UT . . . OWie Weekend

We stocked up on ORANGE food the night before . . . [I can't tell you how long Everett has BEGGED me to get those orange puff balls (like over a year)] . . . and he found an occasion where I really couldn't say no.

Breakfast brought us pumpkin scones with orange glaze.  YUM!

We put out our Ugliest UT Sweater Competition Photos.  And delivered Orange Goodies to Fellow UT Fans.

Next, THE GAME.  UT vs OU, the Red River Shootout.  The boys were so excited!  We had nachos, orange junk food, pasta e fagioli, nachos, mandarin orange jarritos, orange candy, and water.  (at halftime, there was a cool treat)

We watched the entire game.  Sad that we lost but impressed that our young players stuck it out.  It will be that much better next year.

After Quiet Time, Evy devised his own football game . . .

At one point, I was chasing Merritt down the field and getting close to him.  He stopped and said,"Owie, bee, check!"  And as soon as I slowed down and stopped, he grinned and took off running.  Cheeky thing.  How he knew to be tricky, I'm not sure.

 (football videos listed last)

And, the Winner of the Ugliest UT Sweater is:

(only by 3 votes, mind you)

Ugliest UT Sweater Competition: We Need Your Vote!

This is it!  And since our schedule is so crazy, we weren't able to have a party hosted by the competition . . . so we need your help, your votes . . . to Determine Who Has the Ugliest UT Sweater!

The Candidates:

Um, us!

Sheila vs Erik vs The Boys

For What:

The Ugliest UT Sweater!

What Does the Winner Get:

Bragging Rights

Take a look at the candidates and the sweaters below . . . vote using the poll option on the right.  (or leave a comment on facebook, don't worry, we won't keep track of what person voted for what sweater)

Voting closes at the end of the weekend (like you'll need time to decide . . . ha!).  This is a yearly competition, which we started in 2005 . . . we use the same sweaters every year.  No, not one person really dominates the winning (though, Erik may be ahead by one year).

Thanks for your vote!

To see past years elections that are documented, go here and here and here.

This Just In . . .

You know every year that Erik and I have a competition . . . The Ugliest UT Sweater competition. We use the same sweaters every year.

We took the opportunity today during our housewarming party to hold the competition; here are the results and a conversation.

Erik: Sheila, you should really win because your sweater is much uglier than mine.

Sheila: Well, I am kind of caught between wanting to win because, hello, winning is fun. At the same time, would you want to win any ugliest competition?

Erik talks during the ENTIRE party about how ugly Sheila's sweater is . . . of course we are wearing our sweaters.

People voted. Votes tallied. And, ERIK won the competition for the 2nd time in a row.

Erik: Sheila, you really do have the uglier sweater. I think mine is kind of debonair.

Sheila: Really? Since you think that your sweater is so cool, how come you don't choose to wear it out in public.

Erik: (silence)

Sheila: I mean, you should wear it out to dinner since you won and all.

Erik: (with his "I've been caught" guilty face that is the same for all the Sjolseth boys) Okay.

And, yes, he wore it to dinner. He is POSITIVE that people at the restaurant were pointing and laughing at him (why does he care, right, since the sweater isn't ugly?) . . . and he felt compelled to explain his sweater to the waiter who didn't really care (got it for $2 in Estonia, etc, etc).

But, he did wear the sweater the entire time--even when given the out to change out. What a winner!

Hook 'Em

Religion in Texas has started again.

No comment on the game between our arch rival and the school we constantly make fun of . . . .

Texas, Texas, Yeehaw!

LIES!

No, this is not about the election or any candidate. All week we've been excited to catch the UT game. But, no, we are a part of a small section of the US that won't have the opportunity to watch it on ABC. Even Hawaii gets to see it. Hawaii is at least 5 hours away from the Central time zone. I live closer to both Oklahoma and Texas than those residents in Hawaii, and should that matter? Probably not, but REALLY!

And, no, I won't be watching the Virginia Tech game instead. I'll be too busy pouting.

I mean, if I am going to name our next child "Colt McCoy" then I need to be able to watch the game. Right?

Scheduled to Record

Tomorrow we get to see the Longhorns in action, again! We are really, really lucky to have another game televised!

Erik will miss part of it due to setting up for our church's Trunk or Treat, poor guy. We have it set to record.

We are so excited! Hook-Em!

Duh!

And in case you can't read it:

TEXAS is #1

and Erik won the "Ugliest UT Sweater" competition!

Time to Vote

Ugliest UT Sweater Competition

To those new to voting, we have had a running competition since 2004 for the bragging rights of "Ugliest UT Sweater." The rules: voting must occur at a party and/or online using a recent picture . . . must use the same sweater each year.

