Merry Michigan Day

WARNING: This blog contains impressive football knowledge by me, Holly Karhoff.  You may be very, very, very, very impressed.

Well the day of all days finally came.  In Geoff's nearly 26 years of living and loving of everything U of M he finally got to see a Michigan football game in real life.  Granted, it was at the University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium, but you take what you can get.  I think he barely slept at all the night before; it truly was like a kid before Christmas.  And I have to admit, I was kind of excited myself.  Since marrying him, I have become a big Michigan fan by default.  Who knew I would look so stunning in Maze and Blue?

We got all layered up and decked out to head out to the game.  Of course we wanted to take in the atmosphere of game day downtown and chose to eat at a new pizza place called Toppers.  I think what cracked me up the most was all the "WELCOME TO NEBRASKA!"s we received.  We finally got tired of explaining that we lived just 10 minutes away and started saying "THANKS!"  Plus it was fun to see other Michigan fans and exchange our "GO BLUE!"s. 

I, my self, was really super nervous for the game.  I wanted Michigan to beat Nebraska so badly.  We beat them last year, were ranked number 22 to an unranked Nebraska, and just the weekend before Michigan received its 900th win! So you would think the odds were in Michigan's favor.  Things were going good in the first quarter.  Although Michigan was close to scoring a TD several times, they all ended in field goals.  This was impressive since their kicker is an underclassman and is only capable of making field goals within 25 to 30 yards.  He pulled it off for us, many times!

Then, the unthinkable happened.  Denard Robinson got injured.  At first, we all thought it was just a minor injury and would be back in the game in the second half.  But after the half, he came out in a coat.  NOOOOOOOO DENARD!!!!  WHYYYYY!!!!!!!!???????!?!?!?!?!?!?  Turns out, messing up a nerve in your elbow is not so good if you are a quarter back.  Maybe if he would tie his shoelaces every once in a while you might not be so susceptible to tripping and leading to an injury.  Just sayin.....

The game went on with Nebraska  scoring a few TDs and ended in a 23-9 final score.  Michigan went for three consecutive games with out a TD.  Sad day for the Mighty Blue.   I think Geoff was ok with the outcome, considering the majority of Michigan's offense (Denard Robinson) was gone the majority of the game.  All in all, it was a pretty fantastic day despite the loss.  If was fun to get to cheer on our team in real life, AND I got free popcorn at the end of the game. 

Roscoe Rambling

I've come to the realization that there is not enough Roscoe on this blog.  I mean, after all, he is THE most important member of our family.  I look back to almost three years ago when Geoff and I became the three of us.  I had no idea how much this forever shedding, slobber king would worm his way into my heart.  I love knowing at the end of my very long days, I have him and Geoff waiting to cuddle with me.  All he has to do is look at me with those big, sad, dopy, brown eyes and I know I'm loved.  I honestly believe that I would not have survived our big move to Lincoln with out him.  He kept me company on those first lonely days and gave me a reason to fall in love with our Dyson.  He is our little buddy and loves to follow me around the house in whatever I am doing.  I love that it is getting colder which means he loves to cuddle longer at night and keep my feet warm!  I love this 67 pound guy.  And life without him? I don't ever want to think about it. 

Everythings Up to Date in Kansas City

A couple of weekends ago Geoff and I met my parents and the Pettits in Kansas City for the Pitt State vs. Northwest Missouri Fall Classic at Arrowhead.  This was my very first game as an alum and I was super stoked.  Last year, Geoff and I did not make it to one football game, even our big win last year at Arrowhead!! So I was really looking forward to a Pitt State win.  But alas, that was not to be in the cards.  I won't even mention what happened this past weekend at Homecoming.  (Gorillas!?!? WHAT is going on?  You play football....remember?) Despite the torrential rain, lighting and the major upset, it was a pretty great weekend in pretty great company.  I was excited to see some old friends and be around some Gorillas.  Nothing beats Pitt State football.  Nothing.

