And we're back...

from Paris, France! We spent 10 wonderful days eating, sight-seeing, eating, drinking, shopping, and eating. It is true what they say, the food is fantastic. We had everything from crepes and chocolate croissants to organic pasta with seaweed. All of which were amazing. We took a tour of the city the first day to get our bearings, and then proceeded to really see the city the rest of the time we were there. Seeing the eiffel tower and notre dame in person was something we'll never forget. They definitely seemed larger than life. There was so much great art, it was almost overwhelming. We are sort of art enthusiasts, so we really loved going to all the famous museums. I think we had the best time just wandering around and coming across little markets and cafes, street performers and cathedrals. I found out that even having 5 years of studying French under my belt didn't seem to help me much in understanding or speaking to people. Sorry Madame S. Josh did quite well, he impressed me! Here are a couple pictures we took (2 of the over 600...we're trying to put some on flickr...stay tuned).

eiffel tower at night

notre dame at night

Going to France isn't the only big news we have...as most of you know, we're expecting our first little baby! We are so excited to finally have everyone know our wonderful news. I am 3 months along, and finally starting to feel a little better as I get out of my first trimester. Baby Bishop is due on October 31. Hopefully I will be better at updating our blog during my pregnancy. Here is a little picture that we took this weekend of what the belly looks like so far...It finally just popped out a little this past week. :)

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So as I was saying...

in my post from last week, Josh and I went to a costume party. We dressed up as our friend Johnny and his daughter Freja. Here are some pics...

Josh grew out some killer sideburns, a soul patch, got his hair cut into a fauxhawk with shaved sides, and had Johnny's tattoo artist draw his tattoos on Josh's arms. All I had to do was dress up like his 4 yr. old daughter complete with skull mary janes. :) Josh actually got mistaken for Johnny a couple times at the party. Here is a picture of Josh and the real Johnny dressed like Mr T. "I pity the fool."
Life has been busy as usual which has made it hard for me to find the time to post on this blog. I just really couldn't leave the last post hanging though... I did promise these pictures after all. Hope they were worth the wait! haha.
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boo-wling

Last Wed. instead of trick-treating, I went bowling with the girls I mentor from Mars Hill Senior High. I have been with them since they were seventh graders...my how they have grown up! We went bowling in our costumes and ended quite early as most of them had parties to get to. For the second game I made everyone bowl with their opposite hand. It was hilarious. I also said that I would bow down to anyone who got a strike...and whatdaya know...Wendy got one. Surprise, surprise. ahem...I bowed down.
Here's Wendy and I ...Obviously Wendy was a nerd...and I (not so obviously?) was a little girl named Freja. This costume will make sense in a post that I will do next week...Josh and I are going to a costume party this weekend...Josh is sort of going as my other half...or rather...I, his. I will explain better with pictures next week.

On another holiday related note...I CAN'T believe that downtown GR already has a lit up santa claus on one of the ellis parking garages. really?!

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chicago: there and back

What happens when you go to Chicago with your train routes all planned out and then you get there and the line you based all your traveling around is closed for construction? You get two frantic girls making laps (literally) around downtown trying to find a different line to get on...and then eventually take a really expensive cab-ride. I was confident that I would be able to get Wendy I around Chicago using their Metra...but I didn't even get the chance. You have to be able to find a way underground first. Aside from our transportation woes, Wendy and I had a very fun/adventurous day in Chicago together last weekend. We shopped the whole day, ate lunch at Giordano's and then expensively made our way to our final destination...Marissa's bachelorette party. Here's the three of us at her soon to be sister-in-law's downtown condo.We had a great time eating, drinking, and thinking of great dares to make Marissa do later in the night at our various stops. Marissa was surprised with an evening at Chicago's Baton Lounge drag show...yup. It was ahh... interesting? Actually, a few times my stomach hurt from laughing so much. Wendy and I opted out on the rest of the night so that we could catch our train back home (which we made ah-thankyou.) Here's a picture I snapped on our mile walk to the train station.It was a beautiful night! I think our favorite part of the walk back was this guy sauntering up to us to ask us if we would give him some money to donate to his Jack Daniels charity...haahaahaa. In Wendy's words "hey...at least he was honest!"
Actually...my favorite quote of the day (quite biased, but what can I say?) was at Crate and Barrel. My cashier guy said "Michele Bishop. That's a good name. In fact...you could totally be a movie star with a name like that." God bless Crate and Barrel cashiers. I say we all could use a random quote like that in our day.
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REALLY?!?

