Twenty Six Years!!!

Today was huge! I have not been this excited about a win since the Packers won the Super Bowl. I remember watching with friends and then going to downtown La Crosse and it just being amazing. Today I ran around the house and outside yelling, then I mowed the yard.
For the first time in 26 years the Milwaukee Brewers are in the playoffs. Last season they came close but faded and missed out by a couple of games. In 1992 when I was a freshman at UW-La Crosse and Hillary was a Junior in HS, they made a run but again missed out. Back in 82' I can remember crying when they lost to the Cardinals. To this day I hate Joaquin Andujar http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/andujjo01.shtml and Willie McGee. Man that guy was ugly!
So, now what? It begins Wednesday in Philadelphia. I won't be heading East, but I will be at Miller Park Saturday for the first playoff game in Milwaukee.
For the Brewers, "If you get to the playoffs, yeah, you've done your job," acting manager Dale Sveum said. "But if you lose in the playoffs, you didn't finish the job." (AP)For me, it is time to fullfill a pledge... http://www.peeyourpantsforthebrewers.com/ I signed up last year, and while doing so I signed up my nephew Luke...who probably has already completed the task. Of course he is only 19 months old.

Fall Fun House

Hillary loves to decorate for Halloween/Fall. About a mile from our house is a farm that sells pumpkins. We have gone there the past couple years. They even gave us a little pumpkin for the baby...to start a new tradition. It is a family farm and the couple are super nice and have all sorts of pumpkins, gourds, squash etc...we highly recommend them. If you are ever in the area it is on the left about a 1/2 mile south of Hwy 19 on Town Hall Road.
They also sell some painted pumpkins. Last year we bought one with a Packers logo. Here are some pictures from this years batch.

Notice the Motion "W" on the white pumpkin!

Our back yard... I had to find a way to fly both my Brewer and Packer Flags at the same time.

Elmo Is Rich!

Hillary told you about Brook's 2nd birthday last week. Well our friend Mya's parents Chad and Julie threw a birthday party for her. If Elmo happens to be buying up buildings on Sesame Street, he can thank her directly for it! Mya's second birthday was all about Elmo. Cakes, Baloons, Shirts, Towels, Dishware, Stock, Kung Fu Grip Elmo... Happy Birthday Ms. Kreblin!

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...

Chad let's be honest, who really likes Elmo?

Hillary's Mom, Barb, getting excited to be a Grandma.

We think Randy was telling Copper to eat Grandma Banks cake.

Mya and Callie VanRite are playing bag for birthday cash.

Kayla VanRite may have been bitten by something rabid!?!

Nope, I guess it just runs in the family!

This is Cam Spredemann. If you spin him like a fuzzy pencil look what it does to his hair!

Allie Spredemann is a smart kid. She told me this is the best way get home for a Packer game.

Are you kidding me?

For the past two years our friends Aline and Adam have taken us to a Brewers vs. Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Last year it was Hillary and I who made the trip to Chicago. We were able to see the Brewers get out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning. They had that lead until the bottom of the 9th when the Cubs hit a walk off HR and won 5-4. That hurt.
Yesterday it was John Melahn who came with. We met Adam and Aline and a friend of Johns at the Cubbie Bear before heading over to the park. As Yogi Berra said it was Deja Vu all over again. The Brewers had a lead going into the bottom of the 9th. This time they were up 6-2. Well guess what frigging happend? The Cubs tied it with their 3rd HR of the game. Then in the 12th inning the Cubs won. Good grief! On the long drive home, I had a few hours to reflect. Unfortunately this time it didn't hurt as much which means I am getting use to the Brewers dissapointing me. I am happy for Adam, who is a life long Cubs fan. He even offered to bring me back for more games next season...I wonder why? However, I still hate the Cubs and I still hate Lou Pinella and that goes back to my childhood. My Dad's cousin came to visit one day and he had player minor league baseball and competed against Lou for a job in the majors. Basically he didn't have much good to say about him. That has stuck with me over the years. Could a guy walk any $#!% slower to the mound?
Thanks again to Adam and Aline. We are looking forward to going back to Chicago next May for their wedding. I also just checked the 09 Brewers schedule and fortunately they don't play at Wrigley in May.

