Monthly Archives: April 2026

Why Jefferson’s Birthday Matters to Sloan

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So why does Thomas Jefferson mean anything to my daughter? Well, I will tell you this: It isn’t because she followed in her dad’s footsteps of being a U.S. President child prodigy.

Please humor me as I tell you why Thomas Jefferson matters to my daughter.

No, it is something else entirely.

Give up? One word…HAMILTON.

I really don’t know how it happened, but one day Sloan just really started loving the play Hamilton. Seriously, it was like overnight. Sid and I have watched it before but it was years ago before Sloan had reached an age of reason.

Sloan loves “Hamilton” so much we got her Hamilton pajamas for her birthday.

But starting about six months ago, Sloan somehow discovered the play and has been belting out the songs ever since. If you are familiar with Hamilton, you know Thomas Jefferson plays a pretty major role as an antagonist to the title character. It is kind of funny, because how he is portrayed in the play is pretty much exactly how I had envisioned him for most of my life.

I don’t deny Jefferson’s sketchiness and I do recognize that he is a controversial figure. At the same time, I sincerely value his contributions to the United States of America. It is because of his role as a founding father and his eccentricities that I ranked him #3 when I released my Top Ten U.S. Presidents blog post back in 2017.

When I presented at a conference in the D.C. area back in 2022, I had the pleasure to escape the hotel for an evening to tour the sights with my then-boss. During a previous visit to our nation’s capital I didn’t get the chance to see the Jefferson Monument but I wouldn’t be denied this time around. As with many of the other monuments, the Thomas Jefferson tribute was much larger than I imagined.

I took this photo back in 2022 when I visited Washington D.C. and had the chance to step inside the Jefferson Monument.

I know I am totally going off script now as the point of this post was to discuss why Jefferson matters to Sloan but let me say one more random thing: I love the $2 bill. It truly is just as unique as our third president and I think one of these years a handful of the bills will be crowned my top gift of the Christmas season (have you ever watched someone open an envelope to find $10 in $2 bills?—it is pretty funny).

This is me holding seven $2 bills. I put them in an envelope and used them as a white elephant gift back in December 2024.

But back to Sloan. Thanks to a play that has captured the interest of millions, my daughter has a solid grasp on key moments and prominent figures of early American history. This includes knowledge of the author of the Declaration of Independence who was born on April 13, 1743. Don’t Blink.

Vigil Thursday Rundown

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April showers bring May flowers but lately we have just had sunshine here in Spokane. That’s a great outcome for a couple kids who are living under our roof who happen to be on spring break. That time has arrived for me to quickly (and sometimes not so quickly) cover a handful of topics. Here we go with my latest Thursday Rundown…

S’mores Dip – Once again, I brought a special dessert dip to our family’s Easter celebration. At Sid’s urging, I prepared a s’mores dip. With Beau as my sous chef, we made the dip after church as we mixed marshmallow cream, fudge, cream cheese, and a couple other ingredients. The verdict? Well, the funfetti dip and monster dip I made in the past were both better but it was still pretty good.

Beau sprinkles marshmallows on our s’mores dessert dip.

Easter Vigil 2026 – I extensively described our Easter Sunday but I didn’t write anything about our Easter Eve. On Saturday night, Sloan and I attended the Easter Vigil at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley). The Easter Vigil is the “mother of all vigils” and is the high point of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church. The service is marked by the lighting of the Paschal candle, extended readings, and the welcoming of new members into the Church. As the Catholic Church enjoys a surge worldwide of people converting to the faith, it was cool to see it at the local level too. St. Mary had more people become Catholic on Saturday night than they have had in years. Thanks be to God!

Sloan holds her candle at the Easter Vigil held at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley) on Saturday, April 4, 2026.

Gas – Back in the early 2020s, I wrote about some pretty out of control gas prices. At one point, I was paying $5.29 per gallon to fill up. With the current Iran conflict, gas prices are climbing toward that direction. Earlier this week I paid $4.89 to fill up which racked up a final total of $70.22. It is hard to believe that I was paying $1.56 per gallon less than 10 years ago.

I paid $70.22 to fill up my tank this week at a station at 32nd and Pines in Spokane Valley.

Hoopfest Tip-Off Party – I will return to Hoopfest in 2026 for my 10th year as a court monitor. The kickoff to the June event was this week at the Hoopfest Tip-Off Party at Northern Quest. I received a couple invites to the bash because of my service as a court monitor and because EWU sponsors the tournament. I took my dad and we had a really nice time. We were given drink tickets, a catered meal from Qdoba, and the opportunity to watch the NCAA men’s basketball championship game on several big screens. We also witnessed the poster reveal and the ball reveal. I can’t wait for Hoopfest 2026!

KHQ sports director Austin Getz (left) and Hoopfest executive director Riley Stockton (right) reveal the poster design for Hoopfest 2026 at the Hoopfest Tip-Off Party earlier this week at Northern Quest.

Cruise Memories – This week has marked the one-year anniversary of our cruise through the Western Caribbean. It was the only cruise I had ever set sail on and a year later I am filled with so many happy memories. I wrote about the experience and what made it such an awesome vacation. If you have never been on one before, you should give it a try just to see if it is an escape that meshes well with your vacation expectations.

