My mom came out to babysit and brought her dog Akilla.
This inspired Taryn to dig up her Akilla costume from Halloween.
And pose with Akilla for some pictures. (Thank goodness Akilla is a patient dog.)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Brrrrr...
When we finally got some snow, we got Taryn bundled up in her snow gear and took her out to FINALLY use her brand new sled.
Items she was dressed in: snow boots, snow pants, winter coat, hat, scarf, gloves.
Time it took to dress the whole family: 15 minutes
Things that pissed her off outside: the snow was in her eyes, it was cold, she couldn't pull mommy on the sled, she didn't want to pull her baby doll on the sled, she wasn't able to shovel the driveway with me.
Tantrums thrown in the snow: ~5 (it's sometimes hard to tell when one ends and another begins)
Total time spent outside: 20 minutes. Yes, 5 longer than it took to get dressed.
Police Officer Like Daddy
My mom bought Taryn this police costume for Christmas. It's really big on her right now, but sometimes when Lee gets dressed for work, she wants to put on her uniform too. In this pic, she's pretending to drive around. I think that's what she thinks Lee's job is.
Girlie Girl
The girlie girl phase definitely continues around our house. The latest craze includes princesses, makeup, cheerleading and ballerinas.
When she wears her towel like this, she says it's her princess gown.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Flower Girl - Congrats Carly & Blake!
On New Year's Eve my cousin Carly married Blake. They are psuedo-high school sweethearts. Apparently they were both secretly in love with each other in high school, but never actually dated. They are a really fun couple. I like Blake more and more each time I am around him. Carly asked Taryn to be her flower girl and Taryn took the job very seriously. She spent many a hour throwing rose petals (actually, usually it was ripped up toilet paper out of a tupperware bowl). But, she was a little nervous once the day came.
Then she met the ring bearer. His name was Braden and Taryn thought he was awesome. He was 6 years old, but was SO good with Taryn and played hide-n-seek with her before the ceremony and everything.
Taryn was all about getting dolled up and when I told her she looked cute she said "No, I not cute, I beautiful." She clearly has low self-esteem. She thought she was Carly's little assistant and wanted to be wherever Carly was. This made for some problems during the reception when Taryn wanted to be involved in the first dance and the cake cutting. Despite all that, she got many compliments from people about how well she did with her duties.
Taryn was all about getting dolled up and when I told her she looked cute she said "No, I not cute, I beautiful." She clearly has low self-esteem. She thought she was Carly's little assistant and wanted to be wherever Carly was. This made for some problems during the reception when Taryn wanted to be involved in the first dance and the cake cutting. Despite all that, she got many compliments from people about how well she did with her duties.
And during the reception, she made this tower of cheese and somehow got the cracker to miraculously stand up on its end on top. Of course she had knocked it over by the time I got my camera out to record the feat. Perhaps a future engineer on our hands? A math minded mom can hope...
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2012 Time
Lately I take all my blogging cues from Michelle it seems, so she reminded me to do THIS again! 3rd year in a row!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Lived in Fowler. Was a single parent for 15 weeks while Lee was at the Police Academy. Taught 8th graders (oy vey!).
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for 2012? Last year I wanted to use my new treadmill. I did alright while living in our old house where it was in our bedroom. Since we moved, it is in the basement and hasn't been used at all. Whoops. I'm not really doing a resolution, but I do plan to get a little healthier in 2012 in a few ways that probably include the treadmill.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes! Baby Kylan, Baby Rue, Baby Brock, Baby Ella! And that is just the family! Many friends did as well.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Not in 2011, but we got some bad news about Lee's Grandma Klemme today, so we may not be so lucky in 2012.
5. What countries did you visit? Stuck around the good ol' USofA.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? Another baby. Fingers crossed that we get pregnant soon for that to work out!
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? September 30th, when Lee graduated from the Police Academy. I was counting down for that for awhile!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting a house that I love and getting it in shape. Keeping Taryn relatively in check during the Terrible Twos. Potty training!
9. What was your biggest failure? Spending too much time on the computer and not exercising.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not really.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Our house, my Toyota Camry.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My teacher neighbor at work. She has really kept me sane this year and has been a wealth of knowledge and support on a daily basis.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My students and the town that I work in. (Same answer as last year!) Let's add the principal to the list this year!
14. Where did most of your money go? Home improvement. (Same as last year.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Lee getting his dream job.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? "Dirt Road Anthem" by Jason Aldean
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? A little happier. b) thinner or fatter? Same. c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Spending time with friends. (Same as last year.)
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Stressing out (Same as the last two years).
20. How did you spend Christmas? Opening Taryn's stocking in the morning, then at my Grandma's house.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011? I love our new town and house.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Modern Family (again).
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Some co-workers/administrators.
24. What was the best book you read? The Hunger Games series. LOVE.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I rediscovered the cd's from Michelle & Reuter's wedding. I love listening to them when there is nothing on the radio.
26. What did you want and get? A bigger house! And a dishwasher! A new job for Lee!
27. What did you want and not get? A new job closer to home.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? I can't think of much...
