Now organized for the new year

My first goal of the new year was to get our place organized and labeled. We have so little space that everything counts. I saved Christmas money so I could go over to The Container Store (I love that place) and Target to load up on org containers, baskets, and closet shelves.

FYI, a hanging shoe rack does wonders in storing scarves, gloves and hats during winter.

I can now check this one off the "To do in 2008" list.

Ted, you and I have witnessed many things, but nothing as bodacious as what just happened...

Greetings everyone! This is Michael Joseph Featherstone here, signing on and posting my first entry on our blog. Erin and I have discussed numerous times what might be an appropriate first entry for me, but alas, until this point, I don't think I could really come up with anything of worth...

Until, that is, the night of January 3, 2008, when Erin, her siblings, and I all sat down and watched a DVD that Erin's sister Heather gave Nathan for Christmas...BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE!


A modern American classic, I must say. I lament that Alex Winter's career as an actor didn't expand much beyond this and Lost Boys. I hear, though, that he's been a fairly successful producer and director; I am relieved that we are not robbed of his creative genius today, when we need it most. The dearth of decent talent in the movie business these days makes me pine for the days when brilliant dialogue such as this filled the multiplex:

Bill: Ted, while I agree that, in time, our band will be most triumphant. The truth is, Wyld Stallyns will never be a super band until we have Eddie Van Halen on guitar.
Ted: Yes, Bill. But, I do not believe we will get Eddie Van Halen until we have a triumphant video.
Bill: Ted, it's pointless to have a triumphant video before we even have decent instruments.
Ted: Well, how can we have decent instruments when we don't really even know how to play?
Bill: That is why we NEED Eddie Van Halen!
Ted: And THAT is why we need a triumphant video.
Bill, Ted: EXCELLENT!

In all seriousness, though, this movie is classic--in that campy, "man it was fun when I was 10 years old and got a kick out of these movies" kind of way. Thinking back on this movie makes me miss other such classics from those formative pre-adolescent movie-watching days...

Who could forget these?

Surf Ninjas! My favorite part was when Rob Schneider pretended to be in a wheelchair and threatened to beat someone with his leg.

Or this classic:
I mean, you've got 80's icon Mia Sara, a 13-year-old-looking Tom Cruise jumping around, fairies, unicorns, Jon Anderson on the soundtrack, and Tim Curry as Darkness with huge horns! What's not to love?

I could go on for hours, but I'll close with this classic:

To be completely honest, I don't think I've seen this movie since I was 7 or 8 years old, so I don't remember much of it. I do remember thinking that it some deep message about good and evil. I need to put it back on the Netflix queue...right after The Battle for Endor and, of course, Labyrinth.

Palm Springs Holiday

Another family tradition...we spent the week between Christmas and New Year's in Palm Springs.

I think we probably hiked every peak in the valley. Such is the lot of being born (or marrying) into the Robinsons. Mike loves it because it brings his hidden outdoorsy streak out. We awarded him "trek leader" for over half of the hikes. Oh so funny.

PS. We also found out Austin and Rachel just got engaged! Congrats!

The bonus prize we received out of the Palm Springs trip is that we completely forgot that we had to return to a Chicago winter.

The tradition lives on...

Surfing on Christmas day

This was the main reason Mike didn't complain to much about being in CA for Christmas (instead of back home where they were getting slammed with perfect skiing snow).

It was a great day...the waves were "perfect" (aka big enough to ride, but not too big to scare me out of the water). I really am not that good. Mike has learned fast though, and pretty soon he's going to be passing me up. I keep telling my dad that we've created a monster...

Annie's Bachelorette Party

We had Annie's bachelorette party while I was in California. FUN.

Happy soon-to-be wedding Annie!

I had to put this picture to show how adorable Annie's fiance is. Here we are decorating cupcakes before the party. What a cutie.

Christmas in Chicago

We have been cramming in hang-out time with our favorite friends before we leave Chicago for warmer weather. Here is a sampling of our adventures.

1. Dinner @ Volare with Chicago GSB friends

2. Christmas lights at Daley Plaza (aka: the square with the giant Picasso sculpture) with Shanny and John

3. 1st Annual Featherstone Friends Christmas Party and white elephant gift exchange.

Note: We were heartbroken we weren't going to be at the real Featherstone Christmas Party (where the white elephant gift exchange is more of a battle than a game) and we had to have one on our own. We made the cupcakes.

Mike just loves his new tie (his White Elephant gift). If you can't tell, it's a picture of Santa golfing with his reindeer. Where else would you get a tie that cool?

The Feathie Cabin

Thanksgiving at the Featherstone Cabin was hilariously fun. In our quiet Chicago apt I almost forget how much fun & adventure it is hanging out with the Feathies. The first picture is Mike holding baby Emmie, Jon and Shae's new baby. She is the first grandkid and she got a lot of attention; there was always a long list of people wanting to hold her. The second picture is the Feathie kids out for a spin in the Golf Cart. I told you they're crazy! But we love their craziness.

Here are mom and dad Feathie who made sure we ate better over Thanksgiving than we ever eat in Chicago. When we got back to Chicago we had to go on a fruit-&-veggies-only diet for a day to make up for it!

We gave baby Emmie her gift over Thanksgiving (since we are going to CA for Christmas). We decided to be creative and make a few gifts. Here is a pic of one of the gifts for her future room.

Christmas is coming...

Christmas is coming and we can't wait. We (especially Mike) are major Christmas fans. We put up our tree in November. We're going to CA for most of December so we put it up early so we could enjoy it while we are here.

My favorite part of our tree are the ornaments Mike and I made last year. We made them out of black and white pictures.

New paintings

I just finished two new paintings. Mike and I hung them last night.

Also, thanks Featherstone family for the birthday flowers. I've decided I always need fresh flowers when I paint. They smell so great.

Birthday

I don't think I need to comment much on my birthday. Suffice it to say I got really really sick and didn't get to enjoy it. But the night before (Fri) we went out with school friends to dinner, and the night after (Sun) we had some of our church friends over. So overall I guess it turned out okay. Thanks for everyone who cheered me up!