Here are a few pictures from Tuesday.Bench Coach Robin Yount and Manager Dale Sveum
Brewers with the Bases Loaded

JJ Hardy Drives the Ball to Right Field (Foul Ball)

Happy Second Birthday Brooks!

Our little baby turned two this past Saturday--September 13th. We celebrated on Saturday morning by a trip to Mounds Pet Food Warehouse in Sun Prairie. Brooks picked out a red squeaky toy. It looks a lot like a red ball, but it also has feet and little devil horns. It seems like an indestructible toy; however, Ryan and I are cursing this little toy every time it squeaks its high pitch squeaky sound. Brooks also picked out a new red Kong and a circular rawhide.

On Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa Phelps came over to celebrate Brooks' birthday. We had angel food cake with ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Grandma and Grandpa Phelps even gave him a gift certificate to McDonalds! Brooks can't wait to use it soon. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Photographs

September Farm Field in the Morning, Sun Prairie
Ryan and I were invited to our friends Debbie and Keith's daughter's--Laurel--first birthday party in August. We had a wonderful dinner with them and Bob & Sharon (Keith's parents) . Sharon is an amazing cook, and someday I hope to be as talented as she is in the kitchen. Debbie and I met while we "studied" abroad together in London. Let's just say there wasn't much collegiate studying going on, but we had a wonderful time studying British and European culture. Happy First Birthday Laurel!
Caleb (our friends Emily and Phil's son) celebrating a Badger Football Saturday in style with his Wisconsin baby bibs! On Wisconsin!

Just kidding, of course!

In all honesty, I am happy that my husband has such a great group of friends for softball. We have many wonderful friends from the team. Therefore, I will take it upon myself to bear the burden of holding onto the JVP trophy this year. Wives and girlfriends of Red Shed, I will take the responsibility of having this unbelievable trophy present in our house this year.

And it needs some TLC. The nooks and crannies of this trophy need to be dusted with Pledge cleaner and the plaques need to be wiped clean of fingerprints. After all, it should receive the same love and care that the Stanley Cup receives. I shall bear this great burden.

Hillary

JVP Trophy FOR SALE!

One larger than life (3 feet+) trophy FOR SALE. Special features include two softball championship plaques, one boot, one yellow softball, one decomposed peanut, one shot glass, one signature of the Red Shed's famous bartender Margo, pictures of Jagermeister marketers, and a newspaper picture of Tuppy. There are other surprises awaiting the new owner of this lovely trophy.

Summer is Over

I have seen quite a few "end of summer" posts and figured this would be my version. Having always been a fan of fall, I can't say I get to caught up in the end of summer doldrums. Because the best sport gets rolling this time of year. Football season! Of course it use to mean practice and playing, and that pretty much wrapped up after my college years...although I tried to get a few pick up games in here and there as late a couple falls ago. Pathetically, it now has become Brooks and I watching the Packers in a Lazyboy while still wearing my trusty old #68!Fall also means the end of Softball season. The past 8 years I have been fortunate enough to play ball for the Red Shed on Thursday nights with a great group of guys. 12 seasons ago when the team was first started the guys put a higher value on camaraderie rather than wins. This was fortuitous because at times the wins have been hard to come buy. We have also had our fair share of success having won a couple of championships in the last 5 seasons. This is a picture from before our last game. Sombrero night! That reminds me of a wise gambling tip. Never bet on the Chorizo during the sausage races at Miller Park. A sombrero creates huge drag when running Traditions are also a strong part of the Shed's history. The JVP trophy is passed on every year and each new owner adds something to it. Think Stanley Cup without the security detail and with an old boot and PBR cans. I am looking forward to hosting it for the year. Hillary is probably delighted that I will be keeping it in my basement.

A Family Wedding

Ryan's Cousin Ashley Miles, Portage WI got married Saturday to Jason Knuth, Reedsburg WI

Congratulations to Ashley and Jason! September 6th, 2008

Obstructed View Seating

A friend joked that it was not going to take me long to take my kid to different sporting events. Technically the little guy has already covered just about all of my favorites. With that said, here are a few pics to show you where he has been. Hopefully mommy won't block his view next time. UW Football @ Camp Randall Stadium

Green Bay Packers Football @ Lambeau Field

Madison Mallards Baseball @ Warner Park's Duck Pond

Milwaukee Brewers Baseball @ Miller Park