Vegas 2009

YaHeyDer!

So here we are a couple weeks from Vegas and some of you have never met before. This is the easiest way to introduce everyone. I thought I would explain the connections between everyone and a little history on this Vegas trip.

This will be the third year for the Gidley's and Villari's, second year for Palka's and Frodyma's and the first year for the Urech's, Czopek's and Ang's cousin.

Pictures - believe it or not we don't take many pictures, usually on the plane ride there and back and that is about it....unless you go do something off premises like shooting a gun or something.

Most days we wake up early, have breakfast, find a place at the pool, drink (some of us bring our own) and find a place to go dancing or gambling. Some of us venture out to shoot guns, go shopping, maybe ATV this year (I know Bob wants to), rent a sports car (don't think about it JoeG) - basically find someone who wants to do what you want to and go do it! Have fun!

Organizing us all to do everything together is impossible, let's just text and hopefully we can connect at the pool to talk about the night. Now let's give you a little info on everyone going:

Joe and Sarabeth Gidley - We have been married for 3 years. Now for the group connections, my brother is Dave Urech who is married to Stephanie Wiliams who has invited her sister Kim. I actually went to JR High with Kim Williams-Czopek. JoeG has known Brian Villari for 30 years, Tracey for 20 years and works with Brian which is why we moved back from WI. Bob Palka is "our guy", yes - we know a guy. Hotel bound around noon Wed.

Brian and Tracey Villari - Brain and Tracey have 3 kids and 1 dog, live across from Ang and Erik and met Giuliana and Bob at pre-school through their kids. Hotel bound around noon Wed.

Ang and Erik Frodyma - Have 2 kids, 1 dog and invited they Ang's cousin this year, which I am figuring they have known each other for awhile. Hotel bound around noon Wed.

Giuliana (aka G) and Bob Palka - Have 2 kids and 1 cat, Bob the contractor extrodianaire has done lots of updates on our house. Hotel bound around noon Wed.

Dave and Stephanie - have 1 wolf (ok it's a dog) have known each other since high school, been married for 1 year and Stephanie is by far the youngest member of the Vegas crew.]

Kim and Chris - have 2 kids, 1 dog, been married for ten plus years.

Kim and Brad Bettenhausen - have 3 kids, 3 cats and been married for 18 years.Hotel bound around noon Wed.

Please make a comment to add anything to your description, try and recruit people to an activity you want to do, restaurants you want to go to or just general excited-ness for the big group trip.

May - Joe's Bday!

Happy Birthday to Joe! The big 36.... we golfed, went to Lakefront and enjoyed a beautiful Memorial Day weekend (his birthday is the 25th). We golfed at Ravislow in Homewood, where my dad started working at 11 or something. So he was telling stories, most of them only safe for my mom's ears but we got a couple.

Snowing in April

Well, we are into April and it has snowed twice!! We did have some good weather, Joe even got the bike in and home for a tune up and work done at the local HD dealer. Not alot of excitement in the Gidley household, Joe painted the bathroom orange (looks awesome) and I think that is the last room we really need to paint - plus he needs a painting break.

Some idiot (drunka**) took out our beautiful iron mailbox one Saturday night, we are sure it did major damage to their car. We are going to replace it with a brick one, that will stop them dead in their tracks!

Cayman is excited about the weather, she has figured out all the spots in the house she can lay in the sun and at what time.

Mom and Dad Urech have gotten home from Florida and Milwaukee - its hard to keep up with them, if they only had a blog.

More House PIcs

February

Nothing too out of the ordinary happened this month, Joe and I are making health and working out a priority and it is going well. This month we have been together for 10 years, a long time. I guess it does not feel like that considering most of our relationship has been long distance. Anywho - I have been promising pictures of the house so here it goes.

January - Good Start to 2009

Started the year off great, we are making healthy lifestyle changes and it is paying off. What kind of changes? Protein shakes, more vegetables, lean meats (well for Joe - I am not eating many animal proteins these days). Out Friday night date is at the gym, swimming about 500yds or so. Joe has an easier schedule to fit in the gym, I get up 4:45am T-Th to work out. On the weekends though there are some cardio-kickboxing classes and spin that I alternate going to. Of course Sat night is our cheat night, being good all week has to have some benefits.

We had an open house in January, I know I need to add some pictures of the house - I will! Joe keeps painting so that is my excuse since I have to put up the most recent pictures :). At the end of January we were in a family poker tournament and I made the final table - WOOHOO, I am learning. Joe won our money back in a side game - we're a good team.

2008 in Review

2008: More Change and Catching up with Life!

January-March

Sarabeth is in Wisconsin dealing with one of the WORST winters the Milwaukee area had seen in 20years and without a husband or a snowblower. For those of you who don’t know, Joe took a great job opportunity in IL and moved back in with his parents September of 2007. Thank goodness our wonderful neighbors in Whitefish Bay (4600 Block!!WOOHOO) rallied around Sarabeth and got her through! By the end of winter the Milwaukee area almost broke the record of 110 inches of snow in one season.

April-June

Every weekend Joe went to visit his wife and dog (Cayman) in Whitefish Bay to work on the house to get ready to sell. He did a great job because they sold their house in 70 days in a tumbling real estate market.

July

This was a BIG month, Sarabeth’s little brother Dave married the love of his life Stephanie Williams and Sarabeth was privileged to not only stand-up in the wedding but participate in the ceremony. This was also the month that we closed on he sale of our house, Sarabeth finished her masters in Instructional Technology, went to Jimmy Buffett , Sarabeth moved in with her parents and then we went to Door County for one of Sarabeth’s best-friends wedding. It was a whirlwind! Sarabeth also got into networking and job search mode, trying to get back into business.

