March Madness: it’s just a magical time of the year. My early memories are the fondest. In high school the brackets were passed around and mine was folded into my Sports Illustrated for the next three weeks. My sophomore year I went up to Madison with some upper classmen to watch the high school basketball tournament, but we still got our share of the NCAA games.

And the pools are still as fun as ever. Even as I seem to miss most of the Badgers’ basketball season, the tournament brings me right back up to speed.

The Badgers this year don’t even deserve to win their first round game, but #5 Florida State (fresh off a win over #1 UNC) couldn’t put the Badgers away. The game Friday night went to overtime before Trevon Hughes and Bohannon pulled it out for Bucky! What an exciting night.

I hate to root against the Big Ten, but at the same time Sienna was playing Ohio State. My interest here is a side bet I have at work:

• over under (8): number of lower seeded teams that will beat higher seeded teams in the first two rounds

I took the over, and when Wisconsin won and Sienna took OSU to 2 overtimes and pulled it out, I had my 9 wins for under-seeded teams. Another victory for Hans.

What a great weekend so far. One of my favorite shows to listen to is Dan Patrick. He has an assistant named Paulie who made a veteran move this weekend to ensure maximum basketball exposure: He bought his wife and her friend manicures for Saturday afternoon so he could go watch the game. As he said it, she smiled and said “have fun at the bar with the guys” and his Saturday was set. He was still working on viewing strategy for the Sunday games.

I’m in the minority on the Brett Favre story – I think he is the best thing to happen to the NFL in 20 years. I think he still should be treated as such. I wish he would have kept his legacy in Green Bay, but what can a guy do when he’s not wanted anymore and dumbass front office people want to prepare for the future?

Was going to New York a mistake? Sure l0oks like it. I still can’t blame the guy. Living in his shoes for 17 years, I guess he felt like he couldn’t do wrong – so he goes for Year 18 as the gambling player that made him great. Boy, I still wish it was Green Bay for life for Brett. Once a Packer, always a Packer. Just too good to be true.

So this week he tells the Jets he’s done. And so begins (for the Brett faithful) the nails-against-the-chalkboard sounds. It’s a painful sound. It’s a feeling in your gut that something isn’t right. It’s Brett Favre announcing his departure from the NFL – and we all say, “I heard that last year.”

I realize Brett has brought this upon himself. Am I too forgiving? Am I too much a homer? The man became a starter in the NFL… and never sat down!! He NEVER sat down!!!!! He brought life to Green Bay and pride to the Packers that we won’t see again in my lifetime. He drove you up a wall with ridiculous interceptions! But his attitude towards the game of football is a throw-back to when the game was fun and serious at the same time – but it wasn’t about the individual. Do you see that anywhere else in the league? That attitude has left the NFL, maybe never to return.

11:20am
I’m so happy Super Bowl Sunday is here. It’s a little different today b/c Katie and I decided to stay home together with Sorin. And our decision is starting to really pan out b/c Katie and I are feeling a little under the weather today. Plus we’re going to make all kinds of good (and bad) food today – it’s the last day of football… it’s Super Bowl Sunday.

So I’ll be blogging all day. I’m really excited about the start of coverage. All morning I’ve been waiting for the TV coverage to start at noon so I could officially start eating. I was very hungry and relieved to see that “noon” was noon eastern, so 11:00 our time. So here we are ready to eat and watch the coverage.

Right now NBC is starting with a review of the NFL season with coverage from NFL Films – it doesn’t get any better than that.

Sorin and I are ready for his first Super Bowl Sunday!

11:49am
NBC is doing it right – NFL films is the best b/c they have all the sound and the best footage. They’re going through a lot of the teams, adn they just did the Ravens – my team for the playoffs b/c Jim Leonard (former Badger) plays safety for them. Jimmy was just featured in 4 straight big tackles for the team as they upset the Titans.

12:28pm
I just had to go to the car to get something and got to feel how warm it is today. We’ve had a very cold winter, and today it’s supposed to get to 37 degrees – and no one will be going outside to enjoy it. Actually, I bet most people will enjoy the weather this afternoon and skip all the Super Bowl coverage I’m watching.

