SLAM da da da....Let the Boys Be Boys!

Blake loves sports and basketball is definitely one at the top of his list!  He is pretty good, too.  So while we are all hoping he is a professional soccer player, there is also a chance he could be in the NBA.  Either way, it's a good retirement plan for us.  Here are a few photos of his mad skills!

Sometimes he sits like this while he watches.

And sometimes he sits like this.....tee hee hee hee (school girl giggle)!

 

Action!  I'm sure this was the money shot!

Rebound machine!

Whatcha got now??????  A Blake in the face...that's what!

Gigantor is goin' down!!!!!

He was always open and ready to shoot!

Blake had a great season and we loved cheering him on!  We didn't love that his team name was the Hoyas instead of the Cardinals.  But when you're not in charge, what can ya do?!?  :)

We also went to a Pacers game a couple weeks ago (yes, the same one where we appeared on tv).  Here are a few photos from that fun night!

Tony Parker chattin' up Tim Duncan (but you can clearly read who they are on their jerseys).

Former UK player all tatted up.  Beth Button, this Keith Bogans shot is for you!!!

This was the best I could get.  He wouldn't stand up for me.  Oh well!

That was our night!  I sure enjoy spending one-on-one time with my Blake.  He's an AWESOME kid!



***Side note***Just to make sure you are paying attention at the end of this post, I will leave you with a completely unrelated but totally funny tidbit!  Most people know I am a very light sleeper and because of this, I don't get a lot of rest.  Billy's shenanigans in his sleep are usually the cause.  Last night was no different.  At about 4 AM, I was startled awake by my husband jumping up in bed, telling me he just saw a ghost.  Then he threw all the covers over his head (because he was clearly terrified) and fell back asleep.  I was left wondering if my house was haunted or WHAT?!?!?  Sheesh.  Good thing I didn't really believe him.  But when I was wide awake after that (at 4AM, mind you), I kinda started to wonder......

Oh The Places She Will Go!

And she's off!  Lola is a crawling fool.  Shouldn't she be walking by now, you might ask.  Well, yes, she probably should be walking.  But why walk when you can do stuff like this all day long? 

Hang out inside a toy tote!  ROCK ON!!!

Ride along in an automobile!

Push a chair all over the kitchen!

Fly?  Oh, wait....Billy is holding her as she reaches for the ceiling.  What could be more fun than that?  Seriously?  A lot of things!  Like.....walking!!!

Poke your head through a chair with your dad!

Chillax in your brother's bean bag chair!

And go up and down the stairs, causing your mother to go crazy before she can buy a baby gate!  SLOW DOWN, Lola!!!!!

But really....when you're this cute, you can pretty much do whatever you want and get away with it!  Trust me, I know....not because I'm that cute but because I spoil this little stair climber rotten!

On a side note:  Don't forget to vote on your favorite winter Olympic event!!!! Check out my poll at the top of my blog....it changes weekly! :)

The GRAND Finale!!!!

This is the story of a girl who met a boy (on the internet....yes, the internet).  They fell in love and began a long distance romance (tee hee....I said "romance").  Anyway, he was definitely her prince charming.  He swept her off her feet and everything (but not literally)! 

At long last, my readers, you get the story of the proposal!  I promise no Billys were harmed in the making of this blog (well, except a little harmless teasing and a slight bruised ego)!

I really did meet Billy online (we love to share that story....and by "we", I mean me because Billy is totally embarassed by it).  Anyway, he lived in California and I lived in Kentucky.  We met in person for the first time in Utah (I was at a friend's house---shout out to Amy) and he was at his sister's.  We clicked from the start and the rest is history!  I guess I have to share the history because everyone wants to know how my knight in shining armor convinced me to marry him!

After graduating from Chiropractic school, Billy moved home to Seattle.  I was living in Utah (I'm kind-of a gypsy).  I decided it was time to take a giant leap.  I was going to move VERY far away from all my friends and family.....all in the name of love.  I was willing to take that risk so I did.  My parents really wanted an engagement before I moved but that didn't happen.  Apparently they didn't want me to go traipsing all over the country for some dude.  Moving is slightly expensive!

