The Birthday project

Drew had so much fun playing a game called 'Carpet ball' when he was at YMCA this summer.  When Chris and I were there our Engineering/consruction minds took over and we thought.  Hmmmmm......  Maybe we could build this.  Its just remembering that come birthday time.

I spent the morning in Home depot with a REALLY helpful gentlemen, got just about everything precut.  Combine that with a motivated husband one Tuesday night.

The next morning I stained it so the wood stays for a few extra years and we had to hide the evidence.  I loved Chris's faith in my strength as he said, "just pick it up and put it on my truck"  Can anyone else tell is pretty heavy?  We managed to heave it up there and very SLOWLY drove it over to Linas's house to hide it under a tarp until Birthday Time.

Can hardly see it right?!?!  The boys never did.

Until the Saturday between Shane's birthday and Drew's.  We surprised them with it.  Than they had to help us carry it back home.  With all the great measurements from our pinterest plan.  It doesn't fit through any door opening.  Thankfully its an outside game, but maybe a door opening or too would help?

Either way, the boys LOVE IT.  and quite honestly, so do we!

Soccer and babies

Like right?!?!  I mean, what kind of babies is she talking about?!?!

Lets start here - all must be right in the world if we are having donuts after a soccer game.  Thanks Goomba!  the treat truck is here!

With the recent loss of Gertie we thought it would be great to rescue these 2.  I found them on craigslist.  The gentleman bought several to hatch, but was happy to find new homes for a few and we were lucky.  Welcome Vivian and Meadow.  Love how Drew keeps asking me - what did I name her again??

What's Leadbetter life without a little project??  Thank you Chris for being willing to tackle and for teaching along the way - to me AND Nick!

Fun things

WE kept our eye out for Monarch eggs.  We had LOTS to learn about keeping them alive.  While our success ratio wasn't the highest, we did have 2 successful monarch crystalists! Now we wait 10-14 days - seriously, that is IT!  Nature is amazing

I found this plant on discount at home depot.  Thankfully she had one bloom on her to show how beautiful she is - Now she is happily planted and will hopefully bring more to come before the fall frost.

When running errands on a rainy day - who else do you want in the back seat.  Love how excited she gets when I ask her to join me

Look at this 2 successful Monarch butterflies - one literally hatched in front of our eyes!  AMAZING

absolutely worth it - thank you mom for helping with the milkweed and stacie for your tips.  Our success rate might not be huge, but maybe a bit better than mother nature lately!

My Folks and their travels

I love that my folks have started taking some pretty awesome trips.  Here is their recent escapade. Amsterdam, Lucerne and a trip down the Rhine.  Granted we took my mom down that way 7 years ago (with Nick and baby Shane in tow)  I would imagine this trip had a different flare.  

They partnered up with Uncle Russ and Raela and had a blast.

How many trinkets does Goomba have in that bag??

I can't wait to see this number come winter

Some pictures that I just couldn't get enough of.

Meanwhile, back in cat sitting land, Maize set herself up with dinner by the bathtub - what you don't see is the cat little INSIDE the bathtub.  We all make provisions right??  Even Maize.  If only her and Nora would be better friends.

Think these hats were in the trinket bags?!?!  I am guessing YES!  We missed you and great to have you back - LOVED hearing about your adventures and how you enriched your lives together.

20 years cheers to a Michigan reunion

20 whole years since I walked the campus as a student wondering where my life was going to take me - what adventures awaited and while I am still wondering some of those same things, its an amazing time stamp to go back and be with the same people that were such an instrumental part of my life away from home.  

Nicole picked me up and I got to curl up in her oldest Jack's bed that night.  Love how common place the M is around here.

The next morning I integrated as part of their everyday wake up and road with her to her conference where shane came to pick me up.  And than he picked up Tim who flew in from NYC and Sherry and Michael from Washington DC - Let the party begin.

The Hribernik's were at Shane's house already from the night before - kelly joined us and we knocked out some tailgate prep for the next morning - while enjoying some beverages and Euchre games.

This was a 9 POUND casserole!  Yup, 9 pounds!, it needed a extra shelf for expansion upon cooking.

Next stop, Homes brewery in Ann Arbor - New since we had been there - delicious and rather healthy too.

Meanwhile at a place far far away - I am thankful my folks could help chris with the boy shuffle.  Here is my dad out playing trash with Drew.

