Being home from my vacation is awesome...so far stress free!!
Sunny Santa Barbara was beautiful and relaxing, it had been 7 years since I visited!! The whole environment was just wonderful and beautiful. I stayed with my close friend Jessica and her significant other Jason for a few days at their basement/studio. Their home was up in the hills of Santa Barbara and was always amazed at the homes and streets I passed driving up the hill to their home just beautiful. Their backyard was full of cacti <--spelling? and palm trees with a lovely little patio that such great scenery that was super calming.
Tuesday evening we headed out for dinner in downtown Santa Barbara. We enjoyed delicious spider rolls from a hot sushi place in celebration of her sister Kelli's birthday. After we enjoyed the nightlife in downtown Santa Barbara. One thing we don't have in Stillwater is a great live reggae venue. So we enjoyed "The Sandbar" atmosphere was quaint and the locals are really friendly. After a few Negro Modelo's we ventured over to a night club that had an 80's theme night and oh my goodness was that just a hoot to watch & dance too. It was a fun evening in "Barbi" and definitely will remember that even on a Tuesday night that city is hopping!!
The following day we had a few peaceful hours at the ocean :) Catching up on the sun I missed during this past summer was awesome!! It was not too hot out and the beach didn't have too many locals and that made it even better! Not being at a crowded beach is something I rarely see back in MN. The afternoon and evening was spent relaxing & enjoying Jason & Jessica's company with delicious pasta & wine dinner.
Thursday morning we headed east to VEGAS! The drive was about 5 1/2 hours and for a passenger it wasn't bad since the views were entertaining. Once we arrived to our hotel the MGM we were greeted by my best guy friend Matt and other fellow MN friend Billy. These two boys live in Vegas year round so it was great seeing them right away. Jessica & I enjoyed a fine evening out dressed in our best and made our way to dinner & a night club in the Wynn hotel. It proved to be a bit crazy with all of the Halloween Costumes and club goers so we only mingled for bit their. We didn't stay up till the sunrise but we stayed up gabbing that's for sure!
Friday was Halloween and oh man people really enjoy being dressed up out in Vegas so it was a sight to see!! During the day we were at the boys house outside of Vegas and enjoyed frosty brews on the deck and just kicked it~! It was so nice being able to spend time with Matt as he is my best guy friend and he has lived in Las Vegas for over 2 years now. I really miss him a lot and he has been such a good to me and so any chance I get I hope to travel their more often because its not so much about the Las Vegas but more of a chance to visit my friends and catch up. So anywho....our Halloween evening was great the boys took us to a great Italian restaurant that played Frank Sinatra and felt like we were in some mobster/gangster hang out :) it was romantic and a great evening! After we headed to our favorite dive bar called the "Stage Door" and enjoyed comped drinks and headed home after. All in all a pretty chill Halloween to be said.
Saturday Jessica departed early in the a.m. for her drive back to Cali and I was able to spend some good man hours with the guys watching the Gopher Football game and enjoyed some beers. Since it was my Bday on Saturday it couldn't have been a more perfect way to spend it just relaxing enjoying good company & laughing a lot. My exact mission for the vacation I had was just being relaxed by the time I flew home my birthday night. I definitely achieved that with Mark treating me to a delicious dinner at Marx Wine Bar & Grill after I arrvied back home. Turning 26 wasn't so bad, in reality I think I'm only a few years from 30, but it doesn't scare me, I think these days I look forward to being over the 20's stages for life :)
Thanks again to those who gave the ticket for my flights as a bday gift it was an amazing trip and great to come home to my family!
Hugs-Sara
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
I've been everywhere photos
Rinelander, WI (Carrie's Wedding)
Rinelander, WI
View from Fairview facing Round Lake
Fairview of Round Lake
Spring (Round Lake)
Forgot the overlook name :(
Cascade River
(Grand Marais, MN)Thursday, October 16, 2008
I've been everywhere....
