To Wisconsin to Celebrate Pops

Jack let us take the newest family member out for a spin. We cruised the Ave with Dale.

In July we were in touch with Jack and Kathy as we were learning more about Pops.  Pops, also known as Jack Anderson or Paul's grandfather, was coping after losing his life companion, Bobbie.  They also determined that he was now struggling with cancer after doing a few tests during a recent hospital admission.   When we heard the news we were heartbroken and Paul was able to talk with him on the phone to send our love and prayers.

Three generations of Anderson men: Paul, Pops and Jack Anderson

Shortly after, we received a call and heard that Pops had passed away peacefully and was now with Janet - they were together again - and I am sure both happy to be home.

Pops at our Wedding 10/5/14

We made the easy decision that we would drive home to Wisconsin overnight and spend as much time as possible with family.  We also brought Dale along for the trip - he was really getting used to long car trips by now.  We arrived in Appleton and the whole family was there including all of Paul's brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles.  It was nice to see everyone, however an unfortunate occasion to do so.  The Funeral service was on Saturday afternoon and it was another beautiful service that mirrored Bobbie's service in many ways.  He also received a military service which is such a breathtaking part of the day. It really makes one stop to think and thank those in the military for all of their service.

Keewanaw Brewing after a long conversation about the UP with Paul's family!

Dale is getting ready for the packer game at the Anderson's!

After the funeral I made the quick trip up to Seymour to see Lyssa and my parents while I was in town.  We were too close not to meet up.  We went to our favorite place for dinner in Seymour, Jackson Point.  We then went back to my parents house to soak in the tub until we were much too shriveled and pruney.  It's kind of a habit that Lyssa and I have.  Staying up too late and soaking and swimming in the tub.  It's a fun tradition with already too many memories created.

Toast to Uncle Buck at one of his favorite places!

The next morning, I was up early to get back to Appleton in time.  I drove through Starbucks and got a latte for the ladies and a coffee for Paul.  45 minutes later Paul, Dale and I were back on the road back to Pittsburgh.  It was another quick Wisconsin weekend, and although the drive is long, it's worth every mile.  We wouldn't have missed this celebration of Jack's life and we were fortunate to spend that time with close family and friends.

Now that's criss-cuts. So good.

Outings with Matt and Lori!

As a result of joining a relatively small lab, we all have to be friends or we wouldn't survive.  But believe it or not, we're all friends by choice and spend a fair amount of time outside of lab together.  Matt works in our lab and when I met his wife Lori, we instantly connected.  Probably because we both were brought up in small towns where everyone knows your name, your parents, and the year you graduated! 

We grab dinner together every now and then and we promised that we would try to make the most out of this short summer despite Lori's work schedule and my feelings that I should be working on research with every spare minute.  One night we met at Spaghetti Warehouse in the Strip District.  Paul got some fancy deal on gift cards (as always) and we decided to see what they had to feast on.

Matt and Lori!

Well, it was a feast to say the least!!  We each got the family platter with three different kinds of pasta, sausage, and bread.  It was a lot of food for an extremely reasonable price.  It was comical how much food each of us ended up with.  After dinner we took a walk around the strip and sat around to catch up on the latest news from our lives - mostly consumed by work.  It was a blast.  

Paul and I by our Warehouse Feast!

Two other memorable events included the weekend of the Toby Keith Concert followed up the next day by a rafting trip out in Johnstown.  It was a random, but awesome combination.  The Toby Keith concert was amazing.  I know all of his music but never had the opportunity to see him live.  Lori was right, he is amazing live!!  He totally gets the crowd going - it's one big party!!  After nursing our wounds from the concert and swearing off my cheap cowboy boots, we got up the next morning and I cooked a nice college breakfast full of eggs, dipping bread and venison breakfast sausage from a cast iron pan.  Really hit the spot, that's for sure.  

We also had a chance to go to Pirmanti's after work one day!

From there, we loaded up and went out to Johnstown with my plus one - obviously Ilinca! It was hilarious to try to get down this extremely low river.  We were dragging and walking the whole way.  But interestingly, we did see a few deer along the side of the trail and were able to sneak in a few rays of sunlight before calling it a day.  We also saw some snorkelers who were desperately trying to find a  wedding ring amongst the muck. They did not look like they were enjoying themselves.

Tubing down a very shallow river with slippy rocks!

Speaking of sun - I also was able to join Lori for one day by the pool - but we didn't get that much sun, it was quickly chilled by doing the ice bucket challenge and then challenging the life guard to do the same.  Needless to say, many adventures were had with these two this summer and I look forward to the new adventures to come!

Pittsburgh Summer Time

Bari and Nancy summer backyard BBQ - Dale goes to Jersey.

