Weekend in Chicago

Tristan & I spent last weekend in Chicago! We went because Tristan really wanted to see the Maps exhibit at the Field Museum and we needed a quick getaway. The maps exhibit was fantastic - they had over 100 of the world's rarest maps on display. Well worth a visit! We did a bit of shopping (Tristan discovered Jamba Juice smoothies....) and had a great weekend downtown. We were also able to visit Tristan's cousins Jen & Dennis and their kids. They just adopted a little boy from Guetamala (Javy) and have a 3 year old daughter (Hannah) - photos of our fun weekend are posted above!

The Romans Are Coming....if you want to wait for 4 hours

On Saturday, Tristan & I drove up to Indianapolis to the Indy Art Museum to see the exhibition on Roman Art from the Louvre. It was the final weekend of the exhibition and we bought our tickets online earlier in the week, only to find out that there was a 4 hour wait to get into the show. That's right - 4 hours and about 1800 people. Needless to say, we didn't end up waiting to see the show. We did, however, have a fun night with our friends Sandy & Noah (Sandy & I were roommates when I was an Abbott Labs intern). We went out to dinner at Pizzeria Uno, played Euchre (Noah & I beat Sandy & Tristan), & played some intense games of ping pong. Sandy's having her first baby in February (I think she's going to have a leap year baby!). Tristan's suggested the name Thor to them if it's a boy....a cute little viking baby - I doubt it makes the final cut, but we all had a few laughs about "Baby Thor" all night!

The Story of the 4 year, 4 month quilt in process....

First off: This post is for my Aunt Alice who lives in Pennsylvania!

As most of you know Tristan & I were married in August 2003 - what you probably don't know (unless you are my mom, my aunt Alice, or Hilary) is the story of the quilt for my wedding. :) My aunt Alice is a crafty person who decided to make me a quilt for Tristan & I so we could "wrap up in love" for our wedding. Well, we're going on our 5 year anniversary in 2008 and the quilt's still not done! I've given Aunt Alice a few opportunities to back out (I told her she could just make me a small wall hanging, or even a set of potholders...), but she said she's going to finish my quilt sometime! (I just hope it's one of her new year's resolutions for 2008!!). But, seriously, the quilt will be beautiful once it's finished.....and I'm prepared to wait...I think the traditional 12th anniversary gift is for linens...perhaps she's aiming for a 2015 completion date!! Aunt Alice - I'm just giving you a hard time - don't worry! The material that's being used is show in the photo above - red & white to go with our red & white themed wedding!!

Happy New Year 2008!!

This New Year's Eve marked the first IU Football bowl game in a VERY long time (last time was 1993). The Hoosiers jetted off to Tempe to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Insight Bowl. Since we couldn't go, we did the next best thing and hosted a small IU bowl watch & New Year's Eve party! Nick & Sheena & Christan & Todd (and Tristan's parents since they were down here for New Year's) came over for food & football (chili & bbq chicken from Smokin Jacks Rib Shack, mexican layer dip, fruit tray, deer sausage, cheese cubes, cookies & rice krispy treats - needless to say we didn't starve...). Unfortunately, IU didn't play quite up to par and lost...but there were a few shining moments (our kicker, Austin Starr, ran for a first down on a fake field goal!). We rang in the new year with the ball drop in NYC on TV & toasted 2008 with champagne! Best wishes to everyone for a fantastic 2008!

French Lick Resort & Casino

Tristan & I and our friends/neighbors Christan & Todd took a road trip to French Lick, Indiana to the French Lick Resort & Casino on Saturday night (12/30) to start off the New Year with some gambling & fun times! We had dinner at the 1875 steakhouse (great, but a bit pricey....) - the best part was my creamy 5 onion soup served in a bowl made from a cored out onion. It was fantastic. Tristan played craps & Todd played roulette & slots! They both came out in the black for the weekend....Christan & I - not so much - I think we both lost a few dollars to the slot machines! We gambled until the wee hours of the morning on Sunday & stayed over at the hotel (Tristan had a coupon for a free room!). On Sunday, Christan & I got massages at the spa (which was way more fun than gambling!!). It was a great overnight getaway & we had a blast!

