Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Day 2009

After eating our classic Christmas feast, we capped off the day with this decadent chocolate cake that Alyssa made. Yum.

The missionaries joined us for dinner and a game of Carcasonne. I sat at the table and read 2 of my new magazines.

Branden Lewis joined us for desert and the after dinner games.

We got to meet our new sister missionary tonight--Sister Carter. She is wonderful and likes to fish. She and Sister Hansen are a great pair and they even teamed up to do good at Carcasonne.

Brady was feeling the Christmas love.

Lexie was really excited to show off ALL of her presents.

Brady loves his snuggie and is eager to go spend his cash that he got for Christmas.

Brandon put his bench press together first. We all took turns trying it out today. I discovered that I am the biggest wimp in the family. ;-(

Alyssa and Branden were happy to get a good look at all the loot. He is happily helping her set up her new lap top!

Christmas Morning


An exhausted Gary on Christmas morning. Poor guy.

My mom was so excited to find this present for me. (If you don't know why-see the post titled "Da Bears"). She made Alyssa promise to take my picture so she could see it. Don't I look lovely at 6:30 in the morning!?

Given the fact that I am very hard to surprise--I was super curious what my mom had gotten me. We opened just after the Santa presents and the stockings.

Santa can never go wrong with lip gloss for Lexie!

Alyssa was a little unsure about the "Crabby Patties".

Santa provided Brady with the means to rock out--i-pod connector for his big stereo in his room. Even Santa knows how much that boy loves his music.

Santa is a genius--tools for Brandon to have in his room. We all know who really fixes stuff around here anyway.

After the "Crabby Patty" there can be no where to go but up.

There must be candy in here somewhere...

Alyssa trying to be excited about her present from Santa--an empty laptop bag. (He does have a sense of humor--the lap top was in a box under the tree from Dad and Mom).

Brady was up at 4 am!!! Can you possible believe it? Crazy boy!

Her very own Wii motion control sensor!

The hoodie from Santa is hanging behind him on the entertainment center--he is hugging the bench press set that he knows is hiding under the paper--it was his gift from Dad and Mom. :-)
More to come after dinner!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Fall Pagent 2009

Lexie and a few of her fellow first graders were asked to dance in the Thanksgiving program. They were dancing leaves.

They did an interpretive style dance with colored fabric to represent the color of leaf they were.

This was right up Lexie's alley. She was born to be in interpretive dancer and she took her task, of bringing the leaf to life, very seriously.

Christmas Lights 2009

Even though it was pretty cold over the Thanksgiving break, the boys diligently hung my Christmas lights.
Brandon was so careful with Brady. Brady wanted out on the roof really bad. I thought Brandon was going to lash him down. He was so worried that Brady might fall.

Brandon has been itching to get out on the roof since we moved in! He was so happy!
He was so careful and planned out the lights diligently. I will post a night shot soon. Thanks Brandon!

Us girls had to get in on the act.

The ladder was a lot taller than it looked from the ground!

Happy Thanksgiving


We look forward to the food all year long. I love when we all pitch in and hang out together in the kitchen.

This year Brady was in charge of the stuffing. He did an excellent job!
Alyssa did all the pies and the mashed potatoes.

Our yearly ritual of eating the yummy, crispy turkey skin as soon as it comes out of the oven!

Lexie spent the day decorating the tree. She did an excellent job. She divided her time between helping the girls cook in the kitchen, supervising the boys hanging lights, and creating the perfect tree!
Ginger took her job of holding down the couch very seriously. Neither she nor the couch moved all day long!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Da Bears! Da Bears! Da Bears!

I read "Brian's Song" when I was in the 3rd grade. I have been a die hard Bears fan ever since. I have always promised myself that I would see the Bears play at Soldier Field before I died.

Gary and I had planned to attend a pre-season game in Sept. Alas, we are college students and responsible adults so we decided that we didn't have enough money and post-poned the trip to another time when we could afford it and still have milk for the week.

Enter my friends the Catten's. They have been so absolutely supportive of Gary and I and our crazy move to Ohio. When Michele found out I wasn't going, she and Mike conspired. They sent me a VERY GENEROUS birthday gift. By chipping in a small amount of my own money, I was able to buy one very good seat in the stadium. Gary is a die hard Cowboy fan and said if I was going to go, he wanted me to use the money for his seat so I could sit as low as possible. I bought a parking pass on-line and wasn't sure what to expect. The parking lot was chaos! Major tailgating begins at 9 am and continues after the game for several hours. I was glad Gary let me drive his car. I would never have been able to find a spot for the surburban!

The Chicago skyline as you head into the tunnel that leads to the stadium.


Me in front of the stadium.


Just as you walk in to the stadium.


This is when I first walked out on to the deck and saw the field. All the security people are very courteous and were asking people if you would like them to take a picture for you. Of course I said yes! My actual seat is just over my left shoulder, behind the goal post you see in the picture.

Players warming up before the game. Aguleye and I don't know the other one.

Robbie Gould warming up.

Brady was very impressed with the pictures of the jumbo tron.

When I got there, the players were in their street clothes and they were on the field warming up, playing catch, chatting and just being casual. It was really cool to be one of the first ones in the stadium and watch it fill up.

My seat was in section 152, row 13, seat 19. I was 13 rows up off of the field and I was at the end of my row. It couldn't have been better! I was right behind the goal post. Perfect. The Lions came out and scored right away. I was pretty worried that my team might have a bad day. But we rallied and ended up winning. It was perfect weather. I had a perfect seat. My family was very excited for me so there was no guilt. I had a blast!

All of these pictures are taken from my seat. This is the blow up they use for the players to run out on the field at the beginning of the game. Pretty cool!

No cheerleaders in Chicago! We have an awesome drumline instead. Man, these guys rock!

I was surrounded by season ticket holders. They gave me the ins and outs and took my picture for me!


Time for kick off! Would you believe that it happened to be alumni day and Gale Sayers was there! I got to see Gale Sayers! Did I mention that I got to see Gale Sayers? (You might have to read the book in order to really appreciate my super duper excitement)!

After the game, the drum line comes out of the stadium and parties with all the drunk fans.

Soldier Field, dedicated to the men and women of the armed services.

Right after I took this picture, the cop jumped down, helped arrest a guy and then calmly walked over and got back on his horse. The horse never moved.

My last look at the amazing Chicago skyline.

A beautiful stadium.

The tunnel that leads you out of the stadium and back to the shuttles.

I am very lucky and blessed to have a family who loves me enough to be unselfish and friends who support me and are extremely generous. Thank you Gary, Alyssa, Brandon, Brady, Lexie, Michele and Mike! You guys are the best ever and have given me a day I will never forget.

Workers replacing divits after the game.