DC

DC at Christmas time...meh! I was expecting lots more magic from our nations capitol. They only had Christmas in one little spot and it wasn't all that. Come on, step it up capitol!

On the bright side I finally got to meet Alyssa! She's a complete doll and a bit of a chatterbox (like every other 15 year old girl). She doesn't look much like Scott except she did get his hair and teeth, plus I saw some mannerisms of his once in awhile. Her parents are so sweet to let us hang out so much with them. Scott thinks I get along with her so well cause I still act like a teenager. I don't think I should take that as a compliment though, but I guess my love of reading teeny bopper books does keep me young at heart :-)

Another cool thing about DC is all the free museums! I like free! This room at the Freer Art Museum was my fav! So sparkly!!

Also, look how artistic the hubs is taking these photos:

 

This is how we got these birds in flight photos:

Haha!! I didn't realize I ran swinging my arms like that! It was a lot of fun scaring up these birds for the photo op though.

Our Christmas Card

May your holidays sparkle and shine!!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas festivus season

Christmas decorations are my favorite!! Christmas lights are my favorite!! This season is my favorite!! I just felt like Buddy the Elf saying that. Haha! My favorite decoration I did this year is my snowflake hallway. It's so magical!! Too bad I was struggling with my camera to capture it, but you get the jist.

 
In other Christmas festivus news I'm on my way to DC and NYC to see all the Christmas festivities the big cities have to offer!! I'm so beyond excited!! It's been a dream of mine since forever to see New York at Christmas. Yay for me!! The main reason we're heading out east though is to visit Scott's daughter Alyssa (who's 15 now). She lives in the DC area and was adopted by an amazing couple that were kind enough to let Scott still be in her life. She knows Scott is her biological father and he has been able to fly out and visit her from time to time. In fact we're all friends on Facebook which is cool! I'm a little nervous to meet her so wish me luck that I won't be a big dork.

Isn't she pretty!! Totally confirms that our future kids will be cutie pies! Stay tuned next week for DC and NYC Christmas pics!!

2012 Beard & Moustache Championship

If you ever get the chance to go to the Beard & Moustache Championship I suggest you do it!! I promise you will not be disappointed. Seriously, I was in crazy beard heaven!!! My hubs, who has a pretty good size beard, has a baby beard compared to these guys. The competition was in Vegas this year, which is only a 6 hour drive, so we had to go! Check out the awesomeness!

The Germans were my fav! They had the most crazy awesome facial hair!

Look, twins!!

 

SANTA!!!! He said I've been good this year. :-)

 Us ladies had to get in on the fun and sport some staches for the competition. Yeah, we're awesome like that! :-) Next year's competition is in Germany and would be so epic to see since they were the best in my opinion. Plus, the hubs and I are planning a European Vacation so maybe it will be in the cards?!?

neon boneyard

Did you know that Vegas has a boneyard of old neon signage?!? It's super cool!! It sucked that we happened to be in Vegas the one weekend it was actually cold so walking around the boneyard was a jittery affair, but don't worry, we're troopers and still managed to take over a hundred pics!!

 This is what our group looked like the whole time. Snap Snap!!

 

You can tell he just loves it when I take his picture!

 

 

 

 

 

(She just couldn't get over the feeling that something was watching her.)

Haha!

So fun!! At night I guess some of them are lit up! Now that would be awesome to see!!

fall strolling

Thanksgiving is around the corner and the last week that I want it to be Fall. I know that I said Fall is my fav and it is! I just have another fav time and that's Christmas! I think part of the excitement of Fall is that's its the beginning of all my most favorite things! Fall trees and cardigan wearing to snow covered grounds and sparkly lights! So goodbye to Fall and Sunday Fall walks. Which speaking of Fall walks, Chicago has some of the best tree lined streets for taking strolls! 

You know you have a good hubs when the walk ends up with him carrying the nieces and holding the dogs leash! Haha!

Serious cuteness!

Also, you need to take advantage of an un-raked yard every chance you get!

(same thing with an untouched snow covered yard)

Goodbye pretty Fall trees and being able to walk around without a jacket.

Until next year!

Notre Dame

While in Chicago we went to the BYU vs Notre Dame football game (the hubs is a BYU Football fanatic). Fall football is always fun, but I was most ecstatic to tour the campus! I've always wanted to see an old Eastern campus in the fall (maybe next time I'll get to see Yale or Harvard campus?!?). I was not disappointed in Notre Dame though! Here are some of the million photos I took.

  Papa Steele and some of the Chicago Steele clan (Jer, Mel, & Hunter)

 Touchdown Jesus!

 Unfortunately BYU lost, but it was so close!!