Roadtrip! Cheers to Jeff and Michelle!!!!!

Another busy, and especially worthwhile weekend spent! We took off on Friday afternoon to travel to Port Washington Wisconsin for our friends Jeff and Michelle's wedding.

Port Washington is North of Milwaukee, right on Lake Michigan. It is a beautiful little town - not that we could really tell when we arrived that night at 11pm - pretty much just smelled like fish when we pulled into the harbor parking lot to meet the wedding party and the rest of the Iowa contingient. We met them at a nice pub on the harbor for some drinks. We got to meet some of Jeff and Michelle's family and friends.

Even though several of us Iowa travelers made the mistake of stopping in the Hotel bar on our way to our rooms, Steve and I had time to sleep in in the morning, and still get up and ready in time to grab lunch and go to the downtown/harbor area to check out the town before the wedding. It is a gorgeous little town!

The wedding was beautiful and something the presiding pastor said was very true, you have never seen more people look so happy to be at a wedding. Jeff and Michelle are both really great people and have a really great son Jordan. They are just people you like to be around, and it was very obvious that everyone was extremely happy for them - most especially them!

The Mr. and Mrs.

Michelle and Jordan cuttin' a rug

He doesn't like to admit it, but he still likes me;)

Before we took off the next day Steve and I went back to the harbor, had breakfast at a great "greasy spoon", where we ran into the newlyweds. After that we walked out to the lighthouse on the harbor. It was a beautiful day!

Lighthouse One view from the lighthouse pier - charming looking town

Here is Steve and I at the Lighthouse (not that you can tell where we are, but oh well)

Never seems to slow down....

I started to write about last weekend at the beginning of last week, but I am afraid I didn't get very far cause the week was busier than the weekend....so here goes....

Last weekend was a nice, but very full weekend! It was a weekend of celebrations - which is always good.

Our friend Rebecca (that works with Steve) just graduated from college, so we went to a little party she had on that Friday to celebrate.

Rebecca and her husband Tim

On Saturday Steve and I had big plans to be productive, but were pretty lazy that day. We both went out that night to pretty casual bachelor/bachelorette outings with our friends Jeff and Michelle and other friends in honor of their upcoming wedding that was actually this past weekend. We must be getting old (but I prefer the word wise;), because though we all had fun, we actually behaved ourselves and got home without causing ourselves a miserable following day;)

This was good for me since that Sunday I got up and drove to Cedar Rapids for a baby shower. I got in town in time to meet my parents, sister Julie and Sam, Aunt and Uncle Fran and Ray, and my cousin Kira, her husband Eric and their little one Kaleb (who I don't believe I have actually had the pleasure to meet before....) for their weekly breakfast following church. Kaleb is a joy! He is such a happy little boy!

Aunt Fran and Kaleb

Kaleb and Samantha

My sister Cathy and Zoey came in town for the shower as well, so Mom, Julie, Sam, Cathy, Zoey and myself spent the afternoon at our cousin Jenny's house. My cousin Mike's wife is expecting a little boy very soon. We had a nice visit with family and got to see most of my Aunt Judy's family.

I always love to go home and always enjoy it. I don't get home nearly as much as I would like to. It was nice to wish Mom and Dad Bon Voyage in person, because they just left for Ireland with some extended family this past Wednesday!

Julie at the baby shower Zoey, Samantha and cousin Jenny's little one, Connor
Aunt Judy and Mom

Steve visited with his Grandma and Aunt at his mom's that Sunday evening. They were visiting from Arizona for a long weekend and unfortunately I didn't get home in time to see them. There was some pretty severe weather on my drive home that night and the drive took me about an hour more than usual.

The past week was just more go, go, go......We had our last two Western Civilization classes, including a final, I had our monthly Tuesday night neighborhood Bunco party at my house and Steve had the pleasure of helping our friend Gully and other friends taste Oktoberfest beers to prepare for Gully's yearly Oktoberfest party this weekend (Well - you have to make sure they are ok for all the guests to drink, don't you? ;)

And just like that.....it is time for another weekend!

Wishes...

I was reminded of this by an email from a friend who very much needs such real and true encouragement as her young son has been facing a battle with cancer:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

I wish you enough!

It's Oktoberfesting Time.....

I had a nicer picture of Steve, but this was much more appropriate to the occassion!

We started this past weekend by volunteering our time from 1-4 pm on Friday...before you assume that this was for purely selfless reasons, though the event raises money for a great cause (The Variety Club - Children's Charity), it was for the Downtown German Restaurant's Oktoberfest and had its' perks. Steve, myself, and our friends Beth and Myra joined us as beer pourers, and drinking on the job was encouraged! Several other friends joined us toward the evening. Beth, Myra and I tried a little Polka-ing in the grand German tradition (if you could call it that;) and we proved again that we are not afraid to look like fools in the name of fun silliness! A good time was had by all! (I am sure especially by those watching us try to dance)

Miss Myra and I

Beth and I

We also ran into some old friends......

We ran into Beth who is a friend that is married to Steve Diers (for those of you who remember him) and she had with her their son Jacob. They live in NE Iowa, so this was a surprise. His sister Krissi, mom Elaine, and cousin Jeri was with them - all of which are also friends from the past.

Beth, Beth (Steve's), Jacob and I

We also ran into Dave whom Myra, Steve and I went to school with....

Myra, Dave and I

Busy Saturday...stopped by our friends J.P. and Becky's to say a quick hello as they were having their yearly cook out, and then it was off to Newton to have dinner with Steve's Dad and his wife Georgia. Steve and I, Steve's Bro Tim and Nicolle, and sister Deb all went to "Christen" their new grill, (which included the guys assembling it before cooking on it:) and celebrate Georgia's Birthday.

My niece Leah had eye surgery at the end of last week, and it sounds like it went well and was hopefully successful in restoring additional strength her left eye. Below is a new picture Brett sent of the kids....It is a great picture of them!

Ben, Alex, Jenna and Leah

We are off to the start of a busy week of work and school....Have a great week!