Savannah Georgia

This past February 16 Stephen and I celebrated our 2 anniversary. I know two LONG years :). We decided to go somewhere warm so Savannah, GA was decided. The vacation started a bit bumpy because I was REALLY sick that weekend. I had a terrible cold and a really bad cough. Plus it was a bit rainy that weekend. However, Savannah was beautiful and we had a great time even with the interesting start. We stayed at the McMillan Inn. It was a wonderful B&B that had the most amazing breakfasts. We also got our names on the door of the room we stayed at. It was a personable touch that we liked. The B&B was a Victorian southern style that I LOVED and we had a fireplace in our room to add that romantic touch. We agreed that we would like to go back again. If you ever do decide to go watch the movie, or read the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil . It is one of their main attractions and scenes from the movie are everywhere.





This is in front of the art meusum that housed the"Bird Girl" statue that is on the front of the book, Midnight in the Graden of Good and Evil. What we thought was neat was there are four stautues of famous historical architects. I am standing next to Rembrandt. Stephen is standing next to Michealangelo. The other two were Leonardo and ( umm I can't remeber at this momment ;p)



This is the famous founatin the middle of Savannah that is shown in the movie.



This a famous lady who use to wave and apron or towel to passing ships. She was so popular and well known by the sea communty that at her funeral she had an international attendance of houndreds of people. I asked about the dog but I was told it was a sculptures touch.





I though this was HILARIOUS!!!!

Colonial Williamsburg

Stephen and I have been wanting to get together with one of his close friends from ND Tim and Tim's girlfriend Kelly. Happily we were all available MLK weekend. So we decided to meet up in Colonial Williamsburg. Plans were made, rooms were booked, snacks were bought, and all was ready for a fun filled weekend. Then the weather came and it was one of the COLDEST days in many years in VI and MD. It was probably in the low 20's but it felt like the low teens. Being a Proud and hardy snow belt girl from OH I have to say it was colder than MANY of the snow days in OH. And yet we had a GREAT Time! We got to go to the Governer' s house and walk from building to building reliving the colonial times. I have to say I learned A LOT from this trip and was constantly impressed withe the knowledge of the people who worked there. It was a fun trip, with good food, good company, and history ( what more could I ask for :).

These were the plaques showing use we were stepping back in time ( or forward in time)


Tim and Kelly and Stephen and I in front of the Govener's house


This was when we were looking into the different building behind the Governer's house and trying to see if therewas anything interesting.


Having fun!

We stayed until dark and it was so beautiful to look at these old houses being light up for the night.

Snow Day!!!

Today was my first ( and probably ONLY) Snow Day of the year. So Stephen and I celebrated withe the traditional snow day breakfast and then we took the dog on a walk. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! They had so much fun and I got some great pictures. Here are some of them.

Dublin and salem halloween

These are the two pictures I took of Dublin and Salem for a Halloween.
I love them and thought it was funny that Salem was dressed as a witch.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I have not posted recently and I am sorry there has been so much gonging on and I will post some more pictures soon. The ending part of the year has been difficult and stressful, but it is getting better and more fun as of lately. I am really excited about this year coming, with Sara and the baby, Mel and Kelly's wedding, and our trips to machu pechu I have a lot to look foward to and be thankful for. So again Happy New Year to all and thank you to for you support!

Prague Next

Prague Next
The second half of our trip we went to Prague, Czech Republic. This is the home of of my dad's side of the family and I was SOOOOO excited to go! Prague had so much of an old medieval feel. To me, Paris felt like New York city, a mix of old and new at a rather fast city pace. Prague was old and beautifully so. There were so many buildings decorated in frescoes, statues, and art nouveau style. I just kept looking up and around. We also became "the stair master" there. We walked up every single tower ( and there were many that had over 150 steps each) plus counting the castle steps, and the replica of the Eiffel Tower ( yes, I saw two Eiffel Towers on this trip) but this one had 300 steps up with NO elevator! The struggle was not the tower. It was the 45min walk up hill to get to the park that had the Eiffel Tower first on a 80 degree day. We even found my family crest ( Vlk means "wolf" in Czech and there is a black wolf on a silver crest). the names even dates back as far as 1303! I would recommend Prague to anyone!

( by accident I out the pictures in backwards from last to first :))

This is called the "Bone Church" in Kunta Hora which is a city south east of Prague.
The monk in charge of this building, from what I figured out, used many of the
Black Plague victims bones to create the "decorations." And "ground" from
Jerusalem was shipped to this spot to make it more sacred.





This is Prague from the Charles Bridge (Stephen) and the castle (me).





Czech is known for it's beer. Budweiser and Pislner was the two most popular.
To give you a feeling of the importance of beer to them this pop and beer were the same price!




This was part way up the 45 min uphill walk to the Prague Eiffel Tower.


This is a medieval restaurant that use to hold prisoners under it.
They have a fake man there now and people leave coins :).


St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle.


One of the many statues that "overlook" Prague.


This is The Astronomical Clock that does many things such as chime on the hour having apostles that that move cross the top, to having other moving figures as well as give time.

Paris First
Stephen and I took a two week trip this summer that started in Paris and ended in Prague. Like many family and friends this year we appreciated Kim's Parisian hospitality and stayed with her on our trip. During that time we saw every thing from Notre Dame, Versailles and the Paris Opera House to a medieval castle on the out skirts of Paris and a Renaissance castle along with the Royal stables in Chantilly. It was amazing. i didn't have to worry about working off what we ate since we were constantly walking from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. I loved every minute of it! And, to those of you in my doubting family, Stephen spoke MORE then I. Now seeing as how he could speak the language and, according to him, I gave it a "good try" learning my 10 French sight words. But as you can guess I was limited in my communication. However, when we were waiting in line to Sainte Chapelle we were in front of a gentleman and his wife from CLEVELAND! I had a great time in line (LOL)! Overall it great. Stephen eve got tickets for us to attend a concert at the Paris Opera house! Below are some, not all or you would be here for ever, of the first half of the trip.

Right in front of Sacre Coeur




The Princes Renaissance castle in Chantilly




The night we went to the Paris Opera there was a beautiful sunset!




The Paris Crypts it was kind of creepy.
And, as you can see, I was dressed for the occasion;)




Showing our love for Paris!