HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

So, we haven't given any updates in a while, but this one is worth the wait. We just got back from a weeks Safari in Tanzania! Amazing, beautiful, all you would expect and more. We saw everything (bamboons, lion, zebra, cheetah, rhino, elefant, warthogs, mongoose, giraffs, buffalo, wildabest, gazelle, antilope, hippos, ostrich, tons of different storks, crocadile, various monkeys, I can't even remember everything we saw!) Accomidations and scenery were also breathtaking. Here are three of my favorite pics (let me know if you want more and I will email them to you).

October 6th, 2007 - Carissa's Wedding

Here is my new found family. After years of hearing of our Canadian cousins, we finally meet. Well actually we met in Michigan at my wedding! So the least I could do, when Carissa generously invited me to her wedding (in Italy!), was to repay the favor.

So years ago when an American Italian decided to pick up her life and move to Italy, her distant Canadian Italian cousin decided to do the same, unbeknownst to both of them.

And in August of 2007 the American Cousin decided to get married in her hometown. In this same period the Canadian cousin decided to celebrate her upcoming marriage in Canada with all her relatives and friends. Being only an 8 hour drive away instead of an 8 hour flight, she made it to Michigan and the two met. Strange to live so close and meet so far from home.

A few months later, after the American cousin had celebrated back in Italy with her friends and family, they found themselves at the Canadians cousin wedding in the beautiful Italian Dolomites.

And they all will live happily ever after. THE END.

ps. In the photo from left to right: Anthony (brother of the bride), John (other brother of the bride), Aurelio (groom), Carissa (bride), Gale (mother of the bride), Bobby (father of the bride)

September 22-24th, 2007 OKTOBERFEST

What September would be complete without Oktoberfest! This year was extra special in several ways. Number one, it was the opening weekend so we got to see the parade of all the different regions dressed in their historical garments. Number two, we say The Police! And most importantly, Number three, my cousin David who is studying abroad in Rome this sememster came with us. Camper, Concert, Beer, what more could a college guy want!

September 8th, 2007 Italian Wedding

So...like