Our Non-Fancy Valentine

We aren't going out to a fancy dinner tonight, not spending a ton at Tippecanoe place on wine and steaks, we don't have tickets to a show at the Morris, and we won't be spending a romantic evening at the Oliver Bed and Breakfast tonight.

We started celebrating early last night, Cruz got Grammie some flowers and donuts and told her Happy Valentines. Today we are going to Wendy's for lunch with Grammie following Bad Axe Friday tradition of a frosty and burger. Then we will hit up the midwives office and well, I don't need to describe it but not how most woman might want to spend their Valentines Day.

Cruz's Valentine for Grammie

So anyhow, what does this all have to do with Valentine's Day. Cruz took his Bob the Builder Valentines in for all "Ma Freeends" at daycare. He was very excited about it and barely give me a kiss at drop off as he ran to work on their project for their cards. If I can then I will run to get Novali for the weekend and we will all be in South Bend.

Tonight we will spend it at home I think, maybe at a hospital, who knows but we will be together, celebrating for the new family member Brecken born yesterday in Arizona and waiting for the new one that will be born soon in South Bend. It might not be the Hallmark, FTD, Girrardeli media model of what today means, but for us it will be love and family and us waiting for a new one to start to love... whenever it is that she decides to arrive.

Happy Valentines to all, and hopefully soon there will be one more little person in this world for me to love and take care of and call My Valentine.

Valet the Van

Yeah I am a real baller, I rolled in luxury this weekend and got my ride valeted in Indy.

The Family Ride

This past weekend I was at the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values conference in Indianapolis. This was my 14th year attending the conference and my 12th year presenting. Wow. A couple years ago they moved the conference to Indy which has been nice. It is the largest undergraduate conference for fraternity and sorority leaders bringing nearly 3000 people together.

It was a quick in and out trip because we are expecting, yeah like this week. I didn't even register in advance because of fear I might not make it down. Well I made it, and not only did I make it, but I rolled in style down to Indy in our new (to us) Chrysler Town and Country van. You might have seen my post on Facebook or Twitter about it... if not, get your life together and follow me.

My hotel didn't have self park, only valet. Now first off I feel the need to defend myself here as I am not a baller of that status. Valet was $24, and a self park lot three blocks away was $18 per night. It was 2 degrees when I arrived, and snowing the morning I left... I think those extra $6 were well spent.

Yes sir, thats mine. 

Anyhow back to my luxurious valet experience... I rolled up in that joint like a real baller. Bass turned up, iPod connected to the system with some old skool beats (had my workout mix on), and of course the heated seats were just right. The mood lighting in the head liner gives it just the right baller feel, my garment bag was properly hanging up and I had three different drinks in cup holders (yeah I got a lot of cup holders - booyah). I bet the valet hasn't parked a ride that nice in a long time.

So the van is broken in, Cruz loves the DVD screens and I am sure can't wait for the next drive to Bad Axe, or Saginaw, or Detroit, maybe Philly with his sisters (yeah he will have two...) or down south top MS... maybe the fabled future family Florida vacation...

Who knows, I am sure it is coming, and hey, I just might valet the van then as well. Baller!