AZ Team Memorial 2010

Holidays, Phalanges, and Championships

OK, so I know you are really curious about the phalanges part of the title. Don't worry, Travis got to keep his toe, and all is well!!

May 4th was a huge Sunday for Travis and the Red Devils!!! They won their second championship in the last three sessions. 5-3.... Go Red Devils!!!May 9th- My Birthday was a fabulous day!! It was the week of a start so there was no way that I could take the day off but I sure am glad I went to work. Seriously, who says they want to go to work!! My team went way out of their way. I walk into work and in our aisle there is about 5 balloons tied to every cubicle and my desk is just covered in balloons!!
Look at that huge white balloon behind me, I really do think it was bigger than me. I have never seen a balloon so big and what made it so special is that every one on my team signed it. They got me a glitter tiara and a lei to wear, which if any of you know me is right up my alley! At this point, I think they are amazing (they really are) and I start to go on with my day but to my surprise there was more. I make lunch plans with Renee and Stephanie to go out because I never take a lunch but little did I know they were involved in the surprise lunch. Yes I said it, the team threw me a Surprise Lunch in the large conference room. They catered in Garcia's (Mexican is so my favorite food), and decorated the room. The crazy thing is we had a team meeting right before lunch and some how they got everything down stairs without me knowing, here I am thinking that I'm going out to lunch. Renee comes and gets me and then takes me into the Conference Room where I am totally shocked!! Renee of course who has known about this for weeks, who I might have to add she can actually keep a secret!

They even got me a gift and Paul made a cake... and the cake was so so good!!! Sean brought in a singing cake cutter..we just had so much fun. I know, you are dying to know what the gift is.....................................................................is the suspense killing you yet.. OK, they all chipped in and got a Deluxe Wedding Organizer!!!! Oh my gosh, they did so good, I immediately started to cry because I just think that is the sweetest thing, I don't have one and really wanted one!!! Not only did they do all of this but Mary made a huge card and had everyone sign it.

I couldn't even begin to say Thank you!! I have had my team for less than three months and have really bonded with each and every one. All of the planning, baking and most importantly the thought they put into it planning such a great day for me is more than I could ever ask for!!! After the party, how much work was everyone really going to get done?? Yeah, so I sent everyone home around 2:00 so I hope they enjoyed that because I know I did. When I got home my roommate and Travis were there. Travis got me a dozen red roses, bottle of wine and a very sweet card. He was not suppose to do anything because we both agreed no gifts on any holidays that come before we get married, so we can put as much money in the wedding fund as possible. But, I can't be mad when there are roses involved. Oh and my roommate got me Season 8 and 9 of Friends which is very sentimental between us. Out of the almost 4 years we have lived together we have watched all 10 seasons of friends (which she owns them all) about 100 times and she is moving out on July 1st.... It is the end of an era but she needs to move on.. boo hoo

It gave me a chance to get ready for my birthday dinner with Travis's wonderful mom and brothers. I am very blessed because I have always heard of these horror stories about your in-laws...honestly, I couldn't ask for a better family to be joining!! We went to this really cute Italian restaurant in downtown Phoenix with Nancy (Travis's mom) and his younger brother Michael, who stands out in the picture below, and his older brother Scott with his girlfriend Kelly. We had such a wonderful time and spent most of the time laughing as usual. When all three boys get together they are hilarious and you can't help but laugh!!

Saturday was a nice relaxing day with my roommate. We went and got pedicures and lunch. Well we had pancakes for lunch but who is counting!!! Also, I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers sent to my apartment from my father, thank you DAD a girl can never have too many flowers.

May 12th.. Mother's Day!! Mom and I always have his tradition of celebrating my birthday and Mother's day together because it is usually only a few days apart. Started the day off by going to Travis's Nino and Nina's house with the family... Great time as always, watched the basketball game and gave Travis's mom her mother's day gift, which I might add Travis picked out all by himself this year and wrapped it.. Amazing.

Then, headed over to mom and Ted's for pizza and cake. Mom loved her gift, we framed one of our engagement pictures in a "mom" frame and engraved Happy Mother's Day on it. Topped it off with a singing card, oh my gosh I am addicted to those singing cards!! Sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the beautiful day.

It was a great weekend, on top of being able to talk to my friends who live out of state and with Vickie and Malinda who I haven't talked to in awhile which was really nice to catch up!!

Monday started my 10 day Master Cleanse... Today is day 5 of no food only liquids, whew who would of thought I could do it. I have 5 more days and if I don't pass out I think I will make it.

Travis's Toe

Well, day two of having a blog and not much to talk about. Today was my first start date as a manager and it went pretty well, so I am chalking it up to the calm before the storm tomorrow.
We don't have much to say, but Travis is about to lose a toe. His toe is really swollen and now it is a purplish color. He is too stubborn to go to a doctor so he is sitting next to me soaking his foot in hot water and peroxide.
My toe is fine... Travis
LOL, yeah his first contribution to our blog!

Very 1st Post!

Well, I finally joined the 21st century and got a blog!! OK,let's not lie, I was convinced by my friends to start one. I really enjoyed setting it up, and gosh I don't even know where to begin. So much has happened in the last few months it is crazy.....

