Fisch Bowl

That time of month... time to blog!

2008-08-18T20:11:00.008-05:00

The baby zebu says Moo to you!
My mom has Zebu on her farm & there are several babies this year! So cute!

Here are pictures of the wedding flowers I did a few weeks ago.

This is the brides bouquet. Lisianthus, roses, hydrangea, peony's. I wrapped the stem with satin ribbon & then pinned her grandmothers hankie around the handle with pearl pins & tied her moms ring around the handle also.

5 Bridesmaid bouquets & the Brides Bouquet.
The dresses were a light green like the hydrangea.

Here's what happened when I told Aaron that he only had 2 more days of summer vacation!

I am excited that the kids are going back to school! But I have to wonder, Where Did The Summer GO!!! Time sure flies when you are having fun!!!

Birthday's, Bix, Squirrels, Life & Death.

2008-07-29T23:53:00.030-05:00

Since it seems like I am doing a 'blog post of the month' thing I decided to throw a bunch up at once! July was a busy month for us with several weddings to attend, birthdays to celebrate, running the Bix, big ol storms knocking out the power & squirrels out of the trees! Here are a few highlights!
Steve celebrated his 37th Birthday on the 26th! We had yummy chocolate cake!

The baby squirrels that fell from

the oak tree during the big storm. We took them to the squirrel rescue.

Aaron ran the Jr Bix for the 3rd time this year. I KNOW it doesn't matter & no one keeps score but he came in 11th! Makes me proud!

Abby at the Bix.

We dog sat or maybe I was sat on by dogs!

I celebrated my 36th Birthday on the 16th. We had pizza, cake & went swimming.
It was a lot of fun!

I realize that I need to smile more! Life is WAY too SHORT to let the little stuff get to you. I look at these pictures & around at my beautiful family & I am blessed, truly blessed!

My dad called tonight & let me know that my uncle John died this morning. He had brain cancer & it was time. I won't be able to be there for the funeral, I have wedding flowers to do & deliver on Friday. I will send my prayers.

Life is like that, and yet it goes on.

AND THE CROWD ROARED!!!

2008-07-03T00:19:00.011-05:00

Way to go Team Hy-Vee!! It was an action packed game last Saturday between Hy-Vee & The National Back as they competed for 1st place in the Minor Little League Championship Game! In the beginning Hy-Vee was behind, then they took the lead! In the last inning they were down by 3 runs, the bases were loaded, there were 2 outs, a pop fly was hit to left field & caught ending the game! During the game Aaron had an RBI with an awesome bunt! Then he took one for the team & got beamed in the stomach! Take your base buddy! They were all a bit sad but soon realized 2nd place is not so bad! So 2 years in a row Team Hy-Vee holds it's 2nd place standing for SouthEast Minor Little League!

Team Hy-Vee contemplating the finish of the game!
There was an award ceremony & picnic after the Championship game where all the teams got awards. Aaron got a metal & a nice trophy for his shelf & Jack got a cool bobble head for playing coach pitched this year.
Kiwi even got into the game!

What's New With You???

2008-06-24T22:10:00.018-05:00

Where in the world does the time go to??? I blink & it is June 24th, the kids have been out of school for 2 1/2 weeks & the 4th of July is screaming towards us!

We have had a lot going on, I have been working way too much about 50 hours a week too much! The boys have had little league games several times a week. Aaron will play in the Championship game this Saturday, his team is in 2nd place! Go Bubba! Abby is busy babysitting & dog sitting & helping me out around the house & Steve is busy working & his band has played a lot lately. They play this weekend at 11th St Bar & Grill!

I took some pictures of the flood waters in downtown Davenport last week from the sky bridge! Wow it was amazing to see all that water!

Also in my spare time I have been busy creating things!!! I have some
new classes coming up at Scrapaganza! & I have some new creations that I am selling here & also at Scrapaganza!

Paperwear is handcrafted individual works of art.
Each necklace is a unique creation using scrapbook materials, recycled Scrabble tiles & dominoes. They are coated in a non toxic coating but are not water proof
so remove before swimming or bathing!
I will custom create one using your favorite scrapbook paper!!!
Email me at Paperwear@yahoo.com or visit Scrapaganza! to get yours!

Small Scrabble Tile $10

Medium Domino $12

Large Domino $15

Have a good week, go on a picnic or fly a kit or
spend some time looking up at the clouds you'll never know what you will see!

SURPRISE!!!

