Our Home

This was a nice light snow we got the end of Nov... November 24th I believe. This is what our house looks like now. Today I climbed on the piles at the end of the driveway and cut them down probably a foot or so. It got to the point that I couldn't lift the snow high enough to shovel!

Please STOP SNOWING!

December had been pretty busy for us. It started with watching my 8 year old nephew's basketball game! YEA!!!! I love basketball so watching my niece and nephew play is a FAVORITE past time. This was his second game and they won... by quite a bit. (This might have actually been the end of November, I can't remember to be honest...either way it was fun!)

Here he is (holding the water bottle) on the bench. And here he is as point guard. For a little guy he can handle the ball really well... we are still working on that left hand though. Being left handed, it's a passion of mine to make sure kids learn early how to use BOTH hands equally.

He scored I think 6 or 8 points in this game!

Here is his sister and brother watching the action.

Ha ha... love this picture. He was enjoying the game, I'm sure. Mr Wonderful is also a big fan. He coached 8th grade girls for a year at a Christian school down by Milwaukee.

Here is my little sister and her fiance Joey watching the action.

And my dad stretching after it was all over.

As part of his Christmas gift... we took Ry-Guy to watch the men's basketball game at the UW Madison. The Badgers beat UW Green Bay in a non-conference interstate match up.

They have nicknames for each other... growing up I had a dog named Scott so his name is Dawg and he calls Ry-guy All Star. They enjoy each other... I love that they get along.

We put up our own Christmas tree early December. It's little and perfect for us!

We decided to start our own tradition and ever year we are going to buy each other an ornament for the tree. Here is the one Scott got me. I love snowmen and we had put up Christmas lights together, I love hats and scarfs, and it has little houses on it... as we are starting our first home together so this was the perfect first ornament.

And this one says "Our First Christmas Together" so I got this one for Scott. Again with the snowmen... they are just so cute I couldn't help myself.

And here is Percy... our perfect little Christmas gift. Ok to be honest, I'm not a huge cat person but she's a very cuddly cat and she seems to love me so I've learned to love her as well. I still don't love the cat hair EVERYWHERE but she's worth it.

We've had A LOT of snow lately. It doesn't seem to stop. I think we're at a record setting December. Eek. Last Friday Scott couldn't get out of the driveway to go to work so we had our first real snow day together. We shoveled until we could hardly stand. Then we showered and got into pj's for a fun filled day of wii playing. Here's Mr Wonderful ready for action.

Even Percy got into the game. We created a mii for her so that she can show up in the games with us. She just discovered she can walk across the entertainment center. She was chasing around the pointer. It was pretty funny. She thought it was a toy for her I think.

She likes to pose for her pictures.

This is what our backyard looked like about 12 inches of snow ago... I don't know where else we can put the snow!
And here is our driveway. If there is someone in the passenger side of a vehicle they have to get let out at the sidewalk because we can't knock down the snow banks any further without putting it all in our neighbors yard. Yuck! I can no longer see out the end of our driveway, it's about 6 feet high!

I'm really behind on the "What's Happening" posts so I thought I'd do a quick catch up.

THANKSGIVING!!! I love it. One of the best times of the year. It doesn't stress people out like Christmas, it's not super commerical-ised (Is that a word) like Valentine's Day or St Patty's Day... it's just fun, family and food.

This year was my cousin's baby's first Christmas... She loved it I'm sure! I LOVE my grandma's food. This year all I ate was corn and mashed potatoes... I just ate A LOT of both.

I went to Thanksgiving lunch at my dad's family and then we did Thanksgiving dinner with my mom's family. (I ate turkey and other traditional food there but only because no one makes mashed potatoes like grandma... and the corn at grandma's is always frozen sweet corn with LOTS of butter and salt and pepper and oh my it's to die for.)

Anyway... after two BIG meals I went to a friend's house where we planned out our attack. See we started a tradition of Black Friday shopping. This year I didn't need anything. There was one thing Scott wanted me to pick up if we were able to but not the end of the world if I didn't get it. That's it. So the mall in the Dells opened at Midnight and then the stores in Madison started opening at 4 am. We got into attack mode. The guys entertained the kids... here is Jimmy playing Wii Mario Kart with Peirce... good work Jimmy.

We went through all the ads and made lists of who wanted what at each store. Then we figured out what times stores opened so we could hit them all as they were opening, avoid lines, and still get in and out.

And I think we succeeded. This was the back of the Tahoe... no third row seats either... this is straight packages. All by our feet and between the middle seat looked like this too. I think we had two or three more stops after this actually. This was just after our stop at Home Depot at 6am.


