You know you are a football coach's wife when...

** You can name all the mascots of all the colleges/NFL teams.
** The contents of your trunk include a cushioned stadium seat, a rain pancho and a blanket.
** You call playoffs, "Second Season."
** You've been scouting...and you understood!
** You can sweet talk any gateworker into letting you into the game for free.
** Your idea of sign language is watching the opposing teams offensive coordinator as he sends in plays.
** You can carry a diaper bag, snacks, blankets and 2 kids up to the top row of the stands without needing help or breaking a sweat.
**You think it’s completely normal for your husband to be hired on Monday and move 10 hours away by Wednesday.
**You can pack up a 4 bedroom house in 24 hours while taking care of your children.
**You have no problem openly admitting that your husband has been fired 5 times.
**A good year doesn’t mean your husband got a raise. It means he didn’t get fired!
**You’ve removed for sale signs from your yard that weren’t placed there by yourself or your realtor.
**You spend as much money feeding players as you do feeding your own kids.
**You’ve loaded your kids into the Suburban, Van, or SUV up at 10:00 pm so they could go say goodnight to their dad.
**The letters OC, DC, TE, RB, WR, OL, DL, etc. make perfect sense when used in everyday conversation.
**You plan Christmas around bowl games/home games.
**When asked “where are you from”: you hesitate for more than 30 seconds.
**You’ve memorized the procedure for filing for a “change of address.”
**You let your kids stay up late or even wake them up at 11:00 at night just to surrprise their daddy with a hug!
**You love your husband and the game of football regardless of the stress it ads to your life!

My friend Holly sent this to me. Thought it was hilarious, and VERY true:-)

I'm Addicted to Internet?

Hi! I know I haven't written in awhile, but this time it truly isn't my fault...I swear:-) We just got back from 2 weeks of vacation, where I didn't have internet service the ENTIRE time. At first, that created a weird withdrawal kind of feeling(no shakes or sweats:-))...then it became kind of refreshing. I would challenge you all to try to go without internet for 2 weeks, but I am pretty sure NO ONE could do it unless it was physically removed from them. Will power just isn't enough with this one:-)

Anyway, I will write more about our travels when I have a little more time, but for now, I wanted to share a song that is one of my favorite songs of ALL TIME. Whenever I listen to it, I feel so happy that I NEED to dance. Give it a try!! It is by none other than Marvin Gaye and it is is called, "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You"...the best!

A small sample:

If I could build my whole world around you, darlin'

First I'd put heaven by your side

Pretty flowers would grow wherever you walk, honey

And over your head would be the bluest sky

And I'd take every drop of rain

And wash all your troubles away

I'd have the whole world built around you

And that would be all right, oh yes it would

:-) Dancing just writing it:-) Itunes it...I beg of you:-)

It Is A Wonderful Wide World of Sports

Yesterday was incredible day in history when it comes to sports. Just wanted to give a quick shout out, where shout out is due:-)

First, to the World Cup's Team USA. Holy smokes. They almost made me late to work because I just couldn't bring myself to walk away from the television. I could just FEEL that a goal was coming. Keeping with their typical M.O. they delivered just in time with a goal (in the 91st minute to be exact) to beat Algeria. With this goal, they advanced to the round of the 16 and WON their group, which is something that hasn't happened since 1930! A heart stopping, thoroughly entertaining match. I hope everyone is getting their red, white and blue attire ready to cheer our boys past Ghana on Saturday.

Second, to John Isner, the friendly giant of tennis. I have loved watching this guy play since last year at the US Open. He has heart, he is majorly talented and strong and he has a great attitude (not to mention a cutie). These are all things I look for in a tennis player who represents the US:-) Anyway, he put forth a very solid effort last year....but that is proving to be NOTHING compared the the effort that he put forth yesterday. He started playing Nicolas Mahut from France, two days ago. The match has lasted 10 hours so far, they are in the fifth set and the score is 59-59. Yes, you read that right, 59-59!! Can you believe that is a tennis score and not a basketball score?!? They suspended the game last night due to darkness and they are about to begin playing again, so I will post a follow up later...but in case you aren't already watching...flip on the tv and cheer for our American tennis superstar!!

God Bless:-)

Every Birthday is a Blessing

Hello All!! Over the past two weeks, I worked a bunch, had a fantastic visit from my cousin & his delightful girlfriend AND I turned 29!

