daddy games.

Dan set up a game for JP a few days ago... resulting in literally days of fun. I have never heard JP squeal so loudly and run around the room with so much excitement as he did when they were placing multiple balls through he pipe and then seeing if they could run to the other side in time to catch them in various containers. I think maybe it's a boy thing and I'm not really sure which of my boys loved it more. 

:30 by 30: "Run a Race with Dan"

This morning I crossed my first item off of the 30 by 30 list! It was to "run a race with Dan." Now, here's the thing, Dan is NOT a runner- as in, he does not run for fun. He thinks running for fun is crazy so a 5k was the best I was going to get with him by my side. And honestly what sealed the deal for him was that anyone who ran this 5K was given a "fast pass" to use for the rest of the day at Honda's (his company) King's Island Day. So, really he did it so he could cut to the front of each roller coaster line and running with me was total bonus because as we know a happy wife is a happy life!

On the way to the race it was pouring rain with no visible end in sight, but luckily right before start time it let up and the cooler weather ended up being so nice to run in. The course took us all around the amusement park, weaving in and out of all the main attractions and even running some 'behind the scenes.' Honda had invited an Olympic Gold Medalist in this distance from the 70s to start the race and he was at the finish line as well and placed my medal on, pretty cool! 

Dan had been trash-talking for weeks about 'leaving me in his dust' and he totally could have. While I run multiple times every week and love it, he is innately in-shape and always one of the most athletic at every sport he tries (so annoying!), but we ran this one side by side and crossed the finish line at exactly the same time. Now I need to try to convince him to run the Thanksgiving Day 10k with me in November. 

The rest of the day was a blast- we were a little over-giddy at the thought of being at the park kid-free and with fast-passes... oh, the roller coaster possibilities! Dan was right, the whole "we get to skip to the front of the line" thing was amazing. A little awkward when passing by all the people waiting, but amazing. Many rides and treats later we reluctantly came back home to our waiting babies who have no idea what they missed out on. Lucky for them next weekend is P&G day at PKI so they can have some fun as well. 

30 by 30!

A few days ago I realized that I (shockingly) only have a year and a half until I turn the big 30. That is exactly (as of next week) 18 months until I hit a big milestone. And big milestones are great reasons for big lists! Well, really, anything is reason enough for a good list, but this one in particular I'm counting on for making the most of what I have left of my 20s. 

After much thought, a lot of over-excitement, a few conversations with husband (who turns 30 just a couple of months after me, by the way) and a few different drafts, I have completed my 30 by 30 list- 30 things I will cross off by the time March 13, 2014 rolls around.

So, take a look (and by "take a look" I mean if there is anyone who is actually reading this :)) and if any look interesting, fun, scary, amazing to you (as they do to me) and you want to join in, please do let me know, I'd love to have friends alongside whenever possible. Otherwise, Dan will be forced to complete all 30 of my 30 by 30 instead of having his own list. 

(in no particular order)

1. Run a 1/2 Marathon in a destination city
2. Visit at least 5 new states
3. Visit at least 2 new countries
4. Turn 30 in an amazing new place (exact location TBD)
5. Go to a drive-in movie
6. Take a photography class and/or lessons
7. Host a formal dinner party
8. Run a race with Dan (winning that race would be bonus ;))
9.  Take a cooking class
10. Spend an entire day at the spa
11. Take a trapeze class
12. Hot air balloon ride
13. Renew our wedding vows in Alaska (for 5th anniversary)
14. Introduce babies to Purdue (via trip to campus)
15. Go on a trip alone
16. Eat a cupcake from a famous cupcake shop
17. Stargaze from an observatory
18. Host an outdoor movie night
19. Spend an entire morning/afternoon reading books in a coffee shop
20. Be a tourist in my own city for a day
21. Dine at the highest ranked restaurant in the city (actual city is TBD)
22. (financial goal: keep specifics private)
23. Have at least 3 rooms completely decorated exactly how I want
24. Have at least 1 date day with each baby (full day packed with mama/baby fun)
25. Go to an opera
26. (career goal: keeping specifics private)
27. Explore DC (I've never been and have desperately wanted to go since the age of 5) 
28. Walk the Freedom Trail in Boston
29. Begin tradition of running Thanksgiving Day 10K Race
30. Wild Card: Do something completely spontaneous, has zero functionality, but really really fun and somewhat scary. 

I will also be saving this list on a new page at the top of the blog where I will keep it updated on progress. It is taking everything in me to not color code this baby. 

Here we go- let the countdown begin!

what happens when daddy is in charge...