Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Our 2012 Christmas card photo....


Wrigley was less than thrilled with my photo shoot idea....


However, Ruby seemed to eat up the attention....


We did indeed have a white Christmas...


I pray joy and happiness finds you and your family during this holiday season. 


Thursday, December 20, 2012

Hodge Podge

I have not been a very good blogger lately. Life just gets in the way. So...I'm kinda wrapping everything over the last couple of months into one post....

We travelled to Kansas City in November to see Bruce Springsteen. He was on Nathan's bucket list to see live. Apparently, The Boss was the first cassette tape that Nathan ever purchased.


We had a great weekend. We met my sorority sister Julie and her husband for lunch and then spent the afternoon shopping in The Plaza. The concert was awesome! Bruce played for a solid three hours and was very interactive with the crowd. We didn't recognize over half the songs but he put on a great show. He talked a lot with the crowd and just seemed genuinely glad to be there. It was obvious he truly loves what he's doing. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Nathan's parent's house. We had good food and it was nice to spend some time with the family. We celebrated my birthday in Iowa City....dancing with all those crazy college kids :) Everyone had a great time!


A few weeks ago, Mom and I went to Chicago to do some Christmas shopping. We stayed at The Drake. We had good weather. We spent time on Michigan Avenue shopping and were able to meet up with another sorority sister Duce and her husband for lunch. 

The lions in front of the Chicago Art Institute are all decked out for Christmas. 


We went to the Chicago Symphony- we sat in the Tier seats which were behind the orchestra. It was a really cool vantage point because we could watch the conductor and all his facial expressions. I had never been to a symphony concert before.....I'd highly recommend it!


Nathan has been getting into the Christmas spirit. He's been working feverishly on the outside lights. Last year he bought the supplies to recreate our PVC candy cane from Texas. He finally got it built and decorated this year. Nathan would easily be Clark Griswold if I didn't reel him in just a tad.....



We have a Giving Tree at work benefitting one of the local shelter/foster groups in the area. One client brought in this nice cat bed and placed it under the tree.....Mimi (our clinic cat) decided she really liked it and has claimed it as her own. 


Last but not least....we had an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party last weekend. I haven't gotten all the pictures yet from my mom...there were some UGLY sweaters! But we had great time!

Rudolph Jason


Santa Aaron and Reindeer Jason


The Fab Four in their Ugly Sweaters....


and yours truly....we borrowed both of our sweaters from Deb...Nathan's even had shoulder pads :) it fit him like a glove! 


Today we are experiencing our first blizzard of the season....joy! I bought some sleds yesterday. The first snow of the year is always exciting...and I guess we are guaranteed a white Christmas. Looking forward to a blessed Christmas holiday! 




Monday, October 15, 2012

Fall, Football, and Family



Fall is in the air....

My friend Jodi recently introduced me to a new hiking spot along Lake MacBride. The trees have been beautiful! And the hiking has been pretty good too....



We've enjoyed a successful ISU football season so far this year. Nathan and I got season tickets with my parents. Two weeks ago the pups were featured on the jumbo tron as one of Cy's Pets of the Week. You dress up your pets in ISU gear and submit their picture....I was so excited when I got the call that they were going to be featured! They were also featured on the ISU Vet School's web page all last week along with the pics of the other 4 pets chosen. 





Last weekend was ISU Family Weekend. Nathan's whole family usually plans to make it to the game. This year was extra special as we celebrated his grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary and his mom's birthday. We had special t-shirts printed up for the occasion. 


The game was early and we played KState...we lost- but we held our own (KState was ranked #6 prior to our game). We tailgated after the game. 


We had quite the spread...Kenneth and his pork loins. 


No celebration is complete without ISU birthday cupcakes...


and anniversary cupcakes.....


and popping champagne!


Happy Anniversary Gma and Gpa!


The family gave them a new TV!


The four grandsons....


The Heins...


The whole family..the Heins, Streepers, and Antons!


Go State!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Happy Anniversary to us!

We went to Jamaica for our 10th wedding anniversary. We were both looking forward to some rest and relaxation and doing nothing but sitting on the beach!!


Flying into Jamaica....




We stayed at Couples Swept Away in Negril.....it was a very nice resort with a beautiful beach! Our first view coming off the plane.


It rained the first afternoon we arrived and we were treated to a rainbow.....but the rest of our trip we had perfect weather! Tropical Storm Isaac threatened Cuba and South Florida and eventually hit New Orleans as a category 1 hurricane....but we were not affected. 


Our room was ocean view....




Our room soon became a home for wayward cats....the first day we had one little kitten show up and I shared my post cereal milk with her....she must have went and told all her friends because by the end of our trip we had four kittens showing up each morning:)




Enjoying the beach....the water was super warm and clear!








Nathan's main agenda for our trip....doing nothing....


My main agenda....reading trashy romance novels....and doing nothing....



Our favorite restaurant was the Sea Grape Cafe where you could get fresh fruit smoothies and drink from coconuts...




We had such a relaxing time...we would love to go back!



Here's to many more years of marital bliss!! :) lol!