Sloan and I living our best lives on Freedom of the Seas during our family’s first ever cruise.

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If I am counting correctly, that’s five topics, meaning my work here is done (for tonight, at least). I am looking forward to a day off tomorrow to spend time with my kids as their spring break winds down. Have a wonderful rest of your week, friends. Don’t Blink.

Dribble-Dribble, Shoot-Shoot: Sloan’s Basketball Season

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We made a deal with Sloan. After five seasons of soccer, her enthusiasm was starting to wane. With the spring season approaching, she expressed her desire to hang up the cleats. With the season already paid for (you sign up for fall and spring seasons as a bundle), we wanted her to stick it out.

But then, in the pursuit of keeping her active, we offered Sloan an alternative: Play basketball and you can retire from soccer.

She accepted our offer.

Sloan poses for a picture in her basketball uniform prior to her first game.

Sloan recently finished her first season of basketball for St. Mary. Besides cross country, it was the first sport offered to her at school as she played on the 3rd/4th grade girls team. Before the season started, we took her to the local sporting goods store and bought her some basketball shoes. Our girl was ready to play!

Besides the shoes, she also got a basketball. Her Uncle Glen, Aunt  Carrie, cousin Olivia, and dog mom Jelly Bean gave her this ball for her birthday.

I was a little nervous for her. Sloan received my athletic genes and it wasn’t like she was elated to play in the first place. But thanks to super organized/patient coaches and supportive teammates, the season turned out to be a success.

Sloan takes the court at the beginning of a basketball game against Cataldo Catholic School.

The team played six games on Wednesdays from February – beginning of April. Besides the one home game they hosted, the team traveled to other area Catholic schools for their games. Although I did miss one game, I was able to get off work in time to navigate the Cheney/Spokane traffic so I could attend the other five.

Sloan dribbles the basketball down the courtl during her last game on April 1.

The St. Mary girls proved to be a strong squad. They finished with a 4-2 record and played tough each time they graced the hardwood. They were coachable, worked well together, and practiced good sportsmanship. They were a fun group to watch.

Sloan played on an organized, talented, and supportive team. Big thanks to Troy Gibbs and Dani Golay for coaching the squad.

As for Sloan, she showed signs of improvement throughout the season. She played relentless defense and was never afraid to call for the ball. Her ball handling and decisions she made once she received it progressed as the games went on. Although she might not have scored, she always tried to find the open teammate.

Sloan plays defense during a home basketball game at St. Mary Catholic School (Spokane Valley).

Thanks to Troy Gibbs and Dani Golay for serving as the coaches. It makes a dad feel good that they offered such a positive environment where my daughter could grow and the team could succeed. I also admire Sloan for putting herself out there and trying a new sport. As spring enters full swing, I hope she doesn’t miss soccer too much…but I don’t think she will. Don’t Blink.

Easter 2026

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Alleluia! He is risen!

Thanks be to God my family got to spend another Easter together. We took this photo after beautiful Easter Sunday mass at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley).

Yesterday we celebrated Easter Sunday and per usual it was the most glorious day of the year for our family. Because of the magnitude of the day for humanity and the personal emphasis Sid, Sloan, Sid, and I place on it, each year I write a quick post reflecting on how we celebrated it.

Sloan and Beau in their Easter Sunday best as they stand in the vestibule at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley).

Thanks to everyone who made it special…

Our Easter Sunday started at 6 a.m. when everyone awoke. It was a dash down the stairs to see if the Easter Bunny paid a visit overnight. Much to the delight of Sloan and Beau, he did. Their baskets contained clothes, a book, and some candy.

Beau and Sloan scope out their Easter baskets. The Easter Bunny treated them well.

The focal point of the day then took place when we drove to St. Mary Catholic Church for 9 a.m. Easter Sunday mass. My brother, sister-in-law, and niece sat with us in the overflowing quarters of the sanctuary. Speaking of the overflowing quarters, during his homily, Fr. Jeff Lewis spoke about the influx of people not just parish-wide but worldwide joining the Catholic Church. He then preached about an obvious line that separates the world into a pro-Jesus side and anti-Jesus side. He told us to get on the pro-Jesus side. Our family had the honor of bringing down the gifts with our Godson.

Fr. Jeff Lewis concludes Easter Sunday mass at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley). It was beautiful as usual and my family had the blessing of bringing up the gifts.

After mass we caught up with friends and then ventured into the St. Mary parish hall (aka the gym) for fellowship and sweet treats. After a long Lenten season, the cinnamon rolls and donut holes sure tasted good.

Beau and Sloan help themselves to some sweets after Easter Sunday mass at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley).

Back at the house, Beau and I made a dessert dip for our family celebration later that afternoon. Sid then took over the kitchen and made a pizza dip for lunch. While the baking and eating was taking place, we watched a couple videos about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Our family walking with swagger on Easter Sunday.

We then ventured up north to my parents’ house for our big Reser Easter celebration. My siblings and their families joined us as we all spent most of the afternoon outside as we hung out in lounge chairs, threw the football, and did chalk art.