2008-05-02T17:21:00.004-05:00

Ok for months I have been keeping a secret and I finally get to spill the beans!
I got to be part of a scrapbook design book for Scrapaganza! the scrapbook store I work at. This is a big deal in the scrapbook world! The book is sold all over the country & in several other countries like the Netherlands & Australia!
The book was entirely written & designed by the girls that I work with, see the picture below. What a bunch of talented people, I am glad to be a part of all of this!
I will post some pics of the layouts that I made for the book later!
Also I will get the 1st communion pictures of Jack & Aaron up one of these days!

"a mix of grape juice and wine"

2008-04-28T22:01:00.002-05:00

Little bit of this, a little bit of that...

2008-04-20T22:39:00.012-05:00

I finally am able to download some pics on my computer at home
so now I can post some pictures!

Little League has begun!!!
Aaron has had 2 games so far, won the 1st one 20-3 & the 2nd 26-5!
HOLY COW!!! I thought they had a 10 run rule
but I guess they don't use it much.
He plays for Team Hy-vee Which is kind of cool since I just got hired by Hy-vee a few days ago! I will be working part time in the Health Market, Health & Beauty & Seasonal. It should be a fun job! I still work at Scrapaganza part time & the 'Y' & manage to raise 3 kids & a husband, take care of a house (somewhat) & a whole bunch of pets!!!
My breakdown will occur sometime in the near future :)

I made this book for NYOBC at work. It was a lot of fun trying to make a creation out of a clear book. I think it turned out pretty good!

Where in the world is Megan???

2008-04-17T17:17:00.002-05:00

Yes I know I have been on hiatis for a few weeks. Blogging has taken a back seat to everything!
But I am here, I am alive, all is okeedokee!!!
I have been tagged -I am not sure of the rules or what to do so Here goes:

6 Random things about me right now!
~Little League has begun so any spare time I have is filled with baseball games, practice & conversations!
~I have been in a cleaning strike. Literally nothing is getting done in my house.
~ I LOOOVVEEEE this time of year! Bring on the 70 degree temps, sleeping with the window open & the smell of fresh freshness!
~I have been in an eating mood, anything & everything carb!
~I have been watching a lot of GOOD documentries on PBS & Discovery. The Human Footprint, King Korn, The Truth about Cancer. All totally worth your time -especially King Korn on PBS's Independent Lens.
~ I have been contemplating eating only food that is fresh & unprocessed without processed corn in it. (watch King Korn)
since I watched King Korn I really want to do this but.... my 4th point above is hindering my progress! I think I am going to plant a garden. Hummmm... Yeah we'll see
OK I know I am supposed to Tag more people but I don't think I will.
I just encourage everyone to think about themselves & write down some of the random things about themselves right now. If you want to email me or comment here about it that is cool!

Yes I am home!

2008-03-29T12:01:00.002-05:00

I made it home safe & sound! I am fully recovered & feeling ok! Now I just need to see my kiddos, they are at Grandma & Grandpas until Saturday! I talked to Bubba the other day & he was crying! Tug at my heart! It is good to be home!

last day

2008-03-25T13:35:00.002-05:00

Today was my last day here & I am ready to come home!
Katrin & Roland left for South Africa at 4am but at 9am they were back! Their flight was cancelled! So they rescheduled to fly out later today at 5pm. We had a late breakfast & then I said goodbye again & Katrin took me to the train station so I could go into the center of the city to go shopping. I was nervous to go by myself, but I did ok, I didn´t get lost or anything! I really don´t undersatnd the language AT ALL! so talking to anyone was not happening. I ate lunch at Mc Donalds! only because I knew what it was & I even then had a hard time ordering. I had a few moments of needing a few xanax, but I made it through! I didn´t buy much, the dollar is so bad right now & I am so cheap I didn´t see much that I had to have! I will get some tshirts for the kids, the usual travel stuff. I even found a few bits of scrapbook paper but it was just cardstock at 7 euro for 5 sheets! Which is I believe around $10! Yikes!
So I decided to come back to the house -a 20 minute train ride & 10 min walk in the cold & dark. I thought about eating at the chinese restaurant on the way but the menu was in German & who knows what I would have eaten!!!
So I will have dinner with Minnie & Tessa (the cats) maybe take a bath & then goto bed.
The taxi will pick me up at 7:15 am, my flight is at 9am. I will get to the airport at home by 8pm Wednesday!
I sure miss my dear hubby & my kiddos & home a lot & I will be glad to be home! But I really am glad I was here to be a part of the celebration. Everyone was SO NICE & generous & welcomed me into their home like family. I will definetly come back again!
bye!

