Fun Weekend in South Bend

We had a great time this past saturday, much to another big win from the Irish. It's starting to cool down now and the weather was perfect. Just before the game, we went and listened to the band play in the beautiful dome building up on campus.

We then went out to a manly meat joint for dinner after the game with some good friends to celebrate Drew's birthday that was earlier that week.

Here's the birthday boy with his buddy, Erik. He doesn't look too happy that I interrupted his cake and ice cream eating.

And he was really excited when they had the crowd give him a big "Happy Birthday"! Kaden was there for moral support.

I love this cute picture Cat took of Kaden with dad's hat on at the restaurant. What a sweet chubby face!

More Football Game Pics

I realize the football game photos may be getting old but we had another exciting game last weekend and it ended in another win! This game weekend was extra fun because we had some friends come in on Friday, Ryan and Juan. It was great to have them and hope they had a good time at the Bears game the following day up in Chicago.

Cat and I are quite the cheerleaders!

Go Irish Go!

And I had to throw in this cute pic of Kaden in his new jams from Grammie Yergensen!

My Little Traveler

So I made a quick trip to Utah with Kaden and was so impressed with how well he did considered all the traveling we did! We had to take a few trains to get to the aiport in Chicago and had a layover in Denver. I had Kaden in the carrier with the diaper bag and our large suitcase. I didn't think it would be a big deal but we ended up having to go up and down about 6 flights of stairs each time and wouldn't have made it without so many nice people that took pity on me (and looked at me like I was an idiot)! To and from we pretty much traveled the entire day and Kaden seemed to enjoy the journey and meeting some great (and some strange) people along the way. I'm sad I didn't take many pics while we were there but thought I'd post the few pictures I took.

Here is is chillin on the train like he does this every day.

He was quite intrigued by the TVs on the back of the seats. I was stoked to have the back row to ourselves but some folks crammed in right before the plane took off!

My sister Julie and I were laughing at the physical contrasts of these two cousins. Kade is dark and Maleia is a total toehead that is as white as can be! She is a skinny minnie and Kaden obviously is not. I was trying to get a picture of them and Maleia sure posed as directed but we struggled with Kaden.

Julie got a good smile out of him when Maleia had called it quits on the photo shoot.

Another great cousin pic with him and Tia (Tim & Tineka's girl)!

And a big thanks to Grammy Yergensen for the fun clothes, blanket, toys and Halloween costume she got him. We are so grateful and had a great time shopping!

Another Win for the Irish!

So this one was a little wet...but even more exciting! The final score was 35 - 17 for Notre Dame and guess who was pushed above the crowd 35 times in celebration! You guessed it...but, unfortunately, I have no picture to prove it.

The day started out with major rain pour but cleared up by the time we wanted to head up on campus. We got see watch the band make their way through the stadium.

It was crazy humid and we were sweating like pigs.

It started to rain a little bit but kind of fun because it was still warm.

Then the rain really got crazy right before half-time!

But no complaints here...the band treated us to some sweet Bon Jovi hits and check this impressive formation out (it spells Bon Jovi)!

By the end of the game we were soaked but happy with with win! It was fun to see all the students sliding across campus with all the water. It was such a fun day and we're looking forward to the next game at the end of this month.

Orientation Picnic

We went to the orientation picnic for all the MBA families a few weeks ago and it was a lot of fun! One of the guys is quite the photographer and you can definitely tell the difference from these and our pics. Thanks Azar!

Here we are with our friends...the Malan's.

I think this is my new favorite picture! Dad and Kaden have really been working on their acrobatics.

This is Azar's cute wife, Zen, who had just had a baby a week prior to this event! I couldn't believe she was there and alive and looking great! And the craziest part is that she has offered to teach free aerobics classes to us twice a week starting in October! She must have one of the babies that comes out sleeping through the night or she is just supermom.

And of course...Drew ended up on the playground with the kids as he most of you know he always does at these functions. They love him! These are Tim and Lisa's cute kids that are freakishly well behaved.

Go Irish!

So, after five years of marriage it's finally happened....I'm a football fan! Now let's clarify...as most of you know, it's not really my thing but I'm coming around. I still don't really care to sit down and watch 10 hours of it on TV but I love going to a good game. Especially a Notre Dame game, of which we experienced for the first time yesterday. I used to complain if we went to a football game an hour early because the game is already so long but not yesterday! What I love about it: the crowd, the food, friends, the excitement, and just the overall atmosphere! I have a lot of pics of yesterday so here is my break down of the day.

The day started off with Kaden and I volunteering at the concession stand our apartment complex put on to raise money for activities, etc. at 10 am. But...let's be honest, I mainly talked the whole time! We had a pretty big turnout for help so it was more of a social occasion for us. There were already so many people all over campus and I couldn't believe they were buying brats at 9 am!

Drew and our neighbors, Jeff and Melia, came by and we all walked over to a few tailgating parties in the parking lot and at the business building. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics. We were too busy talking and stuffing our faces.

I missed it, but the band followers the football players out of the basilica after Mass and it's quite the spectacle! Here we're on our way to meet up with them at the stadium after sending Kaden back with a sitter!

This picture doesn't fully capture the magnitude of the crowd but everyone lined up around the entrance and down aways waiting for the band to follow the team into the stadium. This was about an hour before the game.

Here we are on the inside! The band did some fun stuff before the game and I'm sad I didn't get a picture of the sweet leprechaun mascot!

We sat with mostly fellow MBA students and significant others. We love these guys...Dave and Blythe from Chicago.

This crowd does some fun cheers I had yet to experience at a football game. Here is our friend, Cat, doing this fun cyclone move. There are many others I have yet to perfect.