August

Up in Door County Sarabeth was reunited with an old friend, Jamie PR, from Accenture (previous business position) who was working in Chicago for a small company, Healthy Interactions. During our reunion she realized that my background could be a fit for the company she worked for. After meeting other employees and interviewing I was hired at the end of the August and started on Sept 2.

September-October-November-December

Joe and Sarabeth living with Joe’s parents with their dog, who tore a ligment and is still not healed ☹ Sarabeth started commuting to Chicago via the Metra and loves it – along with her job. There is some travel but so far it has only taken her to London, England and Toledo, OH. We bought a house (the market actually really helped us get our DREAM house) in Frankfort, IL and we are loving living together and being a real married couple again.

The year has brought a lot of good fortune and we are very grateful. There are friends and family who have not been as blessed as us so we are praying for you to get through your hard times and we will support you where you need us.

We are looking forward to reconnecting with friends and family in 2009!

Goal for 2009!

I just wanted to say that I am going to make more of an effort to update our blog at least a couple times a month.

On to the NEXT chapter!

Well, Joe and I sold the house, said goodbye to our laid back Milwaukee lifestyle with readi-access to great beer (micros, not Miller). We are both living with our wonderful parents!!!

Next step - I need to find a job, then we will get the house.

Short post...stayed tune.

Moving forward!

WELL... we have sold the house, made it through the home inspection and looking forward to our house closing July 18th. Sarabeth still has to finish her masters and find a job, so in the mean time we are each living with our respective parents untill we get a place.

Also, David (Sarabeth's brother) is getting married July 12 so we need to get as much done before then so we can relax and celebrate!

Stayed tuned for our next post which will hopefully be... a new job, new house, finished masters.... all back in IL!

House Update

Well, we had our first advertised open house and it was GREAT. We had 6 people come through and one who was very interested in buying it, but that has not happened. We are hoping to sell it so we can move out in June. We are not in a huge hurry but the sooner the better. As far as our next house, we are looking in downtown Tinley Park and that area in general. Joe's job is in that area and there is enough highway access for any job that I might get. I have started to broaden my search outside of education to consulting firms.

Well, that is our update...alot can happen and alot of change will happen in the next couple months!

Snow GO AWAY

Ok, I am in WI and I am REALLY sick of the snow!! It is the second day of Spring and we have 10-14" out there! Seriously?

Full Circle

Ok, so it has been awhile and lot is going on. We have completely fixed up the house and it looks great! On the inside... and we have it on the market to sell so we can move back to IL. We are looking to purchase in downtown Tinley Park this year sometime. We are not in a huge hurry to sell the house, all though it would be nice.

So this is what July looks like
July 11 - final presentation for Masters
July 12 - My brother gets married in IL
July 19 - Jimmy Buffet at Alpine, yes we got tickets by my parents did not :(
July24-27 - Morgan (BB) gets married in Door County

YIKES - tons of fun though!

Long time no post

Well, it has been awhile but that is what happens in the beginning of the school year for teachers. I am starting again in a new school district, Menomonee Falls, teaching at the middle school and the Junior High School. I am excited because the curriculum has been created and standardized. Most of the districts I have been in I have had to re-create the wheel. This year I finally feel like I have a life outside of school - it's a MIRRICAL!

Check out the school I teach for: This is the Junior High

Meet our Puppy!

Well, I know that I have sent you all pictures but here is a little background. Cayman was surrendered with her 8 puppies shortly after birth. She was then put into a foster home with a dog and cat. She is very calm and friendly with the neighborhood kids. Everyone who meets her loves her and can not believe how calm she is. Frequently you can find her laying on the couch next to JoeG, they make quiet a pair!

She was spaid on Monday and is moving very slowly and a little out of it, but we still love her!

Vegas Baby Part 2

Well, Here are a couple more classic moments:

She lost her top! Yikes!

Don't you just love digital cameras?!

Look at me.... look at me... If you have not seen Defending a caveman you should, it will enlighten you on how men and women communicate.


Yum!

Vegas Baby

Awhile ago 2 couples started talking about a couples get away and it finally came true - and we let loose! So we can look at some pics that will tell the story.

Here are the six main characters of the story:





The first night we ended up at Margarittaville - and I think we had fun - check us out:





Did anyone win? Yes!!


Look for VegasBaby Part 2

House Update

Well, it's been a long time since I have updated this blog. It might have something to do with the fact I have not had any internet access and had no idea where my camera charger was. So let's show you some pics!

Before


After


Before

After

Demo Starts

Hello! My g-ma is out and moved into her new place, I think that she is adjusting allthough now she has alot more visitors. My parents (I should say angels) stayed in the house this weekend and went to town! Carpet is up, wall paper is down and neighbors know we are moving in! My parents got Joe one of those push mowers - no gas or electric, GO GREEN! So that gave him a bit of a work out on Sunday. I helped pull wallpaper and pry vinly off of the hardwood floor. We are plannning to get it painted and the floors done by the end of the month. I hope that we get some visitors after that. Those of you interested in attending a painting party or a moving party please let me know :)

Moving in SOON

Well! May 25 is the day that my grandma will be out and living at her new place - WOW, June will be spent making the place our own! We are very excited! We have to be out of our place by June 30th, NP! No need to stay with those freekin aliens! grrr... We will have alot of painting to be done so if you are interested let us know.