We had a Red River Rivalry party scheduled, but then the hosts came down with raging fever and stomach flu. So, we REALLY need you to vote to settle this year's competition and smack-talk. (Please vote using the poll on the right.)

The Competition

Stay Tuned for Voting

. . . and not of the political variety related to the presidential election (though Tina Fey is hysterical as Sarah Palin) . . . but instead--

It is for our annual "Ugliest UT Sweater Competition"--We'll start the voting later this week with updated pictures . . . that is one of the rules. Voting will close Sunday night.

Sheila is looking forward to continuing her two year victory streak--Erik talking smack (besides complaining that it might be too hot to wear a sweater--he would like to live forever in his swimming trunks) saying it is time for a new ruler! Everett is just excited that he might get to watch some more FOOTBALL!

Stay tuned!

Elite 8, Baby!

For More Details

March Madness

If you haven't kept up with with Longhorn basketball this season, then you are just in time to jump into March Madness.

We are tied into it. And, it will give you something to cool to talk about at the water cooler or when you are choosing which beverage to buy in The Office's break room.

Sheila WON!!

Yes, yes! For the second year in a row, Sheila has won the Ugliest UT Sweater. There isn't any kind of monetary award like a shopping trip to replace the ugly wardrobe. But there are BRAGGING rights.

Sheila, you may brag away!

Ugliest UT Sweater Competition

UT GAME DAY!

Erik

Nickname in college: Mr. Smiley

Sheila

Nickname in college: Supermodel Sheila

Evy

Caption on Shirt:

"Hold on Longhorns! . . . I'm Coming!"

Place your vote in the polling station on the left.

The poll will be closed on December 30th at midnight (that's midnight DC time people).

On game day, we met up with some friends, Melanie and Trey--they ALSO attended UT. They are visiting DC with their new little baby, Max. What a cutie!

During the course of the evening:

Everett decided to start a taxi service.

Everett went for the 1970s "Old Elvis" look.

Everett decided he was ready for college football--he discovers the party trash and starts practicing that football stance.

The most amazing thing for us as parents was to watch how excited and impressed Everett was with the size of the trees, the buildings, and the lights of DC. Whenever we were outside, he was looking up and saying, "Whoah, woww!"

Don't forget to vote for who has the Ugliest UT Sweater!!

Cause You Probably Need to Know

Texas accepts bid to 2007 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas (9-3) has accepted an invitation to be the Big 12 representative in the 2007 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl where it will face the Arizona State University Sun Devils (10-2) of the Pac-10 Conference on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Central on ESPN in San Diego’s 70,561-seat Qualcomm Stadium.

And so, mark your calendars--the next "UT Ugliest Sweater Competition" has been scheduled.

Help with UT Sweater Seek and Find

So, I am not going to directly talk about what happened on November 23rd in College Station. As we all await the bowl game assignment, we are on the look-out for an "ugly UT sweater" for Everett (size 2T to 4T). Erik and I will be competing again in the ugly UT sweater competition now scheduled for the next game day, and Everett needs to be in the running.

For those who are unfamiliar with our tradition, every year Erik and I compete against each other for who has the ugliest UT sweater . . . and we wear the same sweaters every year. Last year we did not hold the competition due to bedrest and overall newborn parent fatigue (aka we forgot). In the previous years--Sheila reigned as winner in 2005 while in 2004 Erik held that title.

I could put a picture of us wearing out sweaters but it would give Everett undue advantage. So, I need your help in finding Everett the ugliest UT sweater . . . post a message on our Guestbook or email us with your find.

(BTW, we when we say "ugliest" sweater, for those of you die-hard UT rivals, having a Texas insignia on it does not qualify for "ugliest" . . . "ugliest" refers to the style or handcraft of the sweater--not the fact that it is burnt orange or has a longhorn on it.)

***Note as the official November Adoption Month comes to an end, don't miss out on this article:

The Changing Faces of Adoption

Fall Arrives

This morning we were greeted by cool air and brisk winds as we ventured to do our weekly shopping. Everett and I were bundled for the walk this morning, wearing pants and sweatshirts. Erik doesn't need to bundle up . . . something about retaining that strong "I can handle subzero temperatures because I lived in Russia for two years" acclimation or something.

I love this time of year. The trees are shedding the old, old leaves and are turning the bright to dusky autumnal colors that I enjoy. Erik and I were engaged during the fall season and we have great memories of that time. I am ready to make soups and pumpkin bread and get ready for the flurry of celebrations that occur from September to December. I love the fact that I can hear the local high school marching band practicing from my house and the spectators' cheers on Friday nights. (I know that appreciation is from retaining a bit of that strong "Texas football" environment I was surrounded with growing up in Texas.) Go Longhorns!

This evening we will hit the 40s, and I am thrilled about it. I am ready to pack away the swimsuit and don the knee high boots.