GO GREEN...GO WHITE!!

I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me one proud mama that the "Go green....go white!" chant is almost guaranteed to bring a big smile to our little Lill's face.  It's no surprise, I guess, given that in her lifetime she's only seen one MSU Basketball loss and one MSU football loss.  All she knows is MSU bball ranked in the top 5 in the country.  She's seen MSU become the B1G champs and go on to win the Rose Bowl and she's seen them finish the season #3 in the country.  The Bruno household is loving the powerhouse that the Spartans have become...not only in basketball but in football, too!

I have been lucky to experience the awesomeness that is Spartan football in person this year.  Not once, not twice, but THREE times!  That's right, I have been away from my daughter overnight three times; all in the name of Spartan football.  The first was a quick 24 hour trip back to Michigan for the MSU vs U of M game and my best friend, Carly's, 30th birthday tailgate!  The second was a quick ~36 hour trip to Indy to meet my Dad for the B1G championship game.  The last.  Saved the best for last.  The last was a 48 hour trip (notice that each time was a little longer than the last) to Pasadena, California!  I met my family out there for a whirlwind, rose and Spartan-filled, two days.  Experiencing the Tournament of Roses parade and a Spartan WIN at the legendary 100th Rose Bowl, all while enjoying the perfect 75 and sunny Cali weather, with my Dad, Mom and brother was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I'll NEVER forget.  I also got to spend some quality time with our dear friend, Justin Dantonio (who now lives in NYC with his girlfriend ,Carly), and his family.

I will welcome anyone who wants to argue that I don't have THE. BEST. hubby in the world (for a lot of reasons but especially for supporting my crazy Spartan fandom).  He's a pretty amazing Dad, too.  Lucky, lucky me :-)

Daddeo and I before the B1G championship in Indy

My fellow Spartan sports obsessed friend, Jaclyn, from college

My friend, Niki's, husband and Dad joined Stevo and I (we missed Niki!)

Flights BOOKED!

My new Sparty flair!

Christmas in Michigan

We spent Lilly's first Christmas back in Michigan.  We drove down the Monday before and then headed back the following Sunday.  It was great to see so many family and friends but disappointing to also miss so many.  Unfortunately, the stomach flu made it's way through the house taking out my brother, my dad and finally, me.  The last few days, therefore, were spent lounging around the house and getting as much sleep as possible so we didn't get to see all of the family and friends we had planned in an effort to keep them from the nasty germs.  Being able to see Christmas through the eyes of a little one was something special and I know it will only get more so as Lilly gets older.  Unfortunately we missed out on Christmas Eve church after a diaper blowout that ruined Lill and Corey's outfits.  I swear that Lilly was planning her poop schedule around when mommy put her in a new cute outfit.  As my girlfriends said about her one outfit..."Santa's little helper?...more like Santa's little pooper!"

Ty checking out the deer in the backyard

Four generations

White Christmas!

Play date with my Kappa Delta friends and all their kiddos

Play date with my friend of 25 years, Vicky, and her daughter Charlotte

Bruno Family Tradition

I'm a sucker for traditions, especially holiday traditions.  Even at 21 and 28, my brother and I still insisted on Dad checking to make sure Santa had come, collecting the stockings and opening them in my mom and dad's bed.  This is just one of my many favorite Ferrier family traditions.  Last year, with our first daughter on the way and the first year in our new home, Corey and I decided that we wanted to start some traditions of our own.  The first came about as a result of our love of giving back and helping those in need.  I called up a local charity group and, just like that, we had adopted a family for the holiday season.  We received their Christmas list which consisted of clothes, underwear, towels, pots/pans, and of course...toys, for the little girl.  Corey and I headed over to Kohl's one afternoon and had a little shopping spree.  It was the most fun either of us had had shopping for Christmas presents.  A new favorite tradition was born!  This year, we received our family...a young woman and her 3 year old daughter, strapped Lill into the cars eat and headed out for our annual Kohls' shopping spree.  We loved sharing our Bruno family tradition with Lill and look forward to the future when she can help pick out items and learn the joy of giving back and being thankful for all the blessings in our life that are so easy to take for granted.  Merry Christmas, everyone!

Our shopping buddy

Tissue paper was her favorite!

Helping mommy wrap the presents

Ready to be delivered to our adopted family!