A trip full of disaster . . . featuring Breath of Death and Breath of Decay (mika and milo). Also known as . . . Our 4-year anniversary trip

 

 . . . . our 4-year anniversary was coming up . . . oh my!!  Where to go?!?  We live in Europe . . so many different exciting places to go within such a small radius!  We decided to go to a small, medieval walled city in Germany . . . Rothenburg ob der Tauber.  Little did we know the horrors we were about to face . . .

We decided that our sweet, cuddly, fuzzy, white angles (mika and milo) should come with us as it was just a one night stay and the place we were visiting was very dog friendly.  We also had some recent nightmares with dog sitting and decided they would be safer in our care.  It was to be a grand couple of days!  We were planning on taking our Christmas photos there, spending a couple of days walking through the cobblestone streets and shopping at the cute and quaint boutiques . . . just enjoying the company of our small little family and the four years we had been together.

Our difficulty started with the 3.5 hour drive in which we encountered numerous "staus" (German traffic jam), yipping and whining from the backseat and to top it off the high pressure pump in the mini went out.  We arrived tired, worried and in bad dispositions. 

Our hotel was very nice.  Hotel Eisenhut was located right in the middle of downtown Rothenburg and had old world charm.  Wood beam in the ceiling, quaint rooms and beautiful views!  Unfortunately one of our precious babies decided to soil the carpet as soon as we went to dinner.  sigh.  We had JUST let them out.  why??!?  Nevertheless. . . dinner was delightful!

The village was equally as delightful! Cobblestone streets, shops, pastries and old crooked buildings . . . it was as if we had stepped back into the 1300's when most of the buildings were made.  I would have loved to have spent hours meandering aimlessly through the streets, eating goodies and buying trinkets . . . however . . when walking our little angels, milo decided it was his duty to inform us of every other dog, sound, car and insect that he came in contact with.  We ended up carrying him most of the time with one hand firmly wrapped around his muzzle.  Mika choose the most inappropriate spots in which to relieve herself. . . such as the front carpet of a nice hotel. . . . again. . . sigh.

(bakery with famous schneelballen)

I think we managed to get some decent pictures . . maybe.  And we were able to enjoy the delightful schneelballen (dessert famous in Rothenburg) as well as poke around the Christmas Village in the Kathe Wohlfahrt. 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, I shall return!

We decided just to leave early . . . come home. . . have some dinner and light a fire . . .

We also decided that was the first and last of the pups adventures with us in Europe

(Happy 4th year anniversary hunny!!  You are an amazing, caring and talented person!)

 

recommencement

. . . whewww. . . it has been a while. . . .

I decided to recommence my blogings and pull away from other social networkings. There is so much more to share with a blog . . life experiences, travels, feelings. . .

I didn't know really how to start. . . so I thought I would start by thanking my parents . . . they are truley amazing people and I am so proud to call them my parents. Thank you for always being my encouragement and my security. As I now start my own life adventure (marrige, new house, perhaps children) I want to thank you for everything that you have helped me to become and the keys to success that you have put in my life . .

I love you both more that you will ever know!

Happy Birthday SNOOKUM!!

Happy, Happy 24th birthday to my wonderful husband. . . Clayton!! I love you baby!! Had breakfast with the family today and then we traveled up past Jackson to find our very own Christmas tree and cut it down!! I have never done that before and thought it would be fun and fitting for our first christmas together in our first home. It was a blast!! Now it is off to roast dinner at my mom and dad's house with desserts, games and friends to follow!

Wedding Website

We finally have a working wedding website. . . here is the link if you all want to take a look :-)

www.sarahandclayton.wedsite.com


(to see each page you have to click on the page you want to see from the index. . . if you just click the next button on the book you won't see all the pictures. . . if that makes any sense)

Engagement. . . .

. . . what a wonderful thing!! :-)

Clayton asked me to be his wife this last saturday in Napa, California . . and I said YES!!! So happy!

Welcome to the World. . . . Part II

Romalise Kelbatyrov!!!

Born November 27th 2008 weighing 7lbs 6.5oz.
I can't wait to meet this precious angel!
I LOVE the Kelbatyrov family!

Congratulations Ryan & Kelly!!!!

