The Sweater Party

I alluded to the fact that we went to Mandy and Todd's sweater party a couple weeks ago, so here are the details. For the last four years, Mandy and Todd have thrown and ugly Christmas sweater party. We could not make the first two years because we were down in B/N and it was hard to get away. Anyhow, we went last year and were eagerly awaiting this years edition. 

Well, living back in Naperville has it's ups and downs, one of which is living in close proximity to Andrew. Mar and I were planning on leaving around 7:15 in order to maximize our Saturday night. Well, thanks to Andrew, we were delayed. The reason being, was Andrew's new girlfriend, Autumn. (For those keeping track, this has given Andrew a leg up on The Competition.) Anyways, Andrew called me and asked if we could leave at 8:30 instead, so we could go together. I said we would wait, then foolishly asked him if he would be the one to drive. There was silence on the other end as he did not anticipate that response and told me that he was hoping that I would drive so he could enjoy himself. Naturally, this is what I expected, so I told him that I was fine with driving. 

Well, 8:30 rolled around and Andrew was nowhere to be seen. After a few minutes, I called him and asked him what the delay was and he told me that Autumn had just arrived. I told him to get a move on because we wanted to leave. He kind of stumbled with his words as he tried to further delay his arrival and told me that Autumn was going to "eat a sandwich here so she wouldn't get your car dirty." This made me even more upset, because I could have cared less if she ate a sandwich in my car. Time continued to slip away, and at 9:15, Andrew and Autumn arrived, sandwich in hand. Mar and I looked at each other and said nothing as they got into my car and she ate the sandwich as we drove to the city. Draw your own conclusions.

Anyways, after pulling off the most badass parallel parking job ever, the sweater party was a smashing success. Mar got us a couple of awesome sweaters at a local resale shop and everyone loved them. Everyone at the party had pretty sweet sweaters, especially Todd's brother Brad and the dude that showed up dressed as a Christmas tree. It was great spending time with friends and kicking back for the holidays. I hope that Todd and Mandy maintain this tradition and more people can make it next year.

The Competition

A little while back, we were enjoying a nice meal with Todd, Meg, and Andrew at Quigley's. Our wedding happened to come up and Megan espoused how she was hoping to have a date to the Event of the Decade. We assured her that she would and expressed our concern for Andrew's odds of having a date. When this concern was mentioned, Andrew's ears perked up and he said with an air of confidence that he was not worried about having a date, because he was sure that he would. Upon saying this, the rest of us just looked at him as he casually ate his sandwich and appeared to be surprised that we were not as confident as he appeared to be in his ability to procure the arm of another. 

Well, in order to make things interesting, a little deal was struck between Andrew and Megan. Here are the details of what is now known as The Competition:

1. The wedding cannot be the first "date."
2. At least five dates must be in the record book in order for the person to qualify. 
3. The person cannot be paid.
4. The rules committee (Me, Mar and Todd) have the authority to strike a date from the books if it is deemed to be unacceptable. 
5. The loser will have to pay for the winner's hotel room.
6. In the event of a tie, the contestants will each receive five dollars to use at the casino the night of the wedding. 

I am sure that several of you have already heard about The Competition, but I just wanted to make it formal. 

Really?

Although I missed SNL last night for the sweater party, which I will post about soon, I saw this little segment today on the web and could not resist posting it for all of you to see. We all know about the current allegations that our esteemed governor is facing, but Seth Myers and Amy Poehler but a hilarious spin on it. Enjoy.

I Hate Snow

Let me correct that, I hate snow this early. It took me an hour and forty minutes to complete a commute today that normally takes between twenty-five to thirty minutes. It was horrible. Thank goodness I had NPR to listen to as they reported about nothing but our awesome governor.

