I don't know if you'd heard...

... but it's football season again.

I don't know what tipped me off... the late summer heat, the enthusiasm about getting home fast, or the LOUD expletives coming from the living room.

He's also taken to turning the expletives into "good dogs!" because it freaks the heck out of the dogs when he yells. That just doesn't happen much around here...

For a quiet, mild-mannered guy, he sure gets passionate about his football...

:)

p.s. he just read me writing this and said "it's not real yet! it's just the pre-season!"

J, I love you, even if you are an avid football fanatic.

XLIII

Hallelujah! It's FINALLY HERE!!!

Yes, that's right, today is the day!

It's the Superbowl!
Why, might you ask, am I so excited? Well, while it is a major sporting event, and gives me the opportunity to host a party, and has awesome ads (most of the time), none of those are the reason I'm excited for today.

I'll tell you the real reason, if you promise not to tell J...

Promise?

I'm excited because it means FOOTBALL IS OVER UNTIL AUGUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!
Now, if only the world cup was this week, and the semester was over too... then I'd have him all to myself for a bit...
:)

2008.

I've seen this on a few blogs, and it's a great way to sum up a year.

So here we go:

January:

christmas clean-up.
bailey turns 3!
stress at work.

February:
superbowl with friends.

wallpaper fiasco; bathroom redecorated
v-day at home, 3 years since we got engaged!
more work stress.

March:
first beautiful spring day of the year!

and another snow just a couple of days later!
and for good measure, work stress.

April:

I turn officially old.
my amazing husband makes it better with a table runner that is pure happiness and chocolate cake. he's so good. :)
oh yeah, and work stress.

May:

K graduates!

promotion at work. getting paid more makes work a little bit better, but doesn't solve everything. decide to take a chance...

J is done with the semester after lots of hard work done. 1 yr down (or 21 years, depending on how you look at it), 3-4 (or a million, again, depending on how you look at it) to go.

take first vacation day of the year. totally needed. head to NOLA

rock out and celebrate E and J's wedding

on the same day as the wedding, celebrate 5 years together.

June:
married for 2 years. :) still love each other. :)

thank all that is holy, and a very very generous set of parents, that I get to go to PARIS!!
J stays home, but enjoys a baseball game and nachos with the boys.

ups, downs, lots of steps, crepes, art, laughs, shopping, memories in Paris
damn, I miss this.

while in Paris, get offered new job (at home, not in Paris). make decision via lots of emails and motherly advice. excellent choice.
start new job, thank lucky stars for June.

July:
add a new member to our family.
Bailey considers running away from home.

August:
even though she's trouble, she's freakin adorable
we still love you too, bud.
J goes back to school.
thrilled with new job.

September:

generous parents take us to Mizzou for some fun

get soaked, but have a great time. see new J school.
visit the site of our first CoMo "date," first time J has been back since it burned down and was rebuilt. ahhh memories.

October:
lake shopping trip.
travel for work.
J has a birthday.

he reminds us how old he is (and shows of a new gift). not 30!
btw, I'm an awesome wife. just look at that face. :)
go to Chicago for conference, see sibs, spend Halloween in Chi-town.

November:

yes we can!
travel to Chicago again, this time with ines.
mecca.
and they even have breakfast. and we know this b/c we went twice. in less than 24 hours.
turkey day in Cleveland. Grandpa turns 90!
Rosie eats a starfish.

December:

dogs love each other. fight like siblings, but snuggle too. relieved that we didn't ruin Bailey's life.
bake ~11 batches of cookies in the month of December. most on one Saturday alone. forget to take picture of massive baking mess.
get Rosie to wear a bow. lasts less than a minute.

see family and friends, home and across the country. feel lots of love.

market, layoffs, gas prices. it's all scary, even more so at the end of the year.
feel blessed to have each other, and a pretty great life.
here's to a great 2008, and an even better 2009.

The frog prince and Superbowl!

Last weekend was a busy one for us! I spent Saturday with two of my most favorite people, Colene and Maureen. We had a great time at lunch and then spent a few hours shopping. It was great to see you girls! :) Colene and I picked Maureen up, which gave us the opportunity to see Miss Madeline, and for me to give her a little something I got back in November (yikes! We have to make sure it's not that long before we see each other again!) Click here to see Maddy and the frog that led Mom, M and me on a bit of a chase through Ikea. :) He was well worth the hunt!

Friday night, Saturday morning, and spare moments between these two events were spent working on our little project... (see post below)

On Sunday, we had Paul, Brian, and Tara over for the Superbowl. It was great to see Paul (it's been way too long since he was in town last!) and was the first time we got to meet Tara. We all had a great time, complete with a Giants win! (Not that it really mattered to most of us, but I asked J when the game started who we were rooting for, and he informed me that we were rooting AGAINST the Patriots. Guess he's still holding a grudge from XXXVI. :) And yes, I had to look that up...)

What's a Superbowl party without themed dessert covered in football and helmet shaped sprinkles?
Paul and Bailey hanging out before the game

Unfortunately, when the game began we forgot about the camera, so I don't have any pictures of Brian, Tara, or the rest of the food. :) So much fun guys! Can't wait to have Paul back in town again, and maybe next time McKenna can meet Bailey! :)