Spring Break 2011

So far this Spring Break has included....

.....traveling to Chicago with the Adler family to see Mike/ UM Club Hockey team at regionals.

Well...

...some how they won regionals after a terrible loosing streak, just barely getting into regionals, and having a team morale of zero.  It was amazing how much a little spirit can go.  

Later that day we...

.....celebrated Laura's birthday in South Haven.  Happy 23rd Birthday Lou!

Mike and I then stayed in South Haven for the next few days....

......and saw our dream house

....visited the beach.

And watched HGTV for hours, went grocery shopping, took a trip to Menards for fun, had a dinner date at Clementines and did nothing school related.  

Here is....

......my favorite picture from this week.  It's Mike patiently waiting in the car for me as I go crazy taking pictures.

Some other highlights from Spring Break:

-Dinner dates with best friends

- Spending hours at the book store with my little sister and Mike.

- My field placement interview for grad school!

-Wedding planning gone right

-Phone chats with best friends

-Watching Sweet Home Alabama

My Two Favorite Teams

What a wondeful weekend.  My two favorite teams are doing so well.  MSU just beat Maryland to make it to the Sweet Sixteen.  Yes, I know I go to UM but I grew up in East Lansing so not loving MSU just doesn't feel right.  

The final game was held at the Joe Louis Ice Arena (where the Redwings play)

Last night UM won the CCHA after coming back from being the second to last ranked team to beating the top team in the nation. The best part was that our second walk-on goalie (who played for the first time a few weeks ago because our first goalie is injured) won MVP of the CCHA.  I love seeing stories like that.

Me and Cort sporting the cheeks

VICTORY FROM UM!  Next step: NCAA tournament and four games away from being National Champions! 

Adventures in Wisconsin.

For this weekend's adventures we went on a road trip to Wisconsin...to watch hockey, of course.  We got up at 9 AM saturday and drove straight there, making a few bathroom/food stops.  We got to drive right through Chicago which was cool.  Secondly, I studied way more in the car than I would if I had stayed back.  (One of my hesitations to not go was that I wouldn't get enough work done.)  Then after the hockey game we drove home and got back to Ann Arbor at 4 AM!  Thanks to Katie's spectacular driving!

The masses or red.

We also saw a lot of game go-ers wearing neon orange, camouflage hunting suits.  Only in the midwest ay?

Better than an indoor hockey game....it's an outdoor hockey game!  The University of Wisconsin converted their football stadium into an ice rink for the Camp Randall Hockey Classic.  I must admit, watching a outdoor hockey game was pretty cool and different from watching an indoor hockey game.  Not something you get to see all the time!

There was also this guy who had a real life- now dead- badger on his head (for UofW Badgers).  The had had teeth, tongue and everything.  We actually saw multiple other dead stuffed animals in the form of gloves/mittens and other hats.  Kind of creepy.    

It was pretty cold, resulting in a million UM blankets, and a few "bathroom breaks" to just to warm up :)

We lost 2-3, but it was still an awesome game.  Nothing like a good adventure to refuel the spirits and get a break away from busy life.  Did anyone else find January crazy hectic? 

Wings Game

Mike and I at the Red Wings game last night.  I also have determined the three cutest players on the team: Todd Bertuzzi, Brett Lebda and Brad Stuart (I swear I'm not shallow, I had a program so I was looking through it).  Thanks for taking me Mike!

Life Update

1) Thursday Night I saw the new addition to the Twilight saga, New Moon.  It was Kelsy's 20th birthday (Happy Birthday Kelsy!).  I'm officially on Team Jacob after seeing that movie though.  Edward Cullen is pale and scrawny compared to Jacob.  

2) Friday Night was Cortny's first Yost experience!  At the last minute, she came down for her first UM hockey game at home.  I hope she enjoyed her time filled with cheers and band music sans drum sets.  

3) Katie (Mike's oldest sister) is currently driving home to Michigan (permanently). She gets home on Monday!  Hopefully I get to see her sometime over Thanksgiving Break.

4) My camera is still unfortunately missing in action.  You may have noticed that lack of creative photography lately, my apologies.  However, if is still missing come Black Friday, I'm going to brave the packed isles of Best Buy or Target to buy myself a new Fujifilm J38 (it has panorama view!).

5) I am reading a wonderful book called, Dear John, given to me by a friend.  I was at first hesitant because of reading previous Nicholas Sparks (someone ALWAYS dies), however, I can say I'm pleasantly surprised by this one so far.

6) Black Bean Salsa + Peperjack Cheese + A Burger = Delicious.  Dad, you would be proud of my food experimenting.  But as well all know, beans make everything much more delicious.  Try some today.  

That's it for now!  I'm heading off to the Dollar Movie Theatre to enjoy a lovely evening with Mike.  

Cortny and I at UM vs. Bowling Green hockey game at Yost.

*Photos taken by Mike Adler and Theresa

Notes From Home

This past weekend I went home.  Going home is always something wonderful for the soul.  It's a breath of relaxation and laughter and happiness.  Most of all I love seeing my family and good friends and plus, at the Patterson House you can aways count on a good cup of tea, especially if you are sicky like me.  So here are some updates from the Patterson household:
1) My dad renmaned our Kitten, Sadie Tigre to "Sadie Whoo Hoo" by putting that on her collar tag.
2) Lauren, my youngest sister has been quite the crafter.  I was amazed to see 25 bats hanging from the ceiling of our entrance hall when I first walked in (she saved them from Halloween so that I could see them) including a few little bats put inside a lamp.
3) Alicia's trophy from Cross Country States.  I am proud of her for having such a great and enjoyable Cross Country career.  Go Alica!
4) The view from my dining room was beautiful.  I love living on a lake.

Then on Saturday...I went to the UM/MSU hockey game with Cortny, Morgan, Mike, Eli and Rick.  It wasn't as fun as Yost, but you can expect that because it's MSU.  I can't wait to show Cortny and Morgan a real UM hockey experience.  Afterwards, Cortny, Morgan and I went back to Morgan's and had some good old fashioned girl talk compliemented by tater tots, corn dogs, ice cream, chips and pinto bean dip.