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? This was the dirty 30 for me. I had dinner with the family and then went out boozin'.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Lee being around more.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Comfort.
32. What kept you sane? Naps.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't even think of anyone...
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Indiana's idiotic education reform thanks to Governor Douchebag.
35. Who did you miss? My Chi-town friends and Jamie.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Taryn's new daycare provider.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. I can do things on my own, but it's nice not to have to.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. (Only make it Two Year Old Daughters instead!)
Remember when we used to be
Everything they'd ever need
We had them believing we were cool
It's like it happened overnight
We're always wrong, they're always right
We used to be the ones breakin' the rules
Now we're just mothers, we're just fathers of Teenage Daughters
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Lived in Fowler. Was a single parent for 15 weeks while Lee was at the Police Academy. Taught 8th graders (oy vey!).
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for 2012? Last year I wanted to use my new treadmill. I did alright while living in our old house where it was in our bedroom. Since we moved, it is in the basement and hasn't been used at all. Whoops. I'm not really doing a resolution, but I do plan to get a little healthier in 2012 in a few ways that probably include the treadmill.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes! Baby Kylan, Baby Rue, Baby Brock, Baby Ella! And that is just the family! Many friends did as well.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Not in 2011, but we got some bad news about Lee's Grandma Klemme today, so we may not be so lucky in 2012.
5. What countries did you visit? Stuck around the good ol' USofA.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? Another baby. Fingers crossed that we get pregnant soon for that to work out!
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? September 30th, when Lee graduated from the Police Academy. I was counting down for that for awhile!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting a house that I love and getting it in shape. Keeping Taryn relatively in check during the Terrible Twos. Potty training!
9. What was your biggest failure? Spending too much time on the computer and not exercising.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not really.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Our house, my Toyota Camry.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My teacher neighbor at work. She has really kept me sane this year and has been a wealth of knowledge and support on a daily basis.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My students and the town that I work in. (Same answer as last year!) Let's add the principal to the list this year!
14. Where did most of your money go? Home improvement. (Same as last year.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Lee getting his dream job.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? "Dirt Road Anthem" by Jason Aldean
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? A little happier. b) thinner or fatter? Same. c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Spending time with friends. (Same as last year.)
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Stressing out (Same as the last two years).
20. How did you spend Christmas? Opening Taryn's stocking in the morning, then at my Grandma's house.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011? I love our new town and house.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Modern Family (again).
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Some co-workers/administrators.
24. What was the best book you read? The Hunger Games series. LOVE.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I rediscovered the cd's from Michelle & Reuter's wedding. I love listening to them when there is nothing on the radio.
26. What did you want and get? A bigger house! And a dishwasher! A new job for Lee!
27. What did you want and not get? A new job closer to home.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? I can't think of much...
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? This was the dirty 30 for me. I had dinner with the family and then went out boozin'.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Lee being around more.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Comfort.
32. What kept you sane? Naps.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't even think of anyone...
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Indiana's idiotic education reform thanks to Governor Douchebag.
35. Who did you miss? My Chi-town friends and Jamie.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Taryn's new daycare provider.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. I can do things on my own, but it's nice not to have to.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. (Only make it Two Year Old Daughters instead!)
Remember when we used to be
Everything they'd ever need
We had them believing we were cool
It's like it happened overnight
We're always wrong, they're always right
We used to be the ones breakin' the rules
Now we're just mothers, we're just fathers of Teenage Daughters
The Klemme's Visit Orlando
Warning: Marathon post ahead. We spent 5 days in Orlando, FL and I managed to take close to 200 pictures. Geesh!
Anyway, on December 26th, we left bright and early to go to Orlando, FL. Back in the day, the Klemme's went on a family vacation each summer. This ended when Lee and I were in college and they bought their lakehouse. This year Lee's parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary (wow) and wanted to take another family vacation to celebrate.
The Klemme's rented a 6-bedroom house in Orlando. We really could have used more bedrooms. We had all 19 family members down there. This included 10 adults and 9 children. The children ranged in age from 3 weeks old to 7 years old. Busy.
The kids loved the pool. Fortunately, the pool was heated. It wasn't exactly hot while we were down there.
I had told Lee that I really wanted to take Taryn to Disney. He was skeptical about dishing out that kind of dough, but I had finally broken him down. Early in the week we went to some of the shops in Downtown Disney. Lee said "I really underestimated how much she would like this." She LOVED the princess store. She was so amazed and wanted to get one of the princess makeovers that some other girls were getting. Not this trip, Taryn...
As our Christmas/Anniversary gift to Lee's parents, the 4 kids paid to have professional pictures taken on the beach of the whole family. We went over to Cocoa Beach. It was awesome because we were able to get full family pics, pics of each of the families, pics of individual kids, etc. Bonus! We all wore white shirts... After the pictures we went to dinner and I must say I felt a little silly all in our white clothes!
The next day we went to Sea World. It was really cool for Taryn to see so many of these animals that she has learned about. I think it really makes it sink in more.
