Spring Break 2011

Spring Break is always the most epic time of the year. This one started out just as good as usual, except now we live in Florida and it's warm and awesome. First, Beej flew back to Des Moines to go visit his momma for her birthday. Sounds like he had a blast, even if he was chilly 99% of the time. While he was chillin' in the 515, Aud and some awesome new Gainesville friends packed up and drove to Mayo, Florida to go to Sexy Suzy's Suwannee River Rendezvous to party, play and have the most fun ever. We played football and built human pyramids and drank like it was the last Spring Break in history. Then, Aud woke up the next morning and drove to Orlando to pick up lil' ol' Beej. We passed this brutal accident on I-75 and decided to get off the freeway because everyone was driving like a-holes and drove the highway the rest of the way home. It was pretty.

Brian worked Tuesday, Aud worked Wednesday while beej and his bandmates drove to Valdosta, GA to record new vocals for the band he is in called Bedwetter. Sounds like they had fun!!! Thursday was filled with bloody marys and Dude flavored vodka and working for beej. Friday was a super fun busy work day at The Top. Saturday we packed up the dogs and drove to a super secret camping spot in North Florida. We spent two days hanging out with sweet southern rednecks, camping, hiking, playing with dogs, grilling, checking out springs and the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers. We will post pictures soon!!!!! Now we are going to go ride our tandem bike and later go bowling at Alley Gatorz.

SPRING BREAK 2011 RULES.

man I'm the worst

So, apparently I am the worst blogger in history. I promise I will try to keep it up with weekly updates. I think I was a little intimidated by our whole move and didn't know where to start. So, without much further ado, I PROMISE I will update this thing weekly with the happenings of good ol' audbeej.

Love,
Aud

ugh. sorry it has been forever.

So all is well and hot and sticky down here in Florida. We have been super crazy busy!!! School has started, and work has been ten times busier than it was over the summer months. We will make a short list of things that we have done since the last post (and in no particular order):

1. We went to St. Augustine beach. Twice! It was awesome.
2. We went to Genny Springs. Apparently the middle of Florida is littered with tons of natural springs that are 72 degrees all year long. They are crystal clear and incredibly beautiful.
3. We went on a million bike rides all over Gainesville. Well, not a million, but a lot.
4. We are slowly, but surely getting our place settled the way we like it. We have had to arrange and rearrange and then re-rearrange, but it's getting there.
5. Our new niece, Coral Rae, was born!!!!!
6. Two weddings! One was Mat and Teresa in Iowa!! The other was Brooke and Ryan in Portland. Aud got to go, but unfortunately, beej had to stay home with the puppies.
7. We went to Orlando and saw Lightning Bolt.
8. We went to our first Florida Gators game! So fun! (but not even close to the same as Midwest football as far as tailgating is concerned!)

Now, here is a list of some fun upcoming events!!!
1. Will is coming to visit!
2. Aud's bday!!!!!!!
3. Pavement and Atlanta!!!!!
4. Built to Spill!!!!
5. The Fest 9!!!!
6. Hopefully Kris and Robyn are still coming to visit in November!
7. The Dingemans are coming in December!!!!
8. The Thrashers are coming in January!!!


Alright, must go to work now. Will update soon with pictures!!!!

We made it! (Part 1 of 2)

Alright. Finally we are doing this. Sorry it has taken so long; we have been running around like crazy trying to get our belongings from the moving company, getting jobs, getting settled and watching soccer. Ha. 

So, the weekend before audbeej left the 515, many things were happening: we had our last day of work at Ye Olde London Underground; we were honored to attend our sister's wedding, and our baby sister had her high school graduation open house! 

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Our last day at the bar was amazing. In the few short years in Ames, we managed to make friends with some of the greatest people ever! It was one of busiest bar nights we had worked in Ames, and everyone was filled with hugs, booze, laughter and tears.

working that magic

distinction: laughing, not pooping

booze booze booze booze... bbbbbbbbbaba boooooooooze!

aw yeah!

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The next evening was sister A's and soon-to-be brother J's wedding. It was a beautiful, private, intimate ceremony held in their amazing! backyard. It was short and sweet (and of course started a little bit later, but it wouldn't be our sister's wedding if it didn't!), and we must say that there were tears in the eyes of aud. It was presided over and catered by one of their close friends and amazing chef (who was super awesome to cook us up a tasty vegan dinner!) 

Here is the anxious groom and his hilarious brother

Here's momma getting ready for the close up

One part of our awesome family

The GORGEOUS bride and little guy

The ceremony

The smooch!

The newlyweds

audbeej with ol' MB and momma J

So, after the wedding we headed to downtown to say one more goodbye to all of our favorite friends, bartenders, and friends who are also bartenders. We didn't bring the camera because, well, quite frankly we didn't want to lose it right before our trip. Much fun was had, just let us say that. 