Speed it up?  Okay.  I wasn't there too long before Billy started to be a little sneaky.  I didn't really suspect anything because I figured we were pretty much already getting married!  We had talked about it and I didn't really want a ring.  So in my mind, we were kinda already engaged.  We like to tell ourselves this (am I right, ladies???) so we feel better!

So one day, he got his parents to watch Blake and decided to take me out on a date!  We started out at lunch (did you guess Taco Bell?  Because if you did, you are correct).  Then with a little foreshadowing, we started a bridal registry at a massive Target in Seattle. 

We concluded our venture at the Space Needle.  There may have been some type of dinner somewhere but my brain doens't work that much anymore so I can't remember!  We went to the top and enjoyed looking at all the city lights at night.  Then we sat down at a table.  Billy tossed something across the table.  I picked up said something and realized it was a Taco Bell hot sauce packet.  You know the one....the one that says, "will you marry me?"  OH NO he didn't.  But YES he did!  I love it!  The real kicker came when he got the ring out of his pocket.  He put it on my finger but wouldn't let me look at it!  WHAT?!?!?!?!  He didn't want to draw attention to us and the fact that we were newly engaged.  Awesome (sarcasm).  So here I was, with my hot sauce packet, wanting so desperately to look at my new bling.  Alas, I had to wait until we left the Space Needle and the hordes of people who would never see me again!

Truth is that I give Billy a lot of (negative) flack for this.  But secretly?  I love it!  I wouldn't have wanted it any other way!  And the other truth is my sweet Billy ordered a Louisville slugger baseball bat for me.  He had it custom ordered with a proposal engraved into the bat!  Unfortunately, the slugger didn't arrive in time for our date night.  The hot sauce packet was a last minute replacement idea!  My favorite detail?  The way he flung it across the table at me as if to say, "oh by the way....."  I wouldn't have wanted him to fling a bat at me anyway!  OUCH! 

And here we are!  Now we live in Indiana.  We are still happy and still very much in love!  And as you all know, I still love Taco Bell and now it kinda holds a special place in my heart! :)

Family Girl

I received a disturbing phone call from my mom yesterday.  She told me my older sister was on her way to the hospital after losing memory yesterday morning.  We were worried she had a stroke or a seizure or something!  I had to keep my composure because I'm typically very calm and collected.  I rarely every cry or go into any type of hysterics.  However, upon hearing the news, I have to admit, I became overwhelmed.  If anything happened to her, I didn't know what I would do.  I fought back tears and started saying prayers.

I'm happy to report that she is okay.  The doctors aren't really sure what is going on at this point but it wasn't a stroke.  She will go to more doctors in the upcoming weeks.  So this post is about my family.  I have four sisters and one brother and they all mean the world to me!  I will share a small something about each sibling!

1.  Alli is the oldest (I will go in order of the oldest to youngest).  She is a hair stylist, she lives in Florida, and she is FULL of spunk!  One thing that makes Alli so great is how giving she is.  She will give you anything you need, even if she doesn't have anything to give! 

2.  Beth (the sister who went to the hospital yesterday) is hilarious!  She is one of the funniest people I know.  It's hard to top my comedian self (HA HA HA HA) but she definitely does!  She is a great mom, she makes amazing hair bows, and she is a great home decorator.  She is super talented and super fabulous!

3.  Adam (poor kid....raised with FIVE sisters....it had to be rough) is awesome.  He has endured some very challenging trials and has risen above them.  I'm in awe of his strength and his courage.  We've always bonded over sports and have been very close friends our whole lives (we are the closest in age).

4.  Katie is a firecracker!  She is determined and strong-willed.  She is an amazing wedding planner.  I'm a bit jealous because after seeing the movie with Jennifer Lopez, I kinda always wanted to be a wedding planner myself!  Katie is passionate about so many things and I love when she shares these passions with us!

