Final Four

Volleyball. My older sister played it. I did as well, and it continues to be my favorite sport (except in sand now!) My brother-in-law lives for the sport. My little sister, well, its pretty much her passion in life. She is in the process of haveing colleges recruiting her (what a process!) So when our High School volleyball coach told us the NCAA Division I Final Four Volleyball  was going to be in San Antonio this year, my lil sis Ashley and one of her friends from HS booked tickets and came down!

Thursday we watched the semi-finals and I had totally forgotten how amazing these athletes are in person. Holy they can play. And they make it look so EASY! First up was UCLA vs. Florida State. UCLA took them in 3 games. Next was Illinois vs. USC. This was the best game of the night. They both had GREAT fans, pep bands, all around the energy was great. It was a close game, neck and neck the entire time. I don't think a team ever had more than a 5 point lead during all 5 games! It came down to the fifth game, tied 9-9, and Illinois ended up pulling ahead for the win!

Saturday was the Championship game, but due to Kyle's work christmas party we had to miss it. Ashley and her friend met up with their volleyball coach and spent the day with her. They eneded up getting an Autographed sign from 2 time- Gold medal winner Kerri Walsh, and they met the players on the Under Armour National Team (4 of whom are signed to play with Stanford starting in 2012!)

So it was an excellent weekend full of volleyball! And, plus side, I saw my lil sis, and I get to see here again in just one short week!



Ashley & Remi outside the Alamodome



Me & the sis!



All of these girls are SO TALL. They could block the ball with thier face if they wanted to.



INSANE verticals. And ups. and Kills. Twice a girl got hit in the face at the 10 foot line! 

Here is Ashley and Remi (two tallest girls on the BLH vball team) with the tallest girl on the Under Armour team. 6 feet and some gazillion inches. She is signed with Stanford and is pretty much amazeballs.

Here is a short video of a play in the Illinios vs USC game. Bump, set, spike, block, point. Easy as that. Well, they make it look that easy anyway ;)

O Christmas Tree...

This was the first year as a married couple that Kyle and I were able to decorate for Christmas. Our first year in how many years neither of us are moving, (not even down the street...and certainly not across the country!) Christmas is my favorite holiday to decorate for and my college roommates and I used to go all out. We once had 3 trees in our living room! Anyway, this is the first year in OUR house, with only our decorations, which I have to admit is very slim. They will build up over the years but for now its pretty simple and happy with our Christmas tree. Take a look. What do you think? I think it is a wonderful first tree!

On my list for next  year? Make a tree skirt with my sewing machine (that I don't have...yet) ;)

Hope everyone is in the Holiday Spirit! If not, take a couple minutes to stop, breathe, and remember what this season is about. It's hard to forget with all the hussle and bussle of the Christmas Season. (I blame the retail giants). Anyway, Merry Christmas (a week early!)

Happy Birthday!

Kyle is officially 14 days younger than I am, so 2 weeks after I celebrated my 25th birthday it was Kyles turn! Friday, Dec 9 was his birthday. His mom had sent us a gift card to Lonestar Steakhouse for our birthdays, so we used that and went out to eat on Friday. After a short wait (and a glass of wine) we were seated.

The menu was amazing. Our meals were to die for. I had a sirloin steak with cedar-plank grilled shrimp. Kyle had a lobster stuffed fillet. It was the best steakhouse we have been to in a LONG time. Well worth it.

And then our waitress came around and asked if we wanted desert (even though we were stuffed from the delicious meal, I had to say something!) So I told her we were celebrating Kyle's birthday (At about this time Kyle looked at me with the "I hate you" look and rolled his eyes) HAHA. She came back with a chocolate fudge sundae, complete with a candle!

So, even though there was no "Happy Birthday" song or hundreds of people, it was a great way to celebrate turning a quarter of a century old...together :)

Here's the birthday boy!

Market Days & Hockey

This weekend we celebrated a friends birthday. We started Saturday morning by going up to Wimberley, TX for their market days. It reminded me of like your local craft show or like in Fargo when they close Broadway and have booths all over along downtown. But this was bigger. And more permanent. And....bigger.

You know that saying,  "everything's bigger in Texas?" Well I am beginning to think there is more truth to it than I orginally thought.

At this market days, it is always held the first weekend of every month, March through December. Ther are paved walkways, a place for dancing and live music, and BBQ stands for food to eat. People BUY their booth spaces and have permanent sheds/shacks/buildings in the spot. They fill it with anything and everything.

For example, there was a plant stand. A place to take pictures with Santa. An iron shed. A vintage poster place. Kettle corn. Homeade clothes. Outdoor patio sets and stepping stones. Kitchen sinks from Mexico. Literally anything and everything.

It was kind of a rainy morning but we went anyway. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea....

This is a MAP of the Market Days area. Huge.

One of the walkways. All the buildings and random things to buy



I just liked this sign :)

After Market Days we went back and went out to eat at a Mexican Resutraunt, enjoyed a couple margaritas then headed to the San Antonio Rampage Hockey game. The Rampage are minor league hockey team, kind of similar to the Fargo Force, or what used to be the Fargo Jets I guess. But a little bigger. Not sure if it a different class or just because it is located in a city with 2 million people, OR the fact that the Spurs aren't playing yet, there were a TON of people there.

It was located at the AT&T Center, the same place where they host the majority of concerts and the Rodeo in February. It was a lot of fun, especially since Dan's favorite sport is hockey, he explained things to us during the game. Check it out!

Rampage at the AT&T Center

The birthday girl, Kasi, and her husband Matt.



And here is a picture of my lovely husband and me. Such a swell guy ;)

 It was another fun weekend in TX! Hope everyone else enjoyed theirs as well :)

Happy Birthday

to me! Last Friday,  (think hard...way back to Black Friday) was my birthday!

I am officially 25 years old. A quarter of a century old young. I can't believe it! I remember sitting on the bus daydreaming with my BFF Stacy about where we were going to be when we were 25. And what we were doing to do. I had DREAMED of this birthday forever, because not only is it a landmark, but it was my GOLDEN birthday. I'm not too sure if people celebrate those anymore, poeple down here in Texas hadn't even heard the term "golden birthday" before. Weird, right?

Anyway, it was an awesome day...one that I could not have ever dreamt of. I stayed most of the day at home, with my husband, in our home. I am 25 and have a loving man, a beautiful roof over my head, a dog that loves me to no ends, and wonderful friends and family that sent cards, presents, wishes, and thoughts my way.

The ladies at my work had a small party for me at lunch, and one lady brought this amazing cake she made herself. It not only looks sweet, it tasted amazing as well!

Thanks to everyone for everything you do for me!

p.s. It was also my cousin Finleys birthday too! Although she was turning 2, not 25 ;)

So, on the day of celebrating 25 years, here I am with both Kyle and Tucker. Not sure what I would do without either of them :)