Lunch Date

Emma and I both have birthdays coming up.  So, today we got out for a daddy/daughter date!  We took a little trip to a conservatory.  We went to the "Conrad Station." 

Then we went back to Rensselaer for lunch at Bazz's Sip and Eat.  Finally we got some shopping done at Walmart including a candy treat!  So fun to have a daughter to share my birthday week with!

Emma's Room

We repainted Emma's room and got a new bed spread.  It's all part of her birthday present.  She turns 9 on Feb. 1!  Heather's dad came over one night to help paint.  It turned out really well and looks great w/ her bedroom furniture. 

Sleep Over

Emma's cousin Mazie spent the night with her since Grandma and Grandpa were heading out early to Chicago in the morning.  Mazie got to come to Indiana to spend a few days with her grandparents.  These girls have a blast together!

Fast asleep...yeah, right.

Midwest Food Bank

I took our Mission Team to Midwest Food Bank in Indianapolis this morning.  We worked in the warehouse packing pallets of food and getting a truck unloaded as well as some cleaning.  It was a great morning together.  There were 9 of us that went down together.

Our team with the MFB volunteer that helps the volunteer groups.

New Years Day

Heather and I hosted the Steffen's for a New Year's Day brunch.  We did this last year and it worked out really well.  I made the waffles and Heather did pretty much everything else.  She had an oatmeal and peaches dish and an egg casserole.  She's a phenomenal cook!

Our cat ready to eat.  Guess who took this picture!

Making some stellar waffles.

My beautiful wife.

Christmas

WAKE UP DAD!

Emma, Nolan and Alex ready to open the gifts.

Nolan got a pillow pet!

I went outside to clean off the drive-way.  The snow wasn't good enough to pack for a snowman, so I went out to the backyard and kept myself otherwise occupied.

Braggin' Rights Game

There's not much better way to spend a day off than with great friends and an Illini game.  I had the week off work and was invited to go to the Illinois/Missouri Braggin' Rights game in St. Louis.  We had 2/3 of the G6 and allowed two subs since Scott and Klop couldn't make it.  Ken and Jarod joined us as temporary, honorary G6 members.  Unfortuately, Illinois lost the game but it was one of the most fun road trips I've had.

Three Rinks: Bart, Ken and Jarod

Doug, Hode, Bart, Ken, Jarod, Phil

Go ILLINI!

Tip off!

Heather had to work this week so I took the kids and we spent the night at our friends house in Maroa.  The Hodel's have three kids in similar age to our kids and the same order (boy, girl, boy).  The kids had a great time together while the dads were road trippin'.

Back row: Alex, Ethan
Front row: Emma, Kara, Ty, Nolan