5.  Jess is as sweet as can be.  She is the baby of the family.  She is an excellent listener and a wonderful person.  She also makes some pretty sweet desserts (sweet as in full of sugar and sweet as in AWESOME).  I guess she has a reason since she went to culinary arts school!

My sisters and brother are definitely my best friends (and my mom and dad, too)!  I am thankful for them each and every day!  I don't know what I'd do without any of them! 

I know I promised you guys the story of Billy's proposal.  I was saving the best for last!  So on my last post of blogfest 2010, I will fill you in!  That would be tomorrow....for those of you who were blurring the days together!  :)

Love/Hate Relationships

I'm keepin' this one simple....five things I love and five things I hate.  Oh, and I'm not playing easy and using generic "go-to" answers like family, friends, sports, etc.. (in the love category, of course) because those are GIVEN!  I'll be a little more specific than that!

Five things I love (in no particular order):

1.  Guacamole----two years ago, this would be on the hate list.  However, when I was pregnant with Lola, I craved the yummy green stuff!

2.  Hooded sweatshirts (especially with U of L logos on them).

3.  Music.  Music makes me very happy!

4.  Exercising (while listening to music).  Except for the past nine months when I have been the laziest I've ever been.  My exercise lately has consisted of crawling around after Lola all day and night.  That should count for something, right?  It hurts my back and knees so I think it should count.

5.  Sleeping.  It rarely ever happens.  But I think about sleeping all the time.  Especially when I'm in bed at night NOT sleeping (for some reason).  I also imagine taking a nap on a daily basis.  That never happens either.  Still.....I love it.  A lot.

Five things I hate (hate is a strong word so we can also say things I dislike):

1.  Talking on the phone.  I curse Alexander Graham Bell.  But I praise the person who invented e-mail and text messaging.  On a rare occasion, I'll dabble in some phone-talking.  However, I'd always prefer it to be a last "get in touch" resort.

2.  Birds.  Weird?  Maybe.  But c'mon.  They're loud and kinda dumb (they can fly all over the sky and they still get hit by cars????).  Seriously, birds, fly higher....because you can!

3.  Snow.  I mean sometimes I kinda like it.  But after this winter, it's on the hate (or strongly dislike) list.

4.  Air guitar (air drums or really any type of air instrument).

5.  Chicken.  I don't eat very much meat at all.  It's a very seldom occurrence when I do eat meat.  But I never EVER eat chicken.  YUCK!

All done for now.  Be sure to come back tomorrow!  I was going to discuss my proposal story tonight.  But I'm going to delay that until.......Welp, you will have to keep reading my blog to know when that will happen! ;)

Sharing Time

Are you tired of hearing stuff about me?  I'm sure you are.  I would be.  Believe me.  I have to put up with all this stuff ALL the time....with no breaks!  I think the week is almost over, though, so my once a day blogs will no longer bore you to tears!  I decided to rock my blog so I added some music for your listening pleasure!  Enjoy while you read some more random facts about me!

1.  I was born in the Philippines.  I know most of you already know that.  But since it's one of the coolest, most unsuspecting things about me, I thought I would throw it out there again!

2.  I love sports.  I mean LOVE sports.  According to my mom, I know MORE about sports than most men she's ever met.  It's true.  Obsessed is putting it mildly.  And going along with this, it is my pet peeve when men brush me off when I try to get in on their convos about sports.  Then they feel ridiculous (at least they should) when I open my mouth and actually KNOW what I'm talking about.  But I shouldn't have to prove myself to fit in with the lingo.  C'mon, dudes.  Give me a break!  And here is proof of how much I love basketball.  Blake and I went to a Pacers game on Wednesday (shout-out to Alan for the tix).  Blake was cheering for the Spurs (PUNK) and I was cheering for the Pacers (obviously).  We were caught on TV having a happy/mad moment.  The Spurs just scored.  Blake was happy.  I was not.