Sunday was spent doing some major retail therapy.  It was fun to get to do some shopping with my Mom and to get to joke around with my Dad.  I really miss them, and just doing everyday stuff with them.  I guess it just makes us treasure the time we do get to spend together.

Waiting in the car.....on the rain.

With my main Gorilla, Gus!

Chritta!!! SO HAPPY to see you!!!

Waiting on the rain.....Isn't that a song?

With my Momma!

I've missed this!

 On a different note, Christmas is like literally around the corner.  No really, SDC opens their Christmas season on November 3rd! AND I'm missing it for my Cousin Danielle's Bachelorette party. This just proves how much I love her! I seriously love this time of year.  I think this year, I am most looking forward to spending time with Family!! I miss them!!

Sickcation

Since about last Wednesday, Geoff and I have been on a little bit of a Sickcation. Geoff has been battling quite the toothache, but I guess that's what happens when you haven't been the dentist since high school.  He broke down on Wednesday and called to make a dentist appointment for Monday.  We ended up at the Doctors on Thursday morning with an emergency visit.  His face was so so so so swollen and he was in a lot of pain, and trust me, no one has ever experienced pain like Geoff Karhoff has experienced pain.  Unfortunately we were sent home with antibiotics and Vicodin to take care of a nasty infection that was hindering the Dentist from doing his job.  So we I was in store for a fun, fun weekend.  Luckily the meds took care of the infection and the pain until Monday morning when the tooth came out.  Geoff named his tooth Henry (pronounced the French way like "ahnrey") since it was being so ornery.  Today it was back to work for both of us since I got to partake in Sickcation on Thursday and Monday.  I was really thankful for this though because we got to spend some much needed time together.  I feel like I hardly get to see my Husband anymore, and we loved every moment we got to be together. 

Things learned during Sickcation: 
1. Geoff's insurance ROCKS
2. Vicodin only costs $2.30.  A-MAZ-ING
3. Geoff is super fun on Vicodin.  Super fun.
4. We both could get used to sitting around and doing nothing.  No wonder so many people live of the government.
5. Geoff does not like pictures taken of him whilst sick.  Hence no pictures of Geoff's chipmunk cheek.  :(
6. Tooth aches are no fun, so make sure you brush your teeth!

Do as the Huskers Do...

A couple of weekends ago, Geoff and I took one of his customers to the Nebraska vs. Arkansas State game.  Yes, we attended a Nebraska game, in Nebraska gear and cheered when Nebraska cheered.  Although we aren't the biggest Husker fans (Ok we're not Husker fans at all), it was still pretty fun.  I had never attended a Division I game before so this was a new experience for me.  I was slightly prepared for the madness since I was around it last year, but I just had no idea...no...idea.  Husker fans are weird/crazy.  And a little out of control.  I mean, who wears red and striped overalls with no shirts like its normal? Anyways.....Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure. 

Geoff was truly thrilled to be wearing his Husker shirt at a Husker game. 

BAND!!!

Kick it ladies!

View from our seats.

Don't you see us? I'll give you a hint, we're wearing red.

Free Popcorn!!

After the game we went out to for wings with Geoff's customer.  Which was super good!  I think we will go back to get wings again.  But once we got home, Geoff immediately put on his Michigan gear.  To quote, "I just feel more comfortable."

A Very Karhoff Labor Day

Last weekend, Labor Day weekend, the Karhoffs came to visit.  We were bummed that Doug and his family couldn't make it out but, it was nice to get to be with Kirk and Peggy "just us."  This so rarely happens and I loved every sweet moment with them.  It was a perfect weekend except I was fighting off severe allergies/cold and just had no energy, but I pushed through!

Grandma and Grandpa are here! Roscoe couldn't be more happy!!

Along with all the treats Grandma brought him, Dad bought Roscoe this HUGE bone at the Farmers Market.

