Wedding Pictures

Our Family- All Decked Out!



Well, it was a BEAUTIFUL day in September when our friends Brian and Natalie wed. Both Kurt and I were in the wedding party so it really didn't give us much chance to take pictures of the event. However, we did take a few of us as a family and some of the reception, too. Here are the pictures....ENJOY!


Mom and KatieLook at me Mom!Dancing the night away...like my glasses?Grandma and Grandpa dance with Kate

Our niece and Katie-sitter extraordinare, Jill with her crazy Aunt Angie

Katie at the end of a long day of fun!

A Librarian's Daughter...

Yes, I'm a librarian's daughter and whatever that might mean to you in my world it means having a greater than 'normal' interest in books, being addicted to books, having more books checked out on your library card than I could ever read before they become due and having even more books in my home some of which I've never read.

My latest reads include- for pleasure the full Chronicles of Narnia series (I'm reading the books in Narnia Time order that is, beginning with the Magicians Nephew, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle. ) For personal growth I'm reading- What Mothers Do Especially When it Looks Like Nothing by Naomi Stadlen (I have really been enjoying this one. I picked it up at La Leche League last month.). In the interest of volunteerism I've cracked: What'll I Do with the Baby-O, Baby Faces. Clap Hands, Busy Toes, and Lapsit Services for the Very Young II. If you can't tell by the selection I am planning to lead a Books and Babies program at the Cuba City Public Library. I know, what have I gotten myself into. But like I said, I'm a librarians daughter!

In other news, I know, I promised wedding pictures. The event by the way was good, very good. We enjoyed ourselves, Katie was fantastic and there's more but I'm waiting on the pictures. I thought I had enough batteries in my digital but unfortunately that was not the case. Thank goodness I had the trusty film camera on hand to capture a few moments that day- like most of the moments. Anyway, the problem with film is that I can't develop it and well, not all the pictures on the roll have been taken yet and I hate to waste them just to get to the goal. It's my last roll and I don't know if they make that stuff anymore. So you'll have to wait till after the weekend and hopefully I can find a place that develops them with a free CD!

Until then, enjoy this shot of Kate in her wedding attire. Isn't she a cutie! And yes, we let her chew on that bouquet.

A week in review 'cause there isn't time for more at the moment

Our weekend was a full one. Kurt and I were able to finish/start a few projects on Saturday. Kurt gave me a special treat in the morning. He took Katie shopping with him! And I got a leisurely shower! I also started my bread to rising and reorganizing. And yes, I took pictures as proof (though none of me in the shower come on people!).

Sunday was a visiting day...hit the FFFF and visited with our friends at the Wisconsin House (if you're ever looking for a great B&B when you visit us here's our recommendation). Also stopped out at the community garden and got a PILE of tomatoes. The season is over, sadly but I've got a dozen jars of salsa and two pints of spaghetti sauce in the pantry! Our day ended at a birthday party for our goddaughter Miri. She turned two! My how time flies...Kurt and I were still dating when we became her godparents.

This week has been full of preparations for what's rumored to be the wedding party of the year. Packing and planning have been crucial as we're traveling north for the occasion. It will be Katie's first hotel stay. Look for pictures eventually....the whole fam will be dressed to the 9's

Also going on this week...adventures in teething. At least that's what I think is going on. Did you know that kids get a diaper rash when they teethe? I didn't! Yikes! Let's just say its as red as the Pope's shoes. Poor kid! I guess I'm assuming it wasn't something I ate but it could have been the bran muffins. Thanks Fr. Derek for the recent picture for my simile direct from Rome. They're Prada if you didn't know.

Finally, we had the opportunity to hang out with one of Kate's favorite uncles. John was taking a class in Madison this week and we met him for supper and beers at The Grumpy Troll Brewery in Mt. Horeb on Tuesday night. He tried without success to get Katie laughing like he has in the past but all she wanted to do was chew on the coasters. Which had me laughing. I thought it would make a good ad for The Grumpy Troll. The beer was TASTY by the way. Wow! Both Kurt and I were impressed and have plans to stop and pick some up when we head north on other occasions.

Signing off from Kieler...that's the week in review.

Girls just wanna have fun-- Mommas, babies and coffee of course!

Friday I spent the morning with good friends of mine and their kids at Sacred Grounds Coffee House in Benton, WI. There were plenty of babies to be loved as three of us have delivered in the past 5 months. All girls and all beautiful! Actually it really was an all girls event with the other little ones being ladies as well. We enjoyed treats and ventured to the Community Closet Thrift Store for deals as it is 50% off everything on Fridays! Hopefully we can all connect again soon!

New Kids on the Block

Today was a busy day...laundry to do, Kurt was up early getting groceries. We attended celebrations for friends another shower (for Katie and I) and a bachelor party (for Kurt). This evening we also had our first ever block party...well, street party actually. Being the new kids on the street, not to be confused with the New Kids on the Block (they have a new record coming out folks! Yikes!), we have really enjoyed getting to know our neighbors. There are quite a few kids on our street and some wonderful families. Though no one as young as Katie there is however another newly-wed couple that just moved in this summer. It is neat to see the variety of ages and personalitys our little street has to offer. I of course forgot to take my camera along but here are some pictures of our street.

DeLaval is not a name of a local French explorer but that of a milking machine. Exotic, huh?

The lost art of hospitality

As we continue to recoup from a Labor Day weekend away I've been reflecting in graditude at the hospitality of our friends. There have been numerous times in my years that I have been on the receiving end of fantastic hospitality, welcoming friends, family and strangers for that matter. The same has been true of our time here in Kieler. Being from a small town myself (Medford, WI) I know that often local names and cliques are common place. However here, Kurt and I have been welcomed beyond what I could have imagined. God is so good to us! At Katie's birth we received cards of congrats from people we hardly knew!! And our church family was truly a family to us in many ways. It is my hope that I can extend the same hospitality to those who come to my door. I'd like to claim the spirit of St. Francis as my model...I'm not very Franciscan otherwise but in hospitality we are definatley kindred spirits.

Today I also received the first in what I hope will be many notes from our friend Fr. Derek Sakowski. He is my former co-worker and partner in crime at Pacelli H.S. and the priest that witnessed our wedding vows. Father is studying Ecclessiology in Rome for the Diocese of LaCrosse. His letter was a welcomed treat for Kurt and I as we sat down at the computer this evening together to hear the latest and check out the pictures. Sounds like a awesome opportunity Fr. Derek has to grow in faith and knowledge. He's in walking distance to just about all the great sites of the ancient city. Check out some of the places in walking distance from his new home...

Salsa!

Today was the perfect day for canning salsa-- chilly! And so I sallied forth to can my second batch of the season. It was 4 pints, not too bad for a novice gardener with no sense of how many tomatoes make 6 pounds. We tasted my first batch of '08 this weekend and I must admit it wasn't too shabby. I hadn't canned without Gramma before this and now after today, am feeling quite confident. I think I might try spaghetti sauce before the season is out. I have a few more fruits of the vine to use up. And neither Kurt nor I like tomatoes raw.

Katie is excited, too. I brought up the exer-saucer from the depths of the basement for her and cleaned it up today. It is her new favorite toy with the taggy blanket falling to second place.

I was thanking God for the invention of the taggy blanket as we drove to Stevens Point and back over the long weekend. Kate was such a good traveler! We threw a bridal shower for our friend Natalie on Saturday and spent the rest of the weekend at the Cibarics. The only thing missing was Kurt. He headed to Michigan to visit his family. It was a good trip but too long for a baby in a car.

Well the salsa calls and so does supper as Kurt will be home soon.