On The Down Low

Third Day WIDGET

Football Fever

Football fever is sweeping the Anderson house. I am getting pumped up for this Weekend's BIG GAME. I'm not talking about the NFL or some overpaid College team. (I kid) I'm talking about the 8 year old Hornets. I get to go to Cole's football game on Saturday morning. I've been on tour for this whole season. So, I've missed every game. I can't tell you how pumped I am for the game on Saturday.

Last 3 shows of Music Builds tour

I thought it might be nice to hear some of your feedback about the Music Builds Tour for any/all that have been to the show as a way to celebrate the tour coming to a close. I'd love to have some comments to print out and share with the other guys in the band and the other bands on tour in our final tour devotion.

Were you as blown away by Switchfoot as I was? Did you love getting to see them with such great production?

Did you fall in love with Robert Randolph?

Are you as excited about Jars' new material as I am?

Did you get chills like we do on stage watching all the artists perform "When love comes to town" together?

Did you enjoy the corporate worship with thousands of other believers?

Were you inspired to use your voice and your actions to make a difference for others?

Time Flies When you're chasing toddlers.. random thoughts for the week.

This time at home has gone by quickly. Shannon was volunteering at the book fair at our local school. So, she spent almost all of her free time during the day there. That left me a lot of quality time with my two youngest children, Eli and Lucy.

Eli has recovered completely from his collar bone injury. So, I will have to upgrade him from a tropical storm back to a level 2 hurricane. Lucy is in rare form. Her favorite activity this week has been jumping on the trampoline. I'm good for a 5 minute hop. But, she has wanted to hang out all day. Fortunately, the weather has been PERFECT!

Things I've heard this week...

"You're my best friend dad." Eli
"Hold me daddy." Lucy
"I want to be a rock star for Halloween." Eli
"I want to wear a pretty dress daddy." Eli, just kidding, Lucy!

Basically, Mr. mom duty has been exhausting, but priceless.

Shannon and I fell a little short on the quality time as I usually fell asleep pretty early. But, it has been a really good week. Our home has been peaceful.

random thoughts....

I'm looking forward to getting back on the road as well. I think the tour really found a groove last week on the west coast. I think we might have even won over a Switchfoot fan!

I'm personally excited/curious about the VP debates tonight. But, I'm pretty determined not to comment about them here.

I've run for 3 days in a row at home. (not continuously) Thanks for the treadmill mom! I'm going to try and keep it going on the road. Who's with me? ..... (crickets chirping)

I need a good book. Hoping to find one in the airport today.

Our manager doesn't want me to wear cowboy hats anymore, but we are playing in TX.

And finally, sports. I don't really have one college team that I cheer for. I like when Alabama wins because Mac gives a much better performance. But, it pained me to see Georgia play so poorly. I wanted a close game.

My team is the 8 year old HORNETS. Speaking of which, Cole Anderson was the defensive player of the game with 7 tackles in the backfield and one forced fumble and recovery.

Big Brothers

So, last night at dinner we were talking about some things we needed to do this week. I brought up that we needed to go to the county offices to get a form signed to get the younger 3 kids' passports. It's one of those new post 9/11 requirements.

"WHY?" asked Mackenzie.

"So, we can all go on the KLOVE cruise in January.

"NOOOOO! I don't want to go on a boat. Sharks will eat me... and dolphins."

"Mackenzie. It's a really big boat. There are no sharks and you won't drown."

"I DON'T WANT TO GO!"

That's when Cole speaks softly to his little sister...

"Mackenzie, stop freaking out. This isn't a small boat like we'd use on a lake. this a really big boat to use on the ocean... Like the TITANTIC."

Thanks a lot Cole.

Boys Being Boys

I know that all you folks out there who just have daughters sit around and read books, have tea parties, and try on princess dresses. But, if you have boys, you know that you have to get creative with free time.

Here's the scene. Two neighbors playing after school. ACTION

"hey dude. There's a hill."
"My mom's got a wagon."
"I bet you can't make it to the bottom."
"Can too."

DAD YELLS, "Wear a helmet."
Mom cries out, "OH, this is not a good idea."
Dad responds, "boys can't learn about gravity from a text book. Let me get my camera."

We Did It

I feel like the hardest work for the year is done now that we have made it through a DVD shoot and the hometown and Nashville shows.

I felt like I had one of my personal best shows in Atlanta on Saturday and one of my worst personal shows on Sunday. It's really difficult when you make a few mistakes in the night to not feel like you've messed up the whole show. I know that isn't the case. But, it's hard to get out of your head sometimes. I got completely lost in "Creed" which was supposed to be the auto pilot song of the evening. With so much going on, I've been spending too much time thinking about the production and not enough time just getting to be the bass player.

I'm going to really try and take it easy over the coming days before we hit the road again. I've spent so much time preparing for this tour that I am really over due to just sit back and relax for a while. It's Football and Cheerleading tonight, but the weather is perfect and promises to make for a relaxing time at the park. I love my hometown!

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised to see Third Day completely change up our show in the coming days, but it will be a more collaborative effort with all the guys. My brain is too fried to initiate anything right now.

Tai

half day of school

All the kids will be at home by noon today. Cole is asking me to take him to the sporting goods store to get him the linebacker pads that go over his forearm. He was practicing at Fullback in practice this week and was delivering some pretty serious hits.

I'm pretty disappointed that Cole doesn't have a game on Saturday, as I would have actually been able to attend. They have an off week. I don't think I get to go to any games till mid-October.

Speaking of Saturday, It's going to be a hectic day. I'll roll off the bus and head to Mackenzie's cheerleading where I'll meet up with the rest of the family. After cheerleading, I have lunch and the early afternoon with the kids by myself as Shannon has a wedding shower to attend for one of my sisters.

Then, we'll all head down to the show at Lakewood at which point I should be thoroughly exhausted from watching my kids. Atlanta shows are always hectic, but this one promises to be especially hectic. We're having a documentary crew travel with us for this whole next run. I think we're going to be able to capture some aspects of the band that people have never seen before.

Parenting: the best defense is a good offense

Shannon is about to take off for a workout and some meetings at school. So, I'm babysitting, I mean parenting the younger two kids at home.

I'm writing this post to pump myself up. I find that if I am trying to get other things done, like email or phone calls, while watching the younger kids, I will only get frustrated at all the messes and noises that they are making.

So, I'm going to try and incorporate the best defense possible.... a good offense. I just need to think of a good activity to do with a 2 year old girl and 3 year old boy in a sling.

Coloring doesn't really work, and I try to reserve the television as a last resort.

I'm thinking stories, a tea party, then the animal guessing game.

Tomorrow's show is going to be a breeze after all this family time!

Playing Hookie

Just rolled off the bus from Rock the Universe. What a great concert! When I got home, my family had already left for church and wont be home till 12:30. I have 3 hours to my self!

I'm thinking about reading, working out, drinking coffee, and taking a shower before they come home?

Or, I could take a shower and head up to church. Shannon will be in a meeting. So, I'll be on my own.

I think I'm going to take option A and listen to the sermon online later this week.

Shannon is going on a long bike ride this afternoon to prepare for an upcoming triathlon. So, I'll have plenty of time with the kids and it wouldn't hurt to be charged up.

I'm looking forward to cranking up the Music Builds shows later this week.

I have a few home projects going, but nothing that should be too consuming.