BOWLING!

Last night the entire Erickson (and King) clan went bowling at Fat Cats. Thanks to Viki and her incredible Groupon getting skills, we had two hours of bowling, pizza, breadsticks, and DIET COKE!!

I started out with four strikes, and went severely downhill from there. Lucas took ownership of round 1, and Tim came back to bring in the victory in the second game.

Gary and Viki

Yes. These bowling shoes are unusual.

Kim and Lucas!

Gary's follow-through position...

Lucas getting one of his many X's.

So much fun!

Subzero temperatures mean nothing

As an unemployed person, I've taken to watching the morning news. This comes with the luxury of having a weather report about every 8 minutes, just in case you MAY have forgotten what the five-day forecast looks like in-between bites of toast. It's really quite excessive. Excessive yet informative. Basically what I'm trying to say is I was quite aware that this weekend was going to be quite chilly here in the Denver metro area; and by chilly, I mean freezing.

This information was dually noted yet completely disregarded upon the knowledge that the Colorado Rapids were in a semi-final game in the MLS playoffs at Dicks Sporting Goods Park. We obviously had to get tickets. So we did.

The Rapids were playing the San Jose Earthquakes (not sure about this team-name as I thought the major fault lines were north of San Jose...). The game was the Eastern Conference Finals. We still have no idea why the Colorado and San Jose would be playing in the Eastern Conference Finals, it makes no sense. No matter.

Spencer, Tim and I got bundled up and headed out. I mean really bundled. We're talking long underwear, jeans, and multiple layers on top. Tim had on four different Patagonia fleece's under his jacket, which was pretty awesome. Part of our ticket price included getting a Rapids Beanie! If look closely at the picture below, Tim has two of them on his head.

Double Hats

Sorry Spence, off centered. Still awesome.

There was some great Vuvuzela action at the game. Not quite up to World Cup standards, but still nice to hear the constant buzzing of psudo-horns whilst cheering the Rapids on to victory.

Note the Vuvuzela

The final score was 1-0 Rapids. It was an awesome goal right before the first half ended. There were also a few breakaway opportunities for the Rapids, and even though they didn't produce a goal, they were still supremely beneficial to all of us jumping spectators as we were beginning to freeze to the metal bleachers.

A highlight included a group of Earthquakes fans who were cheering most of the first half, and then decided to take cheering to the next level in half 2. Yes, they went shirtless. We even had one escorted out by the police; but we're not sure if it was because he was too rowdy, or that he needed to be treated for hypothermia...

The many journeys of the traveling Ericksons...

My good friend Maddie Jacks is pretty much living the most awesome of lives in Italy right now. She's taking a cooking class, a wine class, and traveling the heck out of the country; basking in that beautiful Mediterranean glow. You can read about it on her blog, Spidatter. Obviously, all her travels and wonderful experiences are making me upset. The little/huge green monster is roaring. ROARING. To try and combat this jealousy, Tim and I decided to take on a whirlwind of adventure this past week with travels ranging through navigating downtown Chicago, soaking up the simplicity of Wichita, to relaxing on the coast of Sarasota, Florida. Jealous Maddie?!

(disclaimer: I am actually THRILLED for Maddie and I'm so excited and proud of her!)

This past Monday we headed out to Chicago for Tim's interview at the University of Chicago. We got to stay with Tim's Uncle Scott and Aunt Alice. They live close to O'Hare, so it was the perfect place to stay! And when I say close, I mean that if you look at the window, the planes going by look like UFO's that are going to land right in the living room. It's awesome. Not only was the house great, but Scott and Alice might be the world's greatest hosts! Scott had all the Chicago train schedules printed out, maps of the city for us, neighborhoods he had scouted out that had good housing for people our age, AND he let us use his car to drive around!! Plus, we had some great meals with them including a greek restaurant where we were served FLAMING CHEESE!! Also, I was able to hone in on my Wii tennis skillz, and Tim and I finally pulled a victory against Scott and Alice the last night we were there. (They we're pro's. I'm serious.)

We also got to see Tim's cousin Becky, her husband Jeff, their SUPER CUTE son Jonah, AND Viki's sister Linda. (I'm just going to pat myself on the back here for remember all these names.)

Tim's family is so great. It makes the idea of moving to Chicago more fun because I know we have lots of family there. And Jeff (Becky's husband) used to be a Chicago Police Officer, so we got the SKINNY on where to be in the city! I like having the inside scoop...

View of the new Trump Tower from Gleacher Center, where Tim had his interview.

Tim and I celebrating a great interview at his favorite Chicago Pizza Place Lou Malnati's. So, so good.

We also had the pleasure to have a layover in lovely Wichita, Kansas. I'm not talking about some 20 minute break between flights, I'm talking a good four hours in that airport. I can definitely say that Kansas has perhaps some of the nicest people I've EVER met...and that was just in the airport! I can't even imagine how nice they might be in the actual city! Kudo's to the airport for supplying us with free WiFi! :)

Speaking of airports, I'd like to also give a couple more shoutouts, one to O'Hare, and one to Tampa International Airport. I get pretty excited about new "inventions" (or at least ones I haven't seen before). Look at this cool drinking fountain in O'Hare that also lets you fill your water bottle with the slightest of ease!!

Note the water dispensary on the back of the fountain.

Not only was this nifty but the water was PURIFIED and COLD!! A double whammy!

However, my favorite new "invention," BY FAR, would have to be the disposable slippers I got to wear through the Tampa Bay Airport. They were so slippery I basically skied through the line, I even did a couple of spins that reminded me of Olympic style Ice Dancing! I hope all airports get on board with this train ASAP! They make security FUN!!

Close up of the goodness.

More Florida adventures to come soon!!

Chicago!

Hooray! Tim and I are currently in Chicago, traipsing around like young, unemployed married couples tend to do....hah. JUST KIDDING! (And anyway, Tim is totally employed!!) Actually we're here for Tim to interview for his MBA degree at University of Chicago, which is uuber exciting. It's fun to be here and to know that this is my potential future home! Either way though, I'm just proud of Tim for being who he is and having such an incredibly gifted mind to even obtain an interview at the NUMBER ONE MBA SCHOOL IN THE WORLD (as ranked by The Economist Magazine)!

I was in Chicago almost exactly three years ago with some good friends Ryan Moroney and Jessica Murphy! (SHOUTOUT to Jess, who's getting married this weekend!! Can't wait to be there!!) These photo's are from that trip, since I have yet to break my camera in while here this time...

no, abbey isn't here. but yes...this is still an awesome picture.

Harvest Fest

I'm writing this as a new member of the Denver Botanic Gardens. I'm pretty excited. Mainly because I'm looking forward to the Christmasy Trail of Lights, and the Blossom of Lights. I've never been to either, which is basically inexcusable having grown up in Colorado. In the end, no matter. I've made a commitment to go this year with Tim; and being a member, I'm fully signed, sealed and committed!

As an additional bonus to being a member, I'm pretty much in the know when it comes to other Fests. As in Festivals. As in the Harvest Festival Tim and I went to yesterday. It was pretty awesome. There were lots of little kids in outrageously cute costumes. I couldn't get a good picture without looking like a total creeper, so you'll have to do without. Let it be known, however, that it made me yearn for motherhood (in a temporary sort of way).

There was a pumpkin patch, concert venue, concession stands (kettle corn!), mini-horses, and a ridiculously difficult corn maze.

Pumpkin #1

Pumpkin #2

Husband

Wife

Corn

Husband in Corn Maze

Corn in Corn Maze