Linoma Lighthouse.  Something to definitely go to next summer.  Swim beach, camping and a land locked light house. 

Antique hunting is never boring with the Karhoffs.

Hanging out at the dog park.

As usual, there was not enough time together, but we are looking forward to our next visit.  Roscoe already misses his Grandparents!

Its been a while...

I know I haven't posted in a long time, but to be honest there hasn't but much to post about.  The month of July was spent working at Sam's Club for me.  Geoff's job is really taking off!  He is starting to get clients of his own and making more sales.  I love to see how much he loves his job!   I don't mind listening to him talk about fixtures and bulbs everywhere I go, because it just shows how much he loves what he is doing!

This past weekend my parents came to visit!  It had been a really long time since we had a chance to spend some quality time with them!  Friday, we drove to Omaha and did some serious shopping at Charming Charlies and Cabellas.  We also stopped at Mahoney State park on our way back to Lincoln.  Geoff and I have had this park on our list of places to check out for quite a while.  This state park its huge and has tons to do! It has everything from horseback riding to put-put, mellow dramas to water parks, tent camping to condo stays and some really fascinating views of the Platt River.  Although we were just checking it out and driving through, we really enjoyed it! I'm definitely looking forward to doing some camping there this fall!  AND this winter if it ever snows, they have a pretty sweet sledding run and ice skating rink!

At the top of the observation tower at Mahoney State Park

Saturday was spent going to the Farmer's Market, taking Roscoe to the Dog Park and getting some UNL Dairy Store Ice Cream!! Dairy Store ice cream is about as close as I can get to Braums here.  I LOVE their pumpkin ice cream and cannot wait for fall to be here so I can enjoy it!  Sunday came and we went to church and ate ourselves silly at Dicky's BBQ (so good.  so, so good.) and unfortunately it was time for Mom and Dad to head home.  I miss being near them so much.  Really I just miss being close to my whole family, all of our friends, Chick-Fil-A, Braums, Silver Dollar City, trees, hills, the general hospitality of "the south." I guess you can say, I've been pretty homesick lately.  Oh well, Christmas will be here before we know it and I will get to go home for almost a week! 

Now its time to gear up for school to start.  Still no teaching job for me.  There weren't even jobs for me to apply to.  I know God has a plan, I just wish it involved a teaching job for me.  So another year awaits filled with cutting lamin, pouring ketchup, recess duties and babysitting students...yay.

I Bought A Piano!

Geoff is forever dragging me to auctions and this past one was no exception.  This time I had company, mom and dad were in town and they were along for the ride with me as well.  Lincoln Public Schools holds their auctions twice a year.  When we went in the fall, I really enjoyed myself.  It goes by pretty fast and there are lots of items that I am interested in actually bidding on.  For this auction, the preview mentioned Musical Instruments: tuba, violin, trombone and piano.  This definitely caught my eye!

Once I discovered the Piano at the auction, I was immediately interested.  I was surprised at how good of condition it was in; of course it was in need of a good tune and some TLC.  I wanted it!  We stuck around to see how much the piano was actually going to go for.  The auctioneer started the bids at $100.  You could hear a pin drop.  The 20 or so people standing around probably had the same idea we did.  Finally someone bid $10.  Geoff kept looking at me with "Do you want me to bid?" eyes and I kept looking at him with "I really want it" eyes, so Geoff jumped in with $12.50! No more did Geoff bid that the auctioneer was saying, "Going going gone! For $12.50!" 

At first I was thrilled!  Woo hoo!  I bought a Piano!! But shortly after, my thoughts soon turned to where in the heck are we going to put this thing? How are we going to move it? (we own a Blazer and a Grand Am, my parents were here in the "Flea" aka Hyundai Accent)  I have never felt buyers remorse quite like this one.  I was literally sick to my stomach!  Here I was so excited to actually win a bid that I really wanted and it just wasn't going to work out. Plus I already own a piano! It just isn't here in Lincoln with me.  We are going to move it from my parents house until we are in a more permanent place. 

