We got through all the Christmas craziness with out too much fuss. We kept it pretty low key this year since we are recouping from all the wedding and honeymoon expenses. Christmas Eve in the afternoon we drove to Toledo and let me tell you we may do that every year we go to Toledo for the holidays! There was NO TRAFFIC at all! I'm pretty sure we made it there in record time. Meili helped by sleeping most of the trip. I don't know if it's becuase she is getting older or just more used to the 5 hour drive.
We did the normal Widmer family hotlap - Grandmas house, parents house then uncles house. Lots of food and lots of fun. The only down side was the ring we got from Robbins Brothers (remember the company that went belly up right after we gave them $1100?) broke at the bottom of the band. It REALLY upset me since it was a huge stress to me this summer and something of a miracle that they actually got us a ring before they closed their doors. More on the ring later.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Amanda's mom got Band Hero (the Guitar Hero version of ROCK BAND) it was tons of fun seeing everyone sing and play drums or guitar. Kent is a wiz on the drums and got 90% to 100% on singing even it he had never heard the song before. His version of "Do you really want to hurt me?" by Culture Club sounded like a lounge singer version. It was AWESOME!
We got home to a cold and snowy Chicago. It does not seem as bad as last year but the effects of winter are in full effect. We want comfort all the time and do not really feel the need to go out as much... YAY!
We are also waiting to hear if Amanda has a permanent job here in Chicago or if we have to move to a new city. Earlier we were looking at Atlanta Ga. now we are tentatively looking at Tucson Az. Her boss has indicated that she will get a job here but we have to cover out bases.
We have been married three months now. People keep asking how it feels to be married as if we somehow gained super powers when the rings went on our fingers. Really the one big difference I notice is that we are not planning a wedding anymore. That's not to say we are not happy to be married it's just that the wedding planning is SUCH A HUGE part of 2009 that there does not seem to be a time that we were not planning it. And we have been together for four years now! Crazy...
I went to Zales Monday to get my ring re-sized and took Amanda's to see if they would fix hers too. Turns out Zales has a pretty good jeweler on site and can not only fix her palladium wedding band from Robins Brothers but also weld it to her Platinum engagement band. My ring was a full size too big (go figure!) and after picking it up last night fits like a glove now. We will get Amanda's ring next week.
For the new year we are throwing a party again. But this time we actually have the room to do it! So nice... Last night we went and spent a grip of money at Costco so it should be a fun time.
Looking back at 2009 -
Our first Christmas in Chicago - Everyone made us feel at home. Eternally grateful to Bryan and Sarah and Amanda's family.
Our first party in our small house - Played Wii and generally rubbed elbows with everyone since out place was so small. Bryan on Sype with Will in Fresno and someone dropping their pants on the cam.
President - We got to go to Obama's rally in the park by a total fluke. Standing there and watching the person you voted for win was emotional to say the least! Then CNN picked up some of the video I took of the rally with Amanda's point and shoot camera.
Fresno - The morning after the rally I flew to Fresno and surprised everyone! Much fun.
Wedding planning - Kicked into high gear! Fired a best man, got a new one.
New Friends - Chris, Mike, Greg, Harz, Jerome, Nicole, James and Rima, Shane and Lindsey, Kristen, Lindsey C. and many more made 2009 an AWESOME year!
Truck - Paid off Amanda's truck!
Improv - Graduated from Comedysportz and spent the summer doing shows there. Started Annoyance and put together a two man improvised musical for a competition and did pretty good. Auditions not so good, but whatever...
Work - Got my hours cut down to half time two months before our wedding. BOOOOOOO! Picked up some new clients and sold some websites to make up for the loss.
Travel - Amanda went to Colorado and PA for conferences and then I got to go to Portland with her for one. I spent a weekend in a luxury cabin in Wisconsin with friends riding ATV's and eating great food!
New home - We moved again in 2009! This time to a three bedroom duplex and I can't say I have been happier with a place as I am with this one. And for once we have all the room we need.
Grandpa - Amanda's grandfather passed away in his sleep just a few weeks before the wedding. Very sad.
We got married - WOW! What a ride! But it all turned out great and people are still talking about it (although I am done with hearing about it...) Thank you to everyone who helped!
Honeymoon - Our first vacation in over a year and what a trip! We love Kauai! The island is magical and the people laid back and wonderful. I lost my ring and got it back. We had a house and a red mustang convertible, rode horses and ate at a Luau! We saw Pearl Harbor and the Grand Canyon of the pacific. Really just the thing we needed and thank you to everyone who put into the honeymoon fund to make it an extra special trip!
What's that you say? - After years of Amanda asking me when I was going to get my hearing checked I did it. And sure enough, I'm hard of hearing and may have been my whole life. YAY! Lucky for me my hearing can be corrected with hearing aids. Sadly insurance does not cover them and we don't have the $3000 - $6000 they cost... Until then don't mumble around me OK?