so, I know I refer to SNL frequently, but I can't help it. There’s just certain skits that seem to stay with me. Usually, there’s not a week that goes by that either Josh or I don’t mention a line in a skit…and then crack up. Or something happens that reminds me of a certain skit. Can’t help it. (I also tend to relate real life situations with Friends episodes all the time – many of you can vouch for that I’m sure. I’m Sorry.)
The GR fire/police department isn’t too far away from where my office building is located, so it isn’t unusual for me to hear their sirens go off all the time. Half the time it seems like they end up on my street for one reason or another. Usually its because the fire alarms go off in the Cooley Law School across the street …all…the…time. Yesterday I left my office just in time to see about 6-7 squad cars pulled up in front of our building and Mel Trotter. There is a parking garage going up on the corner for the law school, and a crazy guy decided to climb up the humongous crane that they happened to be using yesterday. I stood and watched as the police scrambled around yelling at him, trying to safely get him down. (they did finally) How many police do you think it takes to get one crazy guy? Apparently it takes about 15. If you think that’s “crazy”…today will take the cake.
The sirens go off and I think… “here they come again”… sure enough, they pull up right below my window. There aren’t any alarms going off anywhere… my immediate thought is that there must have been an accident…someone is hurt. NOPE. I watch as they talk disgruntled amongst themselves around a light pole. Then one of them walks slowly to the fire engine, grabs a bottle of water, walks back to the light pole and pours his bottle of water on the cigarette holder...in head-to-toe fire gear. They got a call about a smoking cigarette holder. Now I ask this…. “REALLY”?
And in conclusion…(I’m bringing it all back together now)…Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler do a segment called REALLY?!? on weekend update. It’s pretty funny (not hilarious) but I guess memorable enough for it to come back to me today…haha – you should U Tube it if you are an SNL fan.
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You've entered...The Twilight Zone

All I expect from my bi-yearly dentist check-ups is for a hygienist to clean my teeth, brush them, floss them, get the dentist to give them a once over, give me a toothbrush and floss and let me get the H out of there. (did I mention that I HATE getting my teeth cleaned and all that is teeth related? I do.) Why do dental hygienists talk to you and ask you questions whilst they are cleaning your teeth? I can’t answer you, crazy lady, your fingers and sharp pointy things are all up in my mouth. My hygienist always wants to know the intricate details of my life…and remembers them better than I can. She asked me when my husband and I wanted to have kids…and asked what my exact time frame was…(!?) I’m thinking this must have been for medical purposes… She always answers her own questions followed by her life story…so yes, I do know that she is having children and when she is planning on having them… THEN, she actually said to me... "I bet you get asked when you’re having kids all the time since you’ve been married so long…don’t you just hate it when random people ask you that?” Again…I can’t answer you…your hands are in my mouth. I am screaming obscenities inside my head at you though. They need to teach people in dentistry schools what inappropriate means. For all she knows…this could be a devastating subject for me for any number of reasons. It’s not, thankfully, but what does she do when I burst into tears on the swivel chair? Goodness. She also said that she saw me and my husband in home depot a few months back…she has never met my husband and has only cleaned my teeth 3 times…(insert twilight zone music here).
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I predict...

Keri Russell will be up for best actress at the Oscars next year. Her new movie, August Rush, is coming out in November - the 21 to be exact. I cannot wait! It's going to be great I think. Speaking of movies...Josh and I were feeling silly on Saturday night and decided to go to a 10:00 showing of Sydney White...laugh if you will. It was super cheesy, but gave us some good laughs. You may be thinking..."wow, josh is a trooper." Untrue. May I emphasize that WE love that Amanda Bynes. Josh will gladly tell you that She's the Man is one of his favorite movies. Anyways, we were in a theater FULL of high-schoolers. They belly laughed at every scene...we felt old. I guess we are old compared to them. Thats sad. To round out the weekend, we also rented Bridge to Terabithia last night. Did you read that book when you were a kid? I did...what a beautiful story. The movie was great - I cried buckets...so did Josh...thats why i love that guy :)
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