Game...set...

Today Mike participated in a charity Cops vs. Firemen volleyball game! 

The match took place during halftime of the VCU women's volleyball game

Which meant the VCU pep band was in the house!

I sat with the boys while they waited to play

Watched the VCU 'Gold Rush Dancers'

And cheered my heart out!

The VCU band director is also a firefighter so the band was partial

Caught Mike in action

 And the firemen crushed the competition!

But it was all for charity so everyone wins :)

Octoberfest

October has been jam-packed!!

Brooksy visited Papa at work and took his first ride on the firetruck!

Erinn sent me delightful Halloween goodies :)

I had a ladies night with Libbie and Dawn...

Mike and I finally had dinner at Accanto and it was, no joke, the best meal either of us has ever eaten!

And then we dealt with a jailbreak. I took this picture when I came home from lunch to let Brooksy out of his cage--I opened the bedroom door and was face to face with the escapee.

That boy really loves laundry.

We finished up wedding season last night with Shaun and Jess' ohsocute farm wedding

Jess and all the firemen :)

Needless to say Mike and I are exhausted. Time to buckle down and ride out Hurricane Sandy!

Where in the World?

We have been so busy lately!!

It seems like every free moment Mike and I have is filled with activities.

Taking Brooksy to the park is a favorite Sunday morning routine

3 weeks ago we headed to Scranton for a family wedding (Mike's hair is sooooo long!)

2 weeks ago we hit up 'Hogtoberfest' with Dawn and Matt!

The day was filled with beer, bands and barbeque

And I finally saw the famous 'River City View'

Our city is so awesome.

The next day we hosted 'Practice Thanksgiving'-- my parents are visiting for Thanksgiving this year and Mike insisted on a trial run.

Everything tasted delish! Judging by all our friends' praises, real Thanksgiving is bound to be a success!

Last weekend we were in NOVA for the wedding of Bryan, Mike's high school friend. Time in NOVA meant time with Mike's family and little Ms. A!

Brooksy kept himself busy

While we partied it up!

On Sunday all the boys went golfing and the ladies went to the park with Abigail. She LOVED me this visit! Everything was "Aunt Devon look at me!" Made my heart melt every time!

We met the fellas for lunch to celebrate the Possanza men's win, and headed back to RVA

The end of the year is jam-packed!

Mountaineer Moments

Last weekend we went to the JMU vs. WVU football game at FedEx Field!

I don't really get college football, probably because VCU doesn't have a football team. But I like to drink and I like to eat, so count me in.

The game was a blow-out. I ended up chatting with Erinn most of the time and leaving in the 4th period.

But it was still a blast!

Always my hero

Today was the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and like last year, Mike participated along with hundreds of other firefighters.

The bagpipes started and the firefighters assembled in front of the Suntrust building

 

Commemorative prayers were spoken

And off they went, ready to climb 110 stories in honor of the fallen.

 

This year Mike wore full turn-out gear - it looked heavy and hot!

My favorites were those who carried the American flag with them.

The crowd was much larger than last year and they cheered every time a firefighter completed one of the 5 trips up the stairs. They were even standing in the stairwells to provide more encouragement!

I just barely caught Mike as he finished his climb!

Mike calls this his 'Baywatch Shot.'

I tried to lift his jacket and tank for him and it was too heavy (and drenched in sweat) for me to even lift halfway. I can't believe he climbed in it!

Mike actually had to work today so his crew was still on duty. Halfway up the stairs on his 3rd trip, they caught a call and had to walk back down...only to be cancelled. They turned around and walked right back up.

I'm in awe of the commraderie and determination of all those who participated. We can never forget what these men and women sacrifice to protect us, every single day of our lives.