NOLA

Brad and I had a great trip in New Orleans for the Bass Master Classic.  It was a weekend to remember being our first time on Burbon Street, New Orleans and the whole state of Louisiana.

Brad and I with the coveted BASS Master Trophy

BASS MASTER CLASSIC
The adventure started with an early wake up to go watch the first day of the boat launch where all the events started.  Due to a fog delay Brad was able to meet many of the pros and get a lot of autographs before the festivities began.  It was so funny to see him with all of his sports idols, there were defiantly some moments where he was speechless.  After the launch we headed over to the first day of the fishing expo.  It was very large with many booths to walk around.  The highlight of the expo was all the FREE stuff that everyone got.  We had bags full of fun new fishing items that Brad couldn't wait to get home and sort through.  Also they have pros walking around and many demonstrations of all the latest fishing techniques and items.  After the expo was the main event at the Arena of the famous weigh in.  They bring in each one of the anglers  on their boat where they step up on the stage and weigh in the daily bass catch.  All the pros have fun music that they come into making the atmosphere very exciting.  They also were shooting all the footage for the ESPN coverage that will air this weekend.  Brad and I had excellent seats all three days and were able to see all of the action unfold.  Day 3 and the final way in was defiantly a moment to remember.  It is the super bowl of the BASS fishing world and so exciting.  Due to the large body of water (Louisiana Delta) that they were fishing on there were two choices the anglers had to make, take the 2 hour one way trip to Vinice or stay close by to allow more fishing time.  Normally they would be safe with either option but due to a fog delay each morning the "run" to Vinice really proved to determine the winners.  After the highest way in totals in BASS Master history KVD or Kevin Van Dam pulled off his fourth BASS Master Classic win.  He is the true Payton Manning of the fishing word and he didn't disappoint when on the last day he pulled out almost 30lbs of bass with two 8 lbs fish.  It was a very exciting moment.  To cap off the excitement after nervously waiting all weekend to get KVD to sign Brad's fishing cards Brad decided to wait by an exit door at the arena.  After KVD did all of his interviews he exiting the Arena right where Brad was and he was able to get his autograph, it really was the best moment for Brad.

Please tune in this weekend on ESPN2 to watch all of the footage of the Classic.  Also Brad and I have a sneaky suspession we may show up on the show at least once :)

NOLA  (Aka New Orleans)
What a great location to host such a fun event.  Brad and I decided to experience the area there was no better place to stay then Burbon Street.  Before leaving I heard so many stories of what Burbon was like and honestly I just couldn't get a good picture in my head.  WOW it was definatley an experience.  Brad and I mostly took in the amazing food including the beignets, gumbo and LOTS of oysters.  The experience of walking, shopping and samling all the food was amazing.  Then the fun kicks in at night was a CRAZY walk down Burbon Street.  Brad and I decided to do the Burbon "experience" on Saturday night and boy was it a night to remember.  We started off at a great panio bar with excellent drinks and music.  From there we visited 3 other bars ranging in Blues music to Karioke.  We ended the night in try NOLA fashion by throwing beads off a balcony to all the walker-bys.  It was so much fun and you really lost since of time as you get suck up into the electrifing atmosphere.  The last day we also enjoyed a Swamp Tour in Honey Bay.  The sceenary was breathtaking.  I really was surprised by the great food and couldn't get enough of all the different flavors we don't get to enjoy here in Colorado.

Brad and I really hope to go back to the NOLA soon and we really had a great time in such a different exciting city.  We will for sure be back in Louisianna next year for the BASS Master Classic which will be held in Shreive Port.

The Story of Us

In the spirit of Valentine's Day I thought I would write about the story of how Brad and I meet.  Many of you have heard the story that started many years ago but I wanted to go back and write it for all the rest of you that have not heard our "love" story.

