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.

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...

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

After Christmas Returns Include: My Sanity!

It was recently brought to my attention that my New Year's post seemed a bit... Well... Discouraged. So, if anyone else out there was concerned for my mental well-being, let me assure you, you can put away the straight jacket and the Prozac, I am doing much better.

To explain, my Christmas break from work started off with me getting sick. Awesome. I fought through and got through Christmas. Then, Taryn got sick. About the same time, my dad arrived to visit. While this is not a bad thing by any means, we always give up our bedroom and stay on the futon in Taryn's room when he visits. (Nothing at all is my dad's fault. Our house is just too darn small for a 3rd adult!!) Sharing a room with Taryn isn't all that fun on a normal night, but when she is sick, FORGETABOUTIT. Taryn stopped sleeping. She stopped napping. The only sleep that I was getting was little catnaps in our LaZBoy. Then (perhaps due to my lack of sleep) my illness made a curtain call. At one point my mom sent me an email saying "Maybe Taryn just isn't going to nap anymore. Some kids give up their naps early." It almost sent me on a killing spree.

Finally, on January 1st, in the pics above, you can see when Taryn finally slept again. She fought me on a nap for a good 3-4 hours. She threw temper tantrums, I threw a few myself. I was ready to move out, divorce Lee, disown Taryn, and jump in the river... Finally, at 5pm, she fell asleep and she was CRASHED OUT. She woke up for dinner and a little bit of play time and then went to bed. And slept. And I slept. And the next day at 6am, my dad left and Lee and I immediately reclaimed our bedroom. And we slept some more.

Taryn is back to going to bed at 7:30, waking at 6:30 and taking a few hour nap in the afternoons. And things are suddenly a lot brighter. It's amazing what a little sleep can do for ya!

Almost 2011

So, I just read through last year's survey and thought I better do it again. It was fun looking back!

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? Was a teacher (challenging at times) and mother to a toddler (also challenging at times!).

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for 2011? Last year I wanted to stop my obsession with sweets. I have done a pretty good job at this (other than recently... holidays don't count, right?). Since we got a treadmill, my resolution for this year is to use it!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? There weren't as many births this year as last year, that's for sure...

4. Did anyone close to you die? Not this year, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit? Stuck around the good ol' USofA.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A dishwasher. A bigger house!

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Two days before Thanksgiving... And not for good reasons.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving life as a first-year teacher.

9. What was your biggest failure? My diet and exercise regime (same as last year).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Other than a few days of the year I was pretty healthy. Probably more of a spiritual injury than anything.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Our Hoosier cabinet in the kitchen and the treadmill.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Our neighbor. He is awesome. He vacuums our leaves, he sets mole traps in our yard, he snow blows our driveway while we're at work... And he is going to help Lee wire our dishwasher (he's a retired electrician). Love that guy.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My students and the town that I work in. I didn't know that much racism still existed in the country.

14. Where did most of your money go? Home improvement.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting a job.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? "Teenage Dream" by Katie Perry

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? A little sadder.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter at the moment.
c) richer or poorer? About the same, but I feel richer since I have a job!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Spending time with friends.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Stressing out (same as last year).

20. How did you spend Christmas? At our house in the morning, then my grandma's apartment with my family. Then we went to the Klemme's on the 26th.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010? I fall more in love with Taryn everyday!

22. What was your favorite TV program? Modern Family.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don't think I really HATE anyone. There are a couple of students that I really have trouble tolerating.

24. What was the best book you read? Who has time for that? Beyond blogs and Facebook statuses, I don't do much reading.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Our music channels on DirecTV. I couldn't find them for awhile.

26. What did you want and get? A job!! A good daycare for Taryn.

27. What did you want and not get? A new job for Lee.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? I think I watched all of about 5 movies this year.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 29. Lee and I went to McGraw's, a slightly overpriced restaurant right by our house. Then we went and saw the Book of Eli at the movie theatre.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not having to experience loss.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? I love jeans Fridays. Comfortable shoes for standing all day!

32. What kept you sane? Lee and I taking turns napping on the weekends. Always having my mom to call for help.

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? I can't even think of anything...

35. Who did you miss? My Chi-town friends, Jamie now that she moved.

36. Who was the best new person you met? My new co-workers.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. You just can't make people care about things.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm proud of the house we built.
It's stronger than sticks, stones, and steel.
It's not a big place sittin' up high on some hill.
A lot of things will come and go but love never will.
Oh, I'm proud.I'm proud of the house we built.

NYE

For New Year's Eve, Lee & I headed up to Chicago to hang out with Matt & Stacia. They had lots of good appetizers and games, and of course wine, champagne & beer! (Don't worry, this is sparkling grape juice.)
Matt & Stacia also had some BIG NEWS!

Uncooperative Plothow & the future Mrs! Seriously, there were some great outtakes in the quest to get a picture of these two. Unfortunately, most were on Stacia's camera, so they'll never see the light of day! They are still in my mind though...

I was in bed by 1am, but I still outlasted my hubby! However, at about 3am, I came down with a stomach bug. Seriously, even when I don't drink I end up throwing up on New Year's Day. This is seriously unfair!

I haven't come up with any New Year's Resolutions yet except to stop doing things I wouldn't want my baby learning. First on the list is licking my plate after we eat spaghetti. (It's just so tasty!)

Happy 2009 everyone!

3...2...1...

Hope this New Year's Eve is as F-U-N as the Last!!