Catch up

Not a lot going on here... as evidenced by the lack of exciting blog posts! So, here's a little catch up on what we've been up to...

We decided to go to Dave and Busters on a Saturday night (crazy!) That place is a zoo! There were like a thousand kids running around and it was late. Why are these kids not in bed??? Anyway, we played Pac-Man, trivia and a game similar to the Price is Right wheel. Matt found that last game super frustrating. He was trying really hard to get the 1,000 tickets. But, each time, it was super close and he ended up with 4 tickets instead. Of course, about 5 minutes after we took off, Brett sent me a text message with the following picture... turns out he got the 1,000 tickets! He and Sandi used the tickets to buy a HUGE bag full of candy that we snacked on at bowling the next night.

The next week, my friend Brandon was in town with his fiance' Preston. Hany and I met up with them and a few others for happy hour. It was fun catching up with Brandon. We played v-ball and bowling together for many years. He now lives in Colorado and will be getting married over Labor Day weekend.

Erin and I went to a baby shower for Keely that weekend. Her friend had a "B" themed party for Baby Buffo. It was super cute! We got cake pops to take home with us... so delicious! I need to learn how to make those!

Sandi and Brett at the game

The weekend of March 10th was the big "meet-n-greet" with our family and Sandi's family. Her mom, brothers and sister-in-law all came into the city and my parents came up from Rochester. Sandi and Brett had bought all of us Bulls tickets for xmas. We started off at our place with pizza and drinks. The game was a lot of fun and the Bulls won. It was great to get to meet more of Sandi's family.

On March 16th, I went with Erin and her sorority sisters to see Bad Romance, a Lady Gaga tribute band. The concert was up north at the Copernicus Theater, which was a pretty cool place. One of Erin's sorority sister's sister is a backup singer in the band. It was pretty entertaining. I had no idea what to expect, but the lead singer had a great voice - she definitely sounded like Lady Gaga. She could have also passed as Britney Spears if she wanted to.

We spent St. Patrick's Day hanging out with friends, watching basketball and watching a lot of little kiddos running around enjoying the great weather. The next day we wished Samantha and Fubar a happy birthday at a Beauty and the Beast themed party. You can guess who was the Beauty and who was the Beast! ; )

That's about it for now! Look for another update in about a month or so... seems to be the schedule I'm on these days updating this thing!

Let's roll!

 

Bowling has started back up and look what the bowling alley has for us this year...

This is going to make Monday mornings a little rougher for some people!

Happy Birthday Dad!

My parents came up to Chicago for a visit this past weekend and to celebrate my Dad's birthday. He always likes to go the Auto Show, so they did that on Saturday while the girls went shopping in the 'burbs. We finished off the day with a great dinner at my Aunt Amy's house. My Dad's sisters also came into town, so there was quite a crowd at Amy's house!

We also celebrated my Aunt Lucy's birthday... hello lots of candles! : )

My Dad got this cool gadget for his birthday from Brett and Sandi - a donut maker! Of course, we had to try it out on Sunday. The donuts turned out really good! I may have to pick one of these up!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I got these beautiful flowers delivered to me on Tuesday! They've been keeping my office smelling nice all week!

Matt and I had a nice dinner at Nano with Ross and Erin = double date Valentine's Day!

Happy New Year!!!

Matt and I spent the holidays with my family in Rochester and Quincy, IL. I actually forgot to bring my camera home, so the only pics I have are from my phone (ie - not that great!). I really can't believe I did that!

I think we've found a new Christmas Eve tradition... my Dad, Ross and Matt fried a chicken and a turkey! So delicious! Considering how accident prone my Dad is, I'm glad there were no injuries and the house remained in one piece.

Safety first... using the welding gloves just in case!

Dad and Ross

Matt liked the finished product

Christmas Day was spent opening loads of great presents and spending time with the Otte family.

This Iowa pillow pet has already gotten a lot of use!

Me and Matt on Christmas

Ross and Erin on Christmas

On New Year's Eve Eve, we went to the PO to watch the Iowa bowl game. The place was the most packed I've even seen it! Lots of overflow from Four Shadows, I think. We had a fun time. Dave gave Matt and Brian these Iowa hawkeye hats to wear. They LOVED them!

Love the hats!

Beak fight

It's all fun and games until someone loses a beak!

We spent New Year's Eve at our place with Erin and Ross. It was basically and taco and pajama party. Comfy clothes, good food, fun games = a great way to ring in the New Year! Sofie was the first to pass out again this year! She did get her second wind at midnight.

Sofie kept Matt entertained

Getting ready for the midnight toast - gotta get them all the exact same

One of these years, we'll actually go over to Navy Pier to watch the fireworks in person

Ho! Ho! Ho!

I put off my xmas shopping until the last weekend. When I was heading into Macy's, a bunch of people dressed up like Santa rode bikes through downtown Chicago. I caught a pic of part of the group!

Merry Christmas!

Arizona

So, I sort of lied about the blog coming out of hibernation... seems like it's been a little while since I last posted. Time flies!

Matt and I went to Arizona and visited the Grand Canyon and Sedona a few weeks ago. We had an amazing time and we got to see a lot of beautiful scenery.

Sunset in Red Rock Country - Sedona

We spent the first night in Sedona and the weather was gorgeous -warm and sunny!

View from out hotel room in Sedona

We hiked up Bell Rock in Sedona. There was hardly a cloud in the sky!

Me in front of Bell Rock

Towards the top of Bell Rock, there was snow and ice.

How often do you see cactus and snow together?

Amazing views from Bell Rock

We drove to the Grand Canyon and spent a couple of days there, too.

The Grand Canyon was gorgeous!

Pictures really can't do this place justice!

Later at sunset... looked like a postcard!

We hiked down into the Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail. I was a little freaked at first because it was pretty icy at the top. But the farther you go down, the warmer and sunnier it got = less ice and snow.

Looking down at the path into the Canyon

Views on our hike down the South Kaibab Trail

On our hike

More views

Taking pictures on our hike

Matt loved this tree

Getting back up the trail was no easy feat. The altitude was a killer!

Our time in the Grand Canyon got cut a little short due to the storm that rolled in. Over a foot of snow was expected and we wanted to get out of the area before the roads were shut down.

We left just before the total blizzard hit the Grand Canyon

We made it back to Sedona - after driving through a white-out around Flagstaff. So much for missing the storm! We heard later they shut down roads and schools there and even the highway was closed to one lane each way. For the last couple of days of our trip, it was rainy and cloudy.

Clouds settling in while we were in Sedona

Matt at Cathedral Rock in Sedona

Dinner the last night

Check out our Shutterfly site for more pictures.