O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree....

So as most know I am my mom's lil assistant/lil helper/slave as of late while I job search although I've kind of laid off on the search since in November alone over half a million jobs were lost! Thank goodness for Joann who is a realtor and can employ me and give me things to do until something else presents itself. I know what you're thinking, she's a realtor?? Oh that's a great job right now but ironically she's super busy and has so many listings her head may pop off! So it's the perfect time to have a "lil helper." Also what's better than a lil mother/daughter time - right? Except when she drives me crazy half the time but we get through it :-)

This week she gave me the wonderful task of putting the Christmas decorations up. Good thing I actually like/love doing this! I have attached a pic of my pretty tree, please note it's MUCH better in person. No red or green in the house, only gold and creme. If anybody's looking for GREAT xmas decorations at great prices TJMaxx, Homegoods and Hobby Lobby are the places to be. I have ransacked all three stores and got some new stuff but I tell ya you can't beat the pricing there, no need to wait til after xmas sales at those three stores.

My dad is assisting so I don't plow the tree down putting the angel on

You'd think my parents were bloggers the way they had their cameras ready for both of these pics, my mom came sprinting over to grab a snapshot of me trying to not fall over.

Post #2: Congrats Sam + Lena!! Yes, they are important people so they get TWO posts :-)

Wednesday night we all coordinated a dinner so that the three guys could get together to celebrate and congratulate Sam and Lena on their engagement! On top of that Chris and I have not seen Chad and Bridget since they got married in August!? Chris, Sam and Chad own their house in Chicago together but everybody's slowly jumping ship....Chad got married, Sam is engaged, hmmm wonder what is in store in the future for Cogski? :-)

Chris and I, Sam&Lena and Chad&Bridget met at Quarantino downtown for some dinner, wine and catching up! Chad and Bridget live in Schaumburg so we don't see them as often as we like but we'll all be in the burbs shortly so I know we'll all hang out more often very soon :-)Next time we need to get together on a Friday or Saturday so we can really live it up with more than one jug of wine!

Introducing Mr & Mrs Billings! OMG!

Last Saturday was my very dear, great, HILARIOUS ol' roomie friends wedding! Natalie got married last Saturday in her hometown of Moline at a beautiful country club. It was actually an armory. We had to take a bus with passes to get on the property. I had never even heard of an armory but apparently it's a very serious military territory. Natalie and Jason met at SIU and have been dating for about 5 yrs I think and own a home in Aurora.

Chris and I left Chicago Saturday afternoon with Heather who so graciously drove us, I'm sure she had had her fill of us by the next day because we roomed with her as well - ha! On top of having her fill of Cogski she got a speeding ticket on the way to Moline AND on the way back we almost died when some whack lost control of his car on 88, I think I'm scarred for life driving on the expressway after that. And Chris wanted to kill both of us with all our stupid conversations :-)))

We met the Hoyner's and Ann&Ian at the very homey and cute Stoney Creek Inn where we got ready and had a few pre-wedding cocktails. Cogski + Heather left for the wedding after everyone else and Chris "claimed" he knew exactly how to get to the wedding (why I thought he did is beyond me since this was his first time in Moline), well....he didn't. We drove around for quite a bit and got our fill of the Moline scenery and MISSED the cermony, I could have killed him making me not see my friend get married but what can you do!

So we decided what anybody would do: go back to the hotel and have some pre-reception cocktails in our room and wait for our friends to get back before taking the bus to the country club.

I don't want to ramble on about the wedding but it was SUPER fun and our small group of SIU friends had a blast!! Natalie looked beautiful in her dress, LOOOOVED her lil fur shawl she wore in the beginning that her mother had made for her. Another small tid-bit to the wedding was that Jase from my favorite reality tv show in the whole world, Big Brother was the best man. We got a quick pic when his wife wasn't looking and that's all we needed to get our fix.

SIU/Sig Kap Girls with the Bride!
Aimee, Heather, Me, Nat, Tamie & Ann
Natalie and Jason should be returning home to the cold this weekend from their honeymoon in Turks & Caicos and I can't wait to see her pics of the wedding and honeymoon!

Chris and I in front of the fireplace Sunday morning at the Stoney Creek

Congrats Nat & Jason!

