March Madness

My parents just came up today for a short little visit.  We drove down to my school, and amazingly enough we were able to get in!  So they got to see my classroom and check out where I spend most of my time. haha  We then came back up to our place and took the train downtown to lunch at Webber Grill and then we walked around Michigan Ave.  It was a nice visit, and I am looking forward to going home in 2 weeks!! 

Alex and I are getting ready to head out and go to Durkin's, which is a Purdue bar up here.  We have been there once before with the Standefords to watch a Purdue football game.  It's kind of a neat thing.   All of the Big 10 schools have bars up here that are all decked out in that school's stuff, and its where alumni and fans go to watch the games. 

Hopefully it will be a good time, but it would be a lot more fun if some of our Purdue friends from home were with us! =( 

Hope everyone is enjoying this weather we have been having lately and happy spring!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Growing up in Lafayette you never realize how big of a deal St. Patrick's Day is to people!  WOW!!  Up here everyone is all about St. Patrick's Day!!  

We met up with my Uncle Jerry, Aunt Nancy, and cousin Jennifer for part of the day because they were in town to see the celebrations. The day starts off with turning the river green, there's a parade, and a huge drunken fest!  It reminded us of Breakfast Club in a way.  Because we live in bar central basically, there are a ton of people around here today enjoying the festivities.... needless to say, parking is not the best right now! 

So, after we found Jer, Nancy, and Jen we headed down to Nordstroms to do a little prom dress shopping for Jennifer.  It was fun to look at all of the dresses, I haven't done that in a few years!  We then proceeded to lunch.  We went to a place called Ed Debevic's.  It is an old fashioned hamburger place, but it has the theme like a Dick's Last Resort, where the waiters are all rude and super funny!  It was fun!  They gave us paper hats, but they didn't write on them like they do at Dick's.  Then about every 1/2 hour or so the waiters get up on the counter and do a dance, but they really can't dance so they are just up there looking ridiculous!  It was a good time and we got a kick out of it.  The only disappointment was that they didn't have green beer!  So.... we settled for regular old Bud Light in the yellow/brown color it always is.  

Alex posing in front of the newly green river.  

Quick trivia fact: the dye they put in the river is actually orange, but somehow when mixed with the wonderful Chicago water it turns a bright green. 

Crossing the river on Michigan Ave. 

Alex and I at the restaurant with our hats on.  We are also sporting the green beads we caught from people throwing them out of the trollies and busses downtown. 

Jen, Jer, and Nancy with their hats on too.  Jen also caught some beads!

The waiters getting their groove on... 

My parents are supposed to be making their way up here tomorrow morning for the day.  They both caught my cold from last weekend, so hopefully that doesn't keep them in L-town.  I'm sure we will go back downtown and drive to my school to see the construction progress because it has been a while since they have seen it. 

Hope everyone enjoys the holiday!  Don't forget to wear green on Tuesday!

Go Boilers!!

Home for a visit

I came back to L-town last night for a much needed long weekend. Alex is in Virginia this weekend with some friends for 3 nights of Phish concerts. Needless to say, he was really looking forward to it! I've spent the day relaxing, sleeping in, going to Wal-Mart (another one of those simple things I can't do in Chicago), and playing around on the internet trying to make invitations for Brandy's upcoming bridal shower, plus I'm getting ready to leave soon to get my haircut from my pal Judie, she does a great job!
This week has been super, super, super nice in the weather department! I didn't even have to wear a coat this morning, it was great! With all of this nice weather I desperately need to get my car washed, but I think its going to rain, which would make my efforts a total waste.
Big plans for tomorrow are getting together with Brandy to do some planning for her bridal shower and probably dinner.
Happy Friday!

"Respect the ABC's"

After a lot of googling and e-mailing, I found a photographer.  The couple we are going with was actually a recommendation from the original photographers we were wanting.  So it worked out ok!  So check that one off of the list, now only about 150 other things to take care of.  I feel like I've gotten some of the bigger things done though!  

We were in L-town over Valentine's Day weekend, which was nice.  We double dated with my parents for V-day dinner, went to the mall, and rented a movie.  Generally simple things, except when you live in a big city!  So it was nice to take it easy.  I ended up getting super sick over the weekend, and actually got a sinus infection per the Dr. at Arnett.  Yeah.... bummer!  I'm still not feeling a 100%.  I tell you being around 30 5-6 year olds and another 550 kids on a daily basis really puts a toll on you!  I feel like I'm sick about once/ month.  Plus I'm exhausted all the time!

Its Tuesday night, which means Alex is busy away being TA.  I think he is enjoying it.  Its a different experience for him.  A few weeks ago (I think it was only his 2nd week of being a TA) he got home fairly late ~9:30 and of course I was already in bed.  He came in and woke me up to say "A teacher's job is never done".  Of course I chuckled because that may be the biggest understatement I have heard in awhile.  At least he is getting a little taste of it. 

My school is having a talent show this Friday.  Two of my students tried out.  One is playing the violin with another kindergartner (cutest thing ever!) and the other... brace yourself for this.... he rapped, yes rapped the ABC's! OMG what a riot!  Unfortunately only my violin played made it to the final round to the network wide talent show.  My little rapper got stage fright during the 2nd round and didn't really complete his act.  Although, it was still adorable!  Make note, that this is an original that he rapped and at the end he goes "Respect the ABC's" hahahaha I almost died when I heard this!  I'll be going Friday though to cheer on my violin player- wish us luck!