Look closely but the most interesting one is the crowd surfer pushup move they (now we) do after a touch-down.

Our buddy Jeff was one of the fortunate fans chosen for this cheer.

Of course I ended up with the girls cuz guys are no fun to talk to during a football game. We laughed a lot and spent some good time trying to figure out what the crowd was chanting during some of the cheers. Cat, from Amsterdam, had some interesting interpretations!

We were pretty excited about these fun souvenir cups we got full of diet coke.

And we finished the day with a win...21 - 13 for the Irish! Drew and I had a great time and are looking forward to next Saturday!

Thanks Erin!!

Erin Milford, who a great friend of my sister Jill's out in Cali, made this cutest blanket for Kaden and we both absolutely love it! I love all the fabrics and I get stopped and asked about it a lot. It's getting a little worn since I have to wash it at least every other day but we have to take it everywhere! Thanks again Erin...I'm so glad you have such an awesome talent because I don't!

Big Day!

On Wednesday, September 3rd, the adoption for Kaden was finalized back in Utah. I would like to say that I feel any different but I don't because he has felt like ours since the first day we looked at him! But we are excited to finally be able to bless him and seal him to us in the temple. We plan on blessing him here and doing the sealing when we are back in Utah over the holidays.

It will always be a special day and one will celebrate along with his birthday (2 cakes..he won't complain and neither will I!). He has been so much fun and is getting to be such a big boy! Sitting up on his own and starting to pull himself up on things. He rolls all over the place and I have to really keep my eye on him. I probably shouldn't post this but he had his first fall off the bed last week and it was so tragic! I felt like a horrible parent but he seemed fine about 5 minutes later. He loves to eat carrots and pears and let's be honest...eating is never going to be a problem for him. He makes us laugh all the time and loves to make friends about everywhere we go! We are so thankful to his birthmom for the sacrifice she made because she also loved him. He is definitely one loved dude and we're happy it's finally official!

Happy Birthday Melia!

Last night we went out for Melia's birthday (which was last week) with a bunch of the fellow girls here in South Bend and had such a great time! There are so many awesome girls and mothers here that I've already learned a lot from and am excited to get to know better. Melia has been here since May as well with her husband (Jeff) and little guy (Jacob) and it's been great to get to know her on our walks every morning!

Shanda (in green) does a great job at organizing activities for the Family Life Committee here and the support is so great. Kaitlyne is her little cutie here in front and we're also fortunate to live right below them at the Villages!

We had a great time chatting about random stuff like stupidly awesome shows, shopping, and life in South Bend.

Go Utes!

What an exciting game! Drew and I took Kaden up to the Utah vs. Michigan game in Ann Arbor and had such a great time. We rode up with a friend, John, and met Tony & Shannon Hull, and Ryan Cash at the game. We went out for dinner and ice cream that night and it was so great to see them!

I realize I look like a psychopath here but we were excited to get a pic with Swoop at Kaden's first Utah football game!

The stadium was ginormous and we were quite happy with the end result...as you can imagine.

It was a super hot and long day but Kaden did awesome! He had a great time with the crowd and I love taking him to events. But wow was he a giant terd biscuit that night and when we got home! I guess I'm quite the monster myself when I'm short on sleep.

Interesting Conversation

So I rarely create a post without pictures but I had a discussion with a woman today that really left me thinking. After my doctors appointment this morning Drew dropped me off at one of the random labs I could choose from to get some routine bloodwork done. The phlebotomist that took my blood was clearly pregnant and I asked her how far along she was. She said she is delivering on Thursday and today was her last day at work. She didn't look too excited and preceeded to tell me this was an accident and it's been a long 9 months for her. She told me she already had a 4 year old boy and a 10 year old girl and asked me if I had any kids. I told her we adopted a beautiful boy that is 5 months old now and about what a blessing he is. She immediately mentioned she was planning on placing her baby for adoption but changed her mind just last week figuring she had done it twice before so she can get through it again. She did not look excited and asked if Kaden's birthmother was young as if that were the requirement for placing a child for adoption. I mentioned that she wasn't but didn't go into too much detail which I kind of wish I had because Kaden's birthmom was actually about the same age as this woman and also had a 10 year old girl and 4 year old boy when she got pregnant with Kaden but didn't feel like she could give him what he deserved and knew he wouldn't have a father in his life. I wished her good luck and really didn't say too much not wanting to make her feel like I was trying to change her mind because I do feel like it's different for everyone and a personal decision. But I know I left her thinking. I also know I will never see her again and wonder what may happen. I left feeling so grateful for Kaden's birthmom who felt like Kaden deserved parents who wanted to do more than get him through life. For her, he was also considered "an accident", but entered this world as our greatest blessing.

Another Trip to Chicago

Drew was invited to attend a real estate function in Chicago which was a great networking opportunity for him so we made a 2 day trip out of it. The summer semester is over now and Drew really deserves this 2 week break before fall semester starts. He will probably be mad I posted this cuz but I'm proud to say he got all A's this summer! This is amazing considering all that was crammed into 3 short months and he was still able to play video games everyday! I gave him crap until he started coming him with good grades.

Here's Drew and Kaden practicing some tricks in the hotel room.

After Drew's event we went to dinner with Dave and Blythe who live in Chicago. Dave is in the program with Drew and is currently living in South Bend during the week for school. They are awesome people and we had a great time chowing down on some famous Chicago deep dish pizza with them.

The next morning we walked down to Lake Michigan on the edge of Chicago.

The water was a little cold for Kaden!

Drew went golfing with one of his friends while Kaden and I did some exploring/shopping in Chicago for about 5 hours! We walked about 20 blocks to H & M but is was so worth it!