Milwaukee&Madison

In an effort to fill Emma's time with places and things she has never seen or done, we headed to Milwaukee on Sunday to visit my cousin and cousin-in-law (James & Abby).  After seeing the sights and staying the night, we headed over to the Madison area to show Emma some of our favorite spots.  


The highlights of Milwaukee (besides Abby & James of course!) include shopping on Brady Street and in the Third Ward, and taking Emma to the Safe House.  

We were sent on a mission all over the restaurant and luckily we had Abby who is a pro since she has been there so many times!  You can read more about the Safe House here.


In the Madison area we took Emma to the Mustard Museum, Mount Horeb and the Grumpy Troll, and the Henry Villas Zoo (which she loved!).  I had all kinds of other little stops planned, but the weather was freezing and we were ready to be home again.  

I am sure Emma will have lots to tell you about the zoo!  

S'Mores

I have introduced Emma to one of my most favorite foods of all time... S'Mores!  When I found out she hadn't heard of a s'more, and obviously had never eaten one, I had Paul fire up the Saffire grill so we could remedy the situation.  

Emma loves them!  I knew she would... and finally it was something that I talked up that exceeded the expectations!

We have added s'mores to the menu quite a few times lately... Yum!

Road-trippin'

Well hello!  Emma has been here for three weeks now and the time flew by so quickly that she decided to stay for another few weeks!  Lucky me!  It isn't everyday you get to spend time with your best-friend who lives half the world away.  


As Emma previously stated, we hit the road to knock out two more states on our quest to hit all 50!  Indiana and Michigan.  These were my highlights on the trip...


The Indiana Dunes Park...

New Buffalo, Michigan...

Amish Area (Shipshewana and Middlebury) 

The pretzels that we had at Ben's pretzels were out of this world!  I want to drive all the way back there right now just to get another pretzel (plus it was free pretzel Friday!  bonus!).  


We ended the trip at Paul's sister's apartment with dinner at an Asian-fusion place and a night on the town!  Needless to say the trip was a lot of fun... and we were blessed with perfect weather to top it off!  

On The Road Again..

Hey fellow roadtripper,
I'm so excited to be in the United States of Anna (America) again and already dreading the day I have to leave.

Even though the Indiana Dunes weren't exactly what I was expecting as someone seriously talked them up they were still great to see!! I had never seen beaches before with bare trees do that was a first for me.

Our next big stop...Amish Country!! Well that was an experience. I loved seeing the traditional clothes and horse drawn buggies instead of cars. While I'm not ready to throw away my shopping malls or even a car for a bonnet and buggy yet I adore their warm soft pretzel and they have some pretty amazing cheese too.

Our roadtrip ended with a very fun night out in Merrillville, Indiana with Annah and Brian. Steak n Shake is definitely a life saver!!!
Love E xx

Welcome Emma!

Emma is here!  I like to create a big to-do at the airport to make her feel very welcome in the good old USA...

I feel like with each visit the signs get a little better and the wording gets a little more creative!

Another very exciting surprise... the package Emma sent me from India arrived in the mail the same day that she arrived at the airport!

Evidently the gentleman that she paid to package the present "in a box" and send it "by air" wasn't listening... he sent it via sea and sewed it into a canvas satchel!

At least it arrived safe and sound, just like Emma did!

Exciting News

Dear Emma:


Yesterday was a rather exciting day for me.  I had the day off (it was President's Day) and I spent the morning chatting with you on gchat... That was fun in and of itself, but you told me some pretty exciting new that changed the course of my month...  you are coming to visit me!  FOR THREE WEEKS!  (in two and half weeks which is very soon!)  

The last time you were here was for my wedding... it was a really busy time and though we did manage to cross Iowa off our list of states, we didn't get to do much else besides go tanning, work-out, and hit your local favorite restaurants.  


With the wedding behind us and your guestroom all set, I cannot wait for March 8 to get here (on top of if I have more vacation days than previously thought so what say you we bang out a state or two?!).  


I know you are looking forward to the simple things like running water, good food, and television, but I have some adventures planned (yes, I started planning the minute I found out you were heading my way!).  I have also alerted the troops and set a desperate painting plan into motion so that the living room and kitchen will be in ship shape when you arrive!


Enjoy the last few weeks of India, soon we will be spoiling you in the USA!


Yours with love- Anna 

Pizza

Dear Emma,


I hope Sabrina is feeling better, it is no fun being sick when you are away from home!  It was really nice getting to talk with you on the phone (and via chat).  This time zone is much better for us. 


Last night Paul and I had this amazing pizza...

It is from a place called Papa Murphy's.  They make the pizza for you and then you bake it at home in your own oven.  Since our oven is an antique and doesn't work the greatest we decided to take advantage of the fact that we have been house-sitting Paul's parent's house.  Chicken Alfredo pizza with spinach and green olives!  Yum!  


That reminds me of the last time we had pizza together... you were here for my wedding and we were in Galena at Benjamin's.  

That was a fun day-trip (remember we went to the winery too?).  


You are heading to Sri Lanka right now... safe travels!  Can't wait to hear about your next adventure!


Yours with love- Anna

Applebee's

Dear E,


That rat temple really grossed me out!  The thought of having a rodents crawling all over me... I just fainted in my mind.  It reminds me of the time we were in Thailand, Krabi if I remember correct.  We really needed to wash our clothes and the only laundry place we could find was a washing machine that was literally on the sidewalk.

While we were sitting there on the sidewalk reading (practically in the gutter), a giant rat waltzed on by!  


As promised Paul and I got buffalo chicken wings the other night (the night I had to shovel again).  

We got them from Applebee's!  Yum!  You remember Applebee's, right?  We took your parents there straight away when they got into town.  

We also got mozzarella sticks in your honor!  (also because they are my favorite.)  I really wish you would have been there... I got sick because I ate too much... I need you to split food with!  


I miss you so much!  Can't wait til you get to Mumbai and I get to hear about all the American restaurants in India!


Yours with love- A


P.S. I got a second postcard in the mail!  It was from Nepal! 

Christmas USA

Dear E,


I had a very busy Christmas holiday this year!  Paul and I were bustling around from one relative's house to another's... it is a wonder we made it through the six family events scheduled over the course of just two days!  It was really a lot of fun though...


I bet next year when you are spending Christmas with us you will get to take part in matching Kittle family pajamas! 

We all got them!  Even Jaron.  


I bet next year you will get to join us at Benson Christmas breakfast... where we eat scrambled eggs with left-over Christmas Eve ham, and home-made cinnamon rolls.  

(I will even let you help make the glogg for my Christmas Eve's Eve celebration... I am starting to make up my own holidays to host haha!)


The saddest part about my Christmas holiday was missing your phone call.  We have talked every year on Christmas Eve and this year I missed your call by about eight minutes!  (I may or may not have been singing Christmas carols along to a player piano at the time...I guess you will just have to wait until next year's Christmas Eve and find out for yourself!)


I hope you are having a really nice time on your Christmas hiking excursion!  All that jogging you did up the hill on your lunch break should help.  Miss you!


Yours with love-A