That night we had Bradley Family Fun Night. I didn't get my camera out but it was a blast!!! We played Skip-O and Apples to Apples. It was the first time Mr Wonderful met my entire family in one place at the same time. Two bro-in laws (Close enough Joey), two sistas, two nephews, a niece, mom, dad, me and Scott. It was a GOOD time! Lots of laughing and FUR is the Go To card in Apples to Apples... hahahahaha

My family is loud and we have fun and we laugh a lot more then the average family. We aren't sensor ed very well and we like to have a few beers and cocktails while we play games. Needless to say Scott was REALLY quiet compared to us.

Then Saturday night I went to Scott's parents house for dinner. His sister from MN was home with her fiance, his sister that isn't in my fan club and her family were there, his parents and us. It was so quiet. It was nice and I had a really good time, don't get me wrong, but it was almost culture shock in comparison to my family gatherings. His mom is so sweet and I love his dad, he's SO smart. His family is great... I love them all very much... even if that feeling isn't given to me in return. They are just very different from my family.

So that was Thanksgiving weekend. It was great to be home and I loved seeing everyone but it was also nice to be back in the land of just the three of us... oh and the cat went home with us and I think she liked to play with her cousin Mavrick. (The cat.) She's going home again for Christmas and has already started napping in her pet taxi... I think she's looking forward to it.

ok so I'm old enough to know that friends come and go. i'm old enough to not get jealous when i'm not included in things. i'm also old enough to know better when i'm losing a battle. since the beginning of time i've always said that i don't need a lot of friends, i just want good friends. i thought i had a good group of friends around that would always be there for me. then i got divorced and i've never felt so alone. sure there were people there for me. ok like two but still, that's better then nothing. then old friends apologized for leaving and came back and i thought it was all good. there are about 3 friends from my hometown that i don't want to lose. one i'm confident i never will, but she isn't the kind of friend to make plans. she's not going to call me out of the blue to do something, but she'll never turn me away if i need her. another is the same way, will never make the first move, but shows such enthusiasm when i do. then there is a friend that i always though would call. the one that pulled us all together. the one that made the plans and made us get together. i found out recently she made plans and pulled everyone together, except me. it's stupid and i shouldn't care but i really do. i really got jealous to find out she included everyone but me. i live 2 hours away, it's fine. i shouldn't be included. should i? i'm unemployed. i can drive home at the drop of a hat. why wouldn't i be included? i don't know. it's stupid and i'm being juvenile. ugh. grow up jessica. grow up.

the end of the season...

This is what I woke up to. I love it! Here is my new home covered in snow. Life in Sheboygan... winter style.

This last weekend was the last Badger game of the season. They are still bowl eligible but since they only beat Cal Poly by one in OT, I'm sure it'll be a bowl that few will see, (I probably will though) because it'll be on while most people are at work.

We did the normal tailgating for a bit and then met up with some friends at the bar. I got to meet Mr Wonderful's childhood friend Casey and his wife Sue. (Or if you've had a little too much to drink and are trying to put her name in your cell phone, she becomes Sure.) They were great...

I also got to spend the afternoon with two of my best-est. This is Abster and Melissa. They worked with me a VK and that's how I met them, however, I like to think our friendship will last for many more years. I miss not seeing them everyday but meeting up with them this weekend was like we hadn't missed a beat. It was great! Abster met us at the bar with shots in hand... I mean really... THAT'S a good friend.

And here are Mr Wonderful and I at the last Badger game of the season. We had a lot of fun and there were moments all day long that I was reminded how lucky I am to have him in my life. He makes me laugh. He takes care of me. He is honest and caring. Above all, he loves me more then I deserve. Thanks duder.

Buck Up Cowboy

So I woke up this morning and decided I needed to stop being a baby. So I lost my job. Big whoop. Do I have a roof over my head? Yup... a nice one at that. Do I have a bed to sleep in? Yup... and a sexy boy to keep me warm. Do I have two feet and a car and any other form of transportation? Yuppers. I have skills to get another job. I have some one who loves me and is willing to support me through rejections until I'm able to pick myself up again. He doesn't resent me for moving in without a job. He doesn't even think about it. He doesn't even look at it like that. He sees it as I needed to make a sacrifice to move up here with him. He wants me here and until I find a job, he's just enjoying the home cooked meals, the clean house, and someone to light candles and welcome him home at night. Sometimes I wonder if he even realizes that I'm not working.

Last night he watched shows that I don't really get into and then we watched Grey's together... (how can I be so addicted to a show that when it's over I feel such a great sense of disappointment and start counting the days until it's on again... sad. I know) and after Grey's we cuddled on the couch and didn't talk, just held each other. No kissing or anything like that, just held each other. He broke the silence to whisper that he loved me. Ok so maybe he was watching the news but I was just enjoying being close to him. Is that wrong? That I can tune out people dying, single digit temperatures, the economy going down the tubes... just so I can hear him breathing? Maybe it's a little wrong, but I like it.