My cousin, Larry, and his girlfriend, Caitlin, came out to visit on the 9th and we had an action packed couple of days! We started the trip by taking a drive out to Yosemite. I had been there before with John and my friend Erin, but I had never been there this late in the spring, and man, oh man...what a treat! We were only there for two days so we had to pack in the fun! On Thursday we did all of the typical touristy things around the Yosemite Valley. Tunnel View to take some amazing pictures-check! Having the Pilot climb to 8,000 feet at Glacier Point to get a panoramic view of the Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and multiple waterfalls-check! Getting splashed by the Bridalveil Falls-check! Seeing a REAL BEAR-check!!! :-) We finished off the day by taking a quick drive around the valley and the headed back out of the park to Groveland, which was where our hotel was located. We had a very interesting dinner at an interesting "pizza place"...can you tell I am trying to be polite? :-) ...and then called it a night.

The following morning, we got up and headed back towards the park, but instead of heading into the heart of the park, we went to one of the most peaceful places I have ever been, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. John, Erin and I had visited this part of the park in the past but it definitely still hasn't gotten old. The reservoir was full and the water was GUSHING through the pipes in the dam. What a sight!!

Larry, Caitlin and I went for a little 5 mile hike full of beautiful views, lizards, snakes and waterfalls. Our turn around point was at a particularly awesome waterfall called the Wapama Falls. The water that gushes from this fall comes from the snow melt in the high country. They had tons of snow out there this past winter, so that created an insane amount of water coming over the fall. We had a blast running over the little bridges that the park staff had made, getting soaked by the freezing cold, fresh water.

After the Hetch Hetchy hike, we started our trek back home and got some much needed rest. John & I had to work on Saturday so Larry and Caitlin had a nice little day for two in San Fran. Sunday, we took the ferry over to San Fran to watch the Oakland A's take on the SF Giants in a classic "Battle of the Bay" baseball game. We had a beautiful sunshiney day and an AMAZING view of the field. The Giants won but I don't even remember the score...I guess I was too focused on the Kettle Corn:-) After we got back, Larry and Caitlin relaxed for a bit while John and I headed over to a 1st birthday party for one our friends' little girl. What a cutie!

Even though I had a ton of fun on all of the various adventures with Larry and Caitlin, my favorite part of their visit was just hanging out at home playing Taboo or Last Word. Larry is only two years younger than I am and we went to college at Franklin & Marshall together, so he is like another brother to me. It was so wonderful to have a little piece of family here with me. Love you buddy:-)

Later in week, my birthday celebration started a little early. Even though my birthday wasn't until Saturday, John planned a fantastic birthday celebration for me on Thursday. He tried to make it a surprise, bless his heart, but I asked way to many questions to keep it that way...whoopsy:-) He found a beautiful vineyard out in Livermore where they have a delicious buffet dinner followed by fantastic concerts in a very small intimate setting. Lucky for me, one of my all time favorite bands, The Fray, were playing that night!! John and I both agreed that this was one of the best shows we have ever seen. Not only because the setting was so awesome, but because every single song they played was amazing. If you ever get the chance, see them in concert!! My dear Johnny, thank you for an absolutely wonderful, unforgettable night! I love you!!

My actual birthday began with flowers and some of my favorite snacks from Johnny & lots of quality time together and finished with church, dinner & dessert with two of our friends, Angie and Chris. Even though it always makes me a little sad when I don't see my family on my birthday, John and all of my friends & family (near & far) did an amazing job of making me feel loved and special (as always). Thank you to everyone who sent cards, messages and facebook posts. I love you all!! God Bless:-)

I Forgot How Much I LOVE Crab Chips

Since the last time I posted, I have been to Baltimore and back, worked a ton, and been overjoyed by visits from part of the Denver crew (the amazing Mama F, and then my awesome brother-in-law and his beautiful girlfriend)!

In Baltimore, in addition to finding the perfect bridesmaid dress for one of my best friend's, (Em)wedding, I was able to catch up with old friends at Merritt and Cathedral, watch Em graduate from pharmacy school after 4 very long hard years at University of Maryland, have breakfast with one of my kindred spirit friends(Liz), hang out with my Baltimore pseudo parents, watch three great friends complete a half marathon, visit with Carin to catch up and check out her amazing wedding albums, see Michelle and meet her beautiful baby boy, visit with my partner in crime, Erin, and then celebrate all of these things with a fabulous party at Em's house! In addition to remembering how much I LOVE the Maryland "delicacy", Utz Crab Chips, I was also reminded about how much of my heart belongs to the ones that I love in the Chesapeake Bay area. Spending just a few days, (in some cases, a few hours) with the people I have mentioned, made me feel so blessed. Have you ever had those moments that make you feel so lucky and make your heart feel so happy that it feels like it could explode? This was one of those weekends for me.

