For Me?!?!

Last weekend, Tim spent Friday night carving our pumpkin that we've had since September. I hadn't really planned on carving it, but he was dead set on it. So he did, and the kitties of course put in their opinions on it as well.

But little did I know that he had a reason! Saturday night, Tim picked me up from work (UNI football, I was beat) and he turned the opposite way of the house. Told we were picking up dinner, I was confused, because he had been to the grocery store at least three times that week, telling me he was going to make me dinner. Then he informs me there are people at the house, for me, cause they were all there to celebrate my birthday!!!

All Halloween decorated, balloons, tableclothes, little pumpkin tinsel and skull lights. It was absolutely adorable in the house. He'd even completely cleaned while I was at work! The food table had all sorts of snacks and smores and the pizza we'd picked up. The island had been turned into a drink station with hot chocolates and other fun beverages! It was awesome.

And the best part, set up on the porch was a portable little fire pit that he had bought. AWESOME. Smores year round! Right in the backyard!

















It was a great night. Matt was there when I got home. The Day's from Next Level were first to arrive, and Nate came up from Des Moines, Julie came down from Minnesota and brought Nick who also had Brandon show up. Jayson brought a friend, and later Dieter showed up. It was a pretty sweet night. One I havent had in a long time. The bars were far more entertaining than normal (it being the weekend before Halloween and all) so we ended up closing down the bars. Something I havent done in well over a year or two. Craziness. Although, the craziness was only helped by the discovery of the glory of Rumchata.


I hate surprises, but I loved my surprise party. Great great night to remember :-)

Sangria is American, right?

We arrived back in the glorious USA just in time for Independence Day, and despite my absence in the days up to it, Tim decided to host a 4th of July party. Now, it does make sense, cause we have the best view intown for our measly version of fireworks. But they are fireworks nonetheless, and its a great reason to have people over, especially when Tim is willing to clean the whole house in preparation and me being gone. I mean, I COULD have done it the morning of, but I was so beat that really the only thing I got done besides baking was some of this action...
But really, who would give up a perfectly precious nap with three cuddling felines in order to clean their bathroom? Not me! And while I was in sweet slumber, he was busy prepping a delicious rack of ribs, slow roasted all afternoon, and then grilled to perfection! All I had to do was whip up some dessert. Brownies were the obvious choice (chocolate is always required), but such an American holiday needs something appley! Thus...
I mean, I think it turned out well. It kinda looks like yard mulch, but it sure doesn't taste like it. Appley almond raisin goodness all wrapped in flaky crust ;-)

Unfortunately, I was so zonked out by the time people got there that I totally slacked in the photo taking opportunities. i got like three all night. And they were all in the dark, unable to see anything that was going on. But it was a successful party, even in my zombie like state. 20+ people in our little baby backyard. Chillin, eatin ribs and watermelon, drinking Tim's homemade sangria, playing with sparklers until the fireworks went off. Anything past that was pretty much a haze. Most of the attendees were Tim's coworkers and friends, thankfully, cause I'm pretty sure I would have won most out of it hostess of the night. Although, Matt just thought I was drunk...oh well!

Next year will be bigger and better! Cause I sure won't be on the mend from another African adventure. Trust me.

As a sidenote, look at these pretty "Welcome Home/Thanks for not killing anyone/Good job not getting eaten by a hippo" flowers from Tim/Dad! They survived a long time, just dying a few days ago. They were big and open and beautiful!

Captive of the Couch

I'm so glad I get to see these girls more than once a year, I adore them! (This will make more sense later in the post....)

Today I lay here on the couch, rendered completely immovable by excruciating back pain. And I know I'm not over the line in saying that, because it took many tears, lots of Tim help, and at least 15 minutes to get me from bed to couch this morning. And its not even 30 feet away. I luckily got into the chiropractor before the holiday break, and even he thought I was totally jacked up. Crazily jacked up.
So, now I am cracked, still in pain, and icing it like crazy, because I absolutely refuse to not go out tonight. Its New Years Eve and these are my first actual plans. Last year was Amsterdam, but Im not counting that. Tim has to work til 5, so I at least hadn't planned on going to IC with the girls to see killer Scottish music, but there's family hors deurvs to be had, and later on, the big plans. Black and White Ball at Bourre. I searched high and low for a dress, found one, and now I HAVE TO WEAR IT. I refuse to be crippled. Even if I stand at the table for an hour and then have to leave. Its better than nothing.
Plus, its with people that we haven't really gone out with before. Some old faces, yes. But also a lot of new ones from the rec center who originated the Black and White Ball plan. It seems like these are the days of good friends, and I hope these people are at least the start of some of that. Like this past weekend for example, a friend of ours from high school basically invited everyone he still remotely knew to a local bar, and the amount of people that showed up, the day after Christmas, was insane. I saw people that I saw every day for years, that I havent seen in more than half a decade. It was really interesting. In a good way mostly, some of the people could have stayed in their caves though ;) Here's a few captures:
Jack thinks he's hilarious. I live in fear.

We packed the bar. PACKED it. And I knew at least one person at all but two tables. That's sayin something!

