Summer Sunshine!

Remember this picture......



Well we didn't kill our plants! So excited! We also didn't know what color our lily was going to be and were very pleasantly surprised to find out they are pink!!! Okay, I was more excited than Chris, but still!!







Lastly, I had to change the look of our blog. They had a new feature for design templates and I was looking at them and playing around with some when I accidentally changed it. Then I couldn't get my old design back! Not in love with the new one yet, but it'll get there.

60 Years of Love & More

This past week Chris and I had the joy of being with my Grandma and Grandpa while they celebrate 60 years of marriage. My dad's parents are still so in love after all this time. You can tell by the way they look at each other, work with each other and in general just how they move around each other. It's truly an amazing thing to watch. With the short life we've experienced it's hard for us to even fathom being 60years of age...let alone being married for 60 years. It's such an accomplishment, trial, and journey to look forward to.



When asked what the secret to 60 years is my Grandma replied with, "We never fight". This really made us step back and look at our own marriage. So I leave clothes on the floor and he isn't johnny on the spot with cleaning the bathrooms...who cares! Why spend time bickering over such trivial things when we can be busy loving each other every minute of each and every day. Now, nobody is perfect, and I doubt my grandparents record is as clear as my Grandma stated it is but I think the truth behind their secret is that they never let any fight come between them and always find it in their hearts to forgive. Simply amazing the two of them.

We all tapped our glasses during dinner and begged for a kiss. KISS! KISS! There was so hesitation, they threw themselves into each others arms and kissed like they were 20 again! We're pretty sure Grandma even tried to slip a little tongue! They are still so fun and young at heart that even a little cake to the face was just part of the tradition.





Lastly, Grandma wore her pearls to the party, but not just any pearls, the earrings and necklace from her wedding day. Makes me wonder why I was so content settling for cheap fashion jewelry for such a special day. Oh well!



We love you Grandma and Grandpa, thank you for sharing your great love with all of us!

Fields of...Ummmm....Weeds!

This may look like a cute picture of little Lola frolicking through the meadow....sadly...it's our backyard and those pretty little flowers are actually pretty little weeds! I call those weeds "little" b/c our yard is also currently plagued with these mammoths...


...and if you don't think those look ginormous, let me put it into perspective for you... That's my 7.5 size foot next to the behemoth!




While Chris played man of the house and mowed the field, I mean lawn....
See, Manly....

...I attempted to tackle the weeds. Weeds - 1. Ashlee - 0. I actually had to give up on one because it bent my hand weeder like it was nothing! After I sort of got a mommoth one out of the ground i took this picture...





The root was thicker than my wrist!! Let's just say i was not able to get it all.


This next picture is just for good humor....and no he is not wearing a white t-shirt....I heart him!




After getting his sun quota for the year Chris headed into the garage to build his shelf, hang tools and organize everything; I found it the perfect opportunity to step inside for a nap....Lola agreed with me.



Finally, to cap off our yard work for the weekend Chris began watering the lawn while I headed out back to plant these....



The Mixed Hybrid Lily is from Chris' Uncle Pat in memory of his late wife who passed away earlier this year, she was an outstanding gardener. The Caramel Coral Bell was given to us from my parents...one of those bat your eyes, puppy dog lip, pretty please Mom I love you begging moments :) I just love the caramel type, it's like fall maple leaves all spring, summer and fall! I promised my mom I wouldn't kill it...hence planting it in our none existent garden next to the house.

Another Year Come and Gone

This past Monday was my 25th birthday, a quarter of a century, apparently still a baby by my friends and family's standards. Last weekend my Mom,Dad & Tessa, Tony & Jacki, and Tim, Sarah, Kellan & Hugo came to Appleton for the day to celebrate! Lola was in doggy heaven running around all crazy with Hugo, and poor Tess (who just had surgery on her ACL) was not feeling the love with the other two, but still was wagging away that stubby little tail all day.

Then we went to Joe's.....back story.....My dad's grand parents use to have a cabin in Duval, WI and when they would go to visit they would always go to Joe Rourer's Bar and Grill. BEST BURGERS AROUND! They use to have the their own cattle farm right outside the bar and process their own meat which made the burgers so fresh. When my brother and I were little, and well into high school, our family would take a lazy Sunday and drive the scenic route from Milwaukee up to Joe's Bar and Bay Beach. So many great memories from those trips, and above all, great burgers! It's been years since the whole family was there, so we kicked off the day by making the quick 45min drive to Joe's. Another great memory forever stuck in time.

With a good greasy burger in our tummy's we headed back for home to hang out, have a few brews, shop, check out Tim's handy work (he built a shelf for our basement while we gone) and of course....cook more food! Chris and I wanted to grill-out and seeing as we just had burgers for lunch we didn't think the typical brat's and burgers would do, so we came up with this......


Deconstructed Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad




It was something new to try/make and something light enough for those who just pounded down a double cheeseburger AND two regular cheeseburgers....TONY...and heavy enough for those who didn't come with to Joe's. We made a homemade dressing complete with anchovies and we had no idea but the recipe actually called for raw egg. I was kind of weirded out but no one got sick so it's all good! ;) For a side I cut up some fresh fruit and mixed it with a container of Pomegranate Greek Yogurt. Later we got all dolled up and went to the comedy club for a show, good times.

