A New Era for Penn State

Original publishing date: April 20, 2012

I remember thinking when we went on this trip that writing the blog post to go with it would be difficult. Though it was a great trip and we had a lot of fun - the atmosphere in Happy Valley has changed dramatically since our last visit. 

There was a scandal. There were stories of horrible things happening to children. There was the end of JoePa - figuratively and literally. I remember the day he died, how sad Ryan was. I think it was more of an empathic sadness, but that almost makes it more heartbreaking. 

I don't think Nate ever really thought JoePa would still be coaching by the time Ryan or Lindsey were able to go to Penn State, but I know he thought the tradition and reputation of both the school and the man would outlive us all. 
 
Things have certainly changed, but what this weekend - and the subsequent football season showed us and others is that even if the catalyst is unimaginably awful, the actual change can be good.

For the rundown of the weekend: We got there late on Friday and made our traditional first stop to the Lion. 

On game day, the weather was questionable, but actually held out pretty well. The kids hijacked someones tailgate bean bag game.

 And Lindsey finally made it in to Beaver Stadium!

More importantly - she got to go down to the tunnel and meet the players :)

The kids had a blast - making new friends, eating popcorn and joining along for the Penn State chant.

Inside the stadium, it was like old times. Only a few subtle sign of things that changed...

Oh - and Ryan's highlight? Ryan got to touch the Lion (but guess who was more excited when they ran back to tell us all about it?)
 

That night, Nate and I took Crystal and Greg out on the town for some drinks. The crowds were mellow - but there was still plenty to see. With my new job starting the next week, I used this picture as an opportunity to test out my twitter skills. Tweeted it out to the real Kevin Bacon to see if it was a legit tag. He never wrote back - I'm sure it's cause he's modest.

Apparently Lindsey might have a place to call her own if she ever makes it up to State College.

On Sunday, the grandparents hit the road early, but we stuck around for a 5K run/walk. Not only did it help burn off some of the food and drinks from the day before, but gave us an opportunity to get onto the field!

Though things were different in Happy Valley that weekend, much had stayed the same. People still proudly took pictures with the lion, strangers were still kind enough to share their food and games while tailgating (and to pick up your kid so they could high five a player in the tunnel) and the Bachman kids experienced a ton of love and attention.

So much love and fun that when we finally pulled out to head home - they fell asleep faster than you could say, "We Are..."

Easter 2012

Original publishing date: April 8, 2012

Easter came a little earlier this year - arriving right after Ryan's birthday. So while it certainly makes for busy weekends, the bonus is we have more opportunities to hang out with family!  

We painted lots of eggs.
 

 

 

And then hunted them down.

 

 

And when all was said and done, we indulged with some sweet treats. It was a pretty typical Easter holiday.

 

 

Oh - and speaking of typical Easter traditions - the Bachman kids were "ham"ing it up at Poppy and Grams this year. This is probably the best shot (out of 21 - I counted) we could get of them that day. While it's disappointing we can't get a "nice" picture, it absolutely warms my heart to know they get along so well (and crack each other up).

The fast lane to four

Original publishing date: March 24, 2012

For Ryan's second birthday - we went with a train theme. He liked trains well enough, but, honestly, I really liked the train ticket invitations I found at the party supply store. So even if he had never even heard of a train before, he was having a train-themed birthday party.

To go along with the theme, I bought a train cake mold and made a pretty sad looking version of a train. And even though I said I'd buy a cake the next year, Ryan was so excited with his cake that a tradition was born and I was on the the hook to make a cake each year.

This year, Ryan wanted a Lightning McQueen themed birthday. Considering how the train cake went (even with a mold), I decided to keep it simple - made a cake with a oreo cookie paved road and plopped his toy car on top. Judging by his reaction during the reveal, taking the simplistic approach was a success.

 

The party went well, with lots of food, friends and awesome gifts (including a Lightning McQueen acoustic guitar - seriously...they think of everything).

And then it was time for the big reveal.

When you officially become a parent, you often think about your childhood - good memories, like going to the zoo; traumatic events, like walking down the hall at school with your skirt tucked in your underwear (yep...that happened); and - most importantly - all the cool gifts you wanted as a kid that your parents didn't get you.

Top on the list for Nate and I (one of the reasons we get along so well) was a Power Wheels car. Neither one of us ever had one and both of us vowed our kids would. So this was the year we did it. And what better car to get than McQueen himself.

I'm not sure if it was the overly excited adults in the room, who were living vicariously through him, or the crash from the sugar rush, but Ryan wasn't as happy as we thought he'd be about his car. It took some coaxing to even get him to sit in it. And he only made it half way around the cul de sac before he called it a day.

Of course, he was equally cranky when we let other kids drive it too.

So Ryan's birthday provided us with several insights. We realized why we never had one of those cars growing up (they're stupid expensive); we learned just because it was exciting for us - doesn't mean it's exciting for our kids; and even though Ryan is in the the fast lane to four, it's important to slow down and enjoy each moment as it comes.