Hi

2008-03-24T05:58:00.003-05:00

It is Monday, almost noon. I am packing my suitcase & trying to fit all the stuff I have been given & bought into my bags. I am glad I brought an extra bag! 3 boxes of chocolate, 4 new pairs of shoes, 4 jars of homemade jam, 2 photo albums... I think it will fit! I almost forgot my clothes hanging in the closet! OOPS!

Tomorrow I plan to go shopping in Hamburg, not sure where all that will go!?

So I will see all of you back in the States! I fly in late Wednesday night & I plan to sleep & relax on Thursday.

I sure miss home!

Photos from Braunschweig, Germany

2008-03-23T13:02:00.015-05:00

It has been a very busy few days! The wedding was yesterday (Sat) at 2pm, the reception was at 7pm we left @ 2:30am, today was an Easter brunch & then a siteseeing tour in the freezing cold! Then we returned to the house & Katrin & Roland opened gifts & now it is almost 8pm! I am going to bed! Tomorrow I will go with Katrin & Roland to theír house in Hamburg. They will leave Tuesday morning for their Honeymoon in South Africa. I will be on my own until I leave Wednesday to come home! WHEW! Here are some photos of the past few days.

Start at the bottom to view the pictures in the order they happened.

Opening Gifts

Views of Braunschweig from out siteseeing tour

The wedding reception

Katrin & Megan

Mr & Mrs Jenner & Megan

Umi(Grandma) & Megan

Exchanging Rings

Where the wedding took place

The Voigt´s shoe store

Wedding bells are ringing!

2008-03-22T20:58:00.003-05:00

So Saturday at 2pm Katrin und Roland were married in a beautiful ceremony. It was held in a hall, there were approx. 75 people there. Right after we went outside for a group photo in the freezing rain & then back in for cake & coffee & tea.
@ 4pm we went back to the house, I rested a bit. We were up early this morning to goto the hairdresser & then I went shoe shopping & bought some flowers for Ilse & Manfred.
At 6:30pm we headed to the restaurant where the party would begin. Everyone was dressed in evening wear & some of the men had on tuxedos. There were cocktails first & then we went into a beautiful room full of huge silver candleabras & red roses & red votives with candles. I sat with Christian & Manuela & some of Katrins friends. We had a wonderful dinner & great dessert. It was a long evening, it is now 3am -we arrived back to the house 1/2 hour ago.
Tomorrow at 10am there will be another gathering & Easter celebration & opening of gifts here at the house.
Also it is snowing!! This morning I woke to snow & then it rained & now there is 1" of snow outside!
I will post photos tomorrow.
Have a Happy Easter!

Pictures of Tulpenweg 13 friday 3/21/08

2008-03-21T14:33:00.019-05:00

views of the lake

the back & side of the house

the front of the house

living room

stairway

ready for the party to begin

Katrin´s parents & her Godmother & her husband

kitchen ready with food

Flights, houses, shopping, weddings & antibiotics!

2008-03-20T16:10:00.021-05:00

View over Germany -It is hard to see but there is a wind farm below They have a lot of wind tubines for power. Click the picture to make it bigger.

Me on the last leg of the trip...go figure I got three seats to myself on an exit row with tons of leg room! He he my feet didn´t even reach the floor!

At Katrins house, her cat Minnie.

The view out my bedromm window at Manfred & Ilse´s house.

Sorry it is sideways the photo software is in Germany so I don´t know how to fix it!

The castle where the shopping mall is in. So actually the original burnt down many years ago & they rebuilt it EXACTLY the same way last year.

A little treat I had YUM!

We are waiting to goto the wedding- l to r Roland, Manfred, Ilse, Katrins Grandna, Me & Katrin

Exchanging rings Katrin & Roland Jenner with their parentsCity Hall

Dinner - Manfred, me, Katrins brother Christian & his wife Manuela

German Antibiotics aahhh I feel better already!

I am here!!!!

