Best Birthday. . .EVER!

This past weekend I was able to celebrate my birthday with the entire family! It was the most perfect weekend ever. I reconnected with my favorite girls on Friday for a game night. Then Saturday we met up with my parents and brother and (soon-to-be) sil over in Dubuque, Iowa. We went to my favorite winery and just spent the entire day catching up, laughing, and eating. Can I day be any better? The weekend finished with a Packers win! This would have to be the best weekend I have had in ages. Don't you just love sitting down on a Sunday evening and reflecting back on a relaxing and fun weekend? Ah, there is not much better!

On another note, what is this game above? I use to play it all the time at my grandma's house but now cannot think of the name of the game. It has to be one of the most addicting activities ever. The best I have ever done is two pegs left. . .grr. What is the trick to only having one peg?

Happy Birthday, Jon!

To celebrate the occasion, we made our annual trek to Steak n' Shake (his favorite restaurant) and I made his favorite cake--with homemade frosting. How easy is it to make frosting? Just beat the heck out of some whipping cream, add a ton of powdered sugar, vanilla, and cocoa. He LOVES it and it sure is super simple to make!

Thankfulness

I've decided to come out of blogging retirement! Why? Because it's that time of year where I'm excited about everything! Other blogs I'm following are listing what they are thankful for throughout November. I have decided to copy them (I hope you guys don't mind) and follow their lead. This time of year is just too exciting to not write about.

Here it goes. . .

1. I am thankful for the soup we are going to eat for dinner tonight. I just tried out a new recipe--carrot squash soup. It looks amazing and smells even better!

2. I am thankful for my amazing husband. He takes such great care of me and is the person who I always want to be with.

3. I am thankful for Luther College! I just arrived home from a meeting at my former school and am so proud of what it stands for. I love running into Luther alum because we all identify with that school and get excited when we run into other Luther grads.

4. I am thankful for such amazing friends--you know who you are (you people in Minnesota and NYC and on the West Coast and in Germany). I wish you would live closer to me! It sure does stink to have amazing friends that live so far away.

5. I am thankful for my new blender (an early Christmas gift). It is beautiful orange and works sooooo well! I think I'll be making a Bailey's shake tonight which I'm watching the Packers game. Yay for appliances that make life easier!

6. I am thankful for the Christmas at Luther music that is playing in the background. Christmas at Luther 2005 happens to be my favorite year. What do you think, AJ?

Happy Fall, Everyone!!

First Signs of Summer's End

I've been spending most Wednesday nights this summer listening to the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in Madison. They produce an amazing concert for six weeks straight--free of charge! Tonight was the last one of the season. My dad and I have been going to these concerts for the past ten years. I really look forward to spending time with my dad--and my mom, husband and brother too when they are able to make it. It is the perfect excuse to get away and chat, eat delicious picnic food, and read and relax. I've also gotten my concert "friends" who I see for six weeks every summer but then go ten months without.


Events such as these remind you why summer is so great! I hope you are all able to enjoy something similar to this too! It doesn't get much better.

Auf Wiedersehen

I am so blessed to have some very amazing people in my life. One of them, Megan (yes, it makes remembering our names easy) just signed a two year contract to teach as a 3rd grade teacher in a school in Germany. So, this week has been filled with quality Megan time--we ate lunch at a small cupcakery in Madison, went to Concert on the Square, ate an awesome dinner with her family and friends--and said our final goodbyes yesterday in Madison. Ah, I'm going to miss this girl these next two years. But thank goodness for Skype, email, facebook and her new blog! Some friends are just too good to even think about losing touch with--Megs is one of them. I'm so excited for her--hopefully you'll be lucky to have her as your child's teacher sometime in the future. She really is a person who was born to teach and she does an AMAZING job.

I think I'll have to focus on some other great friends in this blog. There are so many people who just make life. . .happy!

Farmers Market Find

Beloit has one of the best farmers markets ever. It's the perfect size for a farmers market--two blocks lined on both sides with vendors and a side parking lot full of even more! The prices are right and all the vendors are within 30 miles of Beloit. I found these flowers today. . .for $5.00! I'll enjoy them while eating my yummy green beans, potatoes and corn on the cob! Ah, the joys of summer!

Summer Lovin'

It's summer--and we all know what that means! Summer lovin! While I love my dear husband, I think I have found a new love for this summer.


This little hose reel definitely has my heart this year. It makes watering those flowers that are faaarrrr away (i.e. at the very back of our garden area) much, much easier. No more yanking it and having the reel tip to the side or tripping over the knots. No siree, this little invention has got to be one of the best in the world.

On a side note, I feel as though summer has finally started today. I finished my grad class this afternoon and now instead of waking up at 5:30 every morning, I'm hoping to enjoy my summer break by having some bonfires (with smores), staying up late reading and sleeping in (at least until 8:00). Ahh, it's summer!