2:29pm
I just woke up from a little nap. Like I said, Katie and I are feeling a little sick, so I guess the rest is good. Coverage is still going strong. Kurt Warner just got to the stadium and is being interviewed by an attractive woman – he’s standing so close he looks like he’s about to kiss her.

We ate these wonderful personal pizzas for a snack at lunch. We got the idea from our cousin Amanda.

NBC just reported selling 69 commercials for a few billion dollars (I missed the number). The average is $100,000 per second. Get ready for Miller High Life’s one-second commercial…

4:12pm
Katie and I just played the Great Game – Backgammon. She won 2 of 3. Barack Obama is on the NBC coverage in a live interview from the Map Room.

Food update: we’ve had cheese and sausage for a few hours now. We opened up the Dean’s french onion dip with the Cape Cod chips. GAME DAY!

4:45pm
Katie and Sorin just got back from a little walk. I got some work done and cleaned up for the main event.

5:34pm
GO STEELERS!!

I have a little wager with my brother.

6:56pm
That was the most unbelievable play I’ve seen in a long time. The Steelers just threw an interception and then allowed the Cardinals to drive and Warner is perfect in the red zone this season. But he throws a pick and the defensive player of the year Harrison returns it 100 yards for the longest play in Super Bowl history! And now my point spread is looking better against my brother.

7:09pm
Two words – “the Boss”

9:55pm
And that’s it. What a great second half. For a game that was supposed to not even be close, that was a great finish. Play after play. Pittsburgh was fantastic, and Warner and the Cardinals were very exciting. I had a great Super Bowl Sunday. I ate game food and didn’t get out of my sweats all day. Feeling a little under the weather, but I was with family all day so I can’t complain.

Another end to another football season. Katie’s happy about that. Until I tell her that summer camp starts in a few months.

100%

How can you not love free tickets? I have to thank Kristi for her gift “from one Packers fan to another.” Every time we get together we go on and on about the Packers and their season. But I have to be honest – the Detroit game worried me.

On this side of the win it seems a little odd to discuss. But playing a team that has lost all 15 games is a scary game – especially for a Packers team that has nothing to play for. Yet Tim and I went up to Green Bay and bundled ourselves up for the cold. I love that stadium. The last time I was there I was with Katie (again, thanks to Kristi) for the Bears game last season. It was 85 degrees and the Packers lost. I’m a cold weather guy – football is meant to be played when it’s cold and the ground is really, really hard. So the Detroit game was perfect.

The sign says it all…

No fans are better than Packers fans. At the stadium everyone is cool. Everyone is nice. Everyone must be neighbors. That’s were we parked – in a neighborhood a mile from Lambeau. It was great. I learned something on Sunday – I never imagined there were so many female snowmobilers in Wisconsin!

What a wonderful time of the year. We got Sorin a little chair for him to sit in, which he liked right away.

Katie and I spent the 23rd and 24th at my mom and dad’s in McFarland. We decorated some Christmas cookies and ate really good food.

Christmas Eve we left for Cedarburg to see the Robertson side. Sorin was as big of a hit there as he was in McFarland. It’s a lot of fun to have Sorin be so warmly welcomed. And he’s changing every day. New expressions and new gestures – he’s grabbing objects better now.

For me, it’s fun to have new experiences with Katie. Getting Sorin ready is in a nice way very meaningful – it’s our family now! Our discussions are different, our days are different. But it’s all so good.

Christmas this year has been interesting b/c of our focus on the Advent Conspiracy (see Oct. 26th post). Blackhawk took an offering last week for AC in which the money went to three organizations for global, missional causes. We gathered $140,000!!!

And now the day is winding down. I know it’s supposed to be a Christmas season, but it always ends around 7pm Christmas day. Kind of sad.

But we’re still with family and I’m still thinking about Jesus coming to Earth – Christmas Spirit.

