Soap Box

Today Taryn got up on her soap box... Or rather her step stool. She gave a good 5 minute lecture.

There was some very serious explanation...

There was a call to action...

And then she took a quick break to show off her fashionable side.

Anyone know a small country in need of a dictator? We've got the girl for the job.

Growing Pains

This is why we need a bigger house. ASAP. I can barely get up to a full trot in this house!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Last night Taryn and I (mostly I) spent a good chunk of time tying ribbon around Valentine's Day granola bars and putting her "classmates" names on it... This morning we got her dressed up in her sparkly pink heart-covered t-shirt. At "school" she got lots of Valentine's from the other kids... And I'm pretty darn confident that they have NO CLUE WTF IS GOING ON!

Oh the joys of a Hallmark holiday!!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!

Drinking Away My 20's!

Saturday was my 30th birthday. Yeehah. I guess I'm finally catching up to many of my friends who paved the way over the last 6 years.

We started with dinner at the Lafayette Brewing Company. One of the ladies heard that it was someone's birthday and came up and wished TARYN a happy birthday... Yeah... Like I would bring my daughter to a brewery for her 2nd birthday. Screw Chuck E Cheese Taryn, we're going to the brewery!!

This is John and his wife Katie. John and I have gone to school together since we were in 2nd grade, one of the oldest friends I still keep in touch with. He has two sons now, Jackson and Archer. Archer is just a couple months older than Taryn and it is hilarious to imagine that they may end up going to school together here in a few years. His wife Katie is becoming a Doula, which is very cool!

Lee's brother Matt and sister Sonia made it out to celebrate. Actually, I think they both made it out until around midnight, which is pretty good for all of us old folks!

A pic of the dudes. Justin looks like he's seen a ghost!

After more shots than I've seen since my 24th birthday, we ended up our night with a trip to the piano bar at the Cactus. The Piano Man, Bruce Barker, even told me I didn't look 30. Thanks dude! We actually tried to go to Harry's, but the line was too long. Probably fate stepping in to make the right call. Thank you fate!

I woke up at 7:30am the next day, ate some cereal, Advil and water and went back to sleep until 9:15. At that point, I felt pretty darn decent. So many people I know have hangovers that get worse with age. Not me! I have gotten better! I am like the Benjamin Button of hangovers.

Thanks for all the b-day wishes! And yes, I realize that when someone says "Raise your hand if you're in your 20's," I should keep my hand by my side.

Snowed In

Today is snow day #2 at our house.
We were feeling more than a little stir crazy, so we got bundled up and headed outside for a bit.

Taryn was much more tolerant of the snow than in the past, but she still wanted to stay on the parts that were plowed already.

Lee busted the Explorer out of the snow and we took a drive around to see what the roads were like. I'm pretty sure this is exactly what the news told us NOT to do last night, but oh well! The roads out by us were actually a lot better than the roads in town. As we drove through Purdue's campus (school was called off again today! unheard of!) they had almost everyone that works there outside clearing snow. That's a lot of sidewalks!

I am not sure if we'll be back to school tomorrow. I am guessing Taryn's daycare will be open, and maybe Lee's schools, but I am guessing Attica might take another day. There's a lot of back roads in that school district!