Part two of Europe

Our Friends and Family... one of the best parts of our trip. It was so nice for Gabe to finally meet the people that are so near and dear to me and who have always given me the best memories through out my life and I finally had the chance to have my wonderful hubby there.

In this picture is my families dear friends who are truly my extended family. We went to one of the oldest Monasteries in Germany to taste the yummy beers. Yum!!!!

In this picture it my dad is sitting with France again in a beer garden :)

After a few days in Regensburg we went to Eppendorf which is part of the old East Germany. It is also the town that my Grandma grew up in. The town celebrated their 675 anniversary and my grandma got to see old friends, have a reunion with her old coworkers from the shoe factory she worked in and a school reunion where she went to over 60 years ago.

While she was busy doing that we got to enjoy our surroundings by going to Dresden and Augustusburg. If I could suggest a place to visit this would be the area. Gorgeous and the history is amazing.

Every night we would come back to the hotel to an amazing meal and time spent with the fam.

Here is George wearing Gabe's hat looking cool :)

Angilica and me chilling out on the patio at the hotel.

The beer hmmmm....yummy!

The family sitting inside for one great meal!!!

Mom, dad and I having a good old time.

We spent 6 days in Eppendorf before heading back to Regensburg to celebrate with Karola's birthday and our 3 year anniversary. I can't wait to go back!

Summer 2011 Europe Trip Part 1

Gabe and I spent an amazing 18 days in July traveling through Switzerland, Germany and Part of Italy with my parents. It was the best trip I think we both have had in a very long time. While we were in Switzerland we stay with my Uncle Walter and Aunt Anita in Frauenfeld and spent a day in Zurich visiting my Great Aunt Izeta and her family. She makes amazing spaghetti, it was so yummy.

After a few days in Switzerland we went to Neurschwanstein on our way to Regensburg Germany. We took a fairy across the lake and it was so blue an beautiful.

Here is Neurschwanstien from below.


We took a carriage ride up and then had to walk the rest of the way. There were little waterfalls everywhere is was beautiful.


Once we were in Regensburg we spent a few days with our Family and Friends and went to the Whalla Halla which is a beautiful Marble building that looks out over the Danube river. There are 365 stairs and 52 collums and on the inside are marble statues of people that have made a difference in Germanys history.

We also spent a day in Regensburg where we went to the Domes, Saw the oldest torchure chamber in Germany and were my parents were married by the courts (which was three floors above the torchure chamber).

We also went to Freedom Hall which was created by Kind Ludwig who also created the Whalla Hall. It was amazing. We climed up this spiral stair case that took us outside the view was amazing I was so scare so I clung to inside wall butat least I did it.

We ended our trip in Regensburg by going to the Church where my parents were married and my brother was baptised. It was beautiful.

Well, this only takes us into day 6 there is definately more to come in the future.

It's 2011 and I never posted about 2010

A lot has happened through out 2010. Here is just some picks for updates.

We went to Door County with our friends (Heidi, Todd, Julie and Dave) We had a blast went to a lot of wineries and ended up joining a wine club. I really did not want to go home fall is the best time to go there... it is so beautiful.

We Went to the EAA with my dad and nephew where we got stopped every other minute by someone asking where we got our awesome collapsible wagon. It is really cool but it's my dad's(he got us one for Christmas...Thanks Dad)

We finished the garage finally. I love parking in my garage :)

We went to German Fest with Jenni and Jeremy and had the best time. Love the boots. We also went to Sprecher for the beer and cheese tasting with them which is one of the best things to do in Milwaukee :)

We also had our friends Cheryl and Greg from Michigan come to visit in July, went to a Brewers Game, Sprecher and Lake front brewery tour(learned have a dd for that trip) Gabe also ended up being on call and had to leave so luckily Jonelle filled in(love that girl) she was the hero because we did not take two cars:P

I went to Indiana with mom and dad for the fourth of July where we laid out on the boat and watched the most beautiful fire work display and hit all the wineries.

In July I also changed positions at work and went to the Corporate office, where I have now met some wonderful coworkers and some good new friends.

Finally mom and dad got a new dog Maggie 2 who is now a little over 9 months and a holly terror but she sure is a sweetie and a goof ball.

I am looking forward to what 2011 has to offer. I have a year and a half left of school(hopefully) and an exciting year planned. I wish all of you a wonderful year and I miss all of you.

Happy Belated New Year!!!!!