This weekend my wonderful brother asked his beautiful girlfriend to be his wife. . . and she said YES!!!! I am so excited and thrilled for them as well as for myself, gaining a sister!! YAY!!

I think I'm in Love

You might want to turn off the music on the bottom of the page first :-)



HAHAHAHAHA!!!! I think this fits, yeah??

NO, I did not create this. . . some people have wayyyy too much time on their hands. I found it and thought it was hilarious. . . and true! :-)

Found out from a friend of mine recently that Josh had a four page spread in "Instyle" magazine. . . . of course I ordered the magazine!

Could this be infatuation, facination, limerence, a crush, an attraction or just an absolute love for a Voice that comes with a pretty cute face??

Love and Marriage

On Saturday, September 22, 2007, we celebrated the nuptials of Elizabeth and Range. The celebration took place in South Lake Tahoe, looking out over the lake. I had persuaded my good buddy Mike to accompany me to the wedding. . . poor guy. He didn’t know a soul there, except for the bride whom he had met 2 days previously. After putting up with a very grumpy Mike (he did get better as the day went on. hehe) for 2 hours on the drive to Tahoe, we arrived at the residence where the wedding was to take place. It was a beautiful wedding and Beth looked gorgeous!! After a wonderful dinner, the dance floor was prepared . . . I finally caught the bouquet (Biff was scouting me out of course) and we had fun with the YMCA and Conga line. I wish Eliza and Range all the happiness in the world and am glad that they live so close to me (they had better stay that way too!!)

This cake was delish!!! I had a vanilla slice

with fresh strawberries in the middle as well

as on the top! A++

<--- My Elizabeth, Beth, Eliza and Biff

Bride, Groom, Best Man and Maid of Honor ---->

<----Bridesmaids

Mike and I ---->

Wedded Bliss!! (Nate and Amanda's Wedding)

We started our journey after a grueling day of school (studying fetal heart rates for 4 hours) and drove 6 hours down to Orange County in So. Cal.(listening to Louis Lamour all the way. . .How To Tame a Land). We arrived at the church at 9:30 at night where I stayed until 1:30 decorating the unity candle table and the center isle. The next morning I found myself eating a quick starbucks breakfast sandwich, sipping a white blueberry tea and doing 3 bridesmaids hair as well as the brides hair and my own. . . . wheeeww! The wedding was beautiful and the reception had a real live Mariachi band!

While I fought valiantly for the bouquet, alas I had a failed attempt.

The ladies in the bridal party were a kick in the pants!!

After the wedding a group of us went down to Newport beach, where we could hear the ocean but no longer see it, and enjoyed the taste of Italian gelato (dulce de leche for myself). We went back to the Simmons’ house were we attempted to stay away and socialize with one another (after taking a Benadryl and drinking hot tea I was unsuccessful and fell asleep on the couch).

On Sunday we enjoyed Felix’s Cuban restaurant and walked around Old Towne Orange. We then headed down to L.A. and cruised through Beverly Hills. At Santa Monica Blvd. we stopped to wait in a 45 min line for Sprinkles cupcakes!!!! (look them up online. . . . they are a delicacy) hehe. We then found ourselves at Pink Berry to enjoy a little frozen yogurt! We left L.A. at 7:00 pm (not the smartest thing to do) but made it home by 1:00 am (not too bad, eh?)

I had a wonderful time and met many new friends/buddies!!

When "love" is not enough. . .

People are constantly trying to “set me up” with young men whom they know. . . out of pity or pleasure, I have no idea. At weddings I often hear the question “When are YOU getting married?” or “You’re next Sarah!”. . . while I admit I do not like being alone or occasionally feeling lonely, I ask myself “In this gamble with life, it is worth the risk of such heartache and pain for the possibility of pleasure and great happiness?” As relationships all around me, young and old, are crumbling, lies and deceits told, and tears shed. . . . was it worth it to them? Some people say “Just put it in the hands of God” or “Just trust God”, but what about those who have put it in the hands of God and are still in pain. . . is there any chance of love and happiness left for them when their families and lives are torn apart?

I suppose that eventually the day will come when I myself try my hand at this game of love, but will it be enough? Will it last? I pray that it will, but only time will tell. . . . .