Thursday, January 8, 2009

Happy Anniversary to Us!

We decided to celebrate our third anniversary early this year. The weekend before we went to Utah for Christmas, we celebrated here in the good ol' midwest. We started out the weekend driving north to the Wisconsin/Michigan border for a snowshoeing trip. We backpacked everything in to camp out around these frozen lakes. Beautiful! Then we came back and stayed at a sweeeet hotel downtown and went to a Monday night Bears vs. Packers football game. The next morning we had to leave at 4 am to catch our flight and Ben surprised me with a limo ride to the airport so we wouldn't have to take the "L" train. =) (not a stretch limo thank heavens)
At the football game.. I've never been so cold in my life - the stadium is right on the shores of Lake Michigan. I kept running to the restroom to warm up next to the dryers. You can see ice on my face mask - yikes!
Warm ups.
Ben was thrilled!
The view outside of our suite of the Chicago River.

Just about to begin our 10 mile hike!
We were the only ones around for miles.. kind of creepy... here are our tracks as we trudged along.
Here was our cozy sleeping location for the night. It snowed a few inches before we got up the next morning.
No, Ben is not snortin' some fumes or smokin' the doobage - but making our "delicious" dinner. Actually, we've found some very yummy dehydrated meals from REI if you'd like any recommendations!
Oh so cozy.. I actually thought I was going to lose a few toes that night because it took awhile to set up our tent and my body temperature plummeted - I'm glad to report that I still have all 10 toes.
The first day we had a late start so the next day we had to find a short cut back to our car so we wouldn't get caught out and about when the sun went down. We had to book it and shave our 13 mile hike down to 10.
So0o0o happy to get back to our car - with only 15 minutes of daylight to spare - phew!




"Polka polka polka polka" - I love Wisconsin!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Harry for the Holidays

Last night we went downtown to see Harry Connick Jr. in concert at the Chicago Theater which we've never been too yet. He sounded exactly like his albums and was hilarious in between songs. 
Concert locale.
Macy's on State Street
Inside of the theater. 
Outside of the theater with our infamous head shot!
Soooo will not go see this but I was thrilled when I saw the ad. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you!"
This is Chicago's version of the tree at Rockefeller - but this is in Daley Plaza. The church behind is a Methodist Church - tallest church steeple in the world. (kinda looks like the Salt Lake Temple to me)
Yay! He was AMAZING!


We went to dinner at this German restaurant. It's been around since 1895 and served the first legal alcoholic drink in Chicago after the end of prohibition. Ben got wiener schnitzel (yuck) just to say he ordered it at an authentic German restaurant and for dessert we split some strudel of course!

Some video of the concert for all to enjoy!

Monday, December 8, 2008

it's that time of year...

Decorations, decorations, decorations...
no idea where to hang this sucker... on the hurricane lamp will do!
our only nativity to the right - and three snowman playing the wisemen...?
totally made this the other night
our lovely matching stockings (thanks mom!)
our fat tree we so lovingly call "big mama" - $14.99 woohoo! (and yes it's real)
oh (random picture I know) but over the weekend I did a baby shower for a friend and these ridiculously cute shoes were my present - so I had to throw this on here
oh and here are some Thanksgiving pics - we were able to fly out to Seattle for five days - above is my niece Claire pooped in the car
right before riding a merry-go-round together (Emma is on the right)
telling secrets...
my mom with Hallie the youngest niece

yeah - just ignore me please





Sunday, November 30, 2008

Australia Movie - soooo good


I went and saw this movie late last night and fell in love. It was long but I could have sat there another hour. The story line was good, the casting was perfect, and the romance between the two - oh.. my .. gosh - loved it!

Monday, November 24, 2008

eh

I don't quite know what to say... I mean the book is cheesy so why wouldn't the movie be? I should have expected that. But the music and special effects...? Maybe they'll put more money into the second one... (cross your fingers).

Friday, November 21, 2008

Feeling Hesitant...

So I, like many of you, have read the entire Twilight series. A few times actually... it's a little embarassing but true. No, the writing isn't terribly good (quite cheesy in fact) but the plot is interesting and let's face it - Edward makes us all swoon. So tomorrow I will be venturing out to see the movie. I know it won't be as good as the book because movies never usually are (minus Pride and Prejudice.. Mmmmm... =) I just hope it doesn't "ruin it" for me. I know they didn't have a lot of money for filming so we'll see. I'll let you know tomorrow night how it goes!

Saturday, November 15, 2008