Not long after I returned from Maryland, Mama F. arrived in California for a little visit that was WAY too short. She was in town for the wedding of a family friend down in San Jose. Lucky for us, she stayed with us the night before she needed to be there. We were able to go out for dinner and enjoy some quality time before we all drove down to San Jose the next afternoon. After we all went to some wedding events, we headed out for a delicious Italian dinner followed by Sex and the City 2! Poor John was such a good sport while we girls soaked up the fun, fabulous fashion on the big screen. We walked Mama F. back to her hotel and John and I headed back home...and just like that our visit with Mama F. was over:-( The only solace was found in the fact that we will be seeing each other in less than a month for the big family golf tournament and our new nephew's baptism. Hooray!!

The week after Mama F. headed back to Colorado, my brother-in-law, Mike, and his girlfriend, Lizzie arrived here in CA. We had such a fun time doing our normal every day things. I love these two because a) they are awesome and b) they like have very similar interests to John and me, so it is VERY easy to have them around. Their trip was very short, but we made the most of it by packing in some golf, a seafood dinner at Fisherman's Wharf, an awesome hike at Rodeo Beach, an Oakland A's game, and of course, Yogafina frozen yogurt:-) It was so wonderful to have a piece of Denver here with us in California....and it definitely made us all start to think about how wonderful it would be to work in the same state and live near each other some day....some day:-)

In unrelated/related news, I had an echo cardiogram last week and it really got me thinking. I haven't been back to New York since the Morocco wedding extravaganza/Nana's 85th birthday, but writing about my trip to Baltimore and our visitors from Denver made me think of an interesting correlation. As we all learned in 9th grade biology our hearts have four major parts (right & left ventricle and right & left atrium). It was super interesting to be able to look at these four parts of my own heart during my echo cardiogram (I have always been fascinated by the amazing things that the human body does to literally keep us ticking all day, every day). Anyway, the added bonus of seeing these amazing pictures was the correlation that I made later, while writing this blog. I realized that my heart plays the part of our big old country, and the four chambers of my heart play the part of my four "hubs of love" across the U.S. (California(home), New York, Baltimore, Denver). Just like the four chambers of my heart keep me full of life every day, the people in each of these places keep me full of love every day. I am so grateful for the love I have here in California with my #1 VIP, Johnny, I am so grateful for my roots (friends and family)in New York. I am so grateful for the friends, and the friends that have become family in Baltimore. And I am so grateful for John's family that has become my family in Denver. I love each and every one of you so much. Thanks for keeping me ticking!! God Bless:-)

When Things Don't Miss a Beat

I am not sure if there is anything more refreshing than spending time with an old friend. There is something about being with someone who knows you well that makes you feel so at ease and so relaxed. In this crazy football life, all of the moving and shifting of everyone makes it hard to see those old friends and build new relationships. Last night I saw a dear old friend, Kiki for dinner and LOTS of chatting. She is a phenomenal person, so I always love seeing her...but there is something so soothing about being with people who truly know you. Its like coming home to your hubby after the end of a long stressful day. You don't REALLY need to say a word, but they understand. I have to say, I am truly blessed to have a handful of friends like this in my life. I am already getting geared up for a FULL weekend of this type of love back in Baltimore a little over a week!! Hoooooooray:-)

In such a crazy fast paced life take a moment to recognize those who make your heart happy. And tell them TODAY!!

Queen of All Things Liquid

Hey All!! I want to introduce you to a new product that I love, before I start to hate the relationship that I have with popsicles. I have always loved popsicles, but this tonsillectomy deal is starting testing that love....temporarily of course:-)

If you were at our wedding almost two years ago, or if you know me at all, then you know, I LOVE ME SOME JAMBA JUICE!! I literally can't ever get enough of it. I could drink it every day, but then we would have no money....for Wahoos:-) Anyway, back on subject...I want to introduce you JAMBA JUICE POPSICLES!!

These are so seriously delish. If you haven't tried them already, please run out and grab yourself a box. I show no bias toward any particular flavor. I love them all equally, so you can't really lose. This is a fantastic find for those of you who don't have a Jamba on every corner, the way we do in CA. It is also a fantastic discovery for me, who couldn't drive following surgery:-) Popsicles always make me feel like a kid again, which is a lovely feeling for a few minutes a day.

Find your inner kid today:-) ENJOY & God Bless!!