). I am just glad to see Allie excited to do this type of thing and we will both benefit from it by staying on track and reaching the goals we have set. Or at least looking at an idea of what we want.
As for me, I have like the whole weight watchers thing because I have stopped cold turkey on the free candy and soda pop my work offers. Now its just my water bottle and a baggy of veggies I bring from home. I just laugh about this whole thing because my old doctor (christiansen) said the best way to lose weight is weight watchers and Allie did not like that at all. We even switched doctors. Now she is in the club and wanting to change herself. Guess Doc. had the right idea we just did not have the proper time frame yet. I will keep myself posted on this. I really dont think anyone looks at this any way but me.

Anatomy Smatomy!!

The human body is a work of art, I understand that from trying to enter into the medical field. What drive me nuts is every nook and cranny of the body has to have some type of name. come on! Its like doctors who named the parts wanted to make sure their names were remembered through out time, they bought a pinata put all the names in the thing and once it broke open and the contents broke out they scrambled to pick up as many as they could. Don't get me wrong some of names in the boy are great. I mean Medulla Oblongata, sphincter, Diaphragm, Helix, ect. those are cool names. But the just little cracks that have no educational knowledge drive me nuts! Oh well, I have to know them and when asked I can look smart but it still irritates me to have to know them. That's my two cents for the day.

Adults pouting is just wrong!!!

I just have to vent over how grown adults can pout like babies over little things. Co-workers at my at my place of work have quite a few of them. And today has sent me over the edge. I like my job except for days like this. We work of excel worksheets and with certain problems going on decided to switch the worksheet so others can not see the information. Well the crybabies that caused the problems are now complaining over the things they wanted fixed. NO NO happy median with these pouters!! So now we get the president of the company involved who does not want to be and talks it out. I mean come on, act like adults and talk to the main peopl if you have Beef! Its these few pouters that make it hard on so many other people. I know this most likely does not make much sense but my roll in it, is the fact I told one of the crybabies to deal with it and that the only reason the worksheet switched is because of them and that store, and I did not want to chat about it any more. Or hear his side of the story. So that is my involvement. Now I get the "oh its your fault, that they have beef and started a fire under there Ass!" WOOOHOOO maybe they will see what we are doing is right and to just let things go. Just sell the product for Heck sakes! Done over, move on. But the saga will continue with the crybabies leading the way on something else. Ok I am done!!

I'm pack'n heat!!!!

So I have been looking to purchase a gun for some time now, ever since my brother in law got the urgue me into getting my concealled weapons permit. If I got the permit, I might as well have the gun too. So the other day I got a call at work from my Dad. Now ever since I got my concealled permit and talked about buying a gun, my Dad has been the happiest camper and when he come upon a gun calls to talk to me about it. He is so funny, bless his heart. Anyway back to the story; He tells me he go a Glock 17 with night sights from the dealer that police officers get their guns from. I said that is good, how much? He tells me and then says you wanted one right? Of course I wanted one just taken back he had picked it up before calling me. I said yeah I want one but have to talk to Alicen first before I buy it. After saying that my Dad said" oh well I guess I can just sell it.." So anyway needless to say I bought the gun from my Dad and I am a proud owner of a new gun. I am really excited and happy that my Dad just bought it for me. I dont think I would have for a while longer or ever in the near future. It was just funny how he gets so excited about his boy getting his first gun. I have to say it was nice to get it from him. We had to sneak it around my Mom to get it to me but it worked, although she was on to us. Funny how she knows we boys are up to no good.

State Fair

So the Kettenring family did the annual family trip to the fair. We go on the first monday because they have all you can eat ice cream, (I know that explains the way we look!). But we got there just in time for the start and we ate ice cream to our hearts content. They have everything from Aggie Creamery, BYU creamery, Farr's, Blue Bunnie, ect. They have it all. They even have creamies and Fat boys. Its just fun. Although this year it was packed full of people and not a lot of venders. As we got ice cream, danny and katie took off to get real food. After we went to see all the animals. Mckinley loved every minute of it, making some of the animal sounds and such but she was more interested in the balloon we got her from the neighborhood watch Alicen signed up for. So Glendale area watch out!! You have been warned! As we watched through the animals I have come to the conclusion that the cowboys (hillbillies) come out of the far stretches of the country to the city where they get to show off their animals for the city slickers to look at and then they sit next to the pile of pooh watching all of the city weirdo's and make comments. Its just one big fest of people looking at other people. The animals are just extra. After all the excitement of looking at cows rear ends, and lazy pigs with a mix of covered goats and sheep, we decided to go shopping. We hit every sun glass area for Robyn because she needed new ones for Mike. There five bucks get the ones that look like they will last and call it good. I am not complaining at all, it was fun. The tigers, butter creation and animals are alway fun. Mckinley on the pony ride was great. she was scared until everyone praised her then she was the hottest thing on a pony. It was a good night to a long day of work. And of course the fun of seeing weird people out and about. Makes a person feel normal when you see others that are strange. I am sure I made others peoples day as well. That is what the fair is all about... Good times at the Utah State Fair.