When I came in to watch Grey's, him and Percy were cuddled on the couch. I didn't want to disturb them so I sat in the WAY comfy chair that hardly gets any use because normally we can't sit close enough to one another. I looked over about half way through and couldn't help but capture the moment. They looked so peaceful.

Granted it wasn't long after this picture that Percy got booted and Mr Wonderful and I were tangled up together on the couch to watch the rest of the show. But we were apart for a good hour last night. Or maybe it was 45 mins.

We woke up 30 mins before he had to get up for work just to make sure we held each other tighter and reminded each other how much we love one another. I just like being around him. I like that he can make me laugh out of the blue. (One night when I was on the computer he came in and I thought he was just rubbing my head, when in reality he was putting it in an 80's ponytail... just because. It turned into a 10 min hair-do session. He'll kill me if he knows that I put that on the Internet but it was funny.) He doesn't try to argue with me when I'm feeling down, he just says all the right things. (The other night at dinner I wasn't real hungry, I felt like I didn't deserve dinner because I didn't "work" and he didn't tell me I was wrong, he just asked me quietly: Did you rake today? yes Did you go to the dump? yes Did you do laundry today? yes Did you vacuum and dust today? yes It looks like the dishes are done and dinner was ready when I got home, did you do that? duh, yes... Ok, just checking. And then he smiled. A really big smile.) He isn't real good about the romantic stuff and I'm not real good about it either, I like that we respect that about one another, and it makes the good stuff that much better. (We've had dates that have included grocery shopping, watching the washing machine, and cleaning the house. But on Tuesday he came home from work with a bouquet of flowers to welcome me HOME. I am finally home.)

So maybe I'm not going to work 9-5 at a job I hate just to bring home a couple bucks that we'll blow on something we don't need anyway. I'm working. I'm working hard at keeping Mr Wonderful in clean clothes, a clean house, well fed, and working at finding a job that I can go to every morning and like myself. That's hard work my friends. Very hard work.

Life of the Unemployed

Yea, I've had some exciting days/weeks in the last month. I've also had some rather depressing days. Ok so not really depressing but not so fun either. I am officially done working. It sucks. I hated my job. I knew I wasn't going to be there forever, but I also thought I'd be able to find something else to do before I left. I was wrong.

I am loving with Mr. Wonderful. I moved in this week. Since I have no job, it wasn't all that hard. I packed my car before I left for Vegas and came straight here after my trip. Then on Tuesday I went to the dentist back near where I used to live and took his Explorer that I was able to pack to the brim and bring "home". So this weekend we're going to stay in my apartment and hopefully pack up the rest of my stuff.

I love living with him. I love him. I love this town. I love all that.

I hate being unemployed.

This week I've been able to keep busy. I unpacked and organized and cleaned and did all that "homemaker" type stuff. But that's not me. Plus, this still doesn't feel like it's my house. So yea, I packed up his pots and pans and put mine to use in the kitchen but I'm not going to rearrange his closet to make room for my clothes. And without him here I feel weird putting anything away. It's just that I feel like he should be a part of those decisions... shouldn't he?

I've been cooking this week, which I love and don't do nearly enough when I'm working. And the laundry has been done, which is a chore I hate but don't mind so much when I can spread it out. The thing is, I'm not contributing financially. I want to pay the bills and buy groceries and all that but it's hard when I have NO idea what type of financial future I have. None, what-so-ever. He doesn't mind and tells me I'm pulling my weight in other ways but it just doesn't feel like that.

I love him, he's wonderful. He's amazing. He makes me smile and he keeps me moving but it's hard. Being rejected is hard. Employers should just know that I want to work, I want to make money, and I want to belong somewhere. That's all I'm asking.

Last Bachelorette Party of the Year

My baby sister is getting married. When the baby gets married, the family (& friends) celebrates!!! So why not go to Vegas?!?! Right!?!?! We had a blast! Here we are at the airport bar at 7 am where we drank $12 Bloody Mary's! I HATE Bloody Mary's but for $12 I choked one down. From left to Right there is Adrienne - Joey's cousin, Amanda - friend, Ashely - our cousin and bridesmaid, Dana - Joey's cousin and bridesmaid, James!!!! The Bride To Be , and me... Maid (or is it Matron) of Honor

And as a nice surprise to my sister we got her an Escalade Limo to pick us up at the airport with roses and champagne. She really wanted one for her wedding but since the wedding party wouldn't all fit, she went with the party bus. The shirts were also a surprise to her. "Bachelorette Party in Progress: From Wisconsin to Las Vegas". I kept it a surprise from her for 8 months and as we were pulling into the airport to fly out to Vegas I let it slip. I'm such an idiot!!!