2008-03-20T15:11:00.002-05:00

It is 21:11 (9:11pm) here in Braunschweig Germany! I am at Katrin´s parents house. It has been an eventful few days. I am just glad to be here.
The flight out on Tuesday the 18th at 7:20pm (it was late!) was very long, I am always up for an adventure & I would have enjoyed it better if I weren´t so sick. On the flight to Amsterdam I watched Juno- very cute movie go see it! Also I had Andre the Giant behind me pushing his knees in my back the entire trip!!! I couldn´t put my seat back because he was so tall! Also there were 3 babies on the plane all sitting by me & they all cried off & on! I could not sleep because I could not breathe. Once at Amsterdam I waited 2 hours after I walked 2 miles to my gate. I slept on a bench for 1 hour then waited for my flight.
I arrived in Hambug at 5pm on Wednesday the 19th, 17 1/2 hours later we went to Katrins house to visit & see where she & Roland lived. Then we drove 2 hours here to Braunschweig to her Parents Manfred & Ilse. They live in a beautiful house with gardens & a lake behind it. I told them I am moving in! We ate dinner: fish, onions, cranberries in cream sauce (very good) potatoes & salad. I had a Coke lite not quite diet coke but it worked. I then showered & went to bed at 9pm here. I slept until 6am I woke up & looked outside to the beautiful view! WOW! I went back to bed until 10am dressed & then ate breakfast, fresh bread, jam, fish, tea. We left at noon to goto town to her fathers shoe store he owns. We picked up the flowers for the wedding, went shopping at the mall which is in a castle where Katrin got her nails done for the wedding. I shopped around the shoe store later while she got her makeup done, I didn´t get any shoes yet hopefully I can go back. It is a national holiday on Fri & MOn so everything will be closed for 4 days.
I am really sick with a BAD sinus infection so I am miserable! But luckly Manfreds good friend is a doctor so they called him & we were able to get me some antibiotics for my sinus infection. The doctor faxed in the order & Manfred put it under his insurance & I have taken 2 pills so far & feel a bit better. Got to love universal heath care!!!! I am not happy that I am so sick.
Katrin & Roland were married today at 4pm in the city hall. Which is next to the 700 year old church!
It is very different than what we do in the US. Tomorrow Fri is a big party at her parents house, then Sat is the Wedding where she will wear a white dress & everything! Tonight after the marriage we went out to eat at a nice restaurant, I couldn´t make it too late so they sent me home in a taxi! SO I am here now telling you about it all!
The keyboard is different here, the letters are mixed up etc. So I will post pictures later when I figure that out.

mom

2008-03-18T12:45:00.002-05:00

My mom is going home today. YEAH!
I spoke to her before I was supposed to 'leave' this morning. She sounds much better.
Now if I could get my kids feeling better. Abby & aaron are home today throwing up still!
I won't complain about the head cold I have as long as I don't get what they have while I am gone!!!

HELLO FROM IOWA!!!

2008-03-18T12:37:00.002-05:00

OK so I was supposed to be flying the friendly skies right now BUT my 10:05 am flight was cancelled due to fog. It lifted as soon as I got my luggage & headed back home! go figure! I am going to try it again tonight at 6:50pm! It only puts my arrival time into Hamburg from 11:20am to 4:50pm on Wed -not too bad! I lost the 9 1/2 hours of layovers I had! now i get to lay in bed & rest at home! I am not complaining since I have an awful head cold right now!
Off I go to sleep!
Wish me luck for an uneventful flight tonight!

REALLY???????

2008-03-16T13:18:00.003-05:00

Sunday -My mom is still in the hospital she will be staying until monday, I am sick with some sort of upper resp. thing, Aaron was up in the middle of the night throwing up all over the hall & then had diarrhea. He is still getting sick all day today. Steve went to see my mom this am as I am staying away so I don't get her sick too, & now he says he doesn't feel good! Abby also is complaining of her stomach! AND Jack has the pinewood derby today at 2pm. It's only 40 degrees outside BUT I have the windows open to get some healthy air in here! I have been washing everything with lysol. I still have to finish packing & getting everything ready since I work all day tomorrow.
All I can say about all of this is REALLY?????

Life happens!

2008-03-15T13:38:00.002-05:00

it is amazing how life can change in an instant!!! My mom stopped by my work to pick up a suitcase from me on Thursday afternoon. She left & was headed to the chiropractor. An hour or so later I got a call from the ER saying my mom was in a car accident & was in the ER! They said she was ok, it wasn't life threatening but she was pretty banged up.
An 85 year old man pulled out in front of her on the highway. He was crossing the highway at the stop sign. She swerved to miss him but hit the front corner of his car & then hit head first into a cemented barrel with the stop sign in it & then into the ditch. The stop sign went into the front window & the airbag went off. He said he didn't see her. He was at fault. She said she didn't think he even stopped.
So today is Saturday: mom had surgery on Friday. They put a plate & 6 screws in her wrist, her collar bone is broke clear through & overlapping, she has burns on her face from the airbag, & hurts all over from the seatbelt & airbag going off. The dr said she will stay tonight & probably Sunday night too.
So she is not going to be able to goto Germany with me. The two of us were planning to go this Tuesday morning. She can use her ticket anytime within a year. We are just grateful she is alive and not worse than she is.
Please pray for her quick recovery, the wrist doesn't bother her as much as the collar bone. They said it will take several months for it to heal & not hurt. :(

Exciting news!