We decided to buy BYU football season tickets this year and we got Danny & Katie Cox to buy some too. On saturday, it was the first game and we where all really excited to be going. They where playing Northern Iowa. It was to be a cupcake game for the Cougars. It started off as such too. We got to the game late and parking was horrible but we did finally find a spot. Our seats are total nose bleed seats, we are just below the huge jumbo screen on the south endzone and its high up. But not too bad of seats for football. Better then watching it on the television and listening to the commintators for the MTN station. We had a lot of fun. We got drinks, Danny and Katie bought a Cougar Tail (a huge maple bar doughnut) and we just enjoyed the game. Like I was saying the cougars looked good for the first half. In the second half they totally let NIU back into the game. The Cougs just relaxed a little too much and that is never good. They need to put those kind of games away. It should have ended 45-3 rather then 41-17. It was too close for comfort at the end of the 3rd quarter. At least with this game, they saw what they have to fix and prepare for. I mean with UCLA and Washington the next two games they need to get those kinks out and fast. It was a good game and fun to just watch. I am just excited for BYU football and any football for that matter. Its been a long off season. But its back and I am excited.

So I do feel bad for the Northern Iowa quarterback, man he got hit a couple of times that left him on his back. I know at least one time he was out cold. He just got closed lined! But he got back up and played some more. Good for him to keep getting up after big hits. Max Hall had one good shot which he popped back up but you could tell as we walked down field he was still not sure of where he was. It was a good opener and I hope the Cougars can continue to move up the polls and crack the BCS. Go Cougs!!!!

Gateway Discovery

If any one really does read this site, I have totally neglected my family and everything that happens in their lives. Anyway, that is because I work full time and go to school full time so I really don't know what is going on in my families lives. I just know that Tatum (tatter) has grown like a horse, McKinley is turning into a terror and the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. So that is why I do not say much about my family.
Anyway, yesterday was Labor day and Alicen wanted to take McKinley to Gateway Discovery. That was a lot of fun for McKinley. Since is was a dismal and dark rainy day it was the place to be. Kids where everywhere! But we still had a lot of fun. They had this area called the "Bee Hive" and it was full of balls and tubes to put those balls in. McKinley got a kick out of those. At first, we thought the older kids would bully her around. By the end, we where trying to protect other kids. McKinley doesn't take crap from anyone and pushes with the best of them. She had a ball! They had a ball carrier that carried the ball to the ceiling on air pressure, and she loved that. McKinley spent most the time putting ball after ball in that opening. As long as she had balls, she was happy.
What was funny was Alicen just sat with Tatter and watched. Actually most the mothers at the discovery center watched as the fathers chased the kids everywhere. Alicen was in seventh heaven with me following McKinley around and not her. It was a good break for her as well. I just enjoyed the time with Kinni. McKinley also liked the Life flight Helicopter they had. She like the pilot's seat and she cried when I took her out. All the kids where waiting. But we had a lot of fun playing with all the things in the discovery center. It was like the old kids museum way back when. If any one remembers that.
I was just happy to spend time with my little family, rather then at school and work. These types of day do not happen as much as I would like.

Simpson

Dont forget to scroll to the bottom to see Bart Simpson totally awesome quotes of the day. All the quotes from the chalk board at the beginning of the show. Any and all Simpson fans know what I am talk'n about!

He-man Master of the Universe!

So sometimes I get bored in life (come on everyone has these moments) but I decided to have some fun on google images. I look up almost anything I can think of- words, sayings, names, ect. Well I decided to go back to when I was a kid and things I use to watch on television or played with. I came up with He-man. Everyone was a fan of this cartoon. But this picture popped up and I had to blog it. He-man was my kid hero! And this picture was just awesome of He-man and his pet green tiger.

SCHOOL

So school started this week again. It felt like yesterday I finished summer semester. Oh wait it was a week and a half ago. That's why it felt so soon. Anyway before I go off about that. This fall semester is going to one of the toughest. Next semester will be the toughest. I have anatomy and chemistry right now with labs and a psychology class too. Although I am thankful that Alicen will help we with that class. But I have hit a new high for college. I will have to buy my Anatomy book at the low low price of 216.00; good ol'SLCC. Getting a new book for this semester. I am so glad that books are getting cheaper. Who knows what I would do if they got to be really pricey. Then I still have to get books for all my other classes as well, plus lab books. Which are a joke when you don't even get a credit. All I know is financial aid is a blessing. I at least have enough of that for tuition and books. So I should not be complaining but my goodness 216.00 for a book. That book better be gold and the author better know everything about the body. That's all I have to say!!

