24:365 UGH!!!

24:365 UGH!!!, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

I can go days without playing Angry Birds, and then there are days like today when I can't get away form it.

23:365 Music To My Heart

23:365 Music To My Heart, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

I LOVE hearing my wife Laurie practice the piano... She started lessons at the beginning of last summer after several years of not playing. I was in the kitchen a little bit ago and I heard her start playing... It made me smile :-)

22:365 Get A Clue

22:365 Get A Clue, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Playing a rousing game of Clue with the family ... I suspect this is not going to end well for me.

21:365 Welcome Stella

21:365 Welcome Stella, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

We welcomed a new pet into our nest today... Stella, a gray peach-cheeked cockatiel. Laurie and I have both commented how nice it is to hear a cockatiel in the house again /;>

20:365 Gift Card Love

20:365 Gift Card Love, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

I LOVE finding a gift card I forgot I had...

19:365 Chi-Town Drive

19:365 Chi-Town Drive, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Took a drive to Chicago today to attend the trade show at Mid-Am (Landscaping trade show). Three of my favorite things about Chicago: 1) residences on North Dearborn & North State, 2) stained glass window collection at Navy Pier, and 3) AWESOME architecture/skyline.

18:365 Cookie Talk on @WJBC

18:365 Cookie Talk on @WJBC, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Savannah and I had the opportunity to be on WJBC AM 1230 today to talk about our Girl Scout theft, which turned into an AWESOME chance to talk up Girl Scouts in general and what the cookie sales mean to them. To listen to the interview, go to WJBC

Visit my blog at http://strouthion.blogspot.com

17:365 Thief In The Night

17:365 Thief In The Night, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

We woke up this morning to discover my daughter had 60 boxes of Girl Scout cookies stolen out of our van last night... Needless to say our daughter Savannah was heartbroken. Her troop is one of only 2-3 in Central Illinois that had the opportunity to direct sell cookies while all other troops can ONLY take orders for delivery in March (the common way Girl Scout cookies are sold). We're hopeful that somehow the greedy dirtbag that steals from Girl Scouts will be caught... Or maybe chokes to death on a Thin Mint!!! If you live in Bloomington/Normal and someone suspicious is selling Girl Scout cookies... Please contact the Bloomington Police Department ASAP.

16:365 Moooooon River...

16:365 Moooooon River..., originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Oh the things we get to enjoy when we hit our 40's

15:365 My Cookie Girls

15:365 My Cookie Girls, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Cookie sales have officially begun...

14:365 Odd Combination

14:365 Odd Combination, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

My daughter just made her own lunch - Peanut butter on Ritz crackers... With swiss cheese. And people think my peanut butter and pickle sandwiches are weird.

13:365 Back on the horse... 14 yrs later

13:365 Back on the horse... 14 yrs later, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Fourteen years ago this January was the last time I touched a snowblower... A story I will expand on later.

12:365 Proof Positive

12:365 Proof Positive, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

I am SO proud of our son Andrew!!! He's done such awesome work in his first semester at BJHS... And I LOVE to see that he's (unknowingly) proving we made the right choice 6-1/2 years ago putting him into kindergarten, even though we were turned down by a private school because he was behind in his fine motor skills. :-) Love you, Andrew!!! We are SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

**UPDATE**
And of course Savannah couldn't let her brother out do her... She brought her report card home with straight A's on it!!! WOO HOO!!! We've got two AWESOME kids!!!

11:365 Coooooooookies

11:365 Coooooooookies, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Laurie picked up Savannah's Girl Scout cookies today... They go on sale Friday, January 13th

Visit my blog at http://strouthion.blogspot.com

10:365 Winter Work

10:365 Winter Work, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Tonight I'm doing the detailed work of collecting seeds... from Butterfly Weed pods.

Who said gardeners don't work in the winter.

8:365 My Hott Tech-lovin' Babe

8:365 My Hott Tech-lovin' Babe, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Laurie and I LOVE our tech toys... Even at church :-)

**Posted on Flickr, Twitter, & Facebook but forgot to post on my blog yesterday**

9:365 Making an effort

9:365 Making an effort, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

I'm trying to make an effort at eating better... Chose 2 cuties to go with my lunch (that I proudly packed at home rather than bought in a drive-thru).

Baby steps...

7:365 Dog Nap

7:365 Dog Nap, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Our dog has recently discovered the ottoman as a nice napping place... Even if he has to use my laptop as a pillow.

6:365 Visited my green babies today

6:365 Visited my green babies today, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Went to BCC greenhouse today to check the plants I have stored there for the winter... Was so wonderful to be around plants again!

5:365 Fusion Brew ~ Oh my... We're so sorry we've ignored you

5:365 Fusion Brew ~ Oh my... We're so sorry we've ignored you, originally uploaded by Mark Sexton Photography.

Wonderful day with Laurie... Lunch, shopping, holding hands while walking the mall, flirting, laughing, relaxing with coffee drinks and Nooks... AWESOME DAY!!!