Pittsburgh in the summer can only mean, Pirates Games!  I had the opportunity to join Josiah and the gang for a few Pirates games at PNC Park.  I love the brewers, but there's something special about PNC being right on the water.  You can walk along the shoreline and see all the tied up yachts and walk across the bridge at night before the game starts and watch the fireworks go off as the people funnel out of the stadium.  

The game where someone else with the exact same outfit as me stole stuff, haha!

Find the Cow.  We found it.

In addition to Pirates, the summer is full of BBQs, moving parties and much productivity in the lab and life.  I love the early rising sun because I can run in the park at 6AM and not think twice about how dark it is in the woods.  It's such a great time of year!  Dale I am sure also enjoys the summer because it means he gets numerous walks and extra attention.  We even took it upon ourselves to find him a little watering hole so he could romp around in the insanely dirty water/mud.  Frick Park is such a treat in the summer and we are spoiled to have it right in our backyard!

Dale and I on our early morning summer runs!

Dale learning how to play in the park on his first birthday!

We even got Paul to join us for a Pirates game!

PNC at night - the skyline is worth it!

I also had the chance to join Anna, Humberto, and Ceci for a Dave Matthews Concert.  This was way out of my league and I was so excited to join them.  We went fairly early and managed to get some excellent lawn seats - probably because we weren't tailgating in the parking lot for 4 hours before the concert - haha. I never had the chance to go to a DMB concert, but all I could think about was Lyssa and Jeanne in their attempts to get o the concert in college and getting lost in the woods as accidental trespassers.  A classic beans and Lyss story really.   We all had a great time trying to jam to the music and getting lost in the flow of the music haha!  Then we left a little early like the old people we are - hehe!

Humberto, Anna and Ceci at DMB!

GREAT seats!

The DMB ladies - such a fun unexpected adventure!

It real was an excellent summer - although always hard to find the perfect balance between work and play.  Maybe next summer will be more play and less work - one can only hope!

Madison: Foley Wedding

Pooch Badger Pride.

We were so excited for another excuse to visit great friends in Madison, WI!  Mike and Ashley were going to get married back home in Madison and Paul was honored to be included as a part of the ceremony.  Paul and I decided that the flights were not going to cooperate with our schedules and with the pooch, so we kindly asked if Becca would host us for the weekend!   Thank goodness for roomies - am I right?!?  

Lyssa, Becca, and I getting our share of classic Wisconsin grub on Capital Square!

Due to the anticipated arrival, Lyssa made the trip down to our "Nation's Capital"(haha for a Wisconsinite, Madison is all you need).  Paul, Dale and I rolled in late in the evening on Thursday and finally got Dale to take a chill pill and snooze for a few hours.  Friday we had the chance to run around state street for a bit before heading to the rehearsal festivities.  We decided to go to the Tipsy Cow in order to get my fill of cheese curds.  We also walked up and down State Street to bring back some great college memories!  The trip was completed with a stop at the University Book Store. 

Thumbs up for pulled pork.

While we were walking on State Street I had the chance to see Hanna, my manager while I was working in the ADRC!  What a pleasant surprise!  I couldn't believe that we actually ran into one another by chance - it was fate.  Sounds like everything is busy and exciting as usual in the ADRC, which is excellent news.

Feels so good to be back in Madison where the magic began!

That afternoon we made our way to the rehearsal and enjoyed the rehearsal dinner at Harvest.  It was such a nice dinner complete with Old Fashions and beautiful toasts by family and friends.  We then followed the masses down to the Union for a free concert and to meet up with the Bjorks!  Laura and Jon met us down there for a beverage before we made our way up to the Piano Bar.  Paul and I haven't been to the Piano bar in years!  The last time was with Mike and Brian in Med School.  It was an absolute blast and made me miss Madison more than ever!

The Union Terrace on a summer night, there is nothing better.

Saturday morning was a mad dash, and Paul was running around to try to find a pair of pants that would fit him.  He had two rounds of slacks that were too short - the pictures are hysterical!  My parents also made the trip down to Madison and we met up with the whole Kendall Ave gang, Winsand Family included at a highly recommended brunch joint from Garrett and Becs.  I couldn't believe we were able to get that many people together from all over the state!  We had a great time hearing about Em and Sarah's adventures in Europe and Becca's recent engagement!  It was such a treat to sneak in a breakfast with everyone. 

Breakfast with my favorite Madison roomies and ladies!

The wedding ceremony arch - so beautiful!