Taryn loved the dolphins and said "Mommy, I want a dolphin." Me too, Taryn... However, this pic on the right sums up her feelings on the sharks. Not a fan.
The kids were able to do a few rides and we even got our name on the board at the Shamu Show.
Finally, on Friday, we headed to Magic Kingdom. I was super anal mom and had quite the agenda planned out. I knew it was one of the busiest days of the year, and I wanted to see as much as humanly possible. When I saw that the boat was named Fowler, like our town, I figured we would have a good day ahead!
We booked it to Fantasyland where we were able to walk right on It's a Small World. We Fast Passed Peter Pan and hit up Dumbo and the Tea Cups. We were able to hit two different street parties, and the Pooh ride. We should have stopped there, but we had some extra time so we went on Snow White. Yeah, that scared Taryn. Oops.
The street parties were nice because you were able to get a look at just about every character. When Taryn saw Donald Duck riding on a float, she clasped her hand over her mouth in amazement and kept saying "Donald wave at me!" At the end of each street party, they shot Mickey shaped confetti. I picked some up for Taryn and she treasured that confetti so much!
So, we headed back to Main Street to see how long the line was to see Mickey... The sign said 5 minutes. WHAT?!? I asked the lady working if that could possibly be right. Surely they mean 55 minutes. It really was 5!!! So, we strolled right in for a photo op with Mickey AND Minnie! Taryn was so in awe of them. It was adorable.
As we pulled out of Disney, Taryn zonked out in the backseat. She was one tired little puppy!
That evening we headed for the airport and flew home... Just in time for Taryn to be the flower girl in my cousin's wedding on New Years Eve... But, that's another post.
Cookie Makers
Back when I was a kid, every year I would decorate Christmas cookies with my mom, uncle & grandparents. When I hit my teenage years, this tradition kind of fell by the wayside. But, after inspiration from Mich's blog, I decided to rekindle this tradition and introduce my little mini-me to the art of cookie decorating.
Taryn's favorite part of the project was her access to large amounts of frosting. "Taryn, have you been eating blue frosting?"
One of our family traditions regarding cookie decorating is really to think outside the box. Yes, you'll find a few green Christmas trees and gold stars, but in the past, we have had double decker cookies, ones that say "Eat Me" and even seductive angels (that may have been my uncle). This year, we had cookie portraits of each of us, a couple fish, a whale, a Jamaican black man and a Kilroy. And you could definitely tell which cookies were Taryn's by the copious amounts of frosting piled on them. Yum.
One of our family traditions regarding cookie decorating is really to think outside the box. Yes, you'll find a few green Christmas trees and gold stars, but in the past, we have had double decker cookies, ones that say "Eat Me" and even seductive angels (that may have been my uncle). This year, we had cookie portraits of each of us, a couple fish, a whale, a Jamaican black man and a Kilroy. And you could definitely tell which cookies were Taryn's by the copious amounts of frosting piled on them. Yum.
Christmas Day 2011
On Christmas Day, Taryn woke me up at about 7am. I am relishing this time when she doesn't really get crazy about Christmas and wake me up at 5am to open presents! Lee had worked the night before until 3:30am, so he would not be waking up until about 10:30am. I waanted to be able to do some "Christmas morning" stuff with Taryn that didn't involve her opening her presents without Lee. So, when she woke up, we got baby Jesus out and put him in his manger. She was pumped about this because she had been rather upset that Jesus was in a drawer all this time. Then we went to see what Santa put in her stocking.
Originally she had been a bit hesitant about Santa and the idea of him coming into her house. But, she LOVED all the things Santa put in her stocking. Even though they were all $1 buys at Target, you would have thought they were priceless gems! The first thing she pulled out was a mini candy cane. Her eyes lit up and she said incrediously "Santa brought this for ME?" She was, however, a little bit upset that I didn't have any gifts in my stocking. She told me "I buy you gift mommy." Little sweetheart.
Taryn and I got showered. The entire time she was in the tub she was having a birthday party for Jesus. I kept having to leave the bathroom to take him pieces of birthday cake. (She is obsessed with birthday parties for some reason.) Then Taryn and I headed in to my Grandma's house to help them prepare for the festivities. This is when it got difficult to delay the gift opening. Taryn had quite a mound of gifts that she couldn't wait to dive into!
Finally Lee was up and ready and we could let T loose on her gifts. She loved the toys... Loved a few of the clothing items. But she seemed overwhelmed by the quantity of gifts and how much unwrapping she had to do. I am guessing this is another quality that will not last long!
Our family kind of celebrates Christmas in shifts. First shift was my family, my mom & Gma. Then people started to roll in from there. Then Lee had to leave to go back to work at 5:30pm, more food and presents, etc.
All in all, I think this may really be one of my favorite ages for Christmas. Taryn loves EVERYTHING. She is happy whether the gift cost $1 or $100. Whether it is a Dora toothbrush or a Thomas the Train set... She loves it all! I am concerned for the future if Lee continues to have to work the same shift that he did this year. Somehow I don't think we will be able to hold Taryn back from the gifts in future years. We may have to just wake him up!