Chi-town Friends

So this is a late posting for this, but our friends Lindy and Bob came and visited us. We had a great time and it was definitely great to catch up.

Lindy and I got great pleasure out of schooling the boys at Euchre and Darts. Maybe next time guys. Suckas!

Okay so they did beat us in Mario Tennis though...big woop!

Thanks for your friendship...you're wonderful friends!

A few pics...

Color Series

The Next 7 Days a friend and I will be doing a color series. Keep an eye our for the following colors to be represented...

(no particular order)
Red
Orange
Yellow
Blue
Green
Brown
White

We thought it would be fun!

Mad Skills

Ben and I have been playing in this soccer rec league for most of the winter. I haven’t really played since 7th grade, but I pretty much enjoy any sort of athletic or competitive activity. Ben has never played soccer in an organized manner, but he picked it up really quickly and has made me proud. Sometimes my mind thinks that I have these mad skills that allow me to juke around players and score the game winning goal…my body however likes to push people when I’m trying to get the ball or “wimpily” kick the ball toward the net. Maybe my skills in the 7th grade weren’t as mad as I thought they were.

Regardless of our skills, we enjoy playing. We have met some new people and some of my co-workers play on our team as well. One of them got into a fight on Saturday that turned into a much bigger ordeal than it needed to. Almost everybody ran over to get in on the action and to help pull people off of one another. I didn’t feel like being one of “those” girls so I just watched from a few feet away. Two girls chest bumped each other, which I have always hated…why would you do that? It’s so unattractive to me, and doesn’t it hurt? Poor Ben was the closest person to the chest bumpers so he had to break them up and keep them from fighting one another. Finally the Ref blew his whistle and people started to split up. I couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that 20, 30, and 40 year olds just had a brawl. Wow.

Last night we got a bunch of people together to play volleyball at our church. Nobody threw down while we were there…so that’s a plus. One girl did get hit in the face twice by some pretty hard spikes. She was a trooper though and just kept on playing. Ben had this really sweet shoulder hit, where he didn’t even try to use his hands…he just jumped up in the air and swiveled his shoulder to hit the ball. It was hilarious.

After playing all these sports I am definitely ready for Spring. Spring means we can play Ultimate Frisbee, Wiffleball, Bocce Ball, Washers, and Softball. I can’t wait!!

Happy Valentines Day

I was feeling under the weather today...so I stayed home. Christen came over later and made some valentine's cards with me. Here are a few that we made.



As you can see Christen loved craft time at Aunt Heather's.

Oh and here's a picture of the delicious cookie tray that my mom delivered to me! Thanks Mom!! You are so creative...I really do think you should do something like this for a living!

Hope you all have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Don't tell Ben, but one time he wrote me a Valentine's day card and kept saying I'm glad I get to spend February 16th with you. ha.

Weekend Retreat with the Snider Family

A few pics from this past weekend. As you can see Simon got plenty of attention! My favorite new thing about him are his dancing skills. I sat him on my lap and bounced while Ben and I provided a infectious, but clean beat for his enjoyment. He then would wiggle, giggle, and jump to our tune. How cute!

3 Songs That Make Me Smile

Love Love Love by Tristan Prettyman

Pretty the World by Matt Nathanson

Love is Free by Sheryl Crow

You should check them out ASAP. I can’t help but smile when I hear them.
Enjoy!

snow/sleet/rain/snow

I'm very surprised that our basement isn't an underground pool right now. We have had so much precipitation lately, not to mention some crazy weather. There were almost 12 inches of snow last Friday, then it was about 55 on Sunday which brought freezing rain/sleet, that night we had some thunder and lightening. Then Monday and Tuesday we had more thunderstorms and a butt load of rain. Yesterday there were flooded roads everywhere. Oh to live in Illinois. Oh and today we had more snow.

Snow is only for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. So what is it doing snowing in February... and where is spring? I don't know how much longer I can wait for warmer weather. We had a 63 degree day a few weeks ago...it was amazing, but made me even more depressed when it got back below 30 degrees.

Texas, Alabama, & southern California are all calling my name!

Oh and I need to learn more about politics...I hate politics, but people talk about them often and sooner or later they will figure out that I know NOTHING about them! I can only bend down to tie my shoe or excuse myself to the bathroom so many times before they start to catch on to me. ha. maybe I need better ways to get out of talking about it. Next time I might try the old chest pain bit or cough attack.

That reminds me of an Office episode where Michael asks Ryan to go out to eat with him, Dwight, and Jim. Here's the quote...

Ryan Howard: I'm not feeling so well. I've got a ton of work to do here. MSG allergy, peanut allergy, I just ate there last night.
Michael Scott: [feels Ryan's head] Alright, feel better.
Jim Halpert: Wow, thanks for taking all the excuses, dude.
Ryan Howard: Doctor appointment, car trouble, plantar warts, granddad fought in World War II. Use your head, man. I keep mine in here [shows Blackberry]. Look alive, Halpert. Welcome back.

When Ben gets a hold of a scanner

What a great invention!

After a rainy day this is the place for you.

Snow and Spray Paint

Our yard after I got done spray painting things for my photo-op.

Heck Yes It's a Snow Day

I felt like a little kid last night when I kept saying, "maybe, just maybe they will call of work tomorrow!" They have only called off work once that I have ever heard of. Just in case though, I put my cellphone next to my bed. 6:59am I get a call from our Exec. Director, "The office is closed today!"

OH YAH!

So I turned to Ben and said, "Ben, see...no work today!" He replied in a very chipper manner, "Sleeping, can't hear you." ha thanks for the enthusiasm there buddy.

I had to resist the urge to sleep until noon and ended getting up a little after 10. That's really good for me.

Ben went outside to shovel snow with our neighbor a little before 11. He is still out there and is now shoveling our neighbor ladies drive. What a sweet heart! He requested pancakes...so I am going to go make some of those here soon.

Oh and I wanted to go outside to get some pictures and realized that I do not have very good snow clothes. My outfit consisted of 2 layers of wind pants, a hoodie, a coat, stocking cap, my cousin's gloves, a scarf, and my new target boots. They are free with any purchase...you better hurry and get yourself some before they are all out.

Ben of course thought I looked lamo and wanted a picture. So here you go. Say what you want, but they kept my shoes nice and dry as I trekked through about a foot of snow.

I'd show you some of the pictures I took, but then what would I put up for my photo of the day this weekend. Okay I'll show you one of the pretty snow.


I am off to make some pancakes now. Then I might watch a movie, read a book, edit photos, paint a picture...the possibilities are endless! I love snow days!