Blogs & BBQs

Friends, let me tell you! If you get the chance to come to Kansas City, then you have to experience the Great Lenexa Barbeque Battle. It's like RAGBRAI (for those Iowans) with grills. First, we parked at Lenexa, KS City Hall. Then, we took a shuttle bus to the battle. It was crazy! I am really glad we chose to take the shuttle bus because parking would have been a problem had we not arrived with experienced attendees. People from all over come to this BBQ throwdown.

Finally, we arrived. We paid our five dollars and were in like flinn. Justin's co-workers had a tent and had entered the competition in the area of brisket, pulled pork, and chicken wings. Their team name is Burnt Butter. So far, they had placed 18th out of 150 entries for their brisket. There was a plethora of other items, as you can see on Justin's plate. Today (Saturday) the judging will take place. I wish them the best of luck and grant them many thanks for the delicious food we had last night. I hope you all enjoy the pictures we took and get a little taste of what this delectable experience was like.

Red, White, Blue, & BBQ

I am so pumped! Since we've lived in Kansas City, I have wanted to go to the Lenexa BBQ. We've never been able to go because we are always having to travel back to Iowa for one reason or another. I can't wait to try some of the best BBQ in the country. As a foodie at heart, this will be an experience.

A Day at the Farm

So, I know I know, it is probably time to start thinking about having children. My biological clock has been ticking like crazy lately. We, however, have decided to wait one more year to begin the quest of parenthood. Justin and I both have hopes of finishing our masters degrees. The end is in sight for me, as I only have one more year of coursework left.

Anyhow, I have had the opportunity to spend three lovely days this past spring at the Deanna Rose Farmstead. All three days have made us want to have kids even more because everything is way more exciting with kids. The first trip was with my friend Kati and her son Tyler. Next, it was on to the farm with my friend Jen, Jacquiline, and baby John Oscar. Jen and I graduated from high school together. She is instinctively a mother and now has two kids, Jacquiline and new baby John Oscar. Jacquiline is the little one posing in the featured picture. The third farm visit was last Friday. Justin and I spent the day volunteering for Green Scene, an environmental awareness day for kids. All three trips have been great days at the farm!

Ode to the Black Couch

It has been almost five years since Justin and I first moved in together. Though originally not as a couple, we have always enjoyed each other's company. Especially time together on the lovely black couch. After living in the sorority house for two years, I did not get the chance to accumulate nearly as much furniture as Justin. Justin is a sucker for cheap/free furniture and rarely turns down a deal. Hence, what we call the "sexy black couch."

Yesterday, some younger twenty-something maintenance men were in our apartment to patch a hole in our ceiling. One of them was duitifully eyeing the sexy black couch and even commented on how much he liked the couch. I also had a ceiling fan that needed to be installed, thus I made a deal with the young buck that if he installed my ceiling fan today he could have the couch. After conversing with Justin to get the "okay" on everything a deal was struck. They installed my fan and he is now the rightful owner of the couch.

It has taken two years for Justin to finally part with the sexy black couch. I comforted him by letting him know it was in good hands and that maybe the couch would bring this dude as much luck as it brought Justin:) Ode to the sexy black couch.

Mrs. & Mr. Nickel

Hi all! This is Sara typing. I've been meaning to start a blog/space/facebook/whatever page for a while now. It is just the way to keep people up-to-date on whatever is happening in life anymore. Anyway, Justin and I have been happily married for eight months now! We've been to Chicago, Jamaica, and many trips to Iowa since then. Hopefully this will be a better way to keep in touch with you all as we begin our lives together.