I ran home to find Paul with a pair of pants that fit and we both frantically got ready in order to get to the wedding in time for the main event.  I found myself curling my hair in a hotel bathroom and Paul was early enough to grab a few photos before welcoming the bride and groom down the isle.  The wedding set up was absolutely stunning. The flowers were beautiful and made the whole event come together perfectly.  It was Ashley and Mike to an absolute "T".  We had cheese curds and sat down for dinner. I had the pleasure of catching up with Tony who I hadn't seen in ages!  He was just as hilarious and wild as ever which was pretty awesome. 

The Groomsmen - the tall one is my personal favorite. 

Foley love.

Shortly after dinner it was time for the boys to shorten their ties and let their hair down on the dance floor.  I of course had to bust a few moves myself and challenged Tony to a thriller dance party. Paul requested the Desperation Samba which was mostly awkward but also slightly funny.  The day went by way too fast and before we knew it, they were calling for the last song and Paul and I had to head back to Becca's to reunite with our rowdy pooch.  

Paul and I about to hit the dance floor...

It's a short tie affair.

There it is. Boom. 

The next morning, we hit the road early and made our way back to Pittsburgh.  It was an absolutely wonderful weekend full of family, friends, Wisconsin flavors and activities.  We are so happy to have been a part of this special day and Ashley and Foley's wedding!  The wedding was just as beautiful as the marriage that began on that day!

Dale, tired from a Madison weekend - back to PIT we go.

Mom and Aunt Sue Visit Pittsburgh

Paul and I on a dinner date in Shadyside!

Paul and I rarely head out for dates considering our hectic schedules, but we made time to grab some Italian food and fire roasted Pizza at one of our favorite outdoor eating places in Shadyside.  The fact that they have gelato for dessert always help to sway our decision to eat there. It was a nice evening dinner and I always love when we can sneak away and spend some time together. 

We brought the crazy cute pooch!

Towards the end of May we were fortunate enough to have more visitors!  My mom and Aunt Sue drove from Wisconsin out to visit our place for a long weekend.  They made an overnight stop so they didn't have to drive the whole trip in one day and after a few hours found themselves in Pittsburgh!  Traffic cooperated nicely which is always a plus!

Pittsburgh Point - May 2014

Trying out the iconic Ikea chairs!

My aunt Sue had never been out to see the city before, so of course we had to stop at a few classic spots!  We went up to Mount Washington to grab the perfect view of the city - the view really never gets old.  From there, we went out to gather a few items at Ikea!  I hadn't been to Ikea in ages, and my mom always likes to check out what they have.  I grabbed a garbage can for under our sink and was fortunately able to limit myself to just a few items.  We had our free lunch! (FREE! It was a surprise to us, and a fortunate one at that!)

Paul and Aunt Sue ready for dessert! Who gets to cut the first piece!?

Pittsburgh family portrait! Paul, Alyce and Dale with his eyes on the prize.

We also explored Walnut Street and had dinner at Shady Grove, another one of our local favorites.  The salads are so good and the portions are worth it!  Each morning we took a walk to "downtown Squirrel Hill" and got a coffee or some cinnamon bread from Allegro Bakery and 61C - two of my favorite gems of Squirrel Hill.  It was so fun to walk with them through the streets.  We also spent a fair amount of time in Little's Shoe Store!  Anyone who knows my mother knows why!

We finished the weekend with a trip to the Strip District for some fresh italian food, hot sauce, and Peace Love and Little Donuts.  Using the fresh ingredients we made dinner and served a perfect dessert of Prantl's almond torte.  The weekend was packed full of my favorite Pittsburgh experiences, and I was thrilled to be able to share them with two of my favorite people!

Peace Love and Little Donuts in the Strip District!

Thank you so much for making the drive out to visit - we loved having you both and hope to see you again soon - certainly at Thanksgiving!

Jack and Kathy visit Pittsburgh!

Walking around Squirrel Hill always requires a stop at Waffallonia!

The weekend after my Dad and Uncle Ray took off with the old kitchen in the back of the truck and the new kitchen firmly in place, we were able to welcome Jack and Kathy out to visit us to see the new place!  Jack was able to grab a little vacation time and we were so pleased they were able to visit us out here. Right away we were able to put that kitchen to use! They helped us restore order to our back yard which recently turned into a construction zone and also helped us tremendously with hauling out all the garbage.  I do not know what we would have done without their help on that one!!

Kathy and Jack in Pittsburgh for a Spring Happy Hour!

Dale passed out with all fours in the air - he was really enjoying the movie. 

Out for breakfast at Square Cafe!

While I was at work Paul, Kathy and Jack took a trip to the waterfront to get Jack a sharp new haircut and to look at some of the nice specialty stores down in that area.  One that they particularly enjoyed was the wine store!!  It was about Paul's Birthday and they surprised us with a beautiful Amish made wine cabinet!  It fit in our house nicely and Kathy had it decorated and looking great within minutes!