Sloan and Beau with their cousins just loving the beautiful Eastern Sunday weather.

It was then time to eat as we sat down as a big, happy family to enjoy a ham dinner. As I always say about these meals, the conversation always ends up being better than the food even though everything on the table was incredibly delicious.

Our family sitting around the table for Easter Sunday Dinner 2026.

After Easter dinner, Glen and his wife staged their annual Easter egg hunt for the kids (you can watch the video I made here). This was the first time since my family moved to Spokane that a jacket/sweatshirt wasn’t needed for the hunt. All kids were great sports and had fun. We concluded the Reser Easter celebration with dessert and continued conversation.

Glen and Carrie pose with all the cousins after their annual Easter egg hunt.

Sidney and I returned home just the two of us. My sister took Sloan and Beau to her place to spend the night with their cousins as all the kids are now on spring break. We would close out Easter Sunday by watching some of “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Alleluia! He Is Risen! Sloan celebrates inside the St. Mary Catholic School (Spokane Valley) gym after the Easter Vigil.

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With yesterday’s celebration, we now enter Eastertide, a period of 50 glorious days to celebrate the resurrection. At the beginning of Lent, I referenced a homily from Archbishop Hicks that reflected on the hunger we feel in our hearts during lent. He mentioned that binging on jelly donuts during Fat Tuesday would do little to satisfy our appetite on Ash Wednesday. Well, the same holds true as we enter the Easter Season. Although the season of fasting has passed, the indulgent foods that will now be more accessible to us will do little to satisfy our hunger.

As Archbishop Hicks said seven weeks ago, and it still holds true today, there is only one thing that will fill our hungry souls: Jesus.

Happy Easter. Don’t Blink.

Easter 2025
Easter 2024
Easter 2023
Easter 2022
Easter 2021
Easter 2020
Easter 2019
Easter 2018

Girl Scout Cookies Thursday Rundown

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I want to start by wishing you a meaningful Holy Thursday. This evening begins the Triduum, the three-day period that ends with Easter Sunday and comprises the holiest portion of the Church calendar. Let’s begin with my latest Thursday Rundown…

Sprite and Milk – On Sunday, Beau asked if he could do a TikTok challenge that encouraged brave souls to mix milk and Sprite together. We have been down this road before, I thought. It was three years ago that Sloan and I made Pilk—a mix of Pepsi and milk. Since I did that taste experiment with Sloan, I figured I would do Sprite + milk with Beau. Although I didn’t try it, Beau said it was delicious. Once his sister saw what he was doing, she even encouraged him to add some flavored syrup to the concoction…which he did. The overall experiment turned out to be a success.

Beau holds his Sprite and milk drink. This was after the flavored syrup was added.

Girl Scout Cookies – I came across this graphic depicting the different varieties of Girl Scout cookies in this past Sunday’s Spokesman-Review. I am yet to try an Exploremores but I would like to soon. After all, it shouldn’t be that hard, Girl Scouts are all over the place right now selling the cookies. Sidney usually buys 6-7 boxes but we haven’t purchased our usual quota yet this year (hint: If you have a Girl Scout who wants an easy sale). Although the price per box has increased from $5 to $6, we should have enough in the budget this year to cover it.

This was the graphic than ran in the Spokesman-Review this past weekend.

Past Easter Eggs – With Easter this Sunday, I thought I would share some of the commercialized posts I have written in the past. First, please take a look at these photos of my children with various different Easter Bunnies and tell me if any of them (the rabbits…not my kids) look normal. Second, if you have a sweet tooth, take a gander at my top five Easter candies. Yes, the classic Cadbury egg is on the list but you will have to follow the link to find out the others, including what I ranked as #1. And third, speaking of Easter eggs, get up to speed on my unsolicited critique of different Easter egg hunt formats.

Sloan and Beau in 2024 with an Easter Bunny they encountered at a neighborhood egg hunt in Camelot Park in north Spokane.

Pizzagaina – I wrote about this Easter delicacy five years ago so I thought it was well past time to sing its praises again. Pizzagaina is an Italian dish made at Easter that will bring a smile to your face. Think of it as a savory pie of goodness. Macaroni and cheese and ham are packed into a flaky crust and then baked. Pizzagaina has been a tradition in my mom’s family for decades and you can always find a freshly made loaf at our family Easter celebrations.

This is the pizzagaina loaf that my mom gave my family in 2021. We ate every bit of it.

Mary and the Women at the Tomb – I started this rundown with Beau and I am going to end it with him too. We were on the campus of St. Augustine Parish/Cataldo School last night for Sloan’s last basketball game. As we were getting into my car after it was over, Beau asked, “Will you take my picture, daddy?” He was standing right next to this Marian statue that depicts her with the other women prior to Jesus’ resurrection. With Easter this weekend, I didn’t think there was anything more appropriate to include in tonight’s Thursday Rundown.

Beau stands next to a Marian statue on the St. Augustine Parish/Cataldo School campus. Have a great Easter, everyone!

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I hope you have a blessed weekend with a very happy Easter. Thanks for reading and praise Jesus. Don’t Blink.