Printable Super Bowl 50 Pool

Oh, hello there! I know it's been a while... Like 1/2 a year, but we're just going to carry on like nothing's happened.

Basically, I love football. It is definitely my favorite sport to watch. I grew up rooting for the 49ers, and have been slowly molded into a Bills fan since marrying my Bills-fanatic husband 11 years ago. Actually, we just had a Buffalo Bills themed first birthday party for Braxton. Maybe I'll write a blog post in my spare time...

 

I am SUPER competitive. Whether it's Scrabble or Fantasy Football- I'm in it to win it! If you've spent anytime with my four-year-old, Grace, you will quickly realize she gets her competitive spirit from her mama! (Last year I was the Fantasy Football champion, and this year I ended up the runner up to my brother in law. GRRRR! You're going down next year, Brandon!)

In preparation for the big game, I'm putting on my Younique game face! If you want to join in on the fun (and score some big deals), message me to be added to my VIP Younique Boutique Facebook Group. 

Sadly, neither the Bills nor the 49ers are in this year's Super Bowl showdown, but I'll still be watching. In fact, we recently moved to Charlotte, so it's fun to be in a city with a winning team! #KeepPounding!

One tradition my family has is a friendly Super Bowl Pool. (We play for money, but you don't have to!) This keeps things interesting if the game is a dud...plus there's always the commercials to keep us entertained and nachos to be eaten.

Here's a blank printable for you to engage in some friendly competition with your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, strangers at the bar...

SUPER BOWL 50

Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers

Stay safe, don't drink and drive! It's nice to be back. Hopefully I can find some time to post a few more times this year! 

Summer Loving & Leaving

Who needs a vacation when you can spend your summer doing this...

Ok, ok, maybe we were on a permanent vacation, but it's back to reality for me after spending the majority of the summer galavanting across the country. Grace, Braxton and I got to spend some amazing time with my parents in northern California.

Grace and Grandad found each other at the airport

Braxton met his Grandad for the first time. 

Grammy and Grandad with their favorite grandson!

 

We visited family. 

GG, or "Grandma Buddy" as Grace calls her

Great Grandma Elsie and Braxton

Lots of fun times playing games and snuggling!

We rode trains.

Western Pacific Railroad Museum

Went to the Alexander Family Reunion Campout at the DeForest Ranch.  

Dog race followed by the kids race

Grace wants to ask Santa for one of these for Christmas! 

Grace took swim lessons.

3 weeks of lesson in Portola. Grace loved the instructors and gained so much confidence in the water. 

Braxton learned how to sit up, scream and Army crawl. 

"It's on, Mama!"

We ate like we were on vacation!

 

Went hiking, biking and kayaking. 

  

We missed Daddy a lot, but we were reunited for a fun trip to South Lake Tahoe at the end of the month. We got to enjoy to the view (and the cooler weather), and let loose a little with some good friends.

See the resemblance? ;)

My handsome date! SO happy to be reunited with my other half. 

The boys pre-wedding. 

Congratulations, April and Ryan! We had a blast celebrating with you guys!

I'm still not exactly sure how we ended up living so far away from my family, but I am so grateful for this fun-filled time we got to spend with them this summer. How lucky was I to wake up to fresh brewed coffee and the occasional bakery delight? We went on evening walks and enjoyed the bounty at the weekly Farmer's Market. We saw wildlife ranging from packs of bucks, to a bear trotting across the rode. We laughed, joked and made cherished memories.

Bike ride and donuts- a perfect combo!

This mug was handmade by a potter selling his wares at the Beckwourth Farmer's Market. I'm pretty sure it can house 3 cups of coffee! (Perfect for mornings when you're dragging...)

We were sad to leave our west coast friends and family, but had to head home and resume "real life." The flight home was pretty good not quite horrible. We decided on a red-eye non-stop flight from Sacramento to Charlotte. Our hope was that B + G would sleep (you know, since it's the middle of the night?!). The hard part was getting to the airport well past their bedtime and negotiating ticket counters, security checkpoints and gate areas with two delirious children. Braxton slept the entire flight home (thanks to the all-you-can-eat-breastfeeding-buffet) and Grace finally got comfortable a fell asleep.

You know, just hanging at the airport trying to maintain our sanity. 

Now that we're home, we're getting in some more family camping trips and prepping Grace for her return to preschool. She will be attending three days a week, and can't wait to go!

Braxton is moving and grooving and basically a menace. He can maneuver his way using an army crawl all the way across the living room, into the kitchen (or to the dog food bowl). He is still not sleeping through the night and has started eating pretending to eat, but mostly just spitting it all out.

Family life is keeping us busy, and we are looking forward to the shift to fall in the coming months. Bring on the football, celebrations, pumpkins and changing leaves!!!

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Lilacs and Lemons: Bills Look for Win # 3 and Struggles to Become Street Legal in TN

Welcome to my second Lilacs and Lemons write up- brimming with the good and the bad from the week!

Lilacs: 
My husband is a big fan of the Buffalo Bills. He has been since he was a child, and he can remember crying when they lost the Super Bowl four years in a row in the early '90s. Year after year he continues to cheer for his team despite the fact that they have not made the playoffs in 14 seasons.