Those are the big things that jump out to me. 2009 was all in all a good year with some great things that happened and I am looking forward to 2010!
We did the normal Widmer family hotlap - Grandmas house, parents house then uncles house. Lots of food and lots of fun. The only down side was the ring we got from Robbins Brothers (remember the company that went belly up right after we gave them $1100?) broke at the bottom of the band. It REALLY upset me since it was a huge stress to me this summer and something of a miracle that they actually got us a ring before they closed their doors. More on the ring later.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Amanda's mom got Band Hero (the Guitar Hero version of ROCK BAND) it was tons of fun seeing everyone sing and play drums or guitar. Kent is a wiz on the drums and got 90% to 100% on singing even it he had never heard the song before. His version of "Do you really want to hurt me?" by Culture Club sounded like a lounge singer version. It was AWESOME!
We got home to a cold and snowy Chicago. It does not seem as bad as last year but the effects of winter are in full effect. We want comfort all the time and do not really feel the need to go out as much... YAY!
We are also waiting to hear if Amanda has a permanent job here in Chicago or if we have to move to a new city. Earlier we were looking at Atlanta Ga. now we are tentatively looking at Tucson Az. Her boss has indicated that she will get a job here but we have to cover out bases.
We have been married three months now. People keep asking how it feels to be married as if we somehow gained super powers when the rings went on our fingers. Really the one big difference I notice is that we are not planning a wedding anymore. That's not to say we are not happy to be married it's just that the wedding planning is SUCH A HUGE part of 2009 that there does not seem to be a time that we were not planning it. And we have been together for four years now! Crazy...
I went to Zales Monday to get my ring re-sized and took Amanda's to see if they would fix hers too. Turns out Zales has a pretty good jeweler on site and can not only fix her palladium wedding band from Robins Brothers but also weld it to her Platinum engagement band. My ring was a full size too big (go figure!) and after picking it up last night fits like a glove now. We will get Amanda's ring next week.
For the new year we are throwing a party again. But this time we actually have the room to do it! So nice... Last night we went and spent a grip of money at Costco so it should be a fun time.
Looking back at 2009 -
Our first Christmas in Chicago - Everyone made us feel at home. Eternally grateful to Bryan and Sarah and Amanda's family.
Our first party in our small house - Played Wii and generally rubbed elbows with everyone since out place was so small. Bryan on Sype with Will in Fresno and someone dropping their pants on the cam.
President - We got to go to Obama's rally in the park by a total fluke. Standing there and watching the person you voted for win was emotional to say the least! Then CNN picked up some of the video I took of the rally with Amanda's point and shoot camera.
Fresno - The morning after the rally I flew to Fresno and surprised everyone! Much fun.
Wedding planning - Kicked into high gear! Fired a best man, got a new one.
New Friends - Chris, Mike, Greg, Harz, Jerome, Nicole, James and Rima, Shane and Lindsey, Kristen, Lindsey C. and many more made 2009 an AWESOME year!
Truck - Paid off Amanda's truck!
Improv - Graduated from Comedysportz and spent the summer doing shows there. Started Annoyance and put together a two man improvised musical for a competition and did pretty good. Auditions not so good, but whatever...
Work - Got my hours cut down to half time two months before our wedding. BOOOOOOO! Picked up some new clients and sold some websites to make up for the loss.
Travel - Amanda went to Colorado and PA for conferences and then I got to go to Portland with her for one. I spent a weekend in a luxury cabin in Wisconsin with friends riding ATV's and eating great food!
New home - We moved again in 2009! This time to a three bedroom duplex and I can't say I have been happier with a place as I am with this one. And for once we have all the room we need.
Grandpa - Amanda's grandfather passed away in his sleep just a few weeks before the wedding. Very sad.
We got married - WOW! What a ride! But it all turned out great and people are still talking about it (although I am done with hearing about it...) Thank you to everyone who helped!
Honeymoon - Our first vacation in over a year and what a trip! We love Kauai! The island is magical and the people laid back and wonderful. I lost my ring and got it back. We had a house and a red mustang convertible, rode horses and ate at a Luau! We saw Pearl Harbor and the Grand Canyon of the pacific. Really just the thing we needed and thank you to everyone who put into the honeymoon fund to make it an extra special trip!
What's that you say? - After years of Amanda asking me when I was going to get my hearing checked I did it. And sure enough, I'm hard of hearing and may have been my whole life. YAY! Lucky for me my hearing can be corrected with hearing aids. Sadly insurance does not cover them and we don't have the $3000 - $6000 they cost... Until then don't mumble around me OK?
Those are the big things that jump out to me. 2009 was all in all a good year with some great things that happened and I am looking forward to 2010!
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