Luckily Geoff's boss, Bryce, was also at the auction with his truck.  The funny thing is that he was the one who bid $10.  We out bid him! So he volunteered to take the piano and store it in his garage.  We decided to put the piano up on Craig's list and try and make a profit and split it between us and Bryce.  (Like it will be hard! We ended up paying $13 and change with taxes put in.)  

Buying this piano also allowed me to bless a family in an unexpected way.  After we won the bid, this lady approached me almost in tears.  She asked if I had bought the piano and I said, "Yes, do you want it? You can have it!"  All she wanted was the tuning tag.  It belonged to her father who was a piano tuner.  Helping make this family's day really helped my buyers remorse.

$12.50 ended up buying us a piano that nobody wants. (Its currently August 6 and no one has been interested.  We have even offered to donate it for free to several places.  But $12.50 did buy me quite the story! 

The moral of the story, remember to spay and nuder your pianos to keep homeless pianos off the street.  

My Friday Five

1.  My parents came for a visit last weekend and we had a GREAT time!! I love getting to spend time with them.  We stayed super busy going to the Farmers Market, LPS Auction, shopping, Cold Stone, and grilling out on Father's Day. 

2. I bought a Piano at the LPS Auction.  This requires a blog post all on its on.  Be on the look out for that one early next week!

Me and my $12.50 Piano.  I love it!  Too bad we couldn't keep it.

3.  We celebrated our One Year Anniversary on Monday!  Geoff surprised me with having a local bakery remake our cake topper.  It was delicious!  And he got me beautiful flowers from the Farmer's Market.  We ended up staying in because we were both so tired from our busy weekend, but it was perfect!  We did go to Olive Garden last night compliments of Grammy and Grangrad and ate our selves silly. (Thank you!!!)

My flowers and our cake!

4.  We bought season two of The Walking Dead on Amazon Prime and this has pretty much consumed our evenings (hence staying home on our anniversary! haha) Although it scares the living begeesus out of me, I'm sucked in! 

 

5.  We are off to Kansas City this afternoon for the CED Prom!  I'm excited to get dressed up and have a fun evening compliments of CED.  Plus we get to spend time with Kirk and Peggy! I finished packing us up this morning now to drop off Roscoe at our friend's house and head that way.  (Side bonus: We get to stop at Chick-Fil-Et in St. Joe!!! Wooo Hooo!)

One Year Down......Many, Many More To Go!

This time last year, I was one very excited Bride.  This week Geoff and I will both stop and say, "this time last year we were fill in the blank." Its been fun to look back on everything surrounding our wedding.  I may be a little biased, but we had the best wedding!  It was everything I could have wanted and more!  But today isn't to look back on what our wedding was, but to celebrate our first year of marriage!

In one year we've:
Went on our first "just us" vacation AKA Honeymoon
Moved away from everyone and everything we knew
Made a home together with the hound
Started new jobs
Found "our" church
Discovered many recipes we love and many we didn't
Learned how to live together
Been sick many, many times
Visited family
Made new friends
Golfed. A. Lot.
Watched every episode of The Office
 Had fun discovering Lincoln
Disagreed on many things
Agreed on many things
Fallen even more in love with each other

Its been eventful and definitely a year to go down in the record books.  Its had its ups and downs, good times and bad times, but the best part is that we went through it together.  Marrying my best friend is probably the best thing God has allowed me to do.  I love living life with Geoff.  He makes me a better person.  I love him more today than I did yesterday and 365 days ago.  He is the reason I say "us" instead of "I" and "we" instead of "me."  So here's to one year and many more to go! Happy Anniversary, Geoff!