Happy Birthday, Ryebread.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when I finally admitted

It had been nine long months since a post was submitted.

People visited often – they really did care

If I had something new about the Bachman’s to share.

The reason for the absence was a family decision

That included me taking a more demanding position.

And though I thoroughly enjoy writing these posts,

With limited free time, I enjoy time with the kids most.

But this blog was started with an end-goal in mind

To create a “baby book” that was one of a kind.

Document the happenings of Ryan and Lou

With the hope that – one day – they’d want to read these posts too.

And so – with only a week left in the year,

It’s time to play catch-up and put things in high gear.

A month (or two) a day I must relive and rehash

So 2012 doesn’t disappear in a flash.

From baseball, to field trips and trips to the beach

To parties and holidays – we’ll cover them each.

The posts may not be as lengthy, but you’ll get the gist

Of what we’ve been up to and what you have missed.

I’ll spring to the folders, the pictures I’ll review

And in a weeks time, the blog will be anew.

But for now I’ll exclaim, as I hold my kids tight

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

If you give a boy a tool

He'll want a project to go with it. You'll ask him to tighten up the dining room chairs.

He'll ask his daddy for help.



Having his daddy help him will remind him how much he's loved. He'll start thinking of other things he loves. Thinking of other things he loves, he'll remember his beloved race car still needs new batteries.

He'll want to change the batteries. And chances are, when he goes to change the batteries, he'll need a tool to fix it. 

Perks of parenting

I bought a purse the other day. It's big, it's orange, it's awesome. When I got home, the kids were in a (typical) rambunctious mood. And often times - their rambunctiousness combined with our end-of-the-work-day exhaustion can result in lots of yelling, crying and (admittedly over-exaggerated) discipline.

But one of the many perks of parenting? Ultimately, we call the shots. We get to decide if today is going to be a good day or a bad day because our reactions, our tone, our attitude sets the mood. You learn pretty early on in this parenting gig that your kids feed off of you, good or bad. If you worry about something, they'll sense that and get anxious. If you're laid back, they're more apt to go with the flow.

And though they were rambunctious, and we were exhausted, I was excited because I had a brand new purse. And it was big. And orange. And awesome. But, like all new purses, mine was filled with a bunch of stuffing.

So I looked at my purse. And looked at my rammy kids. And decided I was ready to set the tone for the night. I took a handful of purse stuffing and bounced it off of Ryan's head. Then took another handful and spiked it in Lidnsey's direction. When they looked at me, stunned, I laughed and yelled, "It's snowing!" and threw the rest of the stuffing their way. They picked up what I was putting down (literally and figuratively).
 

Lindsey even made a snow angel.

After the blizzard had passed, they even helped clean up the mess. And I got to fill my big, organge, awesome purse with something other than tissue paper. Clearly, a win-win parenting moment.

Her first fitting

Every mother dreams of taking her daughter to her first dress fitting - trying on gowns, imagining what she'll look like when she walks down the aisle.

But I have to say. I didn't think it'd be happening so soon.

Lindsey had her first dressing fitting this weekend - for the flower girl dress she'll be sporting at her Uncle Dave's big day!

Even more exciting? The whole Bachman clan is in on the action. Ryan will don a tux as ring bearer, daddy gets the honor of being best man and I've even been asked to be a bridesmaid. We're so thrilled for Dave and De and so excited to be a part of their special day.

But today - today is all about Lindsey. Nate even asked to come along for this one, because it's not every day your little girl gets measured for a princess dress!

She was so excited to go to the dress maker. Unfortunately, the excitement wore her out and she fell asleep right before we got there. So her demeanor was a little subdued (and rosey cheeked) throughout the appointment.

Nonetheless, she was a pro. And afterwards? Aunt De bought Lou some food. And food makes Lou smile.

The Celebration Continues

It seems the older you get, the more drawn out birthday celebrations can become. What starts off as a day of taking cupcakes to school, becomes a weekend sleepover party, which turns into a birthday week celebration, that somehow evolves into a month-long event.

Lindsey's ahead of the curve. She blew right by the cupcake day, skipped the weekend sleepover and has moved right on to the birthday week celebration. It began on her birthday, which included cupcakes at school and the Beauty and the Beast gift. It continued with the tea-party event on Saturday with friends and family. That carried over into Sunday, when Nana, Pop-Pop and Uncle Gene made it down (since a mild snow storm up north kept them at bay for the party). Lindsey got to indulge in more cookies and cake (and attention) and got to open even more cool gifts!

Finally, a little over a week later, it culminated with a surprise birthday gift in the mail from Uncle Dave and Aunt De!

It's been quite a birthday celebration. But the best part? With all the attention focused on Lindsey, Ryan has been such a supportive big brother - unequivocally thrilled for his sister, never asking about his own gifts, and so proud of her becoming "a big girl." Which, in the end, gives us as parents all the more reason to celebrate.