FOREVER FRIENDS

Last night I went to dinner with my FOREVER FRIENDS. It's a group of about eight of us who all lived together in college. We had a duplex and occupied both sides. Still, to this day, we are the best of friends. We have been through everything together. School, sports, breakups, makeups, weddings (I have been a bridesmaid 6 times), births, and birthdays. We even made it through a robbery! No matter how long it's been since I've seen them, it's like I just saw them yesterday. They know everything about me. The good and the bad, and I would trust them with my life. Last night driving home I was thinking about how proud I am of all of us. We all have established careers and most of us are married with babies (my neices and nephews from the previous post). About 5 of us still live in the KC area so we get together as much as possible. I can't make it much during basketball season, but last night made me realize I need to carve out more time for these girlies. Being with them just makes me feel good. I didn't take many pics, but I did snap this cute one of Molly and Jackson. She is such a good Mommy and I love watching them together.

Last night was also a HUGE night for Teddy Ballgame (Dad). He was inducted into his SIXTH Hall of Fame and he was featured on Bryan Gumbel's HBO show "Real Sports." I don't get HBO so I didn't get to see it but I woke up this morning to a bunch of text messages telling me what a great job he did. One was even from my boss! Ha! My favorite text was from my friend Shane. He said, "Ballgame killed it tonight on HBO. Billy Packer is a B**** though." Hilarious. I can't wait to talk to my Mom to hear what he is talking about! Mom sent me this pic of Dad with his award...Doesn't he look thrilled to be taking the picture?!?! :)

He is just the cutest! Love you Dad!

That's all I have for now!

Smooches,

AUNTIE AMANDA

They say that being an aunt is the best job in the whole world. You get to have fun with the babies, spoil them, fill them up with junk food, wind them up....then give them back to their parents when they start getting cranky.  Eventhough I don't have any BLOOD nieces and nephews (Could you get started on that, PUH-LESE, Bo and Robin?!?) I do have several friends who have babies and I totally consider them my own. Maybe I should give you all a rundown of my little tykes.....

In order: Hudson, Jackson, Livi, and Colton.

Aren't they all just the cutest??? I am so lucky! A couple of side notes:

1.I don't have a pic of my little guy Sawyer up here or my little guy Kingston. Mainly because I don't have any updated pics. Unacceptable! That will be fixed ASAP. They might even get their very own post to make up for the omission.
2. I realize that 100% of these babies have Jayhwak gear on. I don't know how that happened (wink wink). Seriously though, all of their Mommas are Jayhawks too, so I can't be the only one to blame.
3. There are two more on the way! Lora's second and Amanda's first. Both boys. I LOVE my boys, but can someone please have a girl to join Livi?!?
4. I don't want to leave out my neices of the four legged kind. Riley Jane, Dozer and KC- Auntie Amanda loves you too....As does your cousin, Lulu.

I am going to dinner tonight with my FOREVER FRIENDS. I can't wait. We get together often but during basketball season I am usually MIA....I will post about it in the morning!

Also, my Dad (Teddy Ballgame) is going to be on Bryant Gumbel's HBO special tonight! Check him out! I'm so proud!



Smooches,

I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN ANTONIO

As some of you may or may not know, I am a huge Jayhawk fan. I think I literally bleed crimson and blue. This past weekend our men's hoops teams traveled to San Antonio to participate in the NCAA Sweet 16/ Elite 8. On a whim KO and I decided to hop on a plane and join the festivities (Shout out to Mom and Dad for the free flight using their cc miles. Smooches) . KO and I have a really special friendship I think mainly because we are soooo opposite, we balance eachother out.  She is always on time and I am always late. She is very organized and I prefer organized chaos. She is really motivated and in shape and I am.......well, I am working on it! All jokes aside, KO is my calm and I value her opinions and advice more than anything.  There is no one I would have rather gone on this adventure with. Mainly because I was confident that, with her by my side, I wouldn't end up in jail. I only kid, Mom. I knew this would be a fun trip because it combined all of my favorite things.....Friends, Shopping, Nightlife, and the JAYHAWKS!   

We started out Friday morning with an EARLY morning flight (Hello 3 a.m. wakeup call). We arrived in SA around 10:30 am and flagged a cab to the hotel. We were greeted in the lobby by our BFF Hudy and literally hundereds of peeps sporting Jayhawk gear so we knew we were in the right place.  After a quick workout and some pool time, we hit the town for some authentic mexican food and drinks before the game.  THE MARGARITAS WERE AMAZING!

                                                  Actual Margartas Show Here

                                                  Me and KO before the game!
After the fun dinner we headed on over to the Alamodome to watch The Jayhawks VS. The Richmond Spiders.  The game was AWESOME.  We killed them and we had incredible seats....about five rows up behind the KU bench (Props to Hudy for the killer seats. She keeps telling me she is important, that day she proved it).  I got to catch up with my old college roomate, Jamie, who's little brother plays for the Jayhawks. He had a great game and she was one proud sister. After the game we headed out on The Riverwalk. It was fun to catch up with old friends and explore the city.  It was a great night.

The next day we had a total free day (Except for Hudy, who had to work. Bummer, but someone has to earn the money.)   We woke up kind of early and went for a workout then strolled up and down The Riverwalk for a couple of hours. After, we showered and got ready for my favorite pastime.....the mall. I get my passion for malls from my Mom.  Growing up, we used to travel a lot with my Dad's work.  She and I would find a mall at every stop.  This trip was no exception.  The thing I loved most about this mall was that it was outdoors.  What made it especially nice, was that the weather back in KS was awful so I really felt like I was on a tropical vacation.  I didn't really get much, just a fun bracelet. Just being outside was enough.  We finished off the day with an early dinner at PF Changs and hanging out at the hotel bar. Early to bed. Perfect Day!

Sunday...well, I don't really like talking about Sunday.  My poor Jayhawks lost to VCU.  I don't really have an explanation for what happened, only that we didn't play our best game and VCU shot lights out.  As my friend Ashley said, "Rock Chalk, Sad Hawk."  I landed back home in Lawrence around 9:15 PM. Totally dissapointed but thrilled to see my Lulu. I mean, how can you be sad when you are greeted with a face like this:

                                                    Lulu Bean

Smooches,