This year we've been traveling to several area's in Minnesota and it really makes you appreciate your own town, but you learn easily everyone else has it great too!! This weekend I will be traveling again, but solo (with Mark in spirit of course) to visit Soccer Wammy aka Soccer Sam in Bemidji so I'm onto another adventure!By the way check out Soccer Sam @ http://www.bemidjistate.edu/athletics/ and read how she's doing this season for Soccer she's the Goal Keeper!
Since the beginning of this year Mark and I have traveled to each area of MN practically and wanted to post some of these beautiful pictures of our state on our blog.
Here's our list of traveled to so far in 2008:
*Grand Marais (visiting George & Gail) Northeast MN
*Winona (Celebrating my Aunt's Retirement) Southern MN
*Madison (Friends wedding) SW near S.Dakota
*Of course Fairview @ Round Lake Northern MN
*Duluth, MN
*Bemidji, MN
*Mark's fishing trip
Out of State:
*Siren, WI (Cara's Cabin)
*Siren, WI (Annie's Uncles cabin)
*Santa Barbara, CA (on Oct. 28th - Sara)
*Las Vegas, NV (on Oct. 30th - Sara)
Voyaging to each of these places and several others not listed just make us happy to have the opportunity to see these areas of MN. Now that Fall is here I figured we should remind ourselves of our adventures before we start our winter :) Next weekend we both are heading up north to Duluth to watch Sam's game with my mothers side of the family the Johnsons.
In regards to our regular info Mark had his midterm this week and did awesome! Starting in November I'm starting another 6 week Cardio Dance session at the dance studio I work at! Lots of things happening I can't wait to report after this weekend so enjoy your weekend it should be beautiful out!
Hugs,
Mark & Sara
Thursday, October 2, 2008
October came with such great news!!!
Its October and I am so excited that the colors are changing and upcoming holidays are right around the corner! I had to think how to write about the numerous positive changes that have happened not to us necessarily, but to our close friends and family. I can report that after one day I have taken in the following great information with such gratitude to either god or to great karma. What I mean exactly when saying this is quite a few of our close friends and family have really been waiting for a positive new chapter in their lives and now they have finally reached it!!!
First off, congratulations to my close girls Jessie & Natalie!! I've been friends with Jessie through elementary school, on the high school dance team together, and friends after high school. She has been one of my closest friends who has been apart of many of my life's hardships over the last few years. Not only has she had her share, but I find that after going through our tough times she is one to get the praise for overcoming her obstacles. In one year she has accepted a great new job, gotten her self a new place to live, a new car, and overall a string of great changes that she's deserved for a long time. Way to go!! Natalie I met in college and she too has had her times of finding where her place is. Both friends of mine were both layed off the same time as I was last year and both have reached the the end of the dark tunnel and onto a great new chapter in their lives. I couldn't be happier for them as they have always been such great people who deserve nothing less!
Congratulations to my cousin Hans & his wife Margaret after waiting I think longer than a year to receive the great news they get to adopt their first child Tey (<--spelling?) from Korea. He is now 6 months old and they will be going to Korea to get him in just a few months. I believe we will get the chance to meet him over Christmas! Also my other cousin Aran & wife Nicole (Hans' younger brother) are also on the adoption waiting list too, so I pray that their wish is granted soon too! Hans & Margaret are such deserving parents and I have chatted with them on so many levels of what being adopted is like, I can only say that any child would be happy to have them as parents, I know I would. Another congrats to for them is that Hans had a problem called Atrial Fibrilation with his heart and under went a procedure just yesterday called Radio Frequency Ablation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. This was just a few days after receiving their wonderful news on Tey. The procedure had a scary turn for a bit, but my Uncle Bruce reported to us via email but all ended just fine :) Woof-dah!
