Arriving in Palermo, Sicily!

It was finally here, the time that Paul and I had planned to spend together working in Palermo.  This was something we had been planning for close to a year now, and I still cannot believe how quickly December was upon us. After seeing my family for Thanksgiving, it was time to jump on the plane and head to Sicily.  I had never flown across the ocean alone before, and this was about to be an adventure considering I was about 17 weeks pregnant at the time. I quickly decided to ditch the jeans and suited up in my favorite yoga pants for the redeye flight to Munich. 

My flight to Rome - the only flight leaving Munich!!

First I flew from Green Bay to Chicago, then Chicago to Munich.  At the gate for my flight to Munich there were quite a few whisperings and people seemed concerned.  I don’t keep up with the news much, but apparently the Munich airport was under strike and a few flights were canceled the prior day due to the massive strike.  I just assumed these were just rumbles and rumors, and after loading up on some Starbucks goodies, we were boarding the plane.  Much to my appreciation, I was seated in a row of three chairs in economy plus, and not a soul joined me.  It was perfection: a whole row of seats for a transatlantic flight.  Shortly after a quick movie, I sprawled across the seats in all their glory and slept in fetal position the whole way.  Every once and a while I would get up to walk around, but that was about the extent of my flight.  It was perfect.

Bambino(a) made it across the sea!

When we landed in Munich the pilot got on the horn and informed us that the strike was still in full effect and the only plane leaving was one to Rome.  My tired brain didn’t truly comprehend this statement until I realized… I was going to Rome, and if I didn’t get there, I would have to find some alternative way to get me and all my luggage to Palermo.  I was flying to Palermo on Ryanair, a budget airline and a separate itinerary, meaning they could care less that the reason I couldn’t make it was due to a strike.  I continued to cross my fingers while walking across the empty airport to a single open gate with about 15 people waiting.  My luck was astonishing, and I attribute many of these small life victories to Joel’s presence. Someone pulled some strings, that’s for sure.

Celebratory dinner together!  We're finally here, and together!

Once I landed in Rome, I grabbed my luggage and checked back in on my flight to Palermo – one flight left, I could do it.  It was cramped as sardines, and I was head-bobbing like an idiot onto some strange man, but I made it.  All that was left after four separate flight connections was a bus ride into the unknown city of Palermo and attempting to find Paul’s small apartment on just a few hours of sleep.  Some how, I arrived in one piece and was greeted by the sweetest landlords who swept my into Paul’s apartment.  I showered and willed myself to stay awake until Paul’s arrival.  It was such a relief to see him walk through the door.  He was impressed that I clearly looked pregnant, since he hadn’t seen the “bambino bump”.

I couldn’t believe it.  Paul and I were going to be spending December together in Sicily – an opportunity of a lifetime.  

 *****

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Alyce Jane, Living Simply

Turkey Day 2014!

We were fortunate enough to join the Nagels for their Thanksgiving feast at Aunt Sue's place!  The food is always spectacular and this year Ryan and Matt surely outdid themselves!  Aunt Sue's cranberries were out of this world.  Fortunately, we are only in charge of bringing wine, which is pretty hard to ruin - whew. No stress Thanksgiving, that's what I'm all about!

Baby Bump: Pre-Thanksgiving Feast.

Before the feast we made our way out to the Whipp's in Poland for the Chicken Trot!  The Turkey trot is Green Bay is a crazy mess of people, and a little too high stress for our liking!  We met everyone in the bar area, grabbed our T-shirts and shortly after began the walk.  Quickly we realized just how cold it was this Thanksgiving.  The freezing breeze was flying off the open fields in the country and stinging our faces.  Dale didn't seem to mind - he wasn't phased and just pumped to be out on a walk with people and other dogs.  The first two legs of the walk were rough, but once we got the wind on our back it started to become a bit more enjoyable - haha!  I was so happy that we signed up for the walk, it made indulging in all the turkey feel just a little bit safer for the waistline.

Aunt Sue and Matt carving the turkey.

