New Years Eve

Jon and I hosted a New Years Eve party this year. It was a lot of fun!! There was a ton of food, desserts, karaoke, Rock Band, and party favors which helped us ring in 2009 in style. We also had a pajama contest for who wore the coolest pajamas. Andrew and Jacob won because they showed up in matching pajamas which was too sweet to pass up the prize. This is our Christmas tree. Notice the red bags surrounding the tree. Jon and I made one for each of our party guests. The bags contained tacky party favors which of course we encouraged people to wear and use for the rest of the evening. Me putting out the nuts and pretzels before the party starts. Jon standing at the top of the steps wearing the new sweater I bought him. Jon and Garbo Kitty. Garbo Kitty looks grumpy, but it is probably because he just got chased down by the dogs two seconds previously. Jon sampling the food....does he approve or did he just get goosed? Andrew and Jacob wearing matching pajamas. Matt doing something weird while Dave walks into the kitchen. Dave is sometimes plagued by his one photo-shy eye which doesn't want to quite open all the way up sometimes. The crew opening their bags....Andrew and Paige.

Matt and Ryan opening their bags. And yes, Matt is wearing a tiara.

Dave modeling his hat and mask combo.

Dave looking very reminiscent of Michael Stipe of R.E.M fame. Notice his swirly straw....another party favor in the bag.

Jon in his New Years hat blowing his party horn. If you can think of a way to not make that sound dirty, please be my guest. Seriously, it is impossible because I tried.

Me modeling my New Years hat on the fireplace. I look like one of those 50 year old female McDonald's workers who doesn't want to mess up their hair so they barrette the hat on top of their bangs.

Andrew playing drums on Rock Band while Jacob looks on.

Paige and Garbo Kitty. Paige is the Cat Whisper because both of my cats couldn't get enough of him. And look at his stylish pajamas to boot!

Jacbo playing the guitar on Rock Band. Jam on wit yo bad self!

A group shot. Andrew is playing drums and Dave is playing guitar while the rest of watch on.

Paige as the lead singer of Rock Band.

Matt being Matt

Jon in his Homer Simpson pajamas, top hat, with his karate kid party favor, and blowing his horn. He also has a glow in the dark braclet on.

Matt doing an anti-gay curse on himself that he saw on the Discovery Channel made famous by the Zu-Lu tribe. Trust me....it sooooooo didn't work!

Andrew and Jacob......ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Me in my Grinch pajamas and top hat!

Happy New Years!

I wish everyone a Happy 2009 and hope that your resolutions hold out at least a week. My resolution two years ago broke the record I think for how quickly it failed. My resolution was to not make fun of strangers, but the girl on the television at Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve Bash after the ball dropped should not have been wearing that yellow hat, with a pink scarf and I felt it was my place to say it out loud. Oops, resolution failed in 37 seconds. While 2008 saw some big changes in my life, 2009 promises to bring the beginning of the biggest and best changes.

• One - I turn 30 this year! Seriously, where does the time go? As Truvy (Dolly Parton) says in my favorite movie of all time, Steel Magnolias...."time marches on and sooner or later you realize it is marching across your face!" 30 is going to find me with much less hair than 20 did, a few more wrinkles, and definitely a few more lbs. around the mid-section. One thing that 30 brings me that 20 did not is the knowledge to understand how insignificant these things are in the big picture of my life. Which brings me to number two...
• Two - I am getting married, hitched, partnered, committed, whatever you want to call it. So we are two men and it isn't legal in the State of MN, who cares? We don't care about the piece of paper, after all it is all the hard work and commitment that makes a marriage, not a piece of paper. We just want a fair shake at love like the rest of the world. Jon and I aren't activists in general, but this is a way for us to show the world that our relationship should be taken as serious as anyone elses. Jon enriches my life in so many ways and it pains me to think that somebody wouldn't want to know him for example just because he wants to commit himself to me, another guy. Despite the haters of the world, Jon and I are thrilled to begin a life together!!
• Three - My first REAL vacation....and to Mexico nonetheless. Granted, it is my honeymoon, but I have never taken a full week, dished out as much money as I have for one single vacation. Me gusta daiquiris y siestas? Si, si!

It is my hope that 2009 brings my family and friends health, love, and happiness. Please be safe and have a Happy New Year!!

Skiing in Vail, CO

Jon, his mom (Sandy), and I hopped a plane for a little bit of skiing in Vail, CO. Vail is special to Jon and I in the first place as that was the place he proposed (ahhhh....memories). Vail is especially special to Jon because he is a natural born skier. Get him to Vail and all you will see is a cloud of snow trailing behind him as he cruises down a black (hard) or double-black (really hard) diamond mountainside. I on the other hand, preferred the safe and cautious approach. That is ski five feet.....stop.....ski five feet.....fall.....cry......fall again.....lose a ski....ski five feet....etc. No, actually I didn't do too bad and I think Jon was pleased with my skills. I am DEFINITELY excited to go back again soon. The Village Square is too damn cute for words and the skiing is killer (beyond the bitter cold we faced which is not typical). I was thrilled to get to know Jon's mom in a manner beyond a dinner here and a dinner there. We really had a chance to learn a lot about each other and I think it was good for everyone involved. This is Jon's "I'm so excited I am going to pee on myself" face. We had just gotten to our hotel and weren't even going to go skiing until the next day. Still, he was as enthusiastic as ever! Jon gearing up for our first day of skiing. He was like a kid in a candy store. I on the other hand was very nervous at this point.

Sandy doing the same....

Me....looking like I put on 50 lbs. This is right before the ski lift opened and I was scared, scared, scared!

The first night out we went to dinner. The Village is decorated with Christmas lights, trees, wreaths, etc. I just loved it. Here is Jon and I at one of the Christmas trees.

Thank God my snow pants are black and you cannot see the unfortunate crotch taco the suspenders gave me.

Me at the top of Eagle's Nest. It was cloudy this particular day, but wow, even so it is such beautiful scenery.

Sandy and I

The Ninja Warrior with a look of fierce determination after being told a hamburger, fries, and Gatorade cost $25. Say what?

Jon and his suspenders. We both learned what it will be like when we are 65 and only suspenders will keep our pants from dropping below our knees.

Sandy getting ready for another day of skiing.

Our group photo.....ohhhhhhhh!

Me modeling my brand new Vail shirt. Actually, Sandy bought it for me for Christmas.

Sandy eating an onion ring.

Me devouring an onion ring. Skiing + Cold Weather = Hungry Keithy

Jon in front of the ice skating rink. You can see snowflakes in the foreground. I am so artistic in my photographs.

Jon standing under a lamppost.

The escalator down was broken, so I snapped this puppy as Jon and his mom were coming down the stairs.

However, the escalator up worked just fine....

If you look close enough, this was the exact moment in the trip when Jon's mom realized I am certifiably insane (but in a fun way of course). If she didn't know about my penchant for goofy pictures before the trip....I guess she does now.

Jon thought it would be funny with me standing under a "One Track Mind" sign. And in fact, he was right.

Sandy and I shopping...

Shop til' I drop

I have no idea

Ignore the Chex Mix and eye in on the apron, which Jon thought I should wear in the kitchen. True, oh so true!

Me lying on my pillow. Could my nose be any bigger in this picture?

Baby Burgaken

Okay, so Jon and I thought it would be a good idea to see what our genes might look like when combined together. Maybe it is a good thing that they haven't figured out how to make a baby with two men's genes because apparently it creates a fungus-like growth on the baby's upper lip. FYI....this is a baby girl and her name would have been Joth Burgaken, which is a unique combination of both of our first and last names. We liked that better than Joke McMaburg.