More congratulations are to be given of course! Two other couples that are best friends with Mark and I have almost reached the closing of their new homes! It is such an exciting feeling for our friends to go onto the step of being homeowners. I can only say that I'm saddened our friends the Bonines will be moving further away, but Sara & Adam have been married for over two years now and a home will complete them and their child Homer! :) Our other friends Dan & Sara will be moving just into Bayport so they will be nice & close and can't wait to start making memories at their new home too!
One more :) Congratulations to Aimee & Trevor (Mark's cousin & wife) for their second child on the way! Their first daughter Taylor just turned 1 in August and baby Great-Grandchild #2 for the Thompson is on its way!!!
I have to send some news on us of course!! Last weekend we were able to attend the Twins game in a Suite, it was awesome!! We were invited by Holly & Kevin to join and met Kevin's (Mark's Mom's boyfriend) daughters Jenni & Kristen. It was a really a pleasure to meet after a few years of Holly & Kevin being together. Kevin has really been a great friend to Mark and I and to meet his daughters was great!! Can't wait to see you ladies again soon!
Ah...what a great blog to report about these people in our lives!! They have deserved all of this for a long time and Mark and I couldn't be more happier for them!
Congrats to all!
Luv Mark & Sara
First off, congratulations to my close girls Jessie & Natalie!! I've been friends with Jessie through elementary school, on the high school dance team together, and friends after high school. She has been one of my closest friends who has been apart of many of my life's hardships over the last few years. Not only has she had her share, but I find that after going through our tough times she is one to get the praise for overcoming her obstacles. In one year she has accepted a great new job, gotten her self a new place to live, a new car, and overall a string of great changes that she's deserved for a long time. Way to go!! Natalie I met in college and she too has had her times of finding where her place is. Both friends of mine were both layed off the same time as I was last year and both have reached the the end of the dark tunnel and onto a great new chapter in their lives. I couldn't be happier for them as they have always been such great people who deserve nothing less!
Congratulations to my cousin Hans & his wife Margaret after waiting I think longer than a year to receive the great news they get to adopt their first child Tey (<--spelling?) from Korea. He is now 6 months old and they will be going to Korea to get him in just a few months. I believe we will get the chance to meet him over Christmas! Also my other cousin Aran & wife Nicole (Hans' younger brother) are also on the adoption waiting list too, so I pray that their wish is granted soon too! Hans & Margaret are such deserving parents and I have chatted with them on so many levels of what being adopted is like, I can only say that any child would be happy to have them as parents, I know I would. Another congrats to for them is that Hans had a problem called Atrial Fibrilation with his heart and under went a procedure just yesterday called Radio Frequency Ablation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. This was just a few days after receiving their wonderful news on Tey. The procedure had a scary turn for a bit, but my Uncle Bruce reported to us via email but all ended just fine :) Woof-dah!
More congratulations are to be given of course! Two other couples that are best friends with Mark and I have almost reached the closing of their new homes! It is such an exciting feeling for our friends to go onto the step of being homeowners. I can only say that I'm saddened our friends the Bonines will be moving further away, but Sara & Adam have been married for over two years now and a home will complete them and their child Homer! :) Our other friends Dan & Sara will be moving just into Bayport so they will be nice & close and can't wait to start making memories at their new home too!
One more :) Congratulations to Aimee & Trevor (Mark's cousin & wife) for their second child on the way! Their first daughter Taylor just turned 1 in August and baby Great-Grandchild #2 for the Thompson is on its way!!!
I have to send some news on us of course!! Last weekend we were able to attend the Twins game in a Suite, it was awesome!! We were invited by Holly & Kevin to join and met Kevin's (Mark's Mom's boyfriend) daughters Jenni & Kristen. It was a really a pleasure to meet after a few years of Holly & Kevin being together. Kevin has really been a great friend to Mark and I and to meet his daughters was great!! Can't wait to see you ladies again soon!
Ah...what a great blog to report about these people in our lives!! They have deserved all of this for a long time and Mark and I couldn't be more happier for them!
Congrats to all!
Luv Mark & Sara
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