Holiday Recap - 2014

A holiday recap? In January? Yes, I'm behind... because I had other posts scheduled for while I was out of town and wouldn't have time or decent Internet access to post from!

To start, we went to a hot cocoa party and watched Elf with some friends... to which I took some hot chocolate cupcakes! I can't wait to share that recipe soon.

For Christmas, Dan and I loaded up the cats (and boarded the dog), and headed to Kansas City. It was a 10 hour drive, and while not very fun, we had a blast when we got there!

Our schedule was so jam-packed with lunches and dinners with family members and friends that we can hardly call it a vacation... but that's okay! It was wonderful seeing everyone and being able to spend time with them.

We celebrated Christmas with my family on Christmas Eve with a KC style BBQ dinner and gifts... and I was SO surprised to have gotten the red Kitchenaid mixer I've been eyeing for years thanks to my awesome husband! We had a lot of fun that night and ate way too much then and on Christmas day.

We also were able to see Unbroken on its opening night, and while it didn't tell the FULL story that the book does, it was still incredible.

We went to the last KC Chiefs game of the season... in which they kicked San Diego's butt (woohoo!) but ultimately didn't make the playoffs (just barely). We had a great time with friends, though!

• How were your holidays? 
• Did you travel or stay put?

Worth the Wait... the 29 Year Wait

How about that, Kansas City?

First, the Kansas City Chiefs STOMPED all over the New England Patriots during Monday Night Football action at Arrowhead Stadium, winning 41-14. That was AMAZING to watch. I grew up going to those games, and it's been tough since moving away from home. I still love them just as much and get goosebumps when they do so well! And some of the Royals players made the trek across the parking lot to cheer on the OTHER hometown team, which I thought was SUPER cool.

However, they're not the point of this post. THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS ARE! Those Boys in Blue have done it! They have gone to and won their first playoff game since 1985 - no joke! They had the longest streak in the MLB of not going to the playoffs, but that streak has been broken!

I may be biased, but Kauffman Stadium is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Here it is before the game last night.

I grew up ten minutes from Kauffman Stadium. Royals games were a regular thing in my house. My parents would take my brother and me to see the boys in blue play all the time. In that entire time, though, my brother and I had neither one seen the Royals go to the playoffs. Ever. We heard stories about how great the franchise used to be. We saw World Series paraphernalia (like unopened beer bottles with I-70 Series labels) from 1985 - not even kidding. But we never saw the Royals go to the playoffs.

Seriously, guys. They hadn't even been to a playoff game since 1985. And all of these amazing fans still supported them along the way.

This week, that changed. They won HUGE last Friday night, which sent them to the Wildcard game at the K (Kauffman Stadium) on Tuesday evening. Living in the Eastern time zone now makes things difficult. The game started at 8:07PM for me. I thought, okay, I'll stay up until 11:00, no biggie. But then the game was tied at 7 (after the Royals made a phenomenal comeback, might I add, from being down 7-3 in the 8th inning). So we went into extra innings. The 10th inning happened. Still tied. And then the 11th inning happened. AND THEN THE 12TH INNING.

The Royals FINALLY won 9-8 in the bottom of the 12th inning... which was 12:55AM here in Ohio. Yep, I stayed up until 1:00AM for a baseball game. I'm THAT girl, and I'm PROUD of it! I am so happy my parents raised me to be a loyal hometown fan. I am ALWAYS proud of the teams I love, but I cried. Literally, I cried when the Royals won the game. My husband was fast asleep (loser/nerd), so I had to celebrate on my own. My adrenaline was pumping, and I could not fall asleep. I contemplated popping open some champagne, but I decided against it since I was alone and it was the middle of the night mid-week.

USA Today says it best: The Royals Waited 29 Years for a Playoff Game. It Was Worth It.

Now, the Royals head to Anaheim to play a 'best of five' series to see who will advance further for the American League.

What is YOUR favorite baseball team?

How did they do or are they doing this year?

Or do you not like baseball at all?

Life Lately

I haven't made any personal posts lately, so I thought I'd do that this morning.

Instead of another recipe (but just wait -- more are coming!) or book review, I decided to share what's been going on lately. This is not an all-inclusive list, but it's just some things I felt like sharing with my wonderful readers. 
1. I had a three day weekend, and it was much needed. We had parent/teacher conferences at school on Wednesday night and Thursday morning last week, so we all got Friday off. Sleeping in was wonderful, and I feel slightly recharged (but I think Thanksgiving break in about a month will really do the trick). 
2. My sports teams are doing really well this year, which is a nice change. My baseball team, the Kansas City Royals, barely missed the playoffs, but they had their BEST SEASON in several years. It was so much fun to cheer them on. My favorite college team, the University of Missouri Tigers, are 7-1 this football season, which is only their second in the SEC. They are holding their own and doing EXTREMELY well. My absolute favorite team of all time, though? The Kansas City Chiefs. And they are 8-0 for the first time in TEN years. This is pure excitement on my end. It's so much more fun being a fan to a winning team... but win or lose, I've always been faithful to my Missouri sports. 
3. I got to see one of my best friends ever this weekend! Lizzie came out to Colorado to see her husband for a quick weekend while he's at training, and we were able to see each other twice, which was so wonderful. It's really hard having a long distance best friendship... we talk every single night, sometimes for hours, and it was great to see her in person and have Jack Quinn's together one more time. 

4. Reality is setting in that Cadet Lovemuffin graduates from the Air Force Academy in just 212 days. He has been working his butt off for over four years now for this, and I can't believe that the end is finally approaching (but it could still be quicker, and I'd be okay with that). I will only be his fiancée for 214 more days; after that, I will be his wife, and I could not be ANY HAPPIER about that. This has been a really long road, but I am so ready for this part of our journey to conclude. He was supposed to find out his Air Force AFSC (job) a couple weeks ago, but that has been delayed due to the government shutdown (yes, I know it's over; no, he still doesn't know when he'll find out). Keep him in your thoughts as he waits to find out because this is a HUGE deal! 

Where I Come From {Blogtember Challenge}

Tuesday, September 3rd Prompt: Describe where or what you come from - the people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are. 

I am Janelle. I'm 26 years old, and I'm a middle school language arts teacher. I'm engaged to a handsome man, who just happens to be a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. I have two cats who follow me everywhere.

But this post isn't about who I am; rather, it is about where I come from.


I am from Raytown, Missouri. 

Raytown is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. I went to school there from preschool all the way through my high school graduation. It is home to the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. The population is just about 29,500 people, but it feels much larger because it really is just a small part of a much bigger city. 

I am from a great family.

I was born in 1987 to Jay and Cheryl, who had been together throughout high school and (my mom's) college before getting married. Nine months later, I was born! I had a great life growing up. My family was pretty close, and we did a lot of activities together. I was also lucky enough to have two sets of grandparents AND a set of great grandparents living SO CLOSE that I saw them all at least once a week. 

I am athletic.

...or at least I once was. I have played many sports. I was first a dancer, and then I became a tumbler for many, many years. I played soccer, football (yes, on the boys' team), and basketball. I ran cross country and track. As you can see from the three pictures of me from 8th grade, sports are just what I did. I loved every minute of it. 

I guess you could say I'm lucky. I'd have to agree with that. Life isn't always perfect, nor is it always fair (like how my perfect family was ripped to pieces when my dad passed away unexpectedly in 2006). But I'm truly blessed to be where I am... and I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for my background. I am proud to be from Raytown, and I am dang proud to be a Vannice.