Big Big Weekend

So we have a big next few days planned. Let me run it down for you.

Tomorrow, Ethan is going to his first Cubs game. My dad and Randy Rupp are coming up from Lafayette to join the three of us for the game. We will get some good pics and post next week.

Also on Friday night, the Red Wings are going to win the Cup - so that's kind of a big deal.

Kenny Chesney is singing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley (watch last year's version) tomorrow because he is in town for the big concert on Saturday. Our Saturday will entail some tailgating with the Oskay's at Soldier Field then enjoying the concert all Saturday evening. It's a huge lineup this year, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert (see post from last November), Montgomery Gentry and Sugarland will also be there - so we will actually go in halfway early this year to catch the music. Oh, we have great seats too, so we want to enjoy them.

Sunday will be a day of rest as the big man envisioned.

Monday we buy a new house. Closing is set for 11am and hopefully all goes well. We will really try to remember the cameras this time and get some pics. They are going to rent back from us until the 24th, so we won't be able to move in for a few weeks. But at least it will be ours.

Look back next week for a multitude of postings from this very busy weekend.

Couple of Things

I have been meaning to post a few things, and I am finally doing it.

You know when Geico says a 15 minute call could save you 15% or more on car insurance? Well, its true. Ali and I were paying an exorbitant $150 a month for car insurance, with Geico we will be paying $68 a month. Very nice.

We are also (hopefully) going to be saving money by switching to the Comcast Triple Play. I hate Comcast, but they have the best deal. The big change though is that our crappy phone line and internet service has switched to Comcast and we no longer have an echo-y phone and wireless internet service that doesn't reach the front of the house. Its working well so far - lets see what the bill comes in at.

For the second year in a row, I am a member of the Kenny Chesney fan club - in order to get good seats for the Chicago show this year. If you want me to buy good seats for you (in a town other than Chicago), let me know and we can figure it out. Great lineup this year - Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry and Sugarland. (For most shows.)

I have some videos of E-man I need to get on here, its just a matter of finding the time.

Halloween Weekend

Ethan had a great 1st Halloween and looked so cute in his costume, if I do say so myself. He didn't get to wear it nearly as long as I would have liked because the weather was just too gorgeous for Halloween and I picked the hottest fleece footed costume!

The weekend kicked off with my mom, sister, and Ben coming over Friday night for some yummy chili. We enjoyed the gorgeous night and about 20 trick or treaters. We had special visits from the 3 chicks (Abbie, Lauren and Ellie) that live below us and Amy, Patrick, and Lindsay Forebaugh. I love seeing all the kiddies dressed up so I was thrilled to have a lot more visitors than we did last year. I even used most of the 6 lb. bag of candy I bought. Thank goodness or I would be eating all the leftovers and believe me, that would not be a good thing!

Saturday my mom and I went for a long walk around the neighborhood. Can the weather be any nicer for the end of October/beginning of November? I am loving this! While I went to the airport to pick up Matt, my mom made her infamous Vidalia Onion Dip and Rice Krispie Treats (only this time we added Candy Corn and drizzled chocolate on top). Just a side note, I am so glad Matt is home from Russia....Ethan and I really missed him while he was gone. We then headed over to Gibson's for a Halloween party. Really, it was just an excuse for all of us to get together, have a few drinks, and dress up all the kiddos again. The costumes were so so cute and all the food was delicious. Thank you to the Gibson's for having us all over, I know it was a lot of work, especially with Laura not feeling well. After the party, Matt and I went to see Miranda Lambert (more on that in another post) and my mom and dad got to spend some quality time with Ethan (aka...babysitting!).

Sunday, Matt tried to catch up on some sleep and get over his jet lag, while I tried to get some things done around the house (tried being the key word in that sentence!). That evening, we had a dinner date with the Dill's and the Rice's. Katie really out did herself with a great Italian meal....Caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and then apple crisp. It was so delicious (even if it was more like spaghetti and meatloaf!). Thanks to the Rice's for having us over for dinner....it was so much fun!

I have posted some of the images from the weekend, but you can see them all here. Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

Something To Think About

While getting ready for work the past 3 mornings, I have heard Brad Paisley's newest single, Letter To Me, off his album, 5th Gear. For those of you that have not heard the song 1) because you don't like country music or 2) because you just really haven't listened to the radio, the song is about Brad writing a letter to himself at the age of 17 and all the things he wish he would have known then. It is a pretty neat song and got me thinking about what I would say to myself at age 17, if I had the chance to write that letter now.

I have been pondering this for 3 days now and while I would not change a thing about my high school days, I think I have learned a few things in the past 10 years or so that would have been beneficial to me back then.

1. Don't take things so seriously. While I had a lot of fun in high school, I also stressed about grades and college and the future. I think things fall into place naturally and life takes you where it is supposed to.
2. Spend more time with Grandpa Bob.
3. Breakups are hard, but they only make you a better person.
4. Appreciate your parents and don't worry them so much. I was a fairly good kid growing up, but I know that I took my parents for granted back then and did some things I am not so proud of. They were really cool parents and I am not sure I appreciated them as much as I should have.
5. Drinking SoCo at Horde Fest 1995 is not a good idea. Or, if you decide that it is, do not drink nearly as much as you think you can, you will not enjoy the concert!
6. Go to homecoming your senior year with Aaron, but thank goodness for Stacy and Andy, they were your lifesavers that night.

There is one part of the song that I would most definitely include in my letter because I think it is so true:

"you got so much up ahead, you'll make new friends, you should see your kids and wife (husband) and I'd end by saying have no fear these are nowhere near the best days of your life"

What would you include in your letter?