We also had time to watch "Brave" the new Disney movie, and Dale passed out cold with all four limbs completely extended - it was absolutely hilarious!  The following morning we went to Church and breakfast in Regent Square at Square Cafe.  I got the lemon blueberry pancakes and they were spectacular as always. 

The new kitchen!

The new kitchen view #2!

It was such a fun and productive weekend around the house!  We were able to restore order and even enjoy a few happy hours in our back yard while the weather was nice.  Weekends like these make us wish we lived closer to home!  One day!!

Paul's Birthday Wine Cabinet!

New Kitchen in Six Days

Uncle Ray wasting no time to start the demolition!

The BEFORE shot - nice and dirty!

The OLD.

When dad and Uncle Ray rolled in with a truck full of tools and building supplies, I knew that we were in for a whirlwind kitchen remodeling project.  It didn’t take long for them to start the demolition.  Shortly after they arrived, we moved everything from the kitchen into the basement, dining room and living room and the dust began to fly!  Paul even got in there with a few hammer throws to try to knock down the walls.  Of course you never really know what is laying within the wall until its knocked down, so we were certainly in for surprises – like a dummy vent that was disconnected, and makeshift plumbing that we’re surprised has stood the test of time. The demolition of the floor is what proved to be the most challenging.  

Demolition is all hands on deck!

Mmmm, should we cut this pipe found in the wall??

As they were ripping up the floor, many of the floorboards were coming along with it – so we had to devise a plan to put down a new floor all while taking into the consideration the height of these new cabinets and the new ceiling as well!  What was going to be a swift demolition and reinstall turned out to be a complete overhaul including a new ceiling, new walls, and new floorboards!

Time to try to get up the old stuck on tile, not an easy task!

The days went by in an absolute blur, we ate a lot of meals from slow cookers and Dale had his fair share of nail guns and screw guns that he wasn't too fond of.  It was an adventure to say the least.  One night we ate chinese food from our small coffee table while all sitting on a burlap covering on our couch. The dust was piled high and I'm pretty sure if my mom were here she would have already been at a hotel. Haha! It was a mess!

There once was a wall...

Our dining room. Who wants dinner?!

New drywall was required after our crazy demolition!

We started doing dishes in the laundry tub and lived by the microwave and slow cooker.  While Uncle Ray and Curty were out here we also had to take them to Fat Heads so they could experience the big burgers full of flavor!  I got Chicken Little and Paul and Curty got the Triple Bypass Burger!

There's always a few holes that need patching when it comes to remodeling!

Progress, and we're still smiling!

As the week went on it seemed like the tasks were piling up to the last minute and the kitchen was probably not going to be finished this time around.  Of course, my dad had other plans and kept proposing goals for each day and the next.  Each day Paul and I would get home from work we had the opportunity to appreciate the dramatic changes in how the kitchen was shaping up.

The first cabinets go up on the walls flush to the new ceiling!

One of many backyard BBQ's on the saw table. 

When we came home to see that the walls were plastered and painted and the cabinets were about to be put into place, it was a major transformation!  The colors all starting coming together so nicely.  The sink going into place was a major relief because we could finally start cleaning up the dust and setting things in place.  It went from small ally kitchen to a beautiful, yet affordable, modern kitchen with a wide open passage to our dining room!

Construction BREAK: Fat Heads on Carson Street!

I got the Chicken Little - which was NOT little. 

The Artery Clogger!

Headwiches, as big as your head!

After just 6 short days, Dad and Uncle Ray had to hit the road back to Wisconsin and heal from the long work week of carpentry from daylight until dinner - which takes a real toll on your body!  I couldn't believe it, but they had completely finished the kitchen!  My task was now to organize and put everything in its new home.  I couldn't believe the transformation!

Dishes in our laundry basin...

Look at what we did!!!

Bringing in the new stainless appliances!

We cannot thank Curty and Uncle Ray enough for all of their hard work and help with the kitchen project.  It definitely did not happen overnight and took a lot of shopping around and planning to do the project on a budget!  Paul also found us a dandy of a refrigerator on Craigslist to polish the place off.  It came together much better than I ever could have imagined and we cannot thank everyone enough who was involved!

Uncle Ray and I sharing a cup of coffee brewed in the kitchen and not in my bedroom!

Breakfast from the new stove in the new kitchen, under the new lights!

We had to show you the amount of garbage that resulted - what a mess!

Hopefully that's the end of major transformation projects for the house, it's really shaping up to be a wonderful and comfortable place to live.  We love gathering around the kitchen, and it has become a favorite place to entertain friends!

Our old kitchen, now in Curty's truck cab!

The final breakfast in Pittsburgh!

THANK YOU!