The Big Reveal......

This has to be some sort of record....two posts in one week!!! But I'm trying to be regular and get caught up on some our recent marriage adventures. For those of you at our wedding, I meant what I said, when I mentioned AK loves an adventure.....I just under estimated how good he is at keeping a surprise (even though I did everything in my power to ruin our engagement and he nailed it and I was shocked, so maybe he's more talented than I give him credit for!!). Anyways, he pulled off a scavenger hunt with his good friend Nick Benyo that left Stephanie and I cracking up and anxiously awaiting our 30th birthday!!! :)

A few weeks ago, AK mentioned we were going on a date....just the two of us, out for a nice dinner, wine, and catching up. I was so excited, because a few weeks before that I think I sat in our house for something like 20 hours watching nothing but sports....the tigers were in the playoffs, spartan football, the lions, hawkeye football, etc. I love sports, but I was over it and made AK aware that I was burnt out. Well little did I know our "date night" had been in the works since SUMMER!!!

Anyhow, they set Steph and I up and had scheduled two nail appointments at a place where we get manicures. When we both saw each other and both explained to each other that our husbands had made appointments for us at 4pm, we both quickly realized we had just entered the matrix and there was no way out, other than cracking the clues. HA.

The minute our nails were dry the cute little Asian ladies handed Stephanie our first clue and said "you have nice husband!" We knew we were in for it. Luckily Steph cracked the first clue that led us to a wine bar where we were instructed to enjoy a glass of vino and cheese. We took that as a couple glasses of bubbles and wine, but who was counting. The freaky part was, when we walked in, the waitress asked if she was speaking with Stephanie and if so, clue #2 was waiting for us!!! # wierd. So luckily Steph and I can rhyme and were able figure out Root Down rhymed with Boot Clown.....still cracks me up. So onward we went and when we arrived at Boot Clown (now renamed, obviously), there they were just so smiley and sneaky looking. While Steph and I moved through the matrix, we both had ideas of what this was all about, but both agreed that we would be happy with nothing and would be excited our husbands planned such a fun (but we were secretly hopeful). So I think we made it through a few sips of wine before I had to know what was up.....and when I want something, I'm fairly persistent!!! So they shared with us that we could not stop trying to plan our 30th birthday celebration and tried to go around them multiple times and plan ourselves, so they thought they better share what they had up their sleeve......and the big reveal was the four of us will spend my and Stephanie's 30th birthday weekend in Napa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woot! Woot. Beyond excited and now the torture is waiting for it to arrive....or maybe I should be careful what I wish for. Either way, I'm excited to go back and show AK such a beautiful place and Steph and Nick are Napa pros and such fun people, so it should be a blast!!!!

If you can keep up....follow the matrix below (via photos).
And as always stayed tuned....my mom was here last weekend and on Saturday I leave for Nicaragua on a Medical Mission with a non-profit group called Surgeons of Hope!!!! 

the first clue after our maincures were dry!!

clue #1. 

a few glasses of bubbles and vino.

so help us solve clue #2.

clue #2.

the kays and benyos all smiles sharing after dinner drinks.

nick is so excited, he just can't hide it!!! :)

and this is for the iowa peeps that read this.....this was the cover of the menu at one of the restaurant/bars we went to. We Love Pork!!!

Mad-town Delivers!

Hello, hello!!!

I have no excuses and wish I did. But alas I am back and want to catch up on what a fun fall we have had. In my opinion, this has been the best Fall to date in CO (since I moved here in 2008). The trees were so colorful, the temps have been great (cool in the morning, mid 60s in the afternoon) and the wind has not been so intense, so the colorful leaves have actually stayed put for longer than 1 week.

But with the great fall weather came our last wedding of 2013....if you remember, it's been quite a year for us, you could even say "the year of the weddings!" But Bridget and Chris's wedding must be talked about, because it was a weekend to remember. We all flew to Madison Thursday night, October 3rd and we were warned to pack our party pants, not only by the bride and groom, but also by every single person that has ever stepped foot in Madison....and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!!! In fact, I would say Mad-town delivered!!!

Bridget and Chris planned such a beautiful weekend and we were so honored to be included in so many of the wonderful events. AK got to golf the guys and I was invited to brunch with some super fine ladies, and Saturday I even got a sneak (early) peak of the beautiful bride....wait until the pictures...she was a show stopper!! :) The reception was gorgeous and Bridget made it so cozy by having so many unique DIY touches. I think my favorite part was the homemade apple pie for desert....genius idea considering the fall time soiree. My actual favorite part though, was the very touching father of the bride toast that Bridget's dad gave......just an incredible tribute to such a beautiful woman!!! Cheers to Bridget and Chris.....we are so happy for you and plan on making so many "married" memories in Denver!!!!

And to top it all off, Sunday after the wedding AK and I got up super early (too early for the day after a wedding) and drove down to Chicago to meet Alan and Kristyn's new little bundle of joy, Ethan!!! And we were able to confirm that he is just as handsome as his parents had said!!! It was the perfect cherry on top to a fun filled weekend!!!! :)

the lake that borders University of Wisconsin's campus. so pretty!

the famous capitol. also the center of the best farmers market i have ever witnessed.

before the wedding.....looking pretty dapper, Mr. Kay

i love this photo....bridget, her older sister jenny and her mom claudia, all helping her get ready!!!

mr. and mrs. lucas

all the denver girls in mad-town!

you guessed it, AK happened to meet a few more spartan fans. good thing they are as lovely as their smiles!!! :)

hashtag, great. hashtag, so fun. hashtag lolololololololol!! ;)

we were encouraged to kiss....i may have taken it to another level....but cute nonetheless.

i walked or ran by the lake every day while we were there. so gorgeous.

meet little ethan.

AK's a natural.

sail boats along the lake!!!

That's a wrap of wedding season, my friends. Thanks for taking interest. 2014 has already been labeled and it will be "the year of personal travel" as we have trips planned to Napa and Italy all before June....eeeekkk!!!!!! Also stayed tuned, I will inform you all about "the big reveal" regarding our trip to Napa and my mom just visited for a weekend so there are a few stories in the hopper!!!!

If I don't return before Thanksgiving, happy Thanksgiving to you all.....may you all remember your greatest blessings and all the things you're thankful for!!!!