High Five For Friday

This week has been the kick off to our summer craziness.  It was just last week that Geoff and I felt like we were doing nothing, and this week we feel like we're barely going to have time to relax.  But its all ok, because this is what summer is about!! So here we go, my top five highlights of the week

1. This week has been Vacation Bible School at our church.  I volunteered to teach the Bible story to the two youngest groups, and of course I roped in Geoff to help.  At the beginning of the week, I was super nervous and felt like I had no idea what to do.  But last night when I told the kids goodbye (we only had a four day VBS due to a wedding at our church this weekend) I was kinda sad to see them and the week go.  It was awesome and just reaffirmed that I'm supposed to be teacher.  Now if only I could get a job...

2. I've been working a lot at Sam's Club, but I got paid this week.  WOOO HOOO!! That makes all the late nights and long hours sooooo worth it.

3.I finished reading Heaven Is For Real.   I know I'm a little late on reading this one, but wow.  This has completely changed how I believe in Heaven.  I firmly believe that we will recognized and see our family members and friends in Heaven.  I think what I am most excited of all to see when I get there is the face of Jesus.  The way this little boy described it, I can't even fathom in my human mind how beautiful he could be.  If you have not read this, do it. This little boy's story will make you laugh, cry and completely change the way you think of Heaven.

4.  I started teaching music lessons through the YMCA.  So far I have a flute student and a beginning piano student.  I didn't realize how much I missed teaching music.  I'm looking forward to seeing where this job takes me.  Now if I could only get a job teaching music in a school...

5. Peggy (Geoff's mom) and Abby (new employee at CED Joplin) is here with us this weekend to help with inventory at Geoff's work.  We love having company, especially when its family!  Although, I'm sure Peggy, Abby and Geoff would much rather not have to do inventory.  As for me, I just like having company to visit with into the late hours of the night!

Memorable Memorial Day

A little late is always better than never....On Memorial Day we went to Omaha with our friends the Gentiles to visit the Zoo.  I was excited because this was my first trip to the Omaha Zoo.  This zoo is amazing.  No really, its awesome.  We got to wander through the jungle and see monkeys and birds and hippos and sloths, oh my! 

 

I think the aquarium was my second favorite.   I could probably watch the penguins all day, literally.  They were fascinating!  Much more entertaining than the penguins at the Lincoln zoo.  I am looking forward to going back and seeing more there.  We were pushed through by the massive crowds but still got to see the majority of things.  Oh and the shark tank/tunnel was super neat too!  

Joselyn and I may have had to shove some small children out of the way, but we were going to see those penguins!

We also got to go through the Creatures of the Night exhibit where I was the only who could spot the creatures in the night.  Geoff also nearly peed his pants when we were in the "bat cave."  No worries, I held his hand through it.  Geoff and I rode the Skyfari across the zoo as well.  This was neat because we did not have time to see everything that the zoo had to offer.  Riding the Skyfari gave us the option to see some animals we didn't make it to.  

The highlight of the trip for me was definitely the Gorilla exhibit.  I was amazed at how many Gorillas lived at the zoo!  I could probably spend another day just watching these guys.  One came right up and looked straight at me through the glass, I could feel him staring into my soul.  Its like he knew I was a Gorilla too.  So awesome.  

High Five for Friday!!

I cannot take credit for this post idea.  One of the blogs that I follow and love, The Small Things Blog, does a High Five For Friday post every week and I think I'm going to join in as well.  So without further adieu, My Top Five for this week!

1. I've sat poolside twice, count em, twice this week!  I'm loving this summer like warm weather we are having in the first week of May.  It absolutely rocks!  I'm starting on my tan early this year.  By no means am I going to end up as dark as the crazy tan lady that's been all over the news this week, but I will definitely not glow in the dark come June.  

2. I got to see the Google earth camera car today!  It was during kindergarten second recess and it drove right by our school!  This was a first for me, and pretty cool.  I definitely freaked out like a kindergartener when I saw it.  So you all need to check out 5000 Mike Sholl St. Lincoln, NE in a month or so.  If you see a blonde headed girl wearing a plaid sleeveless top and jean capris on the playground, thats me!!!

