Las Vegas

Madi and Drew had such a great time in Las Vegas! We packed a lot into the couple of days we were there. Madi was out cold by the time we made it on Sunday night. I promised I would wake her up to see the lights and I tried like 10 times without success. Even repeating over and over that she could see the Eiffel Tower from our room did not get her. In the morning she was bummed but we made sure to make up for it. We started by walking around and catching the hotels down one way. We caught New York, New York and the Excalibur from the outside. We rode the tram to Mandalay Bay and went in for a bit. We left Mandalay Bay and went over to the Luxor. Madi liked seeing the Heiroglyphics as they had learned about them in school. we then took the grand tour of the tram and rode it back and forth a bit -- for the er... fun of it?!?! We weren't silly, lost tourists... that was not it at all! Next up was M&M world. Oh my M&M merchandise. There were 4 floors and Grandpa and Grandma sure spoiled the kiddos with an M&M dispenser slot machine, a basketball for Drew, socks for Madi and notepads. Then it was time for lunch. The ever so yummy and filling Bellagio buffet and a water show after!

 

After that it was time for a little Paris action... This is as close as we are going to get until the kiddos are old enough to appreciate it. The only thing I really want to do in Europe is see the Eiffel Tower and Madi has become fascinated with it as well. We rode to the top of this Eiffel Tower a half size replica of the original. We watched the Bellagio water show from up there - twice. Drew was in such amazement each and every time.

 After that we really started to pack in the night. We caught the volcano eruption at The Mirage, the pirate show at Treasure Island and then attempted the sky show at the Rio. After waiting and waiting for it to begin, we asked someone and they said they only run them Thursday through Saturday. We stayed at Rio for awhile for a few slots for Grandma and Grandpa... We got to alternate on and off too and the kiddos played cards afterward. The we realized it was really late and we needed to book if we were going to catch the Bellagio water show at night.

 We did make it - Marty dropped us right in front of there - and it was the kids favorite. By the time we made it back to the room, it was late and we were "filthy" from walking all day. Madi and Drew took a bath in the jacuzzi tub which we turned on the jets a little too soon, spraying mommy and the entire bathroom. Within about 5 minutes of the jets being on they had bubbles halfway up the tub but had an absolute blast in them. They were bummed when they had to get out at 12:15 (um a.m.). Considering that was 2:15a.m. our normal time that was quite a day.



The next day was pretty low key. We walked a little again and ended up in the Cosmopolitan across the street. They had the most awesome decorations hanging from the ceiling to the floor so we had a little photo op. Then we were off to catch the storm in our hotel and catch the buffet at the Rio before heading out. Phew... I am tired all over again!

Spring Training 2012

The whole reason we planned this trip was to catch a Spring Training game of the Brewers! We were pretty excited to have Grandpa, Grandma, Kathy and Rocky with us. It was so fun and we look forward to going back! Before the game we were able to catch the players warming up on the practice fields. A few of them

even walked through the main front of the park to head in. We were able to catch Marcus Hanel, the Brewers long time bullpen catcher. He is also a Racine native and knows Uncle Ryan and Uncle Chuck. He told Madi and Drew that he knew their uncles and they thought that was pretty cool.

 We were there plenty early and were able to get all set up. Our seat turned out perfect just a few rows behind the dugout. We had been wondering for weeks if we would even get to see our favorite players as often they switch off playing and it is their "tryout" players during Spring Training. Much to our pleasant surprise they had their opening day starters on the field except for one outfielder who was injured. It was awesome to see all of them take the field. Drew's favorite pitcher even made it out there and they were able to watch him warm up. Unfortuntely, Drew missed him by a millisecond to get his signature as the game was ending. The Brew Crew actually pulled off a win with us in their stadium - a first time feat for them and us! :) Drew and Madi were also able to get some signatures from a few of their prospects after the game, Drew got a ball from a pitcher and also Marcus Hanel as well but they gave one to a little boy who had been waiting a long time for one.

We had a blast and definitely plan to catch another one someday!!! As for now the season is getting closer! Go Brew Crew!!!