It was fun last night to go to bed knowing there was a good chance I’d be off work today. Normally it’s no big deal, but on Tuesdays Katie stays home with Sorin – so we both had all day together.

It started off with sleeping in – ’til 6:30. I needed the sleep but I love my mornings, so I’m a little upset that I slept past 5:30. Nonetheless, the morning started off great with coffee and a good book. I’m reading two right now – Momentary Marriage by John Piper and How People Grow by Dr. Henry Cloud. Only two chapters into each, I have to recommend both. It feels good to get back into deeper books – and Piper gets deep! Katie and I are reading it together, so it will make for good discussion.

Days off can’t be all about relaxation – it feels good to catch up on some housework. Being the model husband that I am (read: “husband in training”) I did the floors and a load of laundry. Before returning to my book, I went outside to start shoveling and clearing off the cars.

Lunch: There was no question what was on the menu for lunch — grilled cheese and tomato soup. It’s been my favorite meal the last two winters. And as much as I wish I could claim Campbell’s tomato soup, I’m going with Trader Joe’s Roasted Red Pepper Tomato soup – dynamite.

The afternoon included a lively discussion about theology and the Holy Spirit as it relates to our church. I know – random. I continued in my chapter on Cloud’s book. Then we went to the gym together. I kept a little cardio going in preparation for the Jingle Bell run this Saturday and also got to lift a little. I’m trying to reestablish a lifting routine with core exercises, too. I have a physical job, but the weights really add a nice element to my workouts.

For dinner we reheated Katie’s wonderful spaghetti and watched an episode of West Wing – “Gone Quiet.”

It was a good day. I wish snow days were 48 hours long. There’s so much to do and I never get to it all. Back to reality…

Katie and I have a started a tradition of going to Chicago for Christkindl Market with our cousins, Matt and Amanda, Justin and Kelly. What is Christkindle Market?

It’s a German festival at Daley plaza where they serve brats, potato pancakes, and Glühwein (a traditional hot spiced wine). Let me set the stage for you. First – Chicago. It’s certainly called the Windy City for a reason. The elements are nothing to take lightly. I was decked out in my Mountain Hardwear coat and I had three sweaters on. On this particular year, the snow was in that frozen state on the top of some of the vendors’ tents. But when the wind gusted, it ripped the snow off and blew it right over the top of the market.

At the market, lines are long for the food. We had six in our party – plus Sorin, but he wasn’t standing in line. Matt went to get the brats: everyone was getting to the front of the line asking for one or two – Matt gets up there and asks for 7 regular and three with kraut. They had to give him a box to carry the load – $41 worth of sausage. Justin went for the potato pancakes. These are the hardest to fully describe – crusty on the outside and perfectly fluffy in the inside, a delicious component to the meal. We had 3 plates each with 3 cakes and applesauce on the side. Finally the Glühwein: Katie and Amanda went for the hot spiced wine and 2 hot chocolates. The best moment of Christkindl Market is that point where it feels like all your body heat has been sucked off your body and the cold air is inescapable. But the mug of Glühwein is on it’s way over to the table and set before you. We toast to friends and drink back that first sip of the warm wine as it seeps down your throat and warms your insides.

Traditions are fun. Katie and I started this in 2006 with Matt and Amanda. In 2007 we invited Justin and Kelly. And this year we decided to bring Sorin which was a great experience. We had him completely bundled up in a snowsuit and then in the Snugli all day. We wrapped a blanket around his head to block some wind and he handled the elements as well as we did.

Life has changed a lot in the last 4 months. As we approached the arrival of our first child, Katie and I were coming off a busy summer preparing for parenthood. When Sorin was born on August 22, we experience an adrenalin rush for weeks on end. It has been such a blessing to care for Sorin and see Katie embrace motherhood.

I am thankful for my son, Sorin. I am so thankful that he’s healthy and so vibrant these days. He will continue to challenge me to be a great father – nothing less than a great father.

Politics make for polarizing discussions.  Sometimes it’s the social norm to avoid political discussions.  Many went to the polls today with their candidate on the tip of their pen.  And we all waited to see how the numbers came in.