Cheers, Prost or however you want to say it

Heidi just sent me this and it's a good one.

My mother would warn me about drinking too much and killing my brain cells. I wish she was around so i could tell her this.

Christmas with Heidi, December 21-23

Nürnberg Weihnachtsmarkt...check it out at http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/en/

It was a first for Heidi & I and such a wonderful christmas experience

me, making a wish

family photo in front of the christmas tree :)

i left early on the 24th...we had a wonderful christmas together. I sure love that gal

Christmas with Heidi, December 20

Frankfurt weihnachtsmarkt

!!! SURPRISE !!!

So one of my oldest and dearest friends turned 50 on December 15th, I have known him for almost 35 years...

   

Guido had a birthday party last night (December 19th), I was there. Yes, you read that right, I am in Germany. Two weeks ago, spur of the moment I bought a plane ticket. I am so thankful that I was able to make this happen, I think he is too :) I'll add more pictures when I get home.

Lukas, Niklas & tante cindi

Marion's father & i

 Guido & his parents

tears were shed, it was an amazing Überraschung (surprise) :)

Grateful part II, 2014

cornucopia tradition...

 all four of my kiddos home...

desserts... mini turkey cupcakes made by my sister cori and mini apple pies made by Amanda, pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake pie, cherry angel food cake and strawberry cheesecake

 sad girl saying goodbye to her puppy

craft idea I found that turned out pretty cool...

Grateful part I, 2014

started thanksgiving off with the Turkey trot...

 this was the temp at 10, it was colder when we started

birthday present for K-Dorie

LONG OVERDUE UPDATE FROM JULY 2013

 

Here is her ring, she loves that little heart shaped beauty :)

I can't wait to see what ring is buried inside this candle...i will post a follow up picture

christmas in October ?

I once heard someone say you can count your true friends on one hand. I am a lucky gal. 

I got a text from my friend and she said "stop by I have something for you". She bought me the clear glass water bottle that i had been talking about that i wanted, thank you friend. Then i got a call from another friend "I bought us a new water bottle for our trip tomorrow, you can pick your color". I show up at her house and she had a new skirt and new scarf for me, too. Really? more treats, thank you my friend.

Not sure what i did to deserve these treats but it almost brought me to tears. I feel the love !

thanks girls, I am gonna keep you both

Life.is.good

Friday started off with….

• Put together a hash brown, eggs, turkey sausage & cheese bake in the crockpot for my family to wake up to Saturday morning since i will be gone most of the day
• Margaritas & Root beer floats (root beer and rumchata) 
• Border salsa, chips, guac and chip dip for dinner
• fan on the deck and then heater on the deck
• ended in the hot tub

Saturday started off with…

• Vinnies & rummage sales in the jeep without the top
• lunch at Midtown
• nap
• back to Kathy's deck
• margaritas and dirty monkeys in the blender
• shower
• Venice to the watch the Louisiana bajou boys
• Eagles
• Jackson's Pit for dinner

See that picture, that is was relaxed & happy looks like :)

Sunday…

• filled my clotheslines
• vacummed
• made a great chicken pasta salad for my family for dinner
• back to the deck to lay in the sun, slathered in oil
• dips in the hot tub to cool off
• twisted teas and ice coffee with Kahlua
• shower
• fold laundry and relax

I haven't had such a great, relaxing weekend in I don't know how long. I owe it all to Kathy, we had an amazing weekend and the weather also cooperated. I hope we can do it again this summer, I'm lucky to have her in my life

cancer

I received very sad news that another person i know has lost his battle with cancer. Nine months after a diagnosis of brain cancer the Weber family has lost somone. My dear friend Guido lost his older brother Achim on April 17th. I love that family so very much and the news was like someone knocked the wind out of me.

I am sick to my stomach, what a wonderful, smart and caring soul. He leaves behind his children and his wife, parents, brothers and numerous family members. How and why are the questions that keep going through my mind. Children are not suppose to go before their parents especially at the age of 50.

Guido and his family will have the unbearable task of burying their loved one this week. I wish there was more that i could do for them. I will keep them close in my heart and pray.

I keep going back to Achim's website and looking at his picture. I know this is not how he looked when he passed because of the cancer but this is the way i want to remember him. Healthy, full of life and brilliant. Rest in peace

http://www.wbm-weber.de/

Mystery dinner theater

Kathy and I went to eh mystery dinner theater. The food was good and the company was good but the show was a little odd. The actors were good but story line was missing something.

My great aunt Carrie & great uncle Melvin were also there (they are so darn cute!). One of the actors went around through the audience asking if they say anything that would help him locate the criminal, etc. He got to my uncle and asked him his name, he said "Dick Tracy!". I'm sorry but that made me laugh so hard and to me THAT was the best part of the show 

Les Miserables & the wild rover

We (Kathy & I) saw Les Miserables at NMU and it was absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed every moment of it. This was my first play at NMU and i can't wait to see more

We went to the wild rover for dinner afterwards and it just "ok". i was craving irish nachos and they have changed some things, not for the better. I don't need to go back there, i was disappointed. 

wine & cheese party (Pioneer Days 2013)

 "someone" had a good time

"business after hours" downtown negaunee

Business after hours is when businesses stay open until 7pm. It's nice because you don't always get to these stores because they close at 5 and i work til 5. They had food, wine, beer and drawings.

 wax for hands

 i told Kathy she needed to do this, her hands take a beating at work

NMU homecoming parade 2013

I met Kathy at the 3rd base before the parade started

it was fun and i am glad i went