St. Patty's & Celebrations!

(Momma Holly and Mark celebrating the St. Patty's 2009)

(One tasty Dinner at Chiang Mai Thai)

(I will not comment on the amount of beverages Dr. Dan bought everyone)

(Oh the good o'l boys)

(Dr. Dan's celebration at the Drink)

(Remember my blog about that awesome couple this is them, Sam & Lindsay)

(Outside Brine's, not too often you us on Main Street in the daylight) :)

(Celebrating at Brines)

If you can see that tall figure :) That's Mark outside the RV hang spot

Liesl and I enjoying a beverage at Spring Fling

March....has swiftly taken off and barely leaves a trace for us even. As anyone I can that Spring has some what arrived and we were enjoying those beautiful sunny days. Right now we're just focusing on April showers. March seemed to be a month that flew by and yet these last few days have lingered.

Earlier in March work wise we had a famous moment on WCCO 4 News!! The Lowry Penthouse Project was a project Mark and I both have worked on since 2007. Before he had left Crowe Construction Management he had helped demolish this entire 13 story Penthouse. Now it has become a restored marvel, check out the video! I will say that since this project has taken some time to get things completed it was well worth the wait, that's my favorite part of my career!
Now St. Patty's Day was just in the middle of the month and usually we would be celebrating in St. Paul but vouched for a closer to home celebration. We rounded up our crew of friends starting at happy hour at the Mad Capper in downtown Stillwater and enjoyed frothy brews. Our main mission was to get to Charlie's Pub in the Water Street Inn, but it never happened. However, we did manage to get to two other establishments instead (lol).

See pics :)

March also brings Spring Fling at Afton Alps. We attended with our friends Liesl and Adam with their RV and sat in the sunshine all day. They have a Swimsuit Race, Ski-Skipping, etc. We plan to head their tomorrow (3/28) for Food Shelf weekend and play with them again.

Celebrations! First off my co-worker of almost 5 years now Claire Crowe (Owner's Daughter of Crowe Constructiong Management) celebrated Bridal Shower and enjoyed chatting with the Crowe Family. As I work for her father Mike Crowe, his wife and step-daughters I have gotten to know over the years, almost like the extended-extended family. After her shower I raced to meet Mark in Minneapolis for a best friends for some who may know him as "Dr. Dan" was recently married to his girlfriend Tammy. We celebrated with dinner at Chiang Mai Thai in Uptown. We had a huge group of our oldest friends there. Mostly the friends that Mark and I first met through actually so its always a great reunion. To follow we went to the Drink just in Uptown for celebratory's. We had a blast! Congrats to the Schultzs!

I do have some sort of downer news but nothing threatening, we're not making our trip to Chicago in June :( turns out the Twins sold out already for the game (BOO). However, we will make another battle plan for Mark's birthday celebration.

Currently, we have two of our best friends in town and its awesome for us right now :) when the snow keeps coming were not bumming cause our pals are here so anythings fun!

Onto April next week wahoo!! Hugs & Luv!


Mark & Sara

Daylight Savings=tired from a wonderful weekend!

This past weekend was quite interesting only to say that we enjoyed it immensely! Friday evening Mark and I took ourselves to Acapulco to enjoy a much deserved Tally and Fajitas. We were joined by friends and Mark continued to be very merry we'll say into the rest of the evening.

Saturday was our day to do our solo missions, Mark enjoyed snowboarding with Nate down at their favorite place Welch Village outside of Red Wing. It sounds like they enjoyed their time and will be taking advantage over the next couple weekends of popular things going on at Afton Alps. The season is almost up!

Saturday I went along with my neighbors who I grew up with the Kochendorfers (Brian and Kristin) to Grand Casino Hinckley for a softball fundraiser. For $20 all you can drink the way up and back was a fun time. I gambled away only $25 dollars :( but managed to catch a buzz obviously. When my parents moved to Neal Avenue I was almost 5 and I became close friends with the Kochendorfer girls immediately. Kristin & Carrie were my big sisters and always showed me the way of the pop culture of the 80's!! Our parents have been close friends too, so it was really fun to spend time with KK (Kristin) as she lives in Baldwin, WI but I usually see Brian out and about as he lives in Stillwater.

Needless to say I took care of Mark Friday evening and then he did the same for me when I returned back, such teamwork I tell you! Our Sunday was busier than usual, but in such a great way I had to blog about it. Morning came and daylight savings didn't help us recuperate enough, but we still pushed on. Holly and I went and had a girl luncheon down at Woody's and caught up on everything and man I love that woman, we had a great time! We've been helping her with her dog Jesse getting him out while she's cranking through tax season so this week we'll be doggy sitting a bit :) any who...

We had some new guests at our house last evening Sam Tilley and Lindsay Medin. Now through mutual friends we have known of each other and been friends, but haven't gotten to do a couple date with them until last night. They came over and we grilled out for dinner, Mark the grill master never fails to disappoint that's for sure. We ate our delicious dinner and found many common interests with each other.