As his wife for the last 10 years, I've borne witness to the hope at the beginning of each season that is quickly replaced with disappointment and heartbreak as the loses stack up. Cole tells me, "If we don't root for them, who will?"That's true. I have to cheer for them.

This year the Bills started the season 2-0. TWO WINS, ZERO LOSSES! It's a start... At least they're giving the fans hope. Tomorrow they face the Chargers and hope to keep their winning streak alive.

Daddy and Grace, 2013. 

Also, Grace seems to be getting excited about her baby brother.

        -She wants to call him Baby Market.

        -He can sleep in her bed, but he can't use her bath tub. 

        -He'll probably be hungry for Lucky Charms. 

        -He'll share all of his things with her. 

Becoming such a big girl. 

Lemons: 

It took FOUR visits to the County Clerks office plus a trip to the emissions to get our car legally registered in Tennessee. I'm not saying TN is wrong, but maybe they could take note from other states and find a way to expedite and simplify the process. Not to mention, our leasing company failed to put MY NAME on a Power of Attorney that I REQUESTED. Enough said. It was annoying.

I know, I know, "wah, wah, wah!" Complaining about the DMV is nothing new, but to make things even more fun, our other car's registration is due next month. See you soon, Linda at the County Clerks office!

I'll also mention there was a diarrhea incident at the park. I'll spare you the details and the photos (just kidding, there aren't any photos), but it wasn't me... 

My Lemonade: I'm thankful that I have so many blessings, that complaining about the everyday annoyances of life are a reality in my life. Of course there are many more serious, frustrating, frightening and heartbreaking things happening in my tiny world and the great big world around me.

#23weeks

Cravings: Nachos

Feeling: Like I miss sleeping on my stomach

Our Love: Blooming for Ten Years

"Forever" ago, Cole and I decided to get married fresh out of high school. Afterwards I decided I would plan a big "wedding" vow renewal ceremony for our ten year anniversary. It would be everything our little wedding wasn't; it would be a big party with all of our friends, open bar (because we could actually drink), a DJ and a sexy dress. I would plan it in my head most nights before I fell asleep. It wasn't that I didn't love our wedding-I did. I just had it stuck in my head that it was supposed to be something grander, like the pictures in the bridal magazines.

Ten years ago our wedding was a small get together in my husband's grandparent's garden. It was a hot July day in northern California. Our closest family were there. My dad walked me down the grassy aisle in a slick black vest. My bridesmaids consisted of my 2 best girlfriends from high school and my twin sister, Jennifer. We bought my garter from a little boutique in a strip mall on the way to the wedding.  Our cake was decorated with tiny pink polka dots and my bouquet held pink roses and big yellow sunflowers. We toasted with sparkling cider. My papa was the officiant and witness as I kissed my handsome soldier husband for the first time.

It was, actually, perfect. The flowers were blooming, just like our love. Flawed, simple and true.

Since that kiss, we've shared our life together in Nevada, North Carolina, Arizona, and Tennessee. We've graduated college, been through good times and tough times, survived deployments and life with a newborn. Ten years feels like just the first chapter in our story. I couldn't be prouder of the man I'm married to. He is strong, loving, funny, faithful and determined. I love seeing his features in our daughter and knowing that he will be by my side as we watch her grow up.

I no longer feel the need to plan an elaborate vow renewal ceremony for our 10 year anniversary. (Good thing, because it's here, and I didn't plan one!) I guess I've learned over the years that love is something that should be celebrated and lived each day. Kisses goodbye each day and splitting a bottle of wine on a Friday night are just as important (maybe even more) as a fancy dress and a big party. Instead, I'm happy to spend the day (after) with my sweetheart just enjoying each other's company-kid-free to boot! We are also lucky enough our anniversary will always fall the day before the 4th of July holiday, so we can celebrate with fireworks as our love continues to bloom.

Happy 10 years to my love! 

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Happy Father's Day!

Oh, hey there little blog. It's been a while. Sorry...we've been busy, though!

We went swimming,

picked strawberries,

played baseball,

 ran around like superheroes,

 

and played in the rain puddles!

Today is a special day, though, because it's Father's Day! A day to stop and say thank you to the men who make the world better just by being rad dads!

Grace is so lucky to have such a wonderful daddy, and I could not be more proud of the wonderful father Cole is. I love that he can play "bad cop" to my "good cop," he makes Grace scream with laughter as the Tickle Monster and plays music for her, "so she'll have good taste." Happy Father's Day, Cole! Thank you for all you do for our family! We love you!

Grace made a card all about her Daddy. (With a little help from her Momma.) 

Grace drawing Daddy, who apparently looks scribbly and orange.

Find your free printable at 30 Days Homemade

I decided Grace couldn't have all the fun, so I made one for my Dad, too!

Cheers to all of the wonderful fathers who love, support, nurture, play with and teach their children the important lessons in life. It is a privilege to be my dad's daughter and to watch my sweet husband be Grace's dad. 

Grace and Daddy "watching" TV together

At the finish line of the Nike Women's Half in S.F. 

UNR Graduation 

Happy 

Father's

Day!

We can't wait to see you, Dad, in just a few days in California! We're due for an ice cream date, our treat! Love you!!!!