Sunday was a visit from Eric, Ashley & Leighton to chit chat about our yard and adding some rain gardens and a rain barrel. It was pretty informative for us and has really kicked Chris and I into gear about getting our landscaping going! Of course there were more beers shared.....No worries, no Leighton's were harmed in the filming of these photographs!





And lastly Monday night, my actual birthday, Chris and I went out to dinner downtown at Casa Blanca's a Latin restaurant and had some yummy tapas, so good! Chris surprised me beforehand with a little shopping spree for a new camera!! Ever since someone (i.e. ME) got a little tipsy from sake on the honeymoon and knocked the camera off of the hibachi breaking the latch that holds the batteries in.....we've been thinking about another camera. We are currently trying to get the latch fixed so it can go with Chris on his man trips to the lake...or on the road. Here is one of the first photo's taken with it....Chris is going to kill me for showing this! So DAMN CUTE.....and manly! ;)

Loco Lola!

While I catch up on blogging....Lola goes Loco! In fact, she's doing it again right now!





Her other loco tendency....playing with her food and treats. She gets so excited!

Long time, no blog...

So, it's been a long while since I've blogged and Christopher keeps reminding me of it!! Sorry I don't have any pictures this time around, all I've got are a couple of Lola at the Dog Park and I haven't loaded them up yet!

Everything has been pretty good in the last month or so. The weather is getting a heck of a lot nicer, which means more walks for our little lady love. We've been walking Lola around the yard sometimes with and sometimes without her leash to teach her where "out of bounds" is. She's been very good, but there also hasn't been much temptation (i.e. big dog next door).

Along with the nice weather has come a little trouble for Lola. About a week ago I came home for lunch to let her out potty and play with her. As she came running around the side of the couch she started screaming and holding her front leg out to the side. She wouldn't let me touch her or pick her up and I began freaking out! Finally she stopped and let me pick her up, I rubbed her leg looking for a tender or sore spot thinking she hit her leg but nothing seemed to bother her. It happened about two more times that night and again the next day. Each time she would let me massage her leg and everything was fine. I searched online for "pain in dog's front legs" and the only rational thing I came up with was that she was dehydrated and her leg was cramping. Dog's get leg cramps too?!? Who Know!? Long story short - I picked up a baby medicine syringe and have been forcing her to drink more water. It hasn't happened since that week. So for all you little dog owners out there make sure your pup is drinking enough water as the weather gets warmer outside!

As for the "What's New In Life?" for Chris and I...Chris has now taken over sales in Indiana and has been hard at work starting to build client relations down there. The trips are a little harder on both of us since they are now longer than one or two nighters, more like four nights if he want's to get anything accomplished while there. But we've made it work and are happy for this opportunity!

As for me, I'll be going under the knife...I mean laser...again in a couple days for an enhancement on my right eye. It's a pretty standard and typical procedure for patients who have had Lasik surgery to correct Astigmatism (<--i.e. ME! In both eyes!) We're hoping that all I'll need to have done is the right eye otherwise I'll go back in a month to have the left eye done again as well. Lastly new, I've been training to run a half marathon in September. I'm on week 6 of my run/walk training program and doing well. The first 4 weeks were like torture but I've outgrown that stage and now I'm ready to roll. My goal is to run the whole 13 miles without having to walk. I've got a long way to go but I'm confident I'll get there!

Spring + No Lawn + White Dog = A Hot Mess!

So we finally have had a weekend to spend some time at home together! No trips, no work, no plans, no shoes, no shirts, no problems! It's a song people! Anyhow... the weather was great this weekend and it was finally warm enough to get Chris out on a walk with the dog! How he can sit on a bucket on the ice for hours and not be cold but a little walk around the neighborhood is torture is beyond me, must be the beer! Along with the great weather though comes melting snow and sloppy mud. That is not the best combination when you own a white dog. We had planned to give her a bath on Saturday anyway so we let her have the run of the road on the walk. What a mess!


She looked so guilty...



Just short of rolling in the mud she was completely covered!



This is where she figured out the consequences of her actions.



For a short while after her baths we think we own a sheep dog...



All pretty again...minus the super long hair that you can see is now beginning to part down the center. She is getting her first puppy hairdo next week :)



As the afternoon began to wind down we decided to rent some movies and make a great big feast for dinner since we love to cook together. Lately, we have been seeing the Olive Garden commercials for the Four Cheese Stuffed Pansotti with Chicken or Sausage. SOLD! We had no recipe to go by, but went online to look at what ingredients we could pull from there. With our list in hand we set out for the grocery store. There was no decision made on whether we would be having chicken or italian sausage(<-- my week spot!) instead we decided to make both...why not!? this was a feast after all!

Four Cheese Stuffed Pansotti with Sausage in a Tomato Alfredo Sauce



Four Cheese Stuffed Pansotti with Chicken in a Portobello Mushroom Sauce



It was our first time making/stuffing our own pansotti's (a.k.a ravioli) so they didn't turn out the greatest...but were still definitely edible. All in all they were delicious!! After using nearly every dish in the kitchen and one bottle of wine later we were pretty proud of ourselves and pretty darn full! No room for garlic bread or dessert! So worth it!

Lastly, this was our Sunday morning feast...another of Chris' many cravings...

Chirizo, Mozz, and Tomato Omelet with a side of Pancakes, English Muffin and his personal favorite, gag me, Corn Beef Hash...