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It's Friday oh and It's March

Wait it's Friday?

Oh and it's March?

Where the H-E-Double hockey sticks have I been and what happened to February?

Blackhawks, Bulls, Blackhawks, Bulls, Kid Rock and then Monday happened...

Spotted, Gaga and her security outside the refreshment concessions - little boozers

Then Tuesday I was tired. Wednesday there were those Blackhawks again and yesterday I was tired.

But Happy 147th Birthday to Chicago.

Surprise Birthday Party

A little late but to end my husbands 30th Birthday weekend, I threw him a surprise Birthday at the United Center for a Blackhawks vs Predators game. Awesome right?!?

I booked the 40 person super suite at the Madhouse (which was freakin sweet BTW) and was able to get 40 of Landon's friends and relatives to travel to Chicago to join us on the hub's very special day. At first I was surprised about how much interest there was in coming out for Landons Birthday, but let's be honest, I have a pretty great husband so I wasn't that surprised.

our view from the suite, this taken post game, check out all the banners

the Birthday boy with all the girls in his life

the birthday boy with all the girls he wants in his life, go ice crew?

Happy Birthday lover!

Birthday Friday

My husband is turning 30 this weekend. So I thought I would do a nice thing, you know. Come home from work early last night, get all his laundry done, cook dinner, do all the dishes he left in the sink...ect and make some funfetti cupcakes for him to bring to work today. Even at 29, they are still his favorite.

I thought I was super wife, that was until I got 3 text messages from the hubs this morning. Apparently the girls at work out did me.

They win.

Darn it, they totally win.

Don't send ____ to boys

My husband's Birthday is coming up and it reminded me of something that I did that was apparently terrible. And I will NEVER do it again.  Ready for it?

A few years ago my husbands birthday was close to the same time that he took a new job. I was so excited for him and I was living in a different state so I decided I wanted to send him something to work. You know as a congrats, Happy Birthday and I miss you kind of gift. I couldn't send sweets because the hubs isn't huge on them and I certainly wasn't sending a teddy bear or a fruit basket because well he would have thought both were lame. The idea of balloons made me smile but having him leave work in the windy Chicago winter with them put an image in my head of the hubs getting super frustrated and then finally just letting the balloons go.... money spent would have been wasted.

And then I stumbled across this

Yup, it's a flower arrangement that looks like beer, the carnations are foaming at the top. I thought this was perfect. The beer says congrats (in a work friendly way) and the flowers were the sweet I miss you happy Birthday message I was hoping for.

I got notification that it was delivered around noon. I waited and waited to hear something from the husband. 3 hours go by, nothing. by 5pm I figured he had to be on his way out of work so I called him. After talking for a few minutes I finally just come out and ask the question. it went something like this:

"I sent you something today did you get it?" me
"Yeah" pause "I got something alright" hubs
"ok... did you like it?" me
"I... I... I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure I get it."
(me now thinking - oh no did the wrong item get sent?)
 "It was beer flowers, get it it looks like a beer but it's flowers" me trying to say in a super convincing voice
Pause
"Oh, now that you mention it I guess it does look like beer" hubs

REALLY?!?! After that moment I swore to myself I would never send the hubs flowers ever again. Better yet, I'v decided the only thing I will ever send is heart shaped pizzas for Valentines day...that's it.

Happy Birthday Z

Today my big sister is celebrating her Golden Birthday!

Since her last Birthday a lot has changed. She's become a proud momma

She's graduated from nursing school with some great new friends.

She's passed her boards and become a Real Nurse.

And by the time this blog gets published, she should have accepted her first job working in a hospital as an RN.

Cheers to the greatest big sis ever.

Cousin Day

Remember when the hubs and I took one of our cousins to celebrate their Birthday? Well it was past due that we make do on our promise on E's Brother's Birthday day, a C Day.

We asked C what he wanted to do for his C Day but the weather wasn't permitting of a golf day. So the hubs threw out some different ideas including, going to the movies, an indoor put put and going to Dave & Busters. Once the idea of going to D&B was thrown out, there was no looking back. We were going to order Cs favorite pizza and then hit the arcade.  

When we arrived the hub's eyes were as big as little Cs. The amount of older more mature than Chuckie Cheese games was overwhelming and exciting all at the same time. One of the coolest games that the boys got to enjoy was an interactive sports game. You could play soccer, baseball, basketball, golf or even hockey. The boys took their chance at their best slap shot.

After a long night of pizza and games, we made our way back home for C's big sleep over. We got to catch 1 episode of iCarly and then it was off to bed. C wasn't the only one excited for the sleep over, Minne girl was equally excited to be sharing her room with her new favorite guest.She especially loved listening to prayer time.