Blokus

Jillian and Anthony exposed us to this game, and we just cannot quit. We went over to Anthony's house to have dinner while they were in town for Thanksgiving, and following dinner, they suggested that we play this game that his family had started playing last year. The only way that I can really describe this board game is a crude mix between Chinese checkers and Tetris. Without going into too much detail, the is a total blast. We liked it so much that we went out and bought it soon after playing for the first time. I even took it in to work and let some of my kids play. They too loved it and some of them have gone out and purchased it for themselves.

P.S.

Jillian has posted a very similar entry that just so happened to be put up today before I could finish my thoughts on the topic. I still believe that her and Anthony were cheating and conspired to defeat me.

Now On To The Jive Turkeys Of 2008

With out further ado, here are the year's Jive Turkeys:

• Gary the Troll- I still sleep with one eye open for fear that this demon will attack me while I sleep.
• No Airconditioning At Work- There where days that I literally thought I was going to melt away. 
• People Who Don't Know What Socialism Is- It got really old hearing people call President-Elect Obama a socialist. Look it up before you throw that word out.
• Blago- Words cannot even begin to describe. 
• McDonald's- Can someone please explain to me why the McRib is only around for a limited time?
• Fox News- The most heinous reporting on television. I love how people try to make it seem like these spinsters are unbiased.
• Chicago Tribune- I view enough web pages on my computer, I do not need one in paper form as well. Please go back to your old fomat.
• Prison Break- I do not know why we still watch this show. It is possibly the worst thing on television, but we cannot quit watching.
• Salerno- So far, they have chosen to deny me of my Santa's Favorites cookies. Please come back.

It Ain't Cool Being No Jive Turkey So Close to Thanksgiving 2008

So, I started this around Turkey Day, but have been really busy, so it is coming up a little late. (That's what she said.) This has been a year of ups and downs for most people I know. We have seen several new arrivals while saying goodbye to loved ones way too soon. While the world has been weaving it's web round us, I have to say that the people that have gotten me and others through it all have been the best friends and family that a person could ask for. The small amount of people that are devoted to reading my missives are more important to Mar and I than I can put into words. Thanks for being there and I hope you all know that we have the best friends EVER. Now on to the additional thanks and happy thoughts:

• Turkey Bowl- By my count, this was the the fourteenth edition of the annual affair. Although we were a little light this year in regards to participants, this is a tradition I hope never ends. LVP goes to Brian J. 
• The Chicago Cubs Playoff Run- For the second year in a row, we made a great run. I had the good fortune to go to the best regular season game that I have ever attended. Rami's grand slam to win the game in the bottom of the ninth was exhilarating. I have never experienced that type of electricity at a ballgame. In my heart of hearts, I know that 2009 will be the year. 
• Radiohead- Now that I think about it, I don't think I have told you guys that I went to go see Radiohead this summer at Lollapalooza. BEST CONCERT EVER. Radiohead is my favorite band and their music has been inspiring me since 1997. This year, I had the good fortune of finally attending one of their concerts. It was on a sunny, hot day in Grant Park, and I made the trip solo, as most people I know do not know how to appreciate the world's greatest band. To make a long story short, it was  a truly mesmerizing evening that I still think about. The show was perfect in every way and I am grateful that I just had the chance to experience the magic. 
• Frank the Gnome- Frankie has been a very welcome addition to our little family. He watches over us and the cats with his enchanting smile and showers us with good thoughts and feelings. 
• The Wisconsin Trip- Our little trip up to the Northwoods was a lot of fun. The cabin was beautiful and we had a lot of fun with the people that joined us. 
• The Battlestar Mid-Season Finale- Totally breathtaking. The best show on tv did not fail to deliver with a near perfect episode. I still cannot believe how it ended. 
• The Mist- As I have previously mentioned, this delicious beverage brings me joy every time I taste it.
• My New Team- I recently met my new water polo team and cannot wait to start the season next March.
• My Kids- My eyes are opened in new ways every day and show me why I chose to do what I do.
• The Bouncing New Additions- As I mentioned, we have has several new arrivals this year. Welcome to each and every one of you. You all have great parents that will shower you with love and attention. I can only hope that you will soon know the joy of a Cubs World Series Championship.
• Mr. President-Elect- We did it folks. By no means will he wave a magic wand that will fix the mess we are in, but I think he will give us a fighting chance.
• My Family- They have always been there and always will be. Thanks for putting up with me.
• Marilyn- Thank you for saying yes. We have been at this little game for quite awhile, and August 1st cannot come soon enough. You have made me the person that I am today and brought me nothing but joy and love. Seeing you walk down the aisle will make me the happiest man in the world. Our lives are just now beginning and you are the only person that I can imagine spending the rest of it with. 