2008-03-13T00:32:00.004-05:00

SO I got this poem the other day, I just had a conversation with a friend about this exact thing & there is this! I find myself doing just this -waiting to really live!

Stop waiting..... Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or new house
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...
There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, Be afraid that it will never begin.

Which brings me to the exciting news! I am going on a trip to Germany this coming Tuesday! I was going to go & then I wasn't & then I was & then... I am definetly going! I have the tickets, I have the suitcase almost packed, I have the long list of things to do. I have the nervous stomach I always get before I go anywhere BIG!
SO why am I going you may ask? My friend Katrin is getting married the Saturday before Easter. She is my daughters godmother & we have been friends for almost 19 years. I had to be there, there was no alternative.
So all the 'stuff' had to wait. All the excuses had to go.
I am so excited!
Check back while I am gone... I hope to be able to update while I am gone.

My newest scrapbook layouts.

2008-03-12T23:41:00.000-05:00

Here are my newest creations I made for the scrapbook club I help teach at Scrapaganza where I work. I really enjoyed this months club, fun colors and papers.

Spring Is Coming!!!

2008-03-12T23:26:00.005-05:00

I love daffodils! They are a sure sign of spring! I bought a bunch the other day at the grocery store & put them in a green Ball Jar on my kitchen counter. Such sunny reminders that winter will soon be over!!!

2008-03-12T23:11:00.000-05:00

One of the coolest things about winter in the midwest are Bald Eagles. I hate the cold but these guys love it!
Abby took these pictures of the eagles hanging out by the river.

2008-02-28T17:16:00.003-06:00

Ok so now I am just a posting fool!
This is a class I made for January of my little flakes!

Meow Woof Book

2008-02-28T17:03:00.003-06:00

So here is the book. The Woof book is the same design, but with dogs!

It's been too long!

2008-02-28T01:21:00.002-06:00

So it has been months since I have updated this! Wow how time flies!
The kids are taller & older & smarter too! I am just older! :)
Winter can leave at anytime, the forecast says more snow to come! YEAH!
so to keep warm I have been creative & I made a super cute book for my furry friends called the MEOW/WOOF BOOK!
I will be posting some pics of this newest class I will be teaching at Scrapaganza! tomorrow. Check it out!

Abby is 13!!!!

2007-11-12T23:32:00.000-06:00

It's official, we have a teenager in our house!
November 2nd was the big day. We went out for dinner to Shogun, a Japanese restaurant. The chef was very entertaining & dinner was very good. Then we came home for gifts & cake. Hard to believe she is 13th!

Happy Halloween!

2007-11-12T22:46:00.000-06:00

A few days before Halloween we made pumpkin people in the front yard. They were fun to make & lasted a few days until the squirrles ate big holes in them & they all fell over!
We had some fun around here for Halloween. Aaron was a skeleton, Jackson was a ninja with big muscles & Abby was a rocker. Lucy & Kiwi were cowgirls! Their cousin Olivia joined us for trick or treating around the neighborhood, so did Abby's friend Madeline. They all were tired after a few blocks, I tried to convince them we needed more chocolate, but they were done.

BIRTHDAY BOY!

2007-10-28T01:49:00.000-05:00

I can't believe the boy is 9!

Last weekend Aaron had a Great Birthday, we had a fun filled weekend. Steve's parents came up for the weekend. We went out to a Mexican restaurant Friday night the 19th. They had a Mariache band & they sang Happy Birthday to Aaron. Then the waiter 'fed' Aaron his sundae!

On Sat. his Birthday we all (my mom included) piled in the van & went to the Field of Dreams movie site.

Aaron saw the movie & wanted to go there

& play baseball on the real field & get a real jersey.

After we got home we had pizza & a nice chocolate birthday cake!

Can't get any better than that for a 9 year old baseball loving Birthday boy!

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY AARON!!

Maiden Voyage!

2007-10-27T23:38:00.000-05:00

So I wasn't going to be a blogger, or so I thought.

But after some great family fun I realized that a big chunk of the people I love & care about were not there to share with us.

I decided that maybe this could be a good way to include everyone in our lives by showcasing the fun & the craziness that makes up our little family!

So here is the beginning of the Fisch Bowl