We woke up early and had ourselves bowls of cereal and we watched Saturday morning TV. I don't think the hubs nor myself had done that in ages.  IT WAS GREAT. I took the pigskin outside and threw around with little C for a bit while the hubs took care of some errands. Post football, it was time to get ready for, WAIT lets play a game. Can you guess where we went next based off the next photo?

I am guessing the amount of mini vans may have given it away but we went to little Cs soccer game. It was fun to see him play but it was just as fun to watch all the kiddos. Some of them are very serious and already very competitive at this age, others well...not so much. Case in point, look at the photo below. Little C is playing goalie while the 2 defenders are practicing karate on each other.

All in all it was a great C day. We have one more birthday day to celebrate but I think we may have to wait till it get's a little colder because the 3rd cousin wants to go ice skating. Can't wait :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's Birthday. I got the chance to celebrate with him last night over desert with the family. It was great.

Happy Birthday daddy!

Happy Birthday Jack

Happy Birthday to my best friend in the entire world.

Next year at this time she will be in Germany, miles and miles away.

Happy Birthday Preacher Woman

One of the most special moments of the hubs and my life and looks who's there to join in it....that's right our very close friend, in fact our only mutual friend that we both had before we started dating. We fought over who side she should stand up on and we agreed she should be in the middle. And she agreed. It was perfect. Today she celebrates her Birthday and even though we're miles away...we are thinking of her. Happy Birthday to our very special preacher woman.

Birthday Treats

The hubs and I are less and less about Birthdays as time go on, but it's still nice to be recognized and to score some free Birthday treats. Last week I had gotten a few goodies to help me celebrate my Birthday on Sunday.

• A free Caribou Coffee, you can get one ony our Birthday too!
• A FREE Appetizer or Dessert from Rock Bottom, you just have to join the free Mug Club.
• At some point in my life I bought a pair of glasses from Sunglass hut and to this day I still receive a $25 dollar gift card for Sunglass Hut.
• $15 Credit Towards Banana Republic thanks to my Banana Republic card {my one and only store credit card}.
• A buy one get one free Q'Doba Meal thanks to my Doba card
• Free Shipping at Macy's
• A free Panty from Victoria Secret, actually that one came to my husband....
• A free desert at RA

What are some of your favorite treats to help you celebrate your Birthday?

Happy Birthday Jess!

Happy Birthday to one of my good college friends. Since living in the same hall Freshman year at Butler, we've shared some really fun times together and celebrated some great Birthdays together. You may recognize her from here, and if you do you know how totally awesome she is and you know a lot about her passion for calligraphy and all things wedding. She has always been a great late night McDonalds buddy and a friend that could always guarantee a fun night. With all the stresses of house hunting in the Chicago market and not seeing many friends lately, I am totally missing her right now.

Hall of Champions Pre-Party!

Family Dinners

I love family dinners, especially ones that include my parents and sisters. On our way to meet the family to celebrate Al's Birthday. It should look something like this, as this was taken last year in June for Sam's Bday:

Hope you all are having a good one and you get to spend some time with your family during this crazy busy summer!

Happy Birthday Al

4th Birthday

This little girl turns 16 today!

At our wedding late spring '09

Happy Birthday to my youngest sister!  Wow I feel old, but hey at least we have another DD, right?

The Hubs and Al at our favorite "private" pool, summer of '06

Al and I after a wet game of flag football fall of '08

I Love July

Summer of 06 - 2 Birthday girls in the front

There are so many reasons why I love July but figured I should start with Birthdays!

One of my good friends and I have Birthdays less than 2 weeks apart in July, why not love the month you were born in right? Well, in college we used to come back the weekend in-between our birthdays and celebrate. It was a great tradition that would get us all back together in the middle of the summer before we would come back to school in September. We always had a good time in our school city which always included some Indians baseball (I do love baseball).

Summer of 04 I believe?

As you get older the summers pass quicker and quicker as they are full of wedding celebrations, graduations and well just family time. Last year we spent a weekend at the lake and as of now there's no plans for this July. I may need to work on that.  Miss these girls!

Happy Birthday Sami & Big Lar!

Happy Flag Day everyone! Today is a particularly special day for the hubs and I as we celebrate Flag Day with 2 very special Birthdays!

First up is my very beautiful sister Sami! Happy 2-3rd! Blow out the candles and make a big wish!

And a very special big 50 to my wonderful father-in-law, Big Lar, who also shares the Flag Day Birthday. Today is sure to be a great day!

Watch Out Florida

Watch out Florida, it's this girls Birthday!

A 3NW hall mate, a friend and a bridesmaid...Happy Birthday girlie.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Although I am miles away, I cna't help but think about my smart, beautiful & funny mother on her Birthday!