Bard and I in 6th Grade 

Part 1
It all started the first day of 6th grade while waiting for the bus with my best friend Michelle.  We were at the bus stop after a very fun/exacting first day at middle school when I saw Brad hanging out with friends at the other end of the sidewalk.  Being the boy crazy 6th grader I was I said to my friend Michelle, "who is that boy, he is soooo cute!!"  She laughed at me and said, "oh that is just Brad".  After begging her to talk to him for me she finally gave in and went over to him and told him I thought he was very cute and wanted to get to know him.  When he looked over to see me I was hiding in a bush as I was embarrassed to say hello. After seeing each other every day waiting for the bus we talked more and more and he invited me over to his house to watch a movie.  The next Saturday I went to his house (only 5 blocks) from my house and we watched Mighty Ducks and ate popcorn.  We dated for about 6 month before I broke up with him.  It was sad but we remained good friends.  He was really one of my best friends all through middle school and we were inseparable.  We even took Racqutte ball classes together after school.  We both went to Centaurus our freshman year of high school, but in true high school fashion we had different groups of friends and joined different clicks and lost touch.  My sophomore year I went to a different school and we didn't see each other again.

Our Senior Photos

Senior Prom

Part 2
After dating many guys in high school I still always thought about my first love Brad.  He was always so kind and we both got along so great.  For some reason I just always felt such a huge connection to him and how I felt when I was with him.  One week before my senior prom I was in the dumps as I was boyfriend less and didn't have a date to the prom.  I really didn't let it bother me as I was ready to move onto the next step of my life and go off to Montana for college.  I had to work the early shift at my job at the mall and was slammed with costumers when I happened to look up and see Brad walking by with a friend.  It had been so long since we had talked I was so excited to see him.  I was nervous which isn't like me and was scared to say "hi" but in the back of my mind I knew that by seeing and reconnecting with him it would change my life forever (boy was I right!!) .  I went up to Brad and tapped him on the shoulder to say hi.  Instantly we couldn't stop talking and it was so good to see him again.  I had to get back to my job so I quickly gave him my number and had to run back to work.  The rest of the day I couldn't stop thinking about our chance meeting.  He called me that night and we talked on the phone for 2 hours and had a blast.  He invited me to prom and that is where we both really fell in love with each other.  We spent every second together that summer before college and were heartbroken to think that with me going away to Montana for college that we wouldn't be together.  After many long talks Brad decided it was best for him to come to Montana and go to college and start a life with me there.  He asked me to merry him before we left for college in August of 2001 (Blog to come soon).  We both knew that we wanted a longer engagement since we were both young but we also knew that we were so in love.

Our Wedding Day

Part 3 
We were married May 24, 2003 in a beautiful outdoor wedding at the Hover mansion in Longmont.  It was so great that after so many years in each others lives we were finally going to start our lives together.  Fast forward 8 years and we are still as happy as we were the day we meet in 6th grade, the day we reconnected in High School and the day we got married.  I truly know that from the second Brad and I meet we were meant to be together forever.  I couldn't ask for a better husband and a better best friend.  I love you Brad and am so happy to be sharing our life journey with one another, you are my sole mate and I will love you forever.

Special Picture in front of the Model A

My New Best Friend

This is me in true bliss.  After 3+ years in waiting for Verizon to finally get the iPhone my dream finally came true.  I LOVE my new iPhone and all that it does.  Today is day #2 with the phone and I can't believe all it does and how inefficient I was on the old phone.  In true Sill family fashion Brad and I got up at 5:00am got ready and headed to Boulder to be one of the first people in the line to get in the Mac store to get my new phone.  The doors opened at 7:00am and the workers made everyone standing out in the cold feel like a celebrity.  It was so much fun.  Brad is ubber jealous as he is not eligible for a new update until June.  Ha, Ha I get it all to my self.  So one more Mac to add to the family of 2 iPods (Black and Purple), 1 iTouch, 1 Macbook and 1 iMac, WOW you think we are addicted.

If any of you have any good iPhone tips please send them my way.