Menu Monday: 8/27-8/31

Menu Monday

Monday: Left over Avocado Mandarin Orange Salad with left over homemade pizza

Tuesday:  Out with friends

Wednesday: Chicken Red Curry

Thursday:  French Onion Soup

Friday: Head to Woodland Trails B&B and grill out steak with potatoes

I hope you had a great weekend! We had a fabulous weekend getting to know Casandra. She arrived from Malaysia (via Abu Dhabi, Dublin, and Chicago) 11pm Friday night. 

We kept her busy trying to fight through the jet lag. Although somehow I was yawning last night before she was....

You name it we tried to give her that experience: Farmer's market, touring around town, disc golfing, making homemade pizza, Wii playing, church, trying to figure out a cell phone, returning something at customer service, people watching at Wal-Mart, Boccee ball, tipping at a restaurant, foggy mornings, and cool weather! 

Lastly, this morning Greg and I had our first like parent moments when we dropped her off at her dorm on the UW Campus to begin her international student orientation. We are so proud!

Three suitcases and a backpack! Pretty easy moving in  compared to US students!

Moving Casandra in made Greg and I reminisce about moving into our dorms. Such an overwhelming experience! Think of doing this on your third day in a new country. 

It will be cozy! Her roommate, Paris, moves in on Thursday. 

Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom

At my first teacher workshop yesterday I ended up sitting by another special education teacher who was there from another district. She's a recent grad, newly wed and just beginning her first year teaching. I shared with her my back round and we discovered that we both are the church going God Lovin type. She grew up in the church Greg and I are thinking about joining and only had encouraging things to say about the congregation, its leaders, and its ministries. I don't know if her and I will be in contact again, but it made me realize that I am really ready to make some additional friends here in Eau Claire. 
As a girl, I need a girl to do girl stuff with...  As a wife, I need more wives to contact when we crave a couples night.... As Christian, I need more Christian wives to be in check with... 
 I pray that this will happen and know that it will, because with every move I've made I've made in the past 5 years I have blessed with many friendships that have fulfilled my needs/wants and so much more...

*Source

TGIF: Dream Weekend

TGIF: ....I set this to be posted today because I am far from an internet connection, curled up with my kindle, looking at this.....

Atkins Lake near Cable, Wisconsin. Source: ME!

If you ever have a chance to come up to northern Wisconsin you have to take the opportunity. It's amazing! Bring your family or just your someone special. There is something for everyone. Lakes for swimming, paddling, or floating; woods for hiking and exploring; cute towns to antique; cool weather from Lake Superior to help your relax; really it's a piece of heaven on earth. (Just like Iowa and maybe a tid-bit better for a dream weekend!) 

Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom

*Source

This summer we have been spoiled. We have been so blessed to see all of our immediate family and much of our extended family. We are so thankful for these opportunities. 

Dream Weekend Come True

I LOVE this picture. It's Greg and our nephew going on a bike ride around the block. H is Greg's number one fan! After seeing Greg on his bike last weekend on RAGBRAI, H finally decided to take Grandma up on her offer to get a bike of his own. 

We had a fantastic weekend! Do you think we took any pictures? Nope NOT A ONE. I hate when I let this happen! At least my brother snapped some pictures on his fancy phone.

Harrison did GREAT on his first long rides around our neighborhood (over 1/2 mile).  Greg and I realize how great of a place we are in for when we have a kiddo of our own. Someday…

The visit with my family was wonderful. Saturday consisted of visiting the Farmer’s Market, watching Eau Claire’s finest belly dancers (yes you read that correctly) , being awed at Chalkfest, and seeing the  classic cars at Summerfest. As my brother was admiring the old Corvettes, Harrison claimed "That's my favorite car," when we passed the Pepsi Truck selling hot dogs and soda. HA! I was also impressed that we could walk within 100 yards of a petting zoo and H didn't even notice. He was too busy looking that the brochure advertising downtown EC's sculpture walk. A man of the arts!

For dinner we had pizza! Harrison and I got the dough ready and he continued helping Greg as he assembled one of the best pizzas ever to come out of our oven. Did someone call delivery? Nope, just Greg!

Sauce, sweet basil, Thai basil, home-grown cherry tomatoes (roasted!), fresh mozzarella , Italian shredded cheese and a bit of pepperoni= Almost the best pizza ever. Wait... Add the smoked string cheese or jalapeno cheddar cheese curds in the the crust = The BEST pizza EV…ER.  We'll definitely re-create this pizza in the near future. I'll post more pictures of it when we do.

Amazing weekend with great family! 

TGIF: Dream Weekend

TGIF! Ok, right now I'm on summer vacation, but Friday always just feels special!  I’m super excited about this weekend because my brother and his family are coming to Eau Claire. This will be their first visit to see us since I left Iowa..5 years ago. I still love them though :-) 

Chalkfest is this weekend! It's part of Summerfest!

So, for my dream weekend this weekend…. It’s to stay right here in Eau Claire! If you’ve never been here, I encourage you to come! Here’s just a few things you can check out!

Park WITH a free zoo! Amazing!

Farmer's Market!

Just 15 minutes away....

Let the weekend begin!

Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom

*Online Source for picture

Whether you are like Greg and busy at work with more things to do than time in the day…. or you are like me and anxious about starting a new job….or you’re a busy mom trying to juggle it all…. or an Olympic athlete who is feeling the physical and mental pressures of London 2012….. I think this verse can provide you with comfort like it does The MacLeod house.

A Place I'll Always Call Home: IOWA

I love Iowa, it's not a secret. Tell your friends. It's where I lived for the first 23 years of my life. This past weekend we went back for the second time since moving back to the US.  Greg loaded his bike in the car with the goal of riding in at least one leg of RAGBRAI with his best bud David. The Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa is a week long ride across Iowa that 8.5000 official riders complete every year and even more (like Greg) who just join for a 1 or 2 legs. Greg rode Friday and the ride's last day Saturday. Next year he wants to do the whole thing.(click for this year's route)

Friday Morning: Greg and David are ready to go!

On Friday my nephew, sister in-law and I were among the spectators in the small town of Anamosa as the riders came into the city. We caught Greg riding in and he stopped for a photo op by the official entrance. It was a great morning.

After 42.2 miles on the road, Greg riding into Anamosa, IA. The city's motto for their stop was "Ride it like  you stole it!" playing fun on the fact that  Anamosa is home to a large state penitentiary. 

H and Molly hanging out in the shade watching the riders arrive. 

Greg ended up running into some old high school friends who rode together the whole week and they invited him to ride with them on their last day: Anamosa-Clinton.  So, I dropped him off at 6:30 Saturday morning to start his ride again!

While Greg was riding Saturday, I was hanging out in the park  with my mom, brother, sis-in law and our nephew at an event celebrating Puff the Magic Dragon's Anniversary. H enjoyed dancing to the music and loved watching the man making balloon characters. I don't know who was more interested, my brother or H?

Watch out! It's Spiderman!

Greg after his 69.4 mile ride. It's so nice to see him so happy!!!

We spent Saturday night grilling out at my brother's house. One highlight was singing, "She'll be Coming Around the Mountain, " with H while Greg pushed him on his swing. We somehow met up with friends most evenings and we both felt like it was great weekend! Now back to the real world: Eau Claire edition.