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The next morning, we loaded up most of our stuff and headed to mom's house for our baby sister's graduation party. We had planned on leaving from the party about an hour into it - that way we could say goodbye to as much of our family as possible and right at the last minute. The following pictures, although not the most flattering of aud, make her cry just looking at them. Beware.

audbeej saying goodbye to grandma

aud trying to get ready to hug baby sister (aka babybop)

aud squeezing babybop (*sniff*)

three sisters

three sisters and one momma

momma JB giving some last words of advice

car packed and ready to go

the Dfam and beej (Sorry I don't have anymore of our goodbye hugs... email them to me!!)

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Done with crying pictures, and now onto happy traveling pictures.

Beej rocking the first leg while aud tries to hold it together. Illinois is boring.

Doggies getting settled in

Audparty

Who knew Peoria was quite beautiful? It really is!

In the next three pictures, pay careful attention to Mia "The Black Eagle" Beastman's unique car chillaxin' style. She is hilarious.

I call this one "the dangler"

Entering Louisville, Kentucky: another gorgeous city!

Driving through the Appalachian Mountains. Aud didn't realize how truly mountainous they are!

Either Tennessee or North Carolina (I forget) tunnel shot 1

tunnel shot 2

tunnel shot 3

end of the tunnel

Beautiful bridge into Savannah, Georgia

Did you know it is legal to drink beer in public in Savannah?!?!!

While we were in Savannah, Georgia, we stayed with beej's parents' longtime friends. They were amazing and showed us a freakin' wonderful time! We ended up leaving a day early because we were only three or so hours from Gainesville and were ready to finally land.

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We arrived in Florida at 10pm and pulled into our new place at 11pm. We quickly unpacked, fed the pooches and let them run around a bit. We immediately jumped on our bikes and headed over to Wayward Council to meet up with our new roommates and see some bands. 

Since then, we have gone to Bob's River Place three times. It is a CRAZY INSANE redneck homemade waterpark on the Suwannee River.

aud getting ready to do the demon jump

aud flying like crazy from the demon jump

beej going bonkers off the demon jump

florida crew at bob's river place

Between arriving in Gainesville and now, we have gotten our Florida license plates and driver's licenses.

we found out that new Iowa DL won't let you smile, so beej was REALLY pumped when he found out that not only could he smile - he could open-mouth smile!

aud

We have so much more new stuff to add (finally, I know). Sorry Beezy! We promise we will be posting way more frequently now that we are starting to get situated. Part 2 of "We made it!" will include photos of our new place, the animals, new roomies, new jobs and fun for all!!!!!!

There are more pictures to be put up, but we aren't going to put anymore up until our place is finally all organized and less-disastrous. 

We love you all!

holy bananas the end is nearly here

It's been a while since the last post; forgive us. We've been packing, selling, moving, downsizing, cleaning, oh - and partying. Our two going away parties were super awesome! Thanks to everyone who made it out! We closed on our house on Friday 28 May 2010 and moved in (very temporarily) with aud's momma and Jim. (Thanks mom and Jim!)

Sunday, 30 May 2010, little babybop sister Kelsi graduated from high school! It was an especially proud moment. Aud bawled six times and was having trouble taking photos because she was sobbing uncontrollably. Ha. Then, Monday we had a wicked fun pool party. (Again, thanks mom and Jim!)

Audbeej's last two nights at London Underground in Ames are tomorrow (Thursday 03 June) and Friday (04 June). Friday will probably be especially busy, so if you actually want to be able to hang out and hug with aud and beej, we would recommend coming on Thursday night. But come Friday, too, because it will be EXTREME!

On Saturday 05 June 2010, Alison and Jim are getting married! Woo! Fun times! And then Sunday Kelsi is having her graduation party! We are leaving at 2 pm on Sunday, so unfortunately we will only be there for an hour.

Get a hold of us if you wanna see us before we leave! We love you all!

And now, some pictures...

Literally ALL of our stuff in the first three pictures...

Well, almost all of it is ours. The swedish fish and lemonade are definitely not audbeej's.

Empty bedroom

Empty dog bedroom

Empty Andy's bedroom

Sold!

Moving Man beej!

Our temporary home when not at mom's. And yes, all three dogs and the cat are riding down to Florida with us in this car.

Psycho moving man carrying our deep chest freezer (which was packed with ALL of our small kitchen appliances)

Oh, and aud's brutal wound is healing up slowly but surely. She took out the stitches herself. SO CRAZY!

James tattooed an apple for Apple on Aud, too! (Back of calf-ish)

Well, that's all there is for now. Look forward to a sweet blog detailing our exciting travels!