Truthfully, we haven't had a another couple that we would do things together since our friends who were together 4 years broke up. Since then we've been awaiting another couple to go do activities with. Long story short they came at 6:00 and left at 10:45, now if that doesn't scream awesome I don't know what does. Sam and Mark have the common interests of gaming and are friends on XBOX Live and Lindsay became a student in one my Zumba classes and I hadn't seen her in a long time and when I started my 6 week session for February she had signed up and I didn't know it! It was like fate! lol

We've talked about gathering a few times, but just with busy lives hadn't had the chance. I see that changing after last night. They share the strong family bonds with their parents and they too were also friends prior to dating. Their very level headed people and enjoy being active outdoors and in. Lindsay is quit the cook and enjoys having Sam being her tester. Sam is also in school for aviation and hopes to be a pilot. He already has his own plane I believe and they had invited us to Detroit for an airshow in June. We talked about going camping just north of Stillwater in Marine for a weekend and even discussed BWCA possibly next year. We already set a date to celebrate St. Patty's together next Sunday!! I am one happy camper today and its because renewed friendships will make it just another great year with new and exciting adventures for Mark and I. WAHOO, here's to a great weekend!!

HUGS From Mark & Sara

Grand Marais Visit and onto March!!

(Uncle George is wearing the older version of snoweshoes)

(on our way to the overlook)

(Aunt Gail is a rockstar of a snowshoer)

(Up the Gun Flint Trail on our snowshoeing adventure)

(I am sorry I had the camera so no pics of Mark, but I'm thinking he's going down a slope himself at this time:)

(Our drive up Hwy. 61 on Saturday, Mark's driving )

(One frozen Lake Superior)

(On our way to Grand Marais)

Arrived and with a beautiful sight!

Last Friday came and it was no surprise that we've been awaiting a getaway...um ALL WINTER LONG!!! This winter hasn't been all that ultra exciting for us, but we always manage to or shall I say I like to keep us busy and always have our calendar plump full, just so we don't get too stir crazy.

We hit the road just after 12:00 to visit Aunt Gail & Uncle George who have retired and lived their since 2004. Their home is just up on the hills of Grand Marais above downtown with a beautiful view of Lake Superior just about any place in their home really.

When staying at their home it's just a real great experience as every wall has something from their travels or maybe past relatives belongings. Regardless to say we stayed in the Japanese style room. My cousin Margaret was an exchange student back in high school, they too have hosted a student "Yoshi Hero" back when I was just a little girl. Each room has its own identity and really reminds me of being in a B & B.

Since we arrived earlier than expected (only took us less than 4 hours to get there) we enjoyed a cocktail hour or two :) and had my Aunts famous Lasagna. When I was little they lived in Lakeland, MN just south of Stillwater so I remember eating "real" Lasagna not the Stouffers disasters and of course that's Mark's favorite!! We went into the evening enjoying our meal and wine and discussed everything and anything. I feel as if this is how our time should be spent more than how we have lately. It's the conversation and enjoying each others company that makes you wish this happened more often with our friends our age. Mostly our age is looking for the best way to get your brew down your throat rather than really getting to know you. Hence why Mark and I have been hermit's much of the winter. Any who, we finished the evening with sipper of the Peach Schnapps that is made in the town were my cousin Margaret currently lives. I can tell you that's a kick in the pants :)

Our next morning we were up early and sipping on what Mark calls it "Rocket Fuel", its the coffee my Aunt & Uncle make. He was off to Lutsen just before it opened with a full grin on his face! I was able to meet a local fitness instructor/friend of Gail & George's and she introduced me to some fun East Coast Swing moves and tried getting us to the "Howling Wolf" for the evenings dance they were holding.

Since I am fearful of heights & speed we decided a snowshoeing adventure would be more up my alley. We drove up the Gun Flint Trail a few miles to a near by snowshoeing trail they had tried recently. I found it to be a great workout and rather more my style of being outside. We went through the trees and headed down towards a lookout area. OMG-OMG! I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be but soon realized my fear of the heights has narrowed to only a small fear. I just kept far away from the edge (see pics). Now going back up the hill was a rather great workout and my legs were ready for it, I am still not sore today!!

We completed our hike and took a drive up to the half way mark up the Gun Flint Trail to get a Moosehead beer and soup & sandwiches. The bar we went to had all sorts of outdoor sportsman and we even saw snow sculptures on the way up the trail.

Late afternoon we convened at the house and enjoyed the CandyLand popcorn I bring George since it was his favorite sweet when he worked for the City of St. Paul the place is just right near my office. Mark was a bit sore from his excursion but I kept him going by suggesting a drive further up Hwy. 61 going towards Canada at sunset. It was a beautiful drive and we were tempted to cross the line to get Mark some Molson Canadian beer but figured dinner was more important :) Another great meal was devoured and we stayed in and got a great night sleep after the day's activities.

Our last morning we enjoyed our coffee in the beautiful upstairs that has a great view of Superior and knew our trip would soon end just after breakfast. We hope to visit again possibly while snow is still around as we had a great time and couldn't picture a better weekend, probably the best all winter!!

The drive home was sunny and quick, probably too quick. It got us thinking about our plans for the cabin this year and a 4 hour trip up north is nothing anyone should gripe about, because the experiences and scenery is hands down perfect and worth it!!

March is now here and if the Lions come in like they say I'll take another weekend up in Grand Marais any day!!

Hugs,

Mark and Sara