Cogski Says MERRY CHRISTMAS With Some Sweet Dance Moves!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Day in the Burbs with Great Friends and the Bears!

Sunday afternoon we left Chicago with the Petersen's in tow to head to Bloomingdale to the Hoyner's home for some chili (a chili cook-off actually) and the Bears game!

I must note that our SIU friends group has grown with husbands, boyfriends and SEVEN children that attended the party, yes 7! And all three years of age and younger to boot!

Cogski and the Petersen's left our kids at home because apparently to get in at this party you needed a child, j/k. We love all of the kids and it allows those without kids to "practice" or like myself get your fill in one afternoon and that'll do me and be thankful for my freedom while I still have it, LOL! Just kidding Tamie, Liz and Donna!!!! :-)

Here is a pic of Ryan getting some "practice" with Edie, these two were attached all day

I didn't watch one second of the game actually and spent most of the time rotating holding a baby, shoveling food in my mouth, eating chili or talking.Love getting together with the girls, all of us have been friends since college, met in the sorority and are super lucky that most of us live in the Chicagoland area. There is Jessica and Meah that live in St Louis, Barr in Texas, Nina in So IL and Nadia in Los Angeles who miss dearly and have them there in spirit and maybe one day if we wish hard enough they will move closer. Also luckily our boyfriends (or I guess I'm the only one at the party who had a boyfriend) and husbands get along as well! Here is a pic of them escaping in the other room to watch the game.A few weeks ago Tamie had the brilliant idea of having a chili cook-off! Since Chris has really gotten in to making chili lately we were all over this. There were three pots of chili and a gold, siliver and bronze award were appointed to each crockpot. If you're wondering, Team Cogski WON!!!!! The prize was a glittery Christmas tree and I think we should have a chili cook-off/Bears game party every year and pass the tree trophy on to the winner each year - great idea!It was nice to hang at the Hoyner's, visit with the children and our friends and not watching the game at some bar! My, my how things have changed! :-)

Team Glomp is Gearing Up to Get Hitched! Congrats Sam & Lena!

Saturday night was a BIG night for Sam and Lena!!!! They...Got...Engaged!!!!

Chris and I knew the big question was coming and luckily I don't live with Lena and had not seen her this week at all because not that in a million years I would have ever spoiled such a secret but I just can't hold secrets in. Although Chris told me I could not tell a soul about the upcoming engagement or else he would kill me because whoever I told somehow magically it would have gotten back to Lena, this is true because it always happens to me :-) So I kept my mouth zipped and if you've seen her pics over email or on Facebook they are sooooo cute recapping the event!

The two of them had gone to Starved Rock two years ago when they first met and how fitting to get engaged there! Lena thought they were going there to celebrate her new job but little did she know....

"I'm Engaged!!"

Chris and I are so very happy for the new Team Glomp (they may hate that I'm putting team in front of their name but too bad) and are excited for their big day happening sometime in August or September 2009.

Chris and Sam the next day at a small engagement celebration gathering

Excuse the fact that Chris can barely keep his eyes open, after our dinner w/ Bob&Leah and drinking all day for the Bears game he's really struggling.

As most of you know Chris and Sam have been bff's and roommies for 11 years so I know Chris is a bit sad (but happy for Sam) to be "losing" his better half (good thing he has me, haha) and although Lena did not ask permission to take Sam from Chris that's ok, Chris is adjusting well :-)

Congrats Sam and Lena!!!!

Dinner with Bob and His New Lady Friend :-)

Saturday night we met up with Bob and his new pretty lady, Leah. They met through someone that Bob works with, they have been hanging out for a couple weeks and Team Cogski always loves going on double dates so we were super excited for our double dinner on Saturday!

Chris and I went up to Bluebird (I love that bar) had a few drinks til Bob and Leah met up with us there. Then we were on our way down the street to Duchamp (love this place too) for dinner. We had a late reservation and had to wait a bit as this place was packed and people were really not getting up from their seats. Finally sat and had a great dinner!!

Then we went back down the street to Northside to have a few more drinks and Chris and I left around 1.30-ish. We were exhausted and knew we had a long day ahead of us in the burbs at a friends Bears party so we said farewell to Bob and Leah and were on our way home!
But was so nice to meet Leah and looking forward to seeing her and Bob again at the Christmas party in a few weeks!