Spring Break 2012 Stop 1

So our inital first stop was supposed to be to White Sands but it was snowy/rainy there that day so we decided to just head on to Tucson a little earlier than planned. Grandpa and Grandma were out for the day so we had a couple hours to kill. Thanks to Katie, she gave us some fun suggestions. Though our first two picks were already closed for the day, we did make it to Catalina State Park and got in a quick little "hike" before we needed to meet Grandpa, Grandma and some of my long-time family friends for dinner! 

Here Madi and Drew are enjoying the trail. They even found some bluebonnets. 

Spring Break 2012

We had high ambitions for Spring Break this year. A drive to the White Sands area in New Mexico was first on the agenda but as morning approached the weather changed from earlier in the week and snow and rain were forecasted for the day. We opted to just move on to our next destination and add back in a stop at White  Sands on our way home. Next up was Tucson to meet up with Grandpa & Grandma and family friends, a night in town and then off to Phoenix to catch the Brewers in a Spring Training game - the whole reason we planned this trip. A drive  was next on the agendaVegas followed by a quick stop at Hoover Dam and then on to the Grand Canyon. Following this our return was planned with a drive through the Sedona area and then our added in return to White Sands instead of sightseeing in Ruidoso. 

We did make it and did it all in a little less than a week... pictures and posts to follow! 

Major Offender #3 of my vanishing time...

Offender #3 can be summed up as my Student Teaching experience. Though I am having a great time and have a wonderful class... it is keeping me quite busy and most of my computer availability if taken up with planning! I have about 7 weeks left so let's hope after that I have a little more time for everything else...

With Spring comes Baseball!

Opening Ceremonies for Baseball were held at the Dell Diamond this year. The boys were excited to come out from the back of the field and walk on the field waving to everyone in the stands but needless to say they still said it took a long time! Game 2 has already taken place and we are getting ready to start some baseball filled weeks here starting in a few days! And thus you have offender #2 of our crazy schedule lately!

Drew and Marty are in the lead there...

Sidenote: Yes that is Cardinals wear on my sweet kiddo. It is so hard to bring myself to put on a Cardinals shirt but I love my sweet boy so I am taking one for the team. Needless to say, I don't think this seasons shirts will see much daylight after baseball ends - at least if I have anything to say about it! For now we will cheer on my little Cardinals though! Ugh! :)

Where does the time go???

The days lately seem to vanish too quickly. I cannot believe how time can fly. So where has our time gone... Primary offender - We moved! Yes we did it... like a month ago! It still feels like we have a long way to go and there are never enough hours in the day.

There was lots of moving fun to be had. It took many a nights of packing - the last several of those days before the move were near all nighters! Then there was the move. I thought one day would be plenty of time! Ha - we clearly have too much stuff! It took us a full two days and even then I could have used about 20 more! But on night number 2, it was time to call it a day and get a little sleep. We decided to all stop everything, shower and just relax. Well who were we kidding? And here begins move mishap #1! Madi showered and we realized the water wasn't draining properly... That's weird it was fine the day before... Drew showered... huh - water isn't draining at all. Well - a shower was absolutely necessary for us adults so we figured hit the essentials and call the superintendent in the morning. That was until the gurgle happened... Toilets stopped working, started to bubble as well as the shower and bathtub which quickly began to spew stuff upward. So much for relaxing... wet vacing and phone calls to the plumber instead. Apparently the test balloon has been forgotten and not removed! All was well the next day though. The next week, the fridge was to be delivered. I was very ready to have a fridge back in the house again and not just the garage. Fridge gets delivered on Friday - Marty struggles to get it into the house. Due to some poorly written, misleading instructions, much frustration ensues with removing the doors and replacing them. Once we are finally done, excitement fits and eagerness takes over. I decide there was nothing wrong with our old water line and there wasn't really time to go get a new one so we decide to just use it to save us a trip and some time. There's where move mishap #2 happens. A day and a half later, Marty noticed water leaking into the garage. We were on our way to t-ball opening ceremonies so we had no time to look. So out the door we went and called the plumber. Well the plumber came after we figured out it was the refrigerator. To make sure it wasn't the water line in wall, we had the plumber check anyhow. Well sure enough it was the old water line... we had to cut into drywall to dry out the area, pull up carpeting and replace carpet pad in the storage closet, then replace drywall, texture, paint and replace baseboard. All within a week and a half. Agh!!!! Not the added work we desired or a project we wanted to undertake. Everything seems to be back in place now and we are moving forward! Now to get stuff on the walls!