The Person That Made Me A Cubs Fan

As most of us know, I am a fairly devout fan of the Chicago Cubs. I know I may not always make it obvious, but they are and always will be my favorite team in any sport. This comes to a surprise when people find out that I am the only Cubs fan in my family, the rest being die hard white sox fans. Well, there is one person that is responsible for the fact that I am a Cubs fan, my godfather Bob. 

Bob was my father's best friend and was like a second dad to me in my developing years, and he passed away nine days ago. My godfather was a jovial man with a thunderous laugh and a joy for life that was unmatched. He doted on me and made sure I was in the right corner of Chicago baseball fandom. I will never forget the smile that was always on his face as he manned the nearest grill while cooking up one of his patented delicious meals. Bob was always around for holidays when I was a kid and provided me with memories that will be with me till the next time we see each other.

Bob went through a messy divorce several years back and was never quite the same as the person that helped raise me. After losing custody of his kids, the twinkle was taken from his eyes and he grew distant to everyone, even my family. However, when we did happen to bump into each other, it was like no time had passed. A few years back, his health started to take a turn for the worse and he became even more difficult to reach. 

Bob suffered a debilitating stroke a three weeks ago and I went to visit him for the first time in about six years. It was the hardest thing I have had to do in some time. Thank goodness Marilyn was with me, because it was very emotional. I couldn't talk for several moments and just hunched over and sobbed into his bedside. After a couple of minutes, I was able to talk and just updated him on how my life has gone since we last spoke. He met Marilyn and I told him about our upcoming nuptials. Although he was not able to respond, I know he heard me and was very proud of who I have become. We talked for a while and I told him I would see him soon. Part of me had a feeling that this would be our last moment together, but I did not want him to lose hope or the spirit to recover. This was two weeks ago today, and I never got to see him again since he passed the following Friday.

As I mentioned, the visit was very emotional for me. In addition to this personal loss, this has been a particularly trying Fall for a lot of people that I know. I sort of had a personal epiphany the Thursday after seeing Bob and told myself that everything was going to be okay. While I desperately wish that things could have worked out differently for Bob, I will forever cherish our moments together and memories that I have of him. This post is dedicated to Bob. I love you and will miss you more than I can say. Thank you for everything you did for me and my family. Your memory will always be alive with me and when we finally win the Series, you will be the first person that I talk to.

Of Mist And Men

I guess you can say holiday season is upon us now that Halloween has passed and stores have started to break out he Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa merchandise. While it does seem early to me, I guess it's never too soon to find a deal. Well, along with holiday sales, stores seem to stock "special" holiday items, such as one of my favorite cookies, Jingles (Which have now been repackaged as Santa's Favorites. It is very important that you get Santa's Favorites, not the new Jingles. Santa's Favorites are made by Salerno and new Jingles are made by Keebler. Nothing against the little elves, but Salerno makes a superior product. Plus, any true Jingles loving consumer will not buy the new Keebler Jingles out of respect and loyalty. Here is an interesting post from a fellow blogger that shares my affinity for the true and original Jingle s.).

In addition to Jingles, I love the seasonal offering from Sierra Mist. It is called Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. This lovely concoction blends cranberry with the lemon-lime of the original Sierra Mist with delightful results. I was first turned on to this elixir two years ago while on my way home from Indiana. While I was gassing up, the label caught my eye and I decided to give it a whirl. Boy was I happy that I did. Consequently, during the last two holiday seasons, I have anxiously awaited the arrival of "The Mist" as it is lovingly referred to on our home. Last year, Mar's mom even bought me a case for Christmas. So, if you come across The Mist, I highly recommend picking up a sample. For those of you that drink diet, rest assured that a calorie free option is also produced. 