And yes, we were that close to the Spurs bench.  Sixth row, baby!!!!  WE WERE ON TV!  I'm famous!  Tell all your friends!  On a side note, don't laugh at how large and in charge I look.  I mean, don't cameras add TEN pounds (at least????)?

3.  I am currently in the early (and I mean early) stages of coauthoring a book with a friend in Ireland.  I'm sure when we're finished, it will be a national best seller!!! ;)  First I have to write it and to do that, I need motivation.  Anyone have some I can borrow?  Oh I know!  Maybe I should stop blogging all the time and write the book.  That's a novel (pun totally intended) idea! :)

3.  I love cereal.  I could eat a bowl (or ten) every day of my life!

4.  I wish I could speak fluent Spanish.  I almost minored in the language but then I got scared when the classes started getting harder.  But I can say yo quiero Taco Bell! :):):)

5.  Finally, and this is a good one.....Billy proposed to me on the top of the Space Needle.  If you want to know HOW he did it (and it is also a good one), tune in (or log in) tomorrow!  Until then....Yadon out!

Pieces of Billy

I'm finally getting around to this blog.  I've already started to get distracted.  I knew a blog a day would be very hard!  Anyway, here I am!  HOORAY!  I can hear you all cheering now!  I promised a quiz about Billy and here it is.  He came up with all of the questions (some of them, ahem, are not so.....original---in other words, he totally ripped off some of mine).  I will also go ahead and reveal the answers this time since I didn't get too many people playing the guessing game on the last quiz (I promise I don't hold a grudge;)!

1.  What is my dream car?  Sarah's answer:  Aston Martin.  Billy's answer:  Aston (he sometimes pronounces it Austin....and I chuckle...silly Billy) Martin.

2.  What is my favorite book?  Sarah's answer:  The Forever War.  Billy's answer:  The Forever War.  He didn't think I would get that one.  But I'm a genius.  It's true.

3.  What is the farthest I've ever traveled away from home?  Sarah's answer:  China.  Billy's answer:  China.  Seriously?  If I didn't listen to a word he said, I might have missed this one.  Captain obvious had some not-so-tricky questions!

4.  How many bones have I broken?  Sarah's answer:  1.  Billy's answer:  3.  OOPS!  I guess I don't always pay attention!

5.  What is my dream job?  Sarah's answer:  professional soccer coach.  Billy's answer:  professional soccer coach.  Spot on!  I don't like to toot my own horn, but man I know my husband! ;)

6.  What is my favorite drink?  Sarah's answer:  Really?  Mountain Dew.  Duh (answered just like that).  Billy's answer:  Mountain Dew.

7.  Who is my favorite historical figure?  First of all, before I reveal the answer, who has ever had this conversation with their husband (or anyone for that matter)?  Yeah, we've never discussed it at length.  And yeah, my answer was incorrect.  But still.....it is an unfair question if we have never talked about such people.  Okay, I'll stop complaining (maybe).  Sarah's answer:  Winston Churchill?????  Billy's answer:  Caesar.  Whatever.  Lame question.  I'm still bitter.

8.  What is my favorite Star Wars movie?  Sarah's answer:  The Empire Strikes Back (pulled out of my hat as I don't know a thing about Star Wars).  Billy's answer:  The Empire Strikes Back.  Yee  haw.  I'm a rock star!

9.  What is my all-time favorite sports team?  Sarah's answer:  Manchester United.  Billy's answer:  Manchester United.  Again, a silly silly question.

10.  Who is your favorite child?  HA HA.  Just kidding.  That's easy....it's....seriously, though, we didn't ask each other that question.  Or did we?  ;)

10.  (The real question 10) What are my favorite TV shows?  Sarah's answer:  24, White Collar, CSI New York, Better Off Ted, and The Office.  Billy's answer:  24, White Collar, CSI New York, Better Off Ted, and........Man Vs. Wild.  SHOOT!!!!! I only missed one.  So I did WAY WAY WAY better than he did at picking my top shows!