In afternoon we met up with the group for an excellent meal.  I got to catch up with Leanna who is also expecting a little baby Nagel in February!  Our kids should only be 3 months apart - how cool!  It would be even better if we're in the same state, but I guess that's what frequent trips home are for.  I got the scoop on maternity clothes and all of the fun things that await me as I move forward in the pregnancy!  She's a champ - still working like crazy.  I am spoiled with a job that isn't so physically demanding. I get tired just thinking about her work schedule. 

The Wesolowski Family!

Turkey nap for Matt and Curty.

After the Thanksgiving feast we stopped to see Grandma VanBoxtel.  She and Grandpa were chatting it up like two teenagers, it was so precious.  Love really does stand the test of time.  They were laughing and giggling while trying to figure out who stood up who for the Thanksgiving dance! Ahh, so refreshing.

On Black Friday Mom and I decided to sleep in.  We weren't too impressed with the advertisements anyway, so it was a good thing we stayed in bed.  We met Laura and Aunt Theresa for breakfast at Perkins, and then set out to grab some half price maternity clothes at Target.  I found some bargains and then we made our way back to Seymour.  Definitely the way to go.  All of the deals are on Thanksgiving now, and I just cannot get into that - Thanksgiving is turning into a shopping holiday, ugh!  That evening I got to catch up with some special ladies: Lyssa, Becca, and Jeanelle, who were in town for the holidays!  We ordered up some amazing Thai food and chatted over dinner.  We were all pretty well-behaved, which is different that our earlier outings about 4 years ago, haha! Yikes.

 After stuffing myself with some very spicy food, Lyssa and I took the old minivan through the Dairy Queen drive-through and gave the high school kids running the place a few laughs.  They were pretty impressed that I had to get out of the minivan in order to pay for the ice cream.  They were also amused by my enthusiastic upgrade to medium blizzards: Buy One get One 99 cents! That's something to be excited about! Am I right?! Heck yes!

Ahh, I think I'm good on cake, but thanks anyway mum!

Saturday following Thanksgiving we were invited to share in Avery's Birthday party at the Morris household.  KBC on tap and one year olds eating cake - what's not to love!?!  It was so nice to be able to see Dan, Katie, their parents, friends and little Avery.  What a great afternoon!  It was a quick glimpse in the many fun times that are about to come our way soon enough I fear!

After Avery's fiesta we met Joel's buddies out for a little Buck gathering at Jackson Point.  It was nice for everyone all to get together.  I was able to finally order up a round of CHEESE CURDS - the real stuff too.  I was driving the crew around and got to catch up with Haus finally!  He was back in the area after a long stretch in Rochester, MN.  It was time to come back and kick the dust off the sled before the real snow falls later this winter.  Great timing indeed Haus!  

Hustle Inn, out of O'Douls. Embarrassing.

Sunday I handed Dale off to the Anderson - poor Kathy and crew, I fear they were not aware of the monster they kindly took for us while we were away.  I knew Dale was going to be treated like a king when I saw the fluffy bed they had waiting for him.  I cannot thank them enough for taking the mischief maker for a whole month!! Thank you, thank you!!

Dale, you have fun.  For me, it's off to Palermo, Sicily! 

Dale is clearly a cheesehead at heart. Have fun in Wisconsin buddy!

 *****

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Alyce Jane, Living Simply

Wisconsin For Thanksgiving

It was an adventure.  Dale and I were on our way to Wisconsin!  He was a little bit bigger than the last time I tried to bring him on the plane for Thanksgiving, exactly one year ago.  I stuffed the little rascal into his kennel and Josiah was kind enough to bring us to the airport early Saturday morning.  I thought Dale was going to be able to handle the trip without drugs considering he didn't get much sleep the night before, and I dropped him off at Camp Bow Wow for some energy expenditure.  I was wrong.

Dale in the Pittsburgh Airport ready for mischief! 

He quickly figured out that if he stuck his nose out of the ripped travel carrier in just the right spot he could escape... pretty rapidly.  We were fortunately upgraded to the first class area, only to have Dale yip and pop his head out continuously. Thank you Dale, very relaxing first class experience. He quickly earned himself another dose of Benadryl.

