Cyclones forever!

Hello my readers...if you are actually still out there :) Though you may be few, I feel it is high time I update you on our past travels...

Feb. 7 & 8 we traveled to the Cyclone country to see our good friends, Bruce & Renae. We met up to catch up and also see Gus & I's Cyclones in action (sidenote - Bruce is actually a graduate of Iowa State as well, but for some ODD reason prefers the Hawkeyes). Much to our dismay they got schooled my the Mizzzou, but it was great fun walking on campus, eating at Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co. (some of the BEST pizza ever), and being with great friends! WE love you both & yep, you made the blog!

My dearest Gus...I love being with you & how you haven't changed a bit!

Bruce & Renae's 2 1/2 year old darling Kylie...while she wasn't able to be with this in Ames, I know she was cheering them on in her heart!

SNOW DAY!

Wahoo! When you're a teacher or a student, there are NO better words than receiving a phone call to let you know school has been canceled :)

[Please remind me of this however by about oh, June 1st or so]

Arlan and I have spent the day catching up on few things around the house, reading books, and lounging. I'll admit not a lot has been accomplished on Robin Ave. today!

I have great memories as a child in NW Iowa & having Mom come in & tell us these glorious words because as geography & weather attests up north, we heard NO SCHOOL fairly frequent. In fact, my alma mater has several snow days built in to their school year (I think it was 5) and only if you exceed that amount do you then make up days at the end of the year. My senior year we exceeded plenty ensuring the seniors had to come back after graduation to take finals...yep, we only got a diploma cover & NO diploma at the big ceremony :)

Other great snow day memories include:

• going sledding with the town kids down down the viaduct near Lester...we'd literally brave some pretty incredible conditions to get outside & play
• playing hours of Monopoly at my cousins...in fact, if the weather was really badl, the Monopoly game board would stay in the exact location for a day or more & my cousin Curt would keep a running tally of debts owed to other players for property-it was GREAT!

So...any snow day memories out there to share? I'd love to hear them!

Catching up...again...

Since I haven't blogged since yep, Dec. 24th, I thought I'd take a moment to catch up my readers (if you are still out there) and events, etc. occurring the last several weeks:

• Spent Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with our Miller family; highlight was a wonderful Christmas Day message & amazing "Joy to the World" by the Gridley congregation!
• Traveled to Lester the day after to spend with our Kellenberger family; my Dad's SURPRISE 60th party was a highlight as friends & family helped celebrate. My Aunt Vonnie from AZ was also back in Iowa & it was special to spend time with her. Also special to meet my new cousin, Lucy-what a beautiful baby.
  
• School started again Jan. 5th & since then our lives have been consumed with students, lessons, grading...the usuals that go along with education.
• Cousin Tom Miller went to meet Jesus this past Sunday so Thurs. night & Friday morning will be spent saying our final, temporary goodbyes. He is Orlan's first cousin, never married & a special part of the Miller family-he will be missed!

-

My BFF

Ah, a weekend in Indy...no school for 2 weeks, the upcoming holidays, and being with my best friend! What more could a girl ask for? :) Arlan and I traveled out to Indy last weekend to spend time with Clint & Alesa. We tackled a bit of holiday baking...

Dr. Bahler's favorite pastime when he isn't working his insane schedule...

and Arlan's newest friend at the Bahler's...their wonderfully, cozy fireplace!

40 years --- yee-haw!

Last Thursday evening, we celebrated Orlan & Carol's 40th wedding anniversary in true cowboy style! Earl & Dixie, along with David & Kate, were our gracious, western hosts with a wonderful "chuckwagon" meal, great stories, and songs. Enjoy the pictures...

The food was so yummy...if you've ever experienced a Dixie meal, you can definitely relate! Beef brisket, smoked ribs, potatoes, dips and several kinds of dessert all left us very full.

Our wonderful hosts & hostesses

The little buckaroos had great fun playing!

Perhaps the more amazing event was the whole family was together!

Happy 40th Anniversary Mom & Dad Miller...we love you!

Milwaukago at Christmas time

Last weekend Arlan and I had the pleasure of traveling to both Milwaukee & Chicago for kind of a Christmas get-a-way weekend. While we love the holidays with family & friends, it was great to just spend time with each other - no students, no grading papers, no real responsiblities...just enjoy the cold weather, pretty lights, beautiful decorations, and lovely Christmas music.
It was a truly magical weekend! Read on for more details...

Our motivating factor for our Christmas weekend was to visit a friend of ours, Richelle. Originally from Phoenix, Richelle landed an intern position with Milwaukee theater and was in A Christmas Carol (very holiday appropriate). It was so fun to catch up with her at lunch before her aftenoon performance. Here she is with Arlan before the show...

...and here she is after the show. It was a great performance!

One of the funniest things one can see during Christmas time - while in downtown Milwaukee we saw all these Santa Clauses on bikes! Not just a few, but several dozen...it was so fun to watch the pedestrians light up with a smile as they passed each street corner waving and shouting "Merry Christmas"...and yes, there was definitely lots of snow in Milwaukee they maneuvered around!



"The Fonz" and I in downtown Milwaukee :)


From Milwaukee Saturday afternoon, we then headed to the crazy hectic city traffic of Chicago...it literally was some of the worst traffic I've/we've experienced. Here are the beautiful decorations and window fronts of Macy's on State St.

Next up ice skating at Milennium Park...Arlan has always wanted to take me here and although neither of us are the best skaters, it was super fun!

After ice skating, we ate brunch at the lovely Grand Luxe Cafe where their hot chocolate is pretty amazing (thanks to a Ms. H.P. for introducing us to it)...they melt real Godiva chocolate into their cocoa! Arlan couldn't hardly drink it without getting his nose frothy :)

fall football

As the sports lover I am, it has been fun to spend the past several weekends traveling and attending football games! The first two pictures are from the Illini v. Ohio St. game Arlan and I attended with Brandon & Sonia-thanks for the wonderful treat & great catch-up time. We had a great time, even if the Illini didn't :(

The second game we attended was the weekend before Thanksgiving as my cousin Cody Doorneweerd led my good ole West Lyon Wildcats alma mater to the state final game. Cody, their quarterback, led them to the runner-up trophy. The game ended 3-0 in favor of the opposing team...it was a heartbreaking loss, but nevertheless, Cody was my hero of the day and I was proud to be his cousin! We love you Cody!

Wildcats (in blue) get ready to kick-off...Cody is #17

2nd half warm-ups


The Doorneweerd clan to cheer on Cody!
(my nephew Levi, brother-in-law Mike, my sister Emily, and in back my brother Adam & his finance Erika)