So there was this football game on Feb. 6...

You might have heard about it - the Super Bowl? It was a pretty big deal in the Desotell household. First of all, a number of weeks prior, we offered to host a Super Bowl party. So of course there was a lot of prep and planning that went with that.

Secondly - and Kevin might think this should be listed FIRST - the Green Bay Packers were in it. Yea, a pretty big deal here. So big, in fact, that I thought Kevin's head might explode.

So what is a wife to say when a husband wants to go to said Super Bowl to see his team compete? Even if they already agreed to host approximately 20 people for a party? "Buy the plane ticket, honey!"

Off to Dallas he went to enjoy the game with his buddy, Joel. While I only have one picture of the whole event (Kevin really needs to get the pictures off his Blackberry...), I have a feeling the majority of the weekend - pre & post game - was spent like this. Perma-grin.


Being a Packer fan myself (unless they are playing the 49ers - then all bets are off), I got into party planning full swing! Bought us some cheeseheads, of course.


Nick loved the cheeseheads too - and he was a great co-host!


Here are all the guests watching the game. I was too busy (I guess) to take pictures of the decor, but you can sort of see the banner I put up over the couch that said "Go Pack Go!!" There are also little flags and balloons near the window. Unlike last year's Super Bowl party - both teams were NOT represented. Packers only.


The noshing table - meatballs, chili, deviled eggs... yum!!


The coffee table filled with lots of things to snack on during the game, including cheese curds!!


Packers win!!


We had a great time at the party. And, needless to say, Kevin & Joel had a GREAT time in Dallas at the game. He said it was the easiest party to host that we've ever had. Humph.

Hey, I even won our Super Bowl pool - winners all around!!

Dean Desotell, 4/25/31 - 1/26/11

In January, Kevin received the call that no one wants to get. His Dad, Dean wasn't doing well and Kevin needed to get to Green Bay as soon as possible. While there was a glimmer of hope that Dean would rebound, unfortunately, it didn't happen.

One January 26, 2011 we lost him. He was a great man, a kind man and a man that lived a pretty incredible life. Here is the text of his obituary in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

Dean Desotell, who helped found the Brown County Youth Hockey Association and was a member of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame, died Wednesday. He was 79.

A native of Green Bay's west side, he played for the Green Bay Hornets amateur team in 1948 and 1949 before going into the Army.

When Desotell came home from the Korean War, he started working with youth hockey programs in Green Bay. He worked at the rinks at Eastman, Farlin and Fisk parks for 11 years, then spent the rest of his career at the Colburn Park rink.

Desotell, who also worked as a foreman at Green Bay Structural Steel, played hockey into his 60s. He was inducted into the state hockey hall of fame in 1999.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; five sons, eight grandchildren and other family members.


The services that weekend were lovely. I'm sad that Nick will never know his Grandpa Dean well, but know that he's in a better place. I think I see a little of Dean in Nick - he loves hockey and has a pretty awesome slap shot for an almost 4 year old!

Rest in peace, Dean.

What happens when a toddler takes your phone

As I mentioned in another post, we headed out to Green Bay in January for Grandpa Dean's funeral. It was certainly a tough weekend, but there were some happy moments as well. Nick was great kid the whole time we were there (I mean, when isn't he great? HA!) One of the things that he LOVES to do is use Mommy's phone to take pictures. Here are a few of his gems.

Mommy at the funeral luncheon:


Daddy and cousin Ben. Ben also made the mistake of letting Nick use his phone... Nick practically drained his entire battery!! Whoops!


Ben and Brooke (Nick's cousin / Ben's sister)


Another one of Ben & Brooke - there are about 10 of this general picture on my phone, this is just a sample!


Later that afternoon, we headed back to our hotel bar to have a much needed cocktail. Again, Nick practices his photography skills. Not such a bad one, actually.


One of the saving graces for parts of the trip was my iPad. And, more importantly, Angry Birds. He loves it and Mommy & Daddy love it too as we can enjoy a drink with minimal interruption for a bit.


Nick "Nachos" - Doritos, yogurt, bananas, popcorn and apples.


And, yes, he actually ate a lot of it.

I don't know why I didn't get a picture of it, but we did get a good load of snow while we were there. It wasn't terribly cold, however. Overall a sad & happy weekend.