Let's start with the Month of March. March 1st was my first day as a manager at Grand Canyon University. I was an enrollment counselor and had applied for a management position, and what they say is true, "third time is a charm." I love my new position, I have 18 enrollment counselors that work under me and we call it Team Grossman, each and every one of them are so wonderful and they are a bunch of overachievers just like me and they each bring so much to the table everyday, I am very blessed in my position!

Then on March 19th, I received a huge surprise... I got engaged!! If you are reading this, then I am sure you already know because I am pretty sure we told every single person we know in the world. But if not... I'm engaged and oh my gosh do I love saying that, I have posted the picture of the ring below. It is very special because it was the only ring Travis and I ever tried on together and he remembered. I have been in so many weddings and I still have a hard time believing it is finally my time. Travis is the first boyfriend of mine that my mom ever liked and that I brought home to Indiana. Oh my gosh, he got along so well with my family and by the time we left Indy he knew his way around better than I did and he had never been there...LOL

April was a great month too!! Brandi's B-day(If I didn't say that first she would be mad..ha ha). Travis and I went camping with her family and we had so much fun, I thought I would provide two pictures below.

April 16th was a huge evening because Travis and I got our engagement pictures taken at Gainey Ranch... Let me just say if you have never been there you need to go, the resort was so so beautiful. Denee Ray was our photographer and she did an amazing job. I work with her husband Chris and he always had these great pictures of his wife and baby on his screen saver and I always would ask him, who took those pictures and he is very casual and said his wife. So the first thing I wanted to do when we got engaged was take pictures because I could not get Travis to get professional pictures taken so this was an excuse and he was totally into it!! I asked Chris if his wife wouldn't mind and they were so great, the next thing I know we are at Gainey Ranch. Denee and Chris brought their beautiful little girl Jayda and we had a great time, they are such a sweet couple. Let me tell you this, Travis loved the way she photographed because she was quick and to the point, come here, sit here, pose this way, she had great ideas, knew what she was doing. She only does this as a hobby and as you will see below she should be a professional... Chris and Denee if you read this...THANK YOU.. Of course, I provided some of the photos below.

Michelle came down for her bridal showers and we had so much fun. Not only did I get to spend time with her and her family but Michelle, Kari, and I actually got to out like old times and just had a great time. The funny thing is, we actually realized we are old. We got a hotel room at the Marriott(thank you Kari) in downtown Tempe so no one had to drive, went to Z-tejas and had three of their margaritas and apparently that was all we needed, we were in bed by 10:00...ha ha, oh well, we definitely can't party like we used to :) Below is from Michelle's shower and our night on the town.

And I got a new car.... Look at my new 2008 Jeep Liberty.. I love it. I have only had four cars in my life and this one tops them all. Let's see, I started with an 88'Honda Civic, which was a wonderful car. I had that car at 15 and a half all the way to when I went away to college at 18. That car survived my teen years in high school and all of the desert parties. Then when I came home from my 1st year of college in Chicago I got a 98'Dodge Neon. Again, that car lasted forever, it was such a good car except by the time I traded it in, it was pretty ghetto. The car only had one window tinted because it was broken into so many times, then one hub cap left because I can't turn corners very well. The car color was originally red and ended up a pretty pinkish color, I referred to as, "Asian sunset." Then in 2006 I got my first new car ever a 2006 Black Jeep Liberty at Moore Chrysler Jeep, by the way has the best customer service ever! I just traded it in and now I have the beautiful below:

The funny thing is, I wanted a sun roof and I got this great Sun slide but my skin is so fair, I have only had the Jeep for a few weeks and I'm already peeling...LOL

Still not done with April, on April 27th, my mom and I went to our first Bridal Show in Glendale and ............ (is the suspense killing you yet) ........ I got a Wedding Dress. I know, I'm not getting married for two years but this was a deal that I cannot pass up. We went up and down the aisle's and let me tell you, that is very overwhelming. My mom and I did enjoy the fashion show. The very last aisle we go to, I run into one of my old regulars from when I worked at Oregano's and him and his wife own this beautiful boutique in Scottsdale called, "An affair to remember." He was telling my mom and I that they were having this huge sale and to go check it out, so my mom and I being as exhausted and hungry at this point go into the room. They had two racks of dresses and some of them were 80% off, I had never heard of such a thing but I'm not lying. So I found three and my mom wanted me to try them on but there was a huge line... Mom was a good sport because we waited probably a half hour to try on three dresses. The first one I tried was great but the second one was THE ONE. My mom started crying, that is how I knew it was the one. Now, don't get me wrong it probably was 3 feet too long and the top was a little big but this dress is so so so beautiful. It is real silky satin and oh wait, I can't tell you anymore because we don't want Travis to know too much.....
I will say this, the dress was over 50% off and I could have never bought this type of dress if it was not on sale. And, the owners, their beautiful daughters and the sales girls were so helpful. I love good customer service, it will sell me every time!!! I know you might be thinking it's a little early to get a dress but I don't care, I'm so so excited.
Whew.... April is over but guess what is in May??? My birthday.... this is actually the first year that I am not making a big deal out of it because so much other great things have been happening that it is just another day. We are going to go to dinner with Travis's mom on Friday which will be a lot of fun and I think my roommate(Jennifer) and I are going to go get pedicures and lay out on Saturday..... Then, Sunday is Mother's day, yeah to all you mothers out there and of course I will be spending mother's day at my mom and Ted's.

OK so how is that for my first blog....