There ya have it.  Some pieces of me and some pieces of Billy!  Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog where I will be discussing..........do I have you on the edge of your seat?  You'll have to remain there until tomorrow.  I reveal nothing.  NOTHING!  G'night!

Completing The Puzzle!

Well, I didn't get a bajillion guesses as to how well Billy knows me!  Since I'm a new blogger, I will let it (and by it, I mean the lack of fun on my posts) slide just this once!  I really am going for an exciting, interactive blog, though!  So feel free to pipe in!

Without further ado, I will reveal the answers to my quiz from yesterday!

1. What is my favorite drink? Billy's answer: Diet Coke.  Sarah's answer:  Diet Coke (I hate water.  I know, that's bad.  I love Diet Cooke.  I know, that's bad, too but it tastes sooooo good).


2. If I could drive the car of my dreams, what would it be? Billy's answer: Porsche Cayenne.  Sarah's answer:  Nissan Murano (duh Billy).  That's what I told him when he answered yesterday.  I've only told him a million times....I WANT MY OLD CAR BACK!!!!! (I used to drive a Murano).

3. What is my favorite fast food restaurant? Billy's answer: Taco Bell.  Sarah's answer:  DEFINITELY Taco Bell.  Yo quiero everything there!  Well, everything without meat! :)

4. What is my favorite Hugh Grant movie (yes, I have a slight obsession with Hugh Grant movies)? Billy's Answer: Two Weeks Notice.  Sarah's answer:  Two Weeks Notice.  I tried to throw him by watching About a Boy the other day.  He didn't fall for it.

5. If I could have my dream career, what would it be (aside from my current dream career of being a housewife;)? Billy's answer: Sports announcer.  Sarah's answer:  Sports announcer.  I was thinking more of a writer but as soon as Billy answered, I knew he was right.  I had just told him that the other night.  So I'm counting this answer as correct.

6. What is my favorite book of all time? Billy's answer: Confessions of a Shopaholic.  Sarah's answer:  The Great Gatsby.  Duh.  I've told him that about 82 million times (approximately).

7. What is the most adventurous thing I've ever done? Billy's answer: A canopy tour (zip-line tour) in Costa Rica.  Sarah's answer:  A canopy tour in Costa Rica.  Since that is pretty much the ONLY adventurous thing I've ever done, it was a pretty easy question.

8. What is my favorite (present-time) TV show? This was such a hard answer that I told him he could have a top five. Yes, I'm a TV junkie. Don't judge me. Here is how Billy responded: Shear Genius, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Top Chef, American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance. Anyone notice a pattern here?  Sarah's answer:  Seriously?  All reality TV, Billy?  I love all the shows he mentioned.  But the only one considered a favorite is American Idol.  Rounding out my top 4 are White Collar, CSI New York, 24, and Modern Family.

9. What is my favorite professional sports team? This was also hard. I have a favorite team for each sport because I love them all. But one team stands out above the rest. Billy's answer: The Cincinnati Bengals.  Sarah's answer:  WHO DEY!?!  The answer is definitely the Bengals.  Billy's first answer was the Bengals.  Then he switched to the Yankees (I do love them, too).  You should never second guess yourself!  But I chose to be nice and give him the Bengals.  I'm that nice.

10. If I could visit another country, which one would top my list? Billy's answer: Spain.  Sarah's answer:  Italy.  I'm Italian.  That shoulda been a gimme.

The tally:  Billy got FIVE right.  He only 50% knows me?  Sheesh.  I thought he knew me pretty well!  He told me yesterday, he would only answer mine if I also had to answer 10 questions about him.  I'll save that for tomorrow!  In the mean time, here are a few random facts about yours truly!

1.  I used to be obsessed with ice skating (used to be....like back in high school).  I would record the figure skating competitions on TV and watch them (sometimes more than once twice).  Don't laugh.  Irony?  I can't ice skate to save my life.