Back to what we know - Good time Charleys - however the drinks are MUCH BIGGER than we remember.  64 ounces?!?!  Seriously

Post Charlies count twist smile

I told them we were back for our 20 year reunion and that I used to waitress here.  So the manager (who looked about 22) came out and gifted me this tank saying thanks for coming back!  How awesome.

Friday night ended at a reasonable time while Saturday morning started EARLY.  

5am wake up.  YIKEs.  Shane and I were up already and some didn't sleep too well.  eeekk.  Well the 3 Michigan Alums hopped in Shane's Jeep, grabbed some coffee

Only the strong survive.

We picked up Kelly who is another DEDICATED tailgater and hopped in line for 6:30.  Gates open at 7 and they say its like Thunder-dome.  Folks drive onto the golf course and park exactly where they want to be.

Loved the serenity and action all at the same time.

First trip to the EXTRA clean porto potties - they won't be so easy to get into later.

Our tailgaters have quite a system

Get the spot by the tree,

grab a trash can,

stake your claim with the tent.

PLAY MUSIC

 I think its rather humorous that we have the only green tent.  While its nice to be able to pick it out - I feel like PINK would be a nice touch!  Spartan green scares me a bit - thankfully the guys next to use seem to carry it - That is part of the set up - be next to these cool guys.

See - festive plow truck and all won't you want to tailgate near them too.

While I didn't snag a photo of the 'pee tent' I did get a photo of the rules.  Equally as important.  Also the biggest players in the success of the tailgate.  Thank you Kelly and Shane for your recipes coordinate and dedication.

First beer bong for the morning - time stamp??  before 9 - pretty sure.  Shane, way to step up to the challenge.

Try explaining this photo to the boys this morning

Anyone out there singing the Fireball song??  Brandon was!

Anyone tired of my selfies yet?  I am NOT

My longest roommate - we met on a ROTC canoe trip and she is known for talking my ear off on the way to PT while I am barely awake.  We have stumbled through life not in close proximity to me.  We don't get to talk or get together as often as we may like - that life right?  But this weekend I was thankful just to spend time with her.

Seeing this guy and his family was the icing on the cake.  So full of life and adventure this is the guy I would love to vote for some day.  Anyone see whats behind me - yup, that is the pee tent!

Off to the game with over 100,000 other folks and yes it feels exactly the same!

Nicole said if I fly out she would grab the tickets - and honestly she got the best ones I have ever sat in.  AND they were cushioned - #thisis40!  Loved them - THANK YOU Nicole!

Michele was watching with her daughter a few sections over and during half time we managed to link up for a quick moment and a photo opt to record the evidence =)!

Next we popped up to the seats John gave us.  In the NEW section and much higher up.  No food service or anything crazy, but probably a little more shielded from the weather.

Michigan was soundly winning the game, so you can see the student section across from us waining in the late periods of the game.

We stayed til just about the end and headed back to the tailgate where there were plenty of shenanigans still going on.  These kids are seriously adorable - and had plenty of room to just go play - which they all did.

We also had cake - with blue icing - can you tell?  Madelyn rocking the only girl status - one cool lady - with blue lips and teeth

Something about this photo I just love

From here we all kinda parted ways and Nicole took me to campus for dinner and to explore the memories through a beautiful evening.

loved the evening with each other catching up on life while remember what life was like.  The sight of one of my college jobs.

From the Diag and seeing the tower in the background - beautiful night

the next morning my uncle picked me up at Nicole's house and we headed to his lake house which he did an amazing job of turning it into a beautiful home.  It was NOT a lake day, but since I don't live at a lake I decided to make it a lake day anyway.  A chilly kayak ride - totally worth it.

sweet of them to capture a photo of me as well. Love all the cool houses in the background.

I may have inspired them, as by the time I got back they were ready for a boat ride.  It was CHILLY, but something about being on a boat touring the lake is just simple and awesome.  The dogs Vivian and Tabitha joined us too.

We headed out for her daughters 29TH birthday that night and I got to be part of the celebration before I headed out that night.  Thanks for letting me be part of the family!

Loved how wonderful this weekend made me feel - traveling and being and seeing folks in there home can be so inspiring and can have you feeling so grounded at the same time.  Just being part of their lives.  

I am thankful to those that welcomed me and thankful I had the time do it.  

REALLY thankful Chris didn't mind covering down on 4 soccer games (with a little help from my folks too!) , a birthday party and dinner out.  Late night on Sunday followed by a rainy Monday off of school.  Couldn't have [planned it any better.  AND Michigan WON!  Tie that weekend up with a BOW - Success!