Owasippe!

Sister & Brother: Alyse & Tryistan...SO adorable!

My Mom with her five sisters and one brother...pretty cool!

We hiked to the BOG! A tradition every year...One of the few natural bogs in the USA!

Jenna & Alyse before the beach!

Hello All!

Hope everyone had a fun 4th of July holiday last week! Doug and I returned from a family trip to Michigan with my Mom's side of the family....it was a beautiful time with family.
Over 35 years ago (yes 35!!), our late beloved Grandpa Casey (Casmir) and our Grandma Lydia began this tradition, as Grandpa ("The Chief") was a Eagle Scout Troop leader. And, decades later, their 7 adult children, their spouses, his numerous grandchildren, and their spouses along with great-grandchildren continue this precious family tradition of camping in the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Michigan for a week in July every single year. The beauty of the approximately 5,000 acres of camp is truly amazing and the memories we all have together (I have gone almost every year of my life) are truly priceless and irreplaceable is every way....
Here are just a few memories in pictures of our trip....

"Friends are the sunshine of life." -John Hay

Doug & I hanging out with the gang :)

This weekend my best group of friends in the world came to visit. We have been best friends since mid 2000, when we met at Olivet Nazarene University, so exactly eight years ago, and since then Erin, Matt & Ted have been life friends (family) for me (Kate). We have all seen each other grow up, and I am so grateful for them --'My cup runneth over" :)

The last time all four of us were together was in 2006. Now, Ted lives (on and off) in China and finishing his masters in Philosophy at Northwestern University, Erin lives in Virginia and is a fabulous teacher and married to the Mr. Paul Anderson, Matt lives in Indianapolis and leads a band and is very successful in Sales, and of course I am here in Madison, WI , married to my AMAZING husband, Doug, and enjoying a career in Direct Sales, volunteering, etc. In short, we have grown up since we met at 18 years old.

Besides catching up and having great conversations, we visited downtown Madison, went out to eat and overall enjoyed everyone's company. Erin, Matt & Ted, thank you so much for visiting and for being such great friends to me & Doug.

"Good friends are like stars, even when you don't see them often, you know they are there...."

Love you all!
Katie :)

North Carolina!

Hi Everyone!!!

Today is my 26th birthday....hard to believe.  It was a great day which followed a wonderful LONG weekend of mini celebrations.  Doug and I were SO happy to have the opportunity to visit his Aunt Frud, Uncle Fred and cousin Katy this weekend In North Carolina.  We had such a great time in Charlotte and Blowing Rock, NC.  It was absolutely beautiful there, but the company and times we shared together is what made the trip so fabulous.  Uncle Fred, Frud and Katy, thank you SO much for your hospitality this weekend in every way--we had a wonderful time and hope you all did too.  We love you!!!! 

-Doug & Katie  

And again, Welcome Home Katy (she just returned from Spain!)!!!!

Valerie, Steve & Liam Visited!!!

Happy Father's Day to my Dad and all the dads we know!!!

This weekend we LOVED spending time with Steve, Valerie & Liam!!! We had a great time going to the Madison Farmers' Market and hanging out at home and around Madison. :) On Friday night, we also hosted Val& Steve's friends, Fred, Jill and baby Sam (who is about 9 months like baby Liam). We all went to the Madison Farmers Market which was amazing (Fresh fruit, veggies, flowers, and the famous Spicey Cheese Bread :)--) and surrounds Madison's capital. It has been voted the best farmer's market in the United States...and it's every Saturday here in the summer... :)!!! On Saturday night when Doug returned from an exhausting day at Kellogg (as he had FINALS--yuck), we celebrated Valerie's belated birthday. Her actual birthday is June 6, but better late than never. Happy Birthday Val!!!!!!!

AND, this morning we were able to say Happy Father's Day to Steve on his first Father's Day (being a Dad) ever!!!! Needless to say.....There was a lot of cake to go around this weekend... :)

Since Doug just had finals, he has a weekend off from Kellogg and we are SO SO excited. We are going to have a whole lot more time to spend together this weekend...YAY!

Here are some pictures from the weekend (above)--ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Kate

Blake & Kelly Visited!!!!

Kelly, Doug & Blake after Doug arrived home from Kellogg on Saturday.

The Siblings on Lake Monona (or Mendota...) after Brunch on Sunday..

Doug & I <3

Happy Tuesday Morning everyone. I am catching up on my emails and blog posts this morning, so there are actually two new posts you can see if you scroll down.