3. I got a job(s)!!! Well for the summer anyways.  I will be the newest checker at Sams Club North Lincoln and be teaching private music lessons at the Fallbrook YMCA.  I'm pretty excited and hey, at least one of them lets me use my degree!

4. Geoff had super exciting and successful business meetings and a business lunch this week.  I love watching him grown and bloom and be successful in something that he loves. 

5.  Our little porch garden is starting to produce!  We have several cherry tomatoes growing, sprouts of hot peppers and jalapenos and one little bitty strawberry.  I'm excited to see what we get this summer! 

Thats it!  The top 5 for the week!  I'm looking forward to keeping this up for a while, so I hope you enjoyed.  Did you have a top five for this week?  We would love to hear about it!

Easter

For Easter this year, we decided to meet up with all the Karhoffs in scenic, beautiful Hays, KS!  This is the middle point for all of us.  (Actually the exact middle point is in the middle of no where; we know this because Doug calculated it.)

Roscoe couldn't come with us so he spent his time at the Kennel Inn living it up in deluxe doggie style. He got to chill in his private suite with a raised doggie bed, partake in pizza parties, play with new doggie pals, and eat lots of yummy frozen pumpkin treats!  We missed him bunches, and I'm sure he missed us too, but he loved his time at the Kennel Inn!

We had such a good time just getting to relax and visit with each other.  We hit up The Mall (literally its called The Mall) for some light shopping and for the Easter Egg Hunt Cage of Doom 2012.  We even made a side trip to Ellis, KS to check out their sweet train museum and play in the park.  This little town ended up being perfect for all of us, there was a train museum for Karson, a sweet park with a neat ball field for the boys to practice, its the boyhood home of Mr. Chrysler for our car buffs, but the best part of all is that their high school mascot was the Railroaders!  Peggy and Kirk were Railroaders back in the day in Durand, MI and honestly how common are Railroaders as mascots?  This was a pretty sweet find. 

It was also great to see our four fabulous nieces and nephews.  They are getting so big!  And they crack me up!  I got to teach Ali how to play Draw Something with me and Geoff and I taught Karson how to eat like a "piggy."  Doug and Amber, you're welcome.  We love them dearly, but this definitely confirmed that we aren't ready for kids any time soon.  They wore us out!  Watching them hunt Easter Eggs together brought back memories of my Easters with Danielle, Darren and Hannah.  There is something to be said to have cousins who are such good friends!

Although we didn't really "do" much, it was a great weekend.  I am truly blessed to have gained such an awesome second family.  I'm so glad that they have welcomed me in with open arms and treat me as their own.  It was a different Easter than any I've celebrated before, but it will definitely go down as my favorite first Easter as a Karhoff!

Flashback City

Today during my most favorite part of the day, lunch duty (NOT) the fourth graders were talking about how they were going to see Titanic in 3D. 

BAM, I was suddenly transformed back into my 4th grade year when the movie first premiered.  My 12 year old self became engulfed in everything around the ship Titanic and the movie Titanic.  I, of course, was in love Leo DiCaprio and dreamed of being Kate Winslet.  I begged and begged and begged to go see the movie.  I had a tough fight since I was still 12 and the movie was rated PG-13 and therefore didn't qualify to see it under my parents rules.  So of course Grammy took me to see the movie!  I still remember seeing the movie at Cinema 6 in Ada, and then wanting to get my hands on everything that involved the movie.  How fun it was to be 12.  I kinda wish I could go back to having no responsibilities, and my only worries were that my Doc Martin's would match everything I wore and that I would do well in my upcoming Gymnastics meet!  I enjoy seeing the 4th graders get excited over the same thing I did.  I'm kinda starting to like these kids a whole lot.  I'll be to leave them in May.