2.  I'm TERRIFIED (notice the bold italics??) of public speaking!  I found a way to fenagle my way out of taking speech in college. 

3.  I was a cheerleader.  Enough said.

4.  I have a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Louisville.  That gives me the right to be highly critical of everything people read and write!  Ha!  Seriously....don't find errors in my work and point them out.  That is just embarassing!  And....I can't find a spell check on this blog site!

5.  I ate a footlong Subway sandwich almost every day of my junior year in high school. I was super skinny, too.  Unfortunately, I then developed a thyroid condition and now if I eat a footlong stalk of celery, I gain ten pounds!

Until tomorrow.......

More Pieces of Me!

I decided to celebrate my existence on blogspot by posting a blog each day of this week.  It will only happen this once, believe me.  It is WAY too time consuming!  But I thought it would be fun to post a few fun things about me while I'm waiting for my family to do something worthy of a blog post (ha).  But seriously.....

Billy helped me with this post.  I asked him to answer a few questions about me and he did the best he could.  I'm asking you to take a guess at how many Billy got right!  This is my version of The Newlywed Game (blog style)!  Here we go!!!!

1.  What is my favorite drink?  Billy's answer:  Diet Coke
2.  If I could drive the car of my dreams, what would it be?  Billy's answer:  Porsche Cayenne
3.  What is my favorite fast food restaurant?  Billy's answer:  Taco Bell
4.  What is my favorite Hugh Grant movie (yes, I have a slight obsession with Hugh Grant movies)?  Billy's Answer:  Two Weeks Notice
5.  If I could have my dream career, what would it be (aside from my current dream career of being a housewife;)?  Billy's answer:  Sports announcer
6.  What is my favorite book of all time?  Billy's answer:  Confessions of a Shopaholic
7.  What is the most adventurous thing I've ever done?  Billy's answer:  A canopy tour (zip-line tour) in Costa Rica
8.  What is my favorite (present-time) TV show?  This was such a hard answer that I told him he could have a top five.  Yes, I'm a TV junkie.  Don't judge me.  Here is how Billy responded:  Shear Genius, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Top Chef, American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance.  Anyone notice a pattern here?
9.  What is my favorite professional sports team?  This was also hard.  I have a favorite team for each sport because I love them all.  But one team stands out above the rest.  Billy's answer:  The Cincinnati Bengals
10.  If I could visit another country, which one would top my list?  Billy's answer:  Spain

There ya have it, folks.  Feel free to take your guesses.  And if you know the answer to a question he missed, feel free to correct him!  He loves that kind of stuff.  Really, he does! ;)

A Little Piece of Me!

I can't believe I'm taking the plunge.  I'm diving head first into the world of blogging.  Don't get me wrong, I have posted blogs before.  In fact, I have quite enjoyed blogging for a parenting website called http://www.bluegrassmoms.com/.  However, this is the first time I'm really putting myself out there.  I feel like I'm being exposed.  And with each post, you will be able to peel a layer off and get closer to knowing the real me; simply Sarah!

Don't laugh at me as I get used to this journey!  I've spent two hours trying to figure out how to shrink a picture to fit on this template.  I also spent about that long trying to find a template, name the blog, etc.....This is a lot of work!  Mad props to all of you out there who have been doing this for so long!

So here is what you can expect from me!  I promise to make this real; as true as can be.  I promise to try my hardest to be entertaining (even if sometimes I only entertain myself)!  I promise to post regularly (and I will not tell you what "regularly" means to me, at this point).  I promise to add photos because I know that's what people love!  And finally, I promise to blog to the best of my blogging ability.  Should any of you find errors or simply get bored, don't ever tell me!  It would crush my soul!  Ha!  But seriously.....any helpful tips and suggestions are welcome (until I've been doing this a while and have mastered the skill....then I might take offense;)!

As it is nearly two in the morning, I think I will quit for now.  Watch for new and exciting posts from me and I'll be watching for new and exciting posts from you!  Goodnight world!