Liberty Bowl/ New Year's

After celebrating Christmas with the fam, we got up the next morning prepared to drive to Memphis, TN to cheer on ISU in the Liberty Bowl. Mom was still not feeling well so she decided to stay home. Dad, Nathan, and I all were really worried we were going to come down with the flu on our quick trip....luckily we all stayed healthy! 

Nathan proudly displaying his freak flag....

It took about 8.5 hrs to drive to Memphis from Washington....we headed out for BBQ at Central BBQ once we arrived into town. We met my sorority sister Amy and her hubby David....we headed down to Beale Street to take in the night life. 

The game was played New Year's Eve day....it was cold (30's) and projected to rain...we tailgated before the game with friends....and ate more BBQ....

ISU played Tulsa...we had played them once before at the beginning of the season and we had won. Ready to cheer on the Cyclones!

ISU had a very big following at the game...over 20,000 ISU fans made the trip to Memphis. It was a sea of cardinal and gold....

It did start lightly raining during the second quarter. We were prepared with ponchos!

ISU came out strong in the first quarter but soon petered out....we played horribly the rest of the game and ended up losing :(

We planned ahead and had bought tickets to the Peabody Hotel's NYE celebration. They had two different bands playing as well as a DJ. There was free champagne and a balloon drop at midnight. We had a fantastic time!

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2012

We celebrated Christmas with my side of the family the weekend after Christmas. Gma Jean had been sick the with the stomach flu and then Mom fell to the same symptoms just a few days later...so we had a pretty low key gathering. 

Gma Jean (92) was thrilled with her Magic Mike movie and People mag featuring Channing Tatum. 

Nathan was over joyed with his scottie mug....compliments of Gma :)

Mom with her annual Chanel 5....

Mom compiled all of Adam and Teresa's wedding photos into a scrap book....she and the girls enjoyed looking through it....

Adam and some new running shoes....

Dad always gets wine.....

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. 

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! 

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!