Christmas 2007

We spent the weekend before Christmas & Christmas Eve morning at my parents house in Vergennes. Tristan's Uncle Mike (his dad's brother) came to our house in Bloomington on Friday and we all drove over for the festivities! Highlights included:
- Saturday Tristan & Mike went to the SIU vs. Western Kentucky game and the Fager Family Christmas was held at mom & dad's on Saturday night. Lots & lots of food & and a wild & crazy game of spoons! (I can't seem to find the camera card with those photos on it....but they are priceless!)
- Sunday Started off the morning shooting clay pigeons in the back yard. I'm not a very good shot to say the least (but neither is Tristan). Tristan & Mike went go-karting with Jason & Wendell (my cousin Hilary & Laura's husband/boyfriend). And we ended the night at Jason & Jill's for my dad's side Christmas festivities. Again, lots of food (including chicken & noodles & fried pies...yum, yum) and some entertainment via the game Guesstures.
- Monday We had breakfast with my mom & dad & opened gifts (Thanks Mom & Dad for the new silverware, toaster oven & clothes!) and then headed back to Ellettsville. Tristan had to work the day after Christmas so we wanted a day without travel before he had to go back. We had a great time in So. Illinois & it was nice to see everyone!

IU Basketball (Georgia Tech & Western Carolina)

Tristan & I had seats on the court at Assembly Hall for the Georgia Tech game (Big Ten vs. ACC Challenge). We were surrounded by wild & crazy undergraduate students and wow - we felt old. :) However, the game was fun & IU won, so all is well in Hoosierland! We also took at photo with the Chick Fil A Cow....who was cheering on the hoosiers at the game (perhaps IU should consider a cow as the mascot....lol)

We also went to the Western Carolina basketball game in December with Tristan's parents & Aunt Jenni & Uncle Rich (from North Carolina) who had decided to visit us in Bloomington (I think they just wanted to see some snow!). We had a fun weekend and it was great to see them!

SIU vs. IU Basketball Game

In early December, Tristan & I drove to good ol' Southern Illinois to cheer our Hoosiers onto victory in Carbondale at Southern Illinois University - home of the Salukis! We were decked out in our Hoosier gear and luckily pulled out a victory! You can't believe how bad we were heckled at SIU! We were booed & even had a few towls thrown at us! However, the IU Hoosiers were victorious (Thank goodness or we would probably have never heard the end of it from my entire family....)

Thanksgiving Recap

Tristan & I spent Thanksgiving in Florida! We flew to Orlando and visited old friends, and then treked down to the Keys, Everglades, Miami, & Fort Lauderdale for a few days of sightseeing, beach time, & seafood consumption! We had a great time with Ellisa & Erich, Jaime & Paola, and Josie & Kevin (friends/co-workers from FL). I even stopped by my old stomping grounds at Hewitt for a short visit (what a completely strange experience...I didn't know hardly anyone!) Highlights of our trip included:
- Parasailing!! We parasailed in Key West! What a blast!!
- Sitting on the Beach in Miami & Fort Lauderdale!! Beautiful & Peaceful!
- Seafood & Key Lime Pie!! We love crab cakes & grouper & mahi mahi! Topped off with a trip to Grills in Port Canaveral - our favorite Florida seafood restaurant! And of course, fantastic key lime pie.
- Fort Lauderdale Boat Cruise! Great way to see the ridiculously huge homes of famous people with way too much money. Wayne Hyzinga (owner of the Miami Dolphins) has a 28,000 square foot mansion on the waterway.
- Driving through the Keys! Tristan's always wanted to do this. We determined we would definitely go back to Key West! It's a watersports lover's paradise!
- Disney's Blizzard Beach!! Fun times at the waterpark! We rode Summit Plummet (a 12 story waterslide....)

Long Time - No Post....

I think one of my New Year's resolutions will be to try and update the blog weekly....since Tristan & I actually kept our 2007 New Year's resolution, this may actually happen!!

Our 2007 resolution was to keep the same physical address for an entire calendar year - something neither of us had done since we came to college in 1999! I'm going to go ahead to do some posting of old events (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's...) to try and catch up!!