Weekend Recap!

What a delightful long weekend Scott and I had! When you live abroad there is always a long build up in time until your guests arrive and I would say that is very true with our guests this weekend. It has been 2 years and 1.5 months since I have moved to London and this is the first time my brother has made his way over. There have been very valid reasons for it (i.e. him changing jobs, Scott and I getting married my first year over here, trips to the US for all holidays, etc.), but nonetheless the day finally came.

It all started on Thursday morning when my brother Chris and his girlfriend Leigh Ann arrived! We spent Thursday laying low and letting them get accustomed to the time (taking a nap), we went to get some lunch and then had a WONDERFUL Valentine's Dinner! It was so nice to catch up with the two of them in person rather that on a phone or email.

On Friday, we let them sleep in a little while and we headed out to see the sights of London. Chris and Scott headed to the Imperial War Museum and Leigh Ann and I went our shopping on Oxford Street, New Bond Street, Regent Street and the Chiswick High Road.

Some Pictures from the Imperial War Museam:

After walking around on Friday, we went to one of our favorite Thai Restaurants in the city and then proceeded to the pubs on the Chiswick High Street.






















Above: Me and Leigh Ann having a pint

Left: Scott and Chris having a pint














Saturday we ventured out to Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms which was very interesting to see then walked through St. James's Park to Buckingham Palace through Hyde Park Corner to Harrod's then the tube home . We had Mexican Night on Saturday at the house and made fajitas with Spanish Rice, Margaritas and played "Catch Phrase" with our friends Jenn and Conrad. It was guys vs. gals and to set the record straight the gals one 3-2 (p.s. Conrad what is a Gnome?). It was a late evening or shall I say early morning playing Catch Phrase till 2:30am! We had a wonderful time though.



Sunday, Chris and Leigh Ann headed to Tower Bridge to do some more sightseeing and Scott and I stayed home to get caught up on some items before having to head back to work Monday. We met Chris and Leigh Ann at The Devonshire (one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants) in Chiswick and had an exquisite meal!


So as I am sitting here typing this blog, Chris is about 2 hours into his flight home and Leigh Ann is about 2.5 hours into her flight home. I said to Scott last night it is weird to think that we don't have a date for any more visitors now :-( Sad to think but we know more will be coming sometime.

Thank you Chris and Leigh Ann for a fantastic weekend and it was great spending lots of time with you two!

Cheesehead Nation

I am back from my trip to Cheesehead Nation/Hunting Country/Land of Brats and Beer/wearers of animal heads for hats/crazy girls wearing bikinis in -25 degree weather. Yes I am talking about Wisconsin!

Flew out on Friday afternoon to Chicago and had a lovely view coming in below:

A bit hazy flying in but a view of Chicago

Saturday was all about the preparations for the game on Sunday. Ensuring that you had the proper attire for the -1 degree weather and with wind chill -25. One thing to note about Packer fans is that fashion is not a word in their vocabulary. You see people wearing Cheeseheads, their hunting clothes, snow mobile outfits, fur coats and the list could go on and on. Here are some preparation photos:

My dad trying on an "old school" football helmet from his Alma Mater UW Madison

My Brother trying on some of my uncle's hats.

When you live in Wisconsin or are from Wisconsin, you know that Sunday is a sacred day, not for worship at a church, at the Football Field to watch your home team the Green Bay Packers. Your day is filled with Bratwursts (Brats as they are called) which are soaked in Beer and then put in a bun with kraut on top, lots of Miller beer (as there is no other type of beer in Wisconsin) and watching the Packers. So in the spirit of being in Wisconsin and going to the game we had our own preparations:

Our Tickets for the game.

Chris, my brother, with his ticket and his pregame drink, Jagermeister!

Lambeau Field Pictures

The Family (Chris, Dad, Mom and me) at SkyView Bar for the PreGame. Too cold to tailgate.

The stadium starting to fill up. The man to the right in the middle of the picture is Howie Long. He was out walking around the field checking things out prior to the game.

Chris all decked out in his orange hunting outfit.

Announcing the Packers Starting lineup

The National Anthem (pulled out the large American Flag) which was followed by a Navy F-16 Flyover.

GAME TIME! We were 6 rows off of the field in the endzone.

Despite the fact that the Packers lost in OT to the Giants it was a fantastic weekend spent with the family! So all I can say now is Let's Go GIANTS!