Love you mommy, xoxo

Grandma and Baseball Can Go Together

Shoot I am really behind! 3 days ago was my grandma’s Birthday, and before it got too late I wanted to share a few memories and facts about one of the greatest women in my life! After spending lots of time with my grandma these past 25 years, I have a lot of memories but I'll try to pull out some of the faves for you.

Ever since I was little I remember spending holidays like Thanksgiving and the 4th of July with my grandma. I remember sitting in her car on the way to summer camp /pre-school while she would drive through McDonalds. I remember my grandm (along with my pop pop) taking me to ice skating and events like the Nutcracker and Phantom of the Opera. Every special birthday my grandma would take me somewhere special. Once we went to the Melting Pot where I experienced my first fondue tip, there was a hibachi grill and one year we even went to a Polynesian restaurant which was awesome.

My grandma and grandpa took me to some really cool places when I was little too. For example, they took me to a Rodeo in Texas, Zoos, Disney Land, Universal, a drive through safari and even a place where I could see REAL mermaids, seen here:



And how could I forget my first cruise through the caribean?! I also remember going out on the ocean in my grandparents boat and sitting in the front with my grandma. Ohh or what about when my grandma helped me make a mohowk out of all my hair for wackiest hair day? Or better yet, when she helped me to learn the B52s love shack so I could perform it in a lip sync contest?

My grandma was one cool chick! Before I even knew what Nintendo was, my grandma was an official Nintendo member. From the time I could pick up the remote my grandma had me venturing out on Zelda quests. We used to play so much, we would carry our game world into real life. Once in awhile, driving to school/camp we would think bad guys were going to jump out of the bushes. My grandma and I almost beet every Zelda together, between my “jumping” ability and my grandma’s brains, we were a force to be reckoned with. Don’t even get me started on any of the Mario Brother games, especially not Mario Kart (I took a gold medal in Greek Games my freshman year of college in Mario Kart – on the Super Nintendo Machine, my grandma must have had something to do with that)

As cool as all of this was, I still owe some of my love towards baseball to her and of course my grandpa, even though my grandma is a Yankees fan and a Cubs fans (after all the cool things mentioned above, you could forgive her for being a Yankee fan too) I remember watching the Chicago Cubs on WGN almost where ever my grandma lived and I remember watching the Cubs play in away games. I remember going to lots of Rangers games back in the Nolan Ryan days and I remember the Marlins when they used to play at “Joe Robbie Stadium.”

(My grandma loved Ally McBeal. I remember staying with her one summer where the introduced the singing baby. My grandma thought it was so cool, so I learned the dance for her and even preformed it for some of her co-workers. Back in the day the internet was not for everyone and You Tube seemed light years away, however somehow the dancing baby made it to You Tube so in honor of my grandma’s Birthday week I dedicate this entry and this little dance to her - especially since i know she reads this, love you grandma!!!)

Valentine's Day Weekend

This year Valentine's weekend came and went so fast. The hubs had to work on his truck, so he made another trek to Indiana, leaving me and the doggie all alone in Chicago. It was sad not to spend the entire weekend with him, but don't worry Minne and I made do. There were plenty of Valentine's day cards to go around.

Cards from Aunt Em and Uncle Ryan

With everything Minne likes, she ate them

We started the weekend out by watching the 2010 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies with my middle sister. They were awesome. I think we all got a little geography lesson and we really enjoyed the special effects. Especially, the when they made it look like whales were swimming around in the middle of the arena. SO cool.

Saturday was an adventure. After working our, I met with my old badminton coach (go ahead and laugh, yes I played badmitton in high school) to catch up on everything. We talked about friends, family and careers. She is now working with a law firm and she is doing some relestate so it was a great way to kick off house hunt 2010. Yup, the hubs and I may be interested in starting the house hunting process. We don't anticpiate it happening this year but we should probably start looking at some point.

After lunch I was able to get some much needed errands done and then started family time. I was able to go to my HS almamater to watch a HS basketball game and, more importantly, my little sister cheer! I hadn't made it to one basketball game all year and was pleased I was able to make it to one. It was a shame the team got slaughtered, but my sister nailed all her stunts:


Sorry my phone camera did not work well with the lights in the gym

I was then talked into a girls night with my sister and her best friend from forever ago for her friend's Birthday. Let's just say the night looked a little something like this:



The next day, I got up super early to work out and go to work. Luckily work went fast and I was able to get out at a decent time because I had gotten great news, the hubs was back just in time for my cousins dual Birthday celebration! We ended our big "Valentine's Day weekend" with Portillos so neither of us had to cook, oh and the best part? My husband let me wear sweats!