These are my sisters and I in the MGM Hotel/Casino. I think this is the only picture I have of us all together and I don't think I have any of us all with our mom. Oops.

Here are my sisters and my mom enjoying the "gift" our friend from Arizona drove over. It was full of Champagne, beer, Captain, Malibu, margaritas, soda, juice, water... it was a GREAT gift we ALL enjoyed!!! It was so great that she made it. It was a 4 hour drive for her so she was pretty much in her car the same amount of time we were in the air! :)

On Saturday I had one thing in mind... ESPN Zone to watch the Badgers beat Minnesota. Before I could do that though they drug me to the Mirage to see Dolphins and big cats... you know leopards, lions, llamas - ok not a cat but they were there. This is Brenda, Steph, me and Amanda.

One night we went to the Balagio (I am probably spelling that wrong) gourmet buffet. YUM. I was in love with the Lobster Ravioli and Chicken Pesto pasta. I know, Pasta, cheapest things there, but they were sooooo good. I ate my fill of sushi and shrimp and had a few crab legs which I normally love, but didn't there. The food was great though.

We might have been obsessed with the Piano bar at the New York, New York... it was definitely one of the highlights of the entire trip. I lost my voice I was singing so loudly. Good times.

Here's Amanda and I at the piano bar celebrating the Badgers big win!!

And Saturday night we went to Stomp Out Loud which was really cool. However, I had been to the Mirage, sat at ESPN Zone drinking 25 oz beers all afternoon, celebrating at the piano bar... all BEFORE we saw the show. Needless to say I had a blast just getting to the show.

A couple beers later, (after the show) we made it to Dicks Last Resort Restaurant. My hat says "Yes, I'm always this annoying" and I can't help but think I probably was pretty obnoxious at this point.






As we were all waiting in the lobby for the limo to come get us and take us back to the airport -quite hungover I might add- we realized no one had a picture of all of us yet so we quick snapped one. This is the entire group in all our sweat pant, hang over glory. Good times.

Another Bachelorette Party

These are my bestest college friends ever. Molly - I went to her bachelorette and wedding earlier this year - and Alicia. Molly lives in Northern MN - about 8 hours away and Alicia lives in a suburb of Chicago about 3 hours away. We try to get together regularly but it doesn't always work. We sure like to make up for lost time though when we do finally meet up.

This was us ready to go out and take on the town. Heck, we were ready to take on the world.

This is us wasted, sweaty, and exhausted at like 2am. Little did we know, it was Daylight Savings time and we got an extra hour of bar time! Just what we needed. Next to me in the picture is Katie, she also went to college with us but her and Alicia got close after Molly and I transferred out. She was way fun... wish we knew her while we were there!

Here is a big part of the group. This is still early in the night we can all still stand up. Except with my legs bent like that I look like I need to make a mad dash to the bathroom!

And here are Alicia and Katie getting ready for bed. We raided the vending machine as well as the continental breakfast bar. There were no pizza places open at 3:30am and we were hungry. Thanks to the most friendliest hotel lady ever who let us eat her bagels and peanut butter.

Gosh that was a good weekend.

THEY FINALLY WON A BIG TEN GAME!!! That calls for celebration... lots of celebration. It's me and Mr Wonderful at the bar before the game. He wasn't hammered... just being lame.

Know idea what this guys story was but he only had one pant leg on his pants. And it was cold out. Really cold. Scarf and mitten cold.

Mr Wonderful is a HUGE Miller High Life fan. It's his favorite beer so this man has recently become his hero. Wendell just happened to be hanging out at bar we were at after the game. I took this picture because I love Mr Wonderful.

This is us in front of the Barry statue. It was even Mr Wonderful's idea. (Which surprised me and I got really excited he suggested it.) The drunk guy that took the picture wasn't real good at taking pictures but it's an ok picture. He's super cute so he makes any picture with him in it good.

This is me, my friends Amanda and Kim before the game. We were chilly. I was already getting sick and Amanda was really sick. However, we drank enough to forget about the illness and the freezing cold weather.

This is us again...

This past weekend I had a lot of fun. A LOT OF FUN. However, I got sick. So Sunday afternoon I spent on the couch while Mr Wonderful did my laundry. (Well, some of my laundry)

I am getting ready to move. I have to pack up my apartment in the next month and slowly start moving the crap North. I'm so excited to spend my nights with him. I'm so excited to lay in his arms at night while he whispers how much he loves me. I'm so excited to give him kisses in the morning. I'm so excited to do boring chores with someone who makes them bearable. I'm so excited to start the next chapter. This one will have a happy ending, I know it will.