SO....last weekend we had amazing weather. And this weekend (If you watch the news, I am sure you heard), Wisconsin got pounded with rain and tornadoes. In fact, I just read on the news that FEMA is coming and that our Governor (Jim Doyle) declared a state of emergency in 30 (yes 30!) counties....Thankfully, most of Madison seems to be fine. And, because of the weather Doug was not able to get home (due to flooding on the highways) until almost 10 p.m. on Saturday night. However, when he did return he was SO excited to see his brother, Blake, and sister, Kelly.
Thank you again for driving up and hanging with us, Blake & Kelly!!!!! Above are just a few pictures from our visit with them. (Thank you Blake, Kelly and Doug for allowing me to take so many photos--I can't help it!) --LOL :)

Until Next Week... We are having Steve, Valerie, baby Liam, Jill, Fred & baby Sam stay with us...can't wait!! :)
Kate

Amigos! :)

May 31st, 2008

So.............did anyone else get "Carried Away" at the Sex and the City Premiere this weekend??? If you are into the show and saw the movie, I would definitely say it was truly "fabulous" :). And, if you are in the midwest, what a BEAUTIFUL weekend, right???? The weather was GORGEOUS!

We did see many of our dear friends this weekend. I had a long visit with Carolyn (C-Pal) who just returned from 4 months in Italy. Carolyn returned to the States fluent in Italian, with amazing experiences under her belt and she looks even more beautiful (which is hard to imagine!). And, since Doug has class all day Saturday, his old good friend Binu took off Monday from work and it still here visiting, which we love.... :) Thanks, Binu! So, here are just a few pictures.....Hope you enjoy this week!

Carolyn & I hanging out at her apartment :)

Woo! This is the first time (almost) that Doug mowed our lawn of our new house....Doesn't he look handsome?! :)

Doug & Binu hanging out after Doug & I returned from Chicago. We were tired, but had a great time. Happy Birthday Binu!

~Kate

Memorial Day Weekend!

Long weekends are AWESOME.... :)

Last year at this time, Doug and I were in Napa enjoying the California beauty, drinking in the sunshine (and the wine, of course!) and just having a BLAST together...one of our favorite times... :) Here are a couple pictures from last year's Memorial Day Weekend just for fun !:)




This year, we stayed home and had and had an awesome time with family and friends. This weekend, my Mom (Grandma), Grandpa John, my step-brother Ethan, and my niece Alyse and nephew, Tryistan, had a fun couple days together.... Also, my Mom and John really helped us with a few projects around the house (from gardening to hanging up a very heavy mirror above our fireplace...lots of help!). THANK YOU SO SO MUCH Mama and John! Here are a couple pictures of Tryistan and Alyse and one of Doug and I from this weekend.





Then, on Monday, we went to a BBQhosted by Mike & Tracy and it was fabulous. Really....they had games and one of those huge blow-up bouncing play-things (obviously I do not know the technical term for this) for the kids and, of course, great food and great people (Tracy, your french press coffee rocks). Unfortunately, I forgot my camera....bummer. So, no pictures of the BBQ :(
I need to just keep my camera with me!?!? :)

That's all for now... Hope you are enjoying your week!
Kate

OH, BABY!!!! :)

Early, very very early this morning :)  , our friends Meredith and Gustavo welcomed their new baby girl into the world--Gabrielle Marie !!!! YAY!  Both Mom and baby are doing great.  And,  beautiful little Maya is a big sister!  :)  Pictures to come.... !

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great Friends :)

Brooke... :)

Apparantly, this is how I look when I laugh and paint at the same time...hehe :)

This is what too much paint can do to you! Ha!

Hello Hello! The weather is warmer and we are constantly mowing our lawn, so...it's definitely SPRING! Yay! Lots has been happening with Doug and I here in Madison--we are loving being outside! Most recently though, my girlfriends in Madison celebrated Tracy's birthday here at "Blue Spoon" Thursday night--Happy Birthday again, Tracy! And, the next day, my very good dear friend Brooke came and visited us. Brooke was actually my R.A. in Williams Hall at Olivet Nazarene University my freshman year. Although we both grew up and lived in Decatur, IL, I actually did not know Brooke until that year. We are A LOT alike and became instant close friends or "kindred spirits" as Brooke says. I actually had my alarm clock in her room in college, so it is obvious we spent a lot of time together! Brooke even used to sneak me into our dorm when I came in after (hours after...hehe) curfew at Olivet (yes Olivet had curfews...). Good memories... :) Anyway, we had an awesome weekend, catching up, shopping, enjoying wonderful meals and just enjoying hanging out in person (instead of always talking on the phone!). Here are just a couple photos from our weekend. Yesterday evening Brooke also helped me paint our upstairs hallway (THANK YOU, BROOKE!), and as you can see by the pictures, we enjoyed ourselves quite a bit. :)~ Have a great week everyone!

"Say what you need to say....Say what you need to say....
Even if your hands are shaking.....
Even if your faith is broken....
Do it with your heart wide open...
Say what you need to say..."
-john mayer

CONGRATS TO ASHLEY & ANDY!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to my BFF of 8 years Ashley and her new husband Andrew!  I just returned home from Columbus, OH yesterday where the wedding and all the festivities took place.  It was beautiful guys--God bless you both and your marriage!  Love~Wave & Doug :)