FEEL'N BUDDHA-LICIOUS

My own thoughts!

Just a random thought I have-

Peter Piper picked pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick. Now if Peter Piper owned Peter Pipers Pizza, why was Peter Piper picking pickled peppers?

Questions I would like to have answered!!!

uvula

It never seems to fail in my life, when a semester of school finishes I always get sick. Once again the summer semester ended, my three month stress level went from a 8 1/2 level to a 2; and I got sick. Although it started as a common cold with the usual stuffy nose, headaches and stiffening of the body, I got something unusual that happened to me. My uvula (the little bobber in the back of your month) became swollen to the size of a small eraser I guess. It was just twice its normal size. I know this might sound gross and freakishly weird but I could huff and it would plop onto my tongue and you can totally see it. I showed Alicen and she about flipped. You know in scary movies when they jump back in fear, well that is what Alicen did. It was really weird to see in the mirror. After a while I got use to it. Its since gone down, don't know what caused it but I hope to not have it again. A swollen Uvula who would have thought of a thing.

What a great ending to the men's 4 x 100 meter free relay. It was so cool to watch. Not just because its one of the stops for Michael Phelps to get a gold medal but all day long the Highly favored French team was talking trash. All about how they where placed in the Olympics to embarrass the American team, they where going to make the USA look bad. So trash was hitting the fan far before the race had even started. To me, never trash talk before the event, do it after! That is what the Americans did. The race started great especially with all the hype around it. Phelps took a great lead set the pace high. I mean come on when the top five teams beat the world record that is saying something. But the french started to look to take over and on the final leg it looked all but there's. All Alicen and I could say was "stupid french!" As they came to the final 50 mm it totally change. Jason Lezak of the USA totally took the last leg and swam the best I have ever seen. Even Jason said it best "People always step up and do things out of the ordinary at the Olympics." It was amazing. He totally caught the "frenchie" and blow by him enough to reach the wall just milla-seconds ahead to win the gold. I wish anyone could have seen Alicen and I as we watched this race. McKinley was asleep, I had Tatum in my arms asleep and we are trying to jump up and down and scream for delight while not awaking the little ones. It was quite the event. Well worth waking the kids if we had. Then to see everyone including Michael Phelps look at the leader board and see who one. It was that split second that everyone holds their breath. Once it showed USA winning, it was awesome to see the 4 relayers yelling and screaming for what had just happened. I feel bad for any one that missed it. It was just totally amazing!!!

Beijing Olympic's 2008

What a great way to start the fall of 2008, being able to watch the opening Olympics. I love watching the Olympics. But China really knew how to ring in their turn. With the technology and showmanship. It was by far the best opening ceremonies of all time. I do have to say its a bit scary to see just how many people are in China. Even the News casters where chatting about "how intimidating they where on television and how the people in charge where telling the workers in the ceremonies to smile more!" I mean at any moment in time those few thousand workers can become an army. Its unbelievable!! It how ever was cool to see the drummers, the people with box's moving and bobbing. How they lighted the torch and the LCD screen on the ground. That was the biggest screen ever made. The opening of the Olympics was really creative and had that WOW factor. I was very impressed. However the introduction of Nations need to be cut down a bit. That was a total Snoozer! I thought it would never end. I am just excited to watch the events and see who wins what. Go USA!

Dark Knight

The time finally came that Batman : The Dark Knight finally came out. I was so excited. My wife's work does a premiere before it comes out in theater and when she told me they where doing Batman for theirs, I pretty much demanded she get tickets. I was skipping anything and everything to be at the movie. I skipped my Biology class for this one. I am here to tell you that this movie did not disappoint at all. It is by far the best Batman movie. It had everything a Batman fan could want. I was really impressed with Heath Ledger as the "Joker" that is the way a joker should be played. All through the movie I was just thinking to myself how crappy it is, that Ledger plays the Joker so well and we will never see it again. The Joker part is so vital to the Batman series. Now they will have to work around the Joker and use other villians. Its so not cool." My hat goes off to Heath Ledger for his preformance in this movie. All I can say is WOW! what a great movie. If you have not seen it, go! I was so pumped to be one of the first to see it. I will for sure see it again if the chance comes.

blogging

So it seems everyone is getting into this whole blogging thing and so I figured I would follow the crowd. Actually at my grandmothers funeral, my cousin Scott told me how I need to blog because its a great way to blow off steam and stress on occation. I know great place to talk about blogging. At a funeral!! Thats just the way my family works I guess. But after seeing how much fun my wife Alicen has with hers and seeing how I would rather write what I am feeling then say it, blogging is not a bad idea to get into. So buckle up, take a seat, get a drink and sandwich because this is going to be one heck of a ride. Enjoy!!!!