Our plane was delayed out of Pittsburgh, so it was going to be a running match (with a heavy dog carrier, loaded purse, and pregnant) to our next gate.  Fortunately, I noticed the shuttle was leaving momentarily to the opposite side of the airport, we got on by sheer luck and road across the runways. We made our plane in perfect timing, it was amazing! A Buck intervention. It was 11/22/14.  It was clear he was with me on this important day. Shortly after we landed in Green Bay we recognized that although Dale and I caught the flight... my luggage was not as fortunate.

Dale at Buck's cabin, tracking probably nothing... Deer would be helpful, but it's Dale.

Later that afternoon, we got my luggage from GRB and went up north to spend time at Joel's cabin, an annual tradition around this time of year.  It's nice to be close to everything he found so important: family, friends, good meals, and the woods.  Dale enjoyed sleeping off his drugs up there too. Good Dog.  The next day he had some time to romp around in the snow and was feeling a bit more mischievous, aka normal.

A sample of the gems I found from Middle School in my room...

Mom and I came back Sunday to start working on the house.  My goal was to completely gut my whole room so it was easily moved if they wanted to sell the house.  I had so much random stuff in that room, it was definitely a project and a week long task.  Let's just say, Goodwill got a lot more than they bargained for!

That weekend and early during the week we also broke out our cross country skis to enjoy the fresh batch of snow in Seymour.  We set up a loop around the house and made a few rounds.  Dale also was able to join in the fun and ski with us.  It was a blast - beside my minor heart attack when Dale ran across our pond that is covered by a paper thin ice.  Luckily he didn't break through... sheesh. 

Preggers night out. So much CHEESE - Thank you Wisconsin, thank you.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving I met up with Jeanne and Lyssa at Jackson Point for some pizza and entertainment.  It was a blast to connect with those ladies... it was "preggers night out", a massive cheese pizza and O'Douls. Classic.  Perfect few days in Wisconsin with family. 

Dale got to visit Leanna at Starbucks - Puppy Latte!!

 *****

Please take the time to join me at my new blog:
Alyce Jane, Living Simply

Meat and Potatoes for Buck: An Annual Tradition!

Corndog appetizer... they weren't kidding, this one is for Lyssa.

One of my final weeks in Pittsburgh, before leaving for Palermo, was a busy one to say the least.  I was working long hours, meeting with a variety of different people and trying to get to the bottom of some changes with my PhD training.  It was stressful to say the least.  Of course Thanksgiving was approaching too, which means it’s a time to remember some of the fond times I spent together with Joel.

The photo-worthy feast of meat!

One tradition that Paul and I usually do to celebrate Joel’s life is to take time to enjoy a nice meal at Meat and Potatoes.  Paul was out of town this year and lucky for me my friends offered to take me out for the evening!  I was so excited when they remembered this tradition and offered to join me on this special dinner!  Friends are such a special blessing.

The Ladies: Anna, Alyce, Katie!

Out to Celebrate at Meat and Potatoes!

We enjoyed a lengthy dinner at Meat and Potatoes with a celebratory toast to Uncle Buck.  Oddly enough, the table we were sat at left me staring into the eyes of a head mounted white tail buck the whole dinner.  Coincidence? I think not!

The table behind Josiah was not particularly amused...

The meal was fantastic.  Taylor and Josiah split the “Meat and Potatoes for Two” special that came with bone marrow, a large cut of beef and delicious potato wedges.  It was entertaining to watch them take the meal down.  This was after a round of appetizers!  I ordered the goat burger, which was excellent.  A fine choice for meals, that is for sure!

Taylor... the champion.

Thank you for joining me on this special night – it was such a treat!

Baby Anderson: A Birthday Gift for Paul!

I think it's probably about time to share with our extended friends and family that Paul and I will be welcoming a little (hopefully little!) Baby Anderson into our lives this spring!  

Instead of writing a lot about the pregnancy, I thought I would simply say that I am feeling great, and I hope you enjoy the photo slideshow below of our little babe growing.

Baby Anderson 5.5.15

Paul will be celebrating his 30th Birthday this May 4th.  

This may be his best Birthday gift yet!

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