Random Pictures and Updates

I can not believe it has been a little over a month since my last post. Time sure does fly by in a hurry, especially when all I do is write papers for school.

It was brought to my attention that my blog is always a little depressing because something is always going wrong with the house. I guess I knew that was going to be the case when I title it the saga.

Our house is just a lot of craziness. So why not let the fun continue.

We just removed the shingle on the roof and we're worried that there was 3 or 4 layers which was true in some areas. The top half only had two and the bottom had 5. Some layers of the shingles were painted(never heard of that before) and that was the worse of it. Until... Rich was kind enough to come help us with the roof and two weekends ago ended up in the E.R with 12 stitches in his finger.( I feel so bad) Becky and I were at the grocery store with Gaven, when Gabe called Becky to say "what hospital should I take Rich to?" what... not he cut himself just we need to go now. Such a guy thing.

We also start to tear off the wood siding and when doing so found 100's of carpenter aunts and their larva(puppa... not sure how spelt). It was gross and cool at the same time. I actually felt bad killing all of them because they were working so hard on saving the larva. But I did not want them finding a new home (the house).

Some cool things about our house and crazy things are our tree. We have a really unique tree called a tulip tree, it is part of the magnolia family and has these beautiful flowers that bloom for about a week and then turn into some crazy looking pods.

We are also having a mushroom issue and found this one in the front yard, it had a really bad odor to it and was seeping goo.

On the plus side. After Maggie Mae passed away we took my mom to get a new puppy who could be a companion for Maxie and for my mom. Right now she is TROUBLE but was and is so darn cute. Here she is when we first brought her home from Indiana at 7 weeks.

Maggie aka mini Maggie

And here she is at 12 weeks.

And of course I can not forget about my girls. They seem to cuddle a lot more now that Josie is getting payback from Maggie. Maggie will take Josie by her ear or her fur and not let go. And now that she is bigger she just climbs on top of her and sits down. It is pretty funny.

Maggie Mae May 13, 2000 to May 5, 2010

To my Dear Maggie Mae,

I remember they day Mom and I drove to portage and brought you home. We new we would be in trouble for getting you with out telling Dad but I did not know that you would win over his heart as well as so many others.

You brought so much joy and gave us so many happy memories. You were so selfless and such a giant gentle soul You will truely be missed.

Love,

Michelle



Maggie Mae became our gaurdian angel on Wednesday May 5, 2010 at 2:45 in the afternoon. It was so unexpected and my heart is breaking so. There will never be another Maggie Mae.

Maggie brought so much joy to our lives and was always the protectur.

If she did not trust someone she would always stand in the middle. I remember when I was training Zoe and I had to dominate her, as I was leaning over her Maggie did not like it so she pushed me over pinned me and started kissing me and hugging me.

She new when I was sad and she was always by my side.

She chose my mom and was always near but if my mom was gone then she chose Gabe. If I would try to lay by Gabe she would push her way to the middle and huff and moan at me, that was her man.


I have so many fond memories but her are some pictures that will always bring a smile and a giggle to me and my family.


One day mom had some furniture delivery people in the house so she locked, Mags in the bedroom, Maggie Mae stuck her head through the cat door because she wanted to be near mom.

When she did not want to walk anymore she would sit down and we would have to call for someone to come with a car and pick her up on the walks.

Here's Gracie waiting for her to move to go for a walk.

Maggie was inseperable from Maxie and Zoe. When she would come to stay with us she would take turns with Maxie on the couch with Zoe.

Maggie loved to lie in the snow and eat it.

Maggie you are a wonderful friend and I will love you forever and miss you deeply.

Guinnea Pigs

Yes I did say Guinnea Pigs. I did a taste run on making a turkey so that when Gabe's family came for Christmas I would not screw it up. We had some gracious volunteer come over a taste test my 23lb turkey, homemade (secret) stuffing that has been paced down now to the third generation. (yeah, thats me). I also did the hole thanks giving fixings, including home made cranberry sauce and a cheesecake.

We had a blast the only negative is my feet were killing me.

It was also an exciting night because Julie asked Heidi to stand up in their wedding. It was great to be a part of that.

Here's Heidi opening the box, it had a cute little glass blue bird in it with a poem asking her to be a bridesmaid and Julie and David the future bride and groom.

Here's all my Guinea pigs. They all survived so I guess it turned out. I was so nervous and stressed out, that it was not going to turn out that I tossed and turned the hole night before. But everyone survived so I did good :)

Thanks everyone for being supportive taste testers:)