YES WE DID

Well folks, we did it. That is all I really have to say, because I think it has not quite sunk in. We did it.

May The Best (Barack Obama) Man Win

It's here!  It's here!  It's here!  It's finally here!  Happy Election Day "my friends!" :)  I hope that you all get out and VOTE!!!  

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~VOTE~

Heaven Help Us

If you have not noticed, our dear, confused "friend" Andrew has begun his own blog. It is linked to the right along with the blogs of our other friends, so take a peek if you dare. Mar and I have been at him for awhile, trying to get him to start a blog since it has proven to be a great tool for communicating with everyone. At first he refused, saying that blogs are only for people who want to sully the landscape with liberal propaganda, but he has finally seen the light. Make sure read his missives after putting the women and children to sleep, for it is not for the feint of heart.

Why Is Mike Singletary Not Our Coach?

Let it be said that I like Lovie Smith, but after seeing this clip, I love Mike Singletary. Most of us know Samuri Mike from his standout career as the Hall of Fame middle linebacker that anchored the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears. Singletary has always been a fan favorite and in the last few years, he has been mentioned as the next former player that will be a great coach. During Sunday's game, Singletary told tight end Vernon Davis to head to the showers after he committed a personal foul penalty for smacking an opposing player. There was still a quarter left, and Davis has to ability to be a game breaker. During his postgame press conference, Singletary responded to several questions from the press. Judging from this video, I think the assumptions of Singletary the coach will be true: 

This is exactly the type of passion every coach should have, especially pro coaches. We live in a world of prima donnas and I can only hope that this man will one day coach the Bears. 

Hopefully, The Hardest Part Will Be Getting The Horses In The Water

Drumroll, please. I would like to inform everyone that I will be coaching water polo this year. It became official last week, so I am a little late in getting this news out, but we are both really excited. Hopefully this will be part of the break that I need and will lead to a full-time instructional position. If anyone has any words of wisdom, do not be afraid to share. Hopefully I won't jeselnick it up.

The Year of the Babies...

So as many of you may know Chris and I had "The Year of the Weddings," hm, three years ago.  Well, as many of you may have guessed, we have now entered "The Year of the Babies!"  So, I figured a little post with some pictures of all of our newcomers would be appreciated. 

So, to all of our new mom's and dad's--you've produced some *cute* little munchkins. . .

SO...in order of their arrival into our world:

On Wednesday~

June 4, 2008 at 10:01 pm

Miss Macy Marie arrived!

8 pounds 12 ounces 21 inches

On Friday~

June 6, 2008 at 1:32 pm

Miss Eleanor Elizabeth arrived!

8 pounds 3 ounces 20.5 inches

On Monday~

September 15, 2008 at 6:54 am

Miss Adeline Elena arrived!

7 pounds 12.5 ounces and 19 inches

On Thursday~

Mr. Jackson Joshua arrived!

September 25, 2008 at 8:01 am

7 pounds 5.5 ounces 20 inches

On Wednesday~

October 8, 2008 at 6:43 pm

Mr. Cole Urban arrived!

8 pounds 11 ounces 21.5 inches

On Wednesday~

October 15, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Mr. Noah Taylor arrived!

8 pounds 8 ounces 19 1/4 inches

Congrats to all of our friends and their new families!  Again, we've got some beautiful babies are posted above here.  I've left off their last names...if you haven't noticed. :)  However, if you don't want your little one on our post, please let me know, and I'd be very happy (and understand) to take him or her off. :)

Love to you all!

Can't wait to see these little ones continue to get bigger and bigger by the day!

**also, thank you all for the pictures...I just swiped them off of your own blogs...obviously.**