Dinner party wishes.

I know what I want to do this afternoon. I am in this planning creative vibe, and there is nothing I can actually do about it.

I feel like planning a party, any kind of party, or even just a dinner, a dinner party! I want to plan out a numerous course menu, and then go to a giant grocery store and shop for all the little unique pieces that I need to make such a menu. Shopping for it is half the fun. And then I want fun people to eat the crazy awesome food with. Conversationalists.

Or I feel like decorating a room. Any kind of room. Where I can pick all the colors and themes, and get to go wander stores until I find all the perfect pieces and put the room together exactly how I want it. Without the normal restraints of time or labor. I can deal with a budget, but having to take the time to clear out a room, tarp it, paint it, and let it dry? Naw....

And instead, I will go home and run. No party planning, no menu searching, no color swatching. Bah.

I'm tired. So look at when we weren't!

I have zero mind function right now. Im not even like sleepy tired. I just cannot focus. And it was so totally worth it. The movie was fantastic. Even my father who falls asleep in his chair before 10:30 every night stayed awake until it ended close to 3am.

But I finally got these pictures of our part of the 4th of July celebrations uploaded. Here's the best of our house. Only about 20 people showed up for brownies and ice cream. But these 20 had the best view of the fireworks in the whole town!

Tim loves himself some sparkley fire!!


I had to be in at least one picture!


Travis playing with sparklers amidst the smoke bomb curls!


Chris just watched Linnea and Matt set off the pretty colored smoke bombs on our "porch"


Dieter!

Afternoon of Celebration!

This Independence Day, I did not claim to be Canadian and celebrated the holiday probably more than I ever have discounting the past two years (in Boston and Philadelphia respectively). My parents built a crazy insane backyard patio/porch/landscaping area this past year, and we decided to make use of it, and host a huge barbecue in their backyard for all of our combined friends. It was a great turn out. There was plenty of food for all, Dad manned the grill of burgers and hotdogs, while I probably ate my weight in watermelon and garden sun chips. Nearly everyone we invited showed and stayed for the whole evening!The weather was less than pleasant that morning, gray and rainy, but by party time, the sun came out, but it never got too hot or humid, surprising for Iowa! But one of the biggest pluses of the event was a last minute invite to a friend of mine from high school was accepted. My tall lanky and lovely friend John came out, and we had a chance to catch up on the past year of our lives that we had so sadly missed out on! Love him. Overall the first half of the party was a huge success, even mom was able to sit down and enjoy herself a grilled delight and chat for awhile!
Then, as it started to dusk, we packed everyone up and transitioned closer into town to Tim and my place for the most glorious view of fireworks! (Coming soon to a blog near you...)

Food of the 4th!

Third post in 24 hours. And about as much depth as the other two, if not even less. But I have decided why Americans like 4th of July so much.This is what we get to eat!

And this isn't even the tastiest of tasties from the Barbecue on Saturday, just the most photogenic. :)

Isn't my brother lovely (Graduation Day Two)

I am one tuckered puppy right now, but tomorrow and Monday are going to be just as busy, so I want to continue on with the Graduation Festivies.

I at least got to start my morning with an hour long massage, which I offered up to my withered mother, but she refused (silly move woman, it was fabulous) and I was forced to get rubbed and scrubbed myself :) The morning was gloomy, not the kind of weather you want to plan for an outdoor open house. With Carol and Mike's help though, Mom and Dad were set up before we could even get over there, so we joined them for some late Panera breakfast. Got a nice 5.5 mile run in too before Open Housing it up Nordyke Style.

Full decorations complete with all sports schtuff and photo boards were in order, as were the mini cupcakes, barbecue sandwiches (BBQ theme) chips, coleslaw, and a rootbeer keg. It was a hoedown waiting to errupt. I was worried there might be a mandatory bandana dress code (phew!)
I swear I told a million and a half people what I am up to, what I'm doing, yada yada. But you know the one question that I just realized not a single soul asked? When are the kids coming? This is awesome! Maybe people have finally taken the hint. Anyways. Lots of people showed up, I knew most, not all, but enough to stay busy through the whole open house in between licking the frosting off numerous minicupcakes (I'm naughty, I know).

Friends from other states even came(See Barthelemy's here!), which was cool to catch up with everyone. The rest of dad's family flowed in from their prospective states. Carol and Mike from the night before (OH) Tom and his daughter Molly, and randomly one of his sons Patrick was playing a gig in Waterloo tonight (IL), John and his 3 kids (IL), and Margaret with her husband Scott and daughter Carly (WI).
Once most of the non relatives left, everyone finally got to chill out some more and chat, and Scott had even brought some lawn games that a few adults and most of the younger kids decided to try to whip each other's butts in. I kept on hearing the screams from my Uncle to his daughter ("Wait, which one of us is in softball?!")
Darkness came, as did the pizza and the clean up. By 930 I was ready for bed, but we stayed to listen to the utter insanity that was them playing Apples to Apples until 11ish, and finally I could take it no more and we headed home. Tim's asleep, fully dressed, shoes probably still on, and tomorrow is going to be just as busy...we must remember to breathe!