Goodies in the Mail

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A long time ago, my mother said, just when you need it most, Money comes in the mail. Like from God. Well, today we didn't get Money, but it was just as heavenly in timing. The boys were having a rough afternoon, not sleeping well, the house is HOT! And Mommy and Daddy are bouncing off the walls to go to the NCAA Championship game that Butler is playing tonight.

Eric brought in the mail, and at last, Oh Happy Day!, the long anticipated package from our friend Tamsin in Vancouver!

She sent Chris and Sam their own Quatchi stuffies! Chris was so happy to get mail, and Quatchi is so cute. Chris LOVES his!



And she sent some other fabulous Olympic goodies too!



I'm ready for our next Olympic Party!

Easter Saturday

On Saturday, we celebrated Easter with Eric's Family, his Grandfather, aunts, uncles and cousins. We took over the Golden Corral, the boys ate their weight in bread rolls, and they played with cousins while we observed and talked, and just had fun.

We always have such a good time with them.



Sam really enjoyed getting his Annual Easter Egg from Great Grandpa with his name on it. He knew exactly what to do with it. I think he was disappointed that it contained money, and was not stuffed with candy or some other fun shaking thing.



He still had a great time, cudding up with Aunt Erica and Uncle Karl. We also welcomed the girls back from their Barcelona Spring Break trip. They were so full of energy, that Chris was bouncing off the walls with them, and having so much fun.



Cousin Travis volunteered to let the kids climb all over him. Chris was having such a great time.



And it wouldn't be a Willman Family get together if Chris didn't snatch up Grandpa's Cane and swing it around a bit. He used to snatch Grandma's too, and she loved watching have so much fun with her. It's times like these I really miss her.

Happy Easter

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We wish you a very Blessed Easter.



This Easter Holiday, May you and yours feel the beauty and amazing work that the Lord has shown us, that He reminds us every Easter, that he has the Power, the Power over the living, the Power over the Dead, that there is no death with Him, with Life in Jesus Christ.

Happy Easter!

Love, The Willman's

Final Four, Part 2

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Yes. We went. Our friend Bohl, was able to get a hold of a pair of tickets for us to the Final Four Game, Butler vs. Michigan State.

How did we get tickets you ask? Our friend Bohl is a Season Ticket holder, she was one of the lucky few to get in on the block of alumni season ticket holder tickets. She got her pair, and then a business aquaintance came through with a Free Pair for her. So she gave us the spare set of tickets. Here's our pic of the ticket.
Isn't it Pretty?!



Eric and I can't believe we're really here. It's like the Biggest Date we've ever been on, certainly the most expensive...unless you count flying to Florida for a very expensive Date Night at the California Grille on the Contemporary...which I really don't, that was just an expensive dinner. THIS was an Expensive Date. But an Awesome one. Dreams coming True....



This is our Crew, our "Lucky" group. We've got a whole slew of superstitions that we abide by during the games, including wearing the same shirts for each game. But those are another story.



Here's our view. We were 3 rows from the top, like if I was a foot taller, I'd be having trouble. However, there was a dropdown ceiling with TVs on it, and we could see the Jumbotron quite well, and I had packed binoculars, and my Zoom lens for my camera. Really I was quite content, as long as I didn't look down while I was going up and down the stairs. I'm quite skiddish on stairs. But it was Quite the Awesome View...with 72,000 of our closest friends. Or Enemies. It's amazing how Rude people can sound when they Boo...when there are so many of them....must've been the MSU fans, because you know Butler fans don't Boo.



Calling out the Starters for Butler. So Cool.



Tip off, they got it first..snarf.



Gordon Hayward makes a 3!



Now, I know a lot of stuff happened in here. I was chewing my fingers...standing, sweating; my heart was racing. It was close, somehow the offense and the defense did a great job, not their Greatest, but a Great Job...and

We Won.

This is where the shotclock ran out and Gordon got the ball at the very end, the basket lit up and we all slowly realize...we did it. It still hardly seems Real. But it is. I'm not sleeping, sleep deprived, but not sleeping. Crazy. And I love Gordon Hayward!



During the second game, it became clear by halftime that Duke was cleaning West Virginia's clock, so we called our crew to see if there were any empty seats by them. There were. Lots of folks had left, we went down, barely got in, but did. And watched the rest of that game. A whole different view down there, so much easier to get distracted by the yapping, and watching a non-Butler game was a whole lot less stressful. I think that may have been my first time watching a Non-Butler game in person. Eh. I like watching my Team better, even if they do give me the occasional heart attack.



We'd been cordial with the people around us, and we learned at Game's End that the people next to us up top were interested in selling their tickets to Monday Night's game. So we bought them as soon as Butler won.

Yeah so, Tomorrow night, we're going to the Final Four Championship Game...that Butler is playing. AHHH!!!!! Um Yeah. Never thought you'd hear ME say that.

GO DAWGS!

Final Four, Part 1

The last couple days have gotten away from me, so I'll try to catch up.

Friday I took the boys downtown to the Final Four. They were having an open Practice Session for Our Butler Bulldogs as they prepared for their game against Michigan State.



We met up with some friends, went inside, and met up with J. J. Jumper. I have no idea who he is, but for the next two days, Chris kept asking to go to Butler to see the Alligator.



20,000 of our closest friends, also showed up to see the Team Practice. The Pep Band was there too, it was like an extra long Pregame. It was pretty awesome hearing the Butler War Song played in this kind of venue. I got a little teary. Chris did too, once he realized that he wasn't going to get to go down and play ball once the team was done practicing, like he can after a Game at Hinkle.



So did Sam, but his upset was because he did Not Appreciate the massive cheering and noise, especially when done by Mom. But he tolerated it better when I held him, and didn't scream. That's really hard to do. Now when the band was just playing tunes, and the guys tossing the ball, well, he was pretty happy watching. Little did I know that I'd be spending the next day doing pretty much this same thing, biting my nails unable to stop watching the Team.



We took over a row of handicapped seating, basically so we didn't have to leave our strollers, and so we could leave the kids in them. We grabbed an area of 'stroller/wheelchair parking', and then staked out a row of chairs below, where the ambulatory crowd could sit. But Chris just thought it was extra fun to play with friends! Here's he's getting goofy with Steven.



And here, he's dancing to the Pep Band music with Emily.



And Chris would play peekaboo through the plastic shielding with Sam. Sam got a kick out of seeing Chris...almost as good as the band or team.



I tried to teach him to say Go Gordon! Actually I've heard him babble something very similar, but he hasn't quite gotten the hang of it. Yet.



Mommy and her boys at Lucas Oil Stadium. So Yes, I did take the boys down to the Final Four... the festivities, anyway, not the games.

GO DAWGS!

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Thursday Thirteen

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Today the boys and I went to the Zoo. It was a rare opportunity to meet up with friends, Lauren, who used to be Chris's OT, and her daughter Sonya. The Temp went up to the mid-70s, and flowers were blooming...ah yes, it was a beautiful Spring Day. I'm Loving April!

1. When we first arrived, we waited by the Seals and Sea Lions for our friends to arrive. Chris had fun trying to identify seals or sea lions.



2. Love the look on the Polar Bear's face, like he's saying, come on kids, smile already and go away. They boys were not interested in smiling.



3. As we were leaving Oceans, a crowd gathered by the back door, a Sea Lion had come out with his trainer, right there on the sidewalk, and they were giving a bit of a show. We were 10 feet away from a real live Sea Lion, and the boys LOVED it!



4. My babies checking out the babies...giraffes, that is.



5. Chris, Lauren, and Sonya, jumping on the rhino rope bridge. Repeatedly. They were hysterical!



6. My little monkey watches the Little monkey on the rock on the other side of the tree.



7. Sonya decided that was was bothering Sam was the great need for Fruity Cheerios. An exercise in Sharing, and she did great!



8. No visit to the zoo this time of year is complete with stopping off at the Gardens to see the Butterflies. The kids found this one just chilling (yes it was still alive) on the ground. And they exercised Great Willpower in not touching him.



9. Chris checks out the Butterfly case, he's counting them, but he told me he wanted me to take a picture of the pink one.



10. Gotta stop and smell the hyacinths, even the kids couldn't resist. Though honestly, we didn't have to get down on the ground, the smell was strong enough just walking outside.



11. So Sam didn't care about happy flowers. He wanted to play with the mulch, and after some serious investigation, try to eat it.



12. Cuddly Boys



13. Sweetboy Brothers.



This is my new favorite picture.