6.11.11

gin

On an unseasonably cool day in june, we saw Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band and Billy Currington at Lambeau.  Wow.  This was a great concert.  It actually might go down as the top 5 most fun day of my life.  Tailgating started at about noon and we finally made it into the concert at about 5....where we stayed until about 11.  All 3 acts put on a great show and I think everyone there (including Billy Currington, Zac Brown and Kenny Chesney) knew they were lucky to be there since this was the first concert ever at Lambeau.  

2.19.11

The whole fam at the protest

12.18.10

Our Saturday at the Wilderness started off with a morning at the waterpark. The Wilderness has 3 separate waterparks and we successfully made it to all of them. We went along the lazy river a bunch of times and hung out by the wave pool most of the time. Jon and I also went down The Hurricane, which actually made me scream really loud.

Later in the day, we went on a carriage ride and to the Tanger outlets for a bit. We finished off the night with a homecooked meal (by Jon and I) and playing Scene It. A full and fun day with the fam.

11.26.10

We have another year of Black Friday shopping under our belts! Here we are in line at Menards waiting to buy a Cricut at about 5:45 am. We ended up getting a lot of good stuff there - besides getting 2 Cricuts, we got a ShopVac, some pillows and other doodads. This was right after Todd got injured, by the way. He walked into a cement pole that was about 2 feet high while we were waiting in line around the building in the pitch dark and hit his shin pretty hard. Darn shopping injuries.

11.6.10

Gina, the boys and my mom and dad came to visit last month. We decided to go to Chuck.E. Cheese for dinner at around 5pm, which was probably a mistake. It was so crowded! It was also a very interesting observation in parenting. Gina pawned her children off on my parents and parked herself at the skee ball for about 15 minutes. Cooper has a nerf dart gun to show for her efforts!

Gina and I had to school my mom on the art of tearing off tickets at Chuck.E.Cheese though. She was just tearing off the amount that had come out of the machine after the game was over...psh! Everyone knows you grip the ticket closest to the machine and pull to get more tickets!

8.7.10

Gina brought the boys over to swim and hang out while our husbands were off doing things they do. (honestly, it was so long ago I'm having a hard time remembering what they did). When I took this picture, I told Cooper that I was going to count to three and then he should jump. Except he never waited until 3...and I had to be quick on shutter release! (and I just remembered that Todd and Jon went to their friend's bday party)

7.3.10

The group for the weekend in Shawano included: us, Gina, Todd, Coop and Fish, Barney and Gina and Todd's friends Jen and Andy and their 2 kids. We had only met them once (briefly) prior to this weekend, but we all had such a great time together! Everyone pitched in with helping with the kids, making meals, sharing food, drinks, stories. It was such a great group. I love this picture of Gina and Marren because they look like they are college girlfriends or something.

Interesting side note: on this morning, I went for a run and ran into 2 people I hadnt seen in at least 5 years...one of which lives in Australia...and remember, this all went down on the side of the road in Shawano, Wisconsin. It was so crazy...and awesome!

6.23.10

Day 2 of Country USA, we had one more comrade join us (Gina), and we saw Darius Rucker. Now, tease all you want about Hootie and the Blowfish, but Gina and I are loud and proud Hootie and the Blowfish fans...but mostly Darius Rucker fans I guess. His voice is awesome. How can you deny the awesomeness that is Hold My Hand?? You cannot. And let me tell you something, not only did he sing Hold My Hand, he also sang Only Wanna Be With You and Let Her Cry. Good...no GREAT....times.

Prior to Darius taking the stage a huge storm rolled through. No worries though - we just packed up our chairs and set them up under a tent. Got ourselves some refreshments and waited it out while we did a little more people watching. These get ups were our faves for sure. 2 guys matching head to toe....except the one on the right added a little pizzaz to his by wearing some white spandex under his cutoffs. Classy.

5.23.10

The fam on day 2 at the Blue Harbor resort. This place is awesome, btw. It is less than an hour from Milwaukee and about 2 from Madison, but once you get there, you kind of feel like you are at an coastal town in Massachusetts or something. It is gorgeous!

4.25.10

On Sunday, Jon, Todd and their friends went to the Brewer game. I hopped a ride in the car so I could spend the day with the fam. Diz brought Charlie over so Gina and my mom could meet her...and we spent the rest of the day running errands and hanging out at home. Cooper coined the phrase "big night night" in reference to my old bed, which is a loft. It was awesome. He kept saying it over and over and was reeeeally excited to be able to climb up into it.

It was a great day, but it was also really nice to get back to Madison and relax after our very busy weekend

3.27.10

On Saturday, I turned the big 29! It was a great day. The whole family was in town, so we hung out, laughed at how hilarious Cooper is, played Wii and had dinner. It was my choice since it was my bday and I chose the Tuscani chicken alfredo pasta from Pizza Hut. Yup - I'm a total cheap date. Don't knock it until you have tried it though. It is so freaking good. After family time, I met some friends and family at The Great Dane. I played a few games of shuffleboard - all of which I won. thankyouverymuch. It was so fun! Thanks to everyone who came out.

12.6.09

We were setting up to take some family pictures, so I had Gina sit down so I could compose the shot. Obvi these were tests, so she wasn't expected to smile or anything. The result though, had us in histerics. Does this not look like one of those old photos that you dig up of your grandma?? You know, those black and white ones from like the early 1900s where no one is smiling? It even looked that way before I put this vintage action on it, but now it totally does!

9.27.09

Like most weekends we/I am in Milwaukee, we had a jam packed schedule. Always such fun things though! A while back, I posted about a baby brunch that Gina's friends were throwing for her...and Sunday morning we went to said brunch! It was at Aly's beautiful home (pictured right), where we had a delicious brunch, played baby themed Scattergories and enjoyed the beautiful day! Gina cleaned up with a TON of diapers too. (not literally)

9.20.09

On Sunday, Mom, Gina, Cooper and I went to the big American Science and Surplus tent sale. Haven't been? Check it out. It is such a crazy store. Gina and Mom got a lot of doodads and thingamajiggies for next to no money...and I got a new tripod for $15! yipeeee!

7.12.09

Gina is another year older today! (as I am typing this, not on the 12th when this pic was taken) Happy Birthday, sister-friend!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

3.29.09

Today we met Gina, Todd and Cooper at BW3's for lunch on their way out of town. It seems like Cooper is way older/bigger since the last time we saw him...which was a month ago. He can walk with help, he is eating table food all by himself (maybe he did that a month ago?), he waves and pretends to "talk" on his little toy cellphone. So precious.

After lunch we did a whole lot of nothing, which was pretty awesome. Not quite as awesome was how both Oklahoma AND Kansas got knocked out of the tournament, sealing my fate of not winning my pool. boo.

2.6.09

Gina at Mom and Dad's after a night of partying, Tastefully Simple style.

gina is 30

A big happy 30th birthday goes out to my sister today!

Let's take a trip down the past 30 years, shall we?

My guess this is 1982. I look to be around 1 year old which would make Gina 3 or 4.

I just like this picture. I would guess this is '83 or '84

Charm necklaces, jelly bracelets and jelly shoes...what more could 2 girls want in the mid 80s? Maybe some larger wrists actually...so that Gina doesn't have to hold her arms up to keep her plethora of bracelets on of course.
...And I could use some clothes that fit.
...and some better haircuts.

just taking a nap during a softball game, no big deal.

with our cat, Tacky (RIP Tacky!)
house on the rock. holla!
2 good little Catholic school girls...in need of a bang trim.

I think the side pony, perm, mexican poncho, neon camera, rolled jean shorts and tretorns should tell us this picture was taken circa 1990
These are from the same trip, and just needed to be posted to acknowledge the phase Gina went through when she was obsessed with Betty Boop.


8th grade graduation
The fam in Florida in 1993, I think. Fanny packs being sported by everyone but me. Unless I have one hiding under that massive tshirt.

High school graduation - 1996
this is the only picture I could find documenting 1997-2000.
college graduation - 2001?

2002 - Hoover Dam/Lake Mead

2003 - goin' to the chapel

2004

2005

2006
2007
2008

Happy Birthday, Gina! Looking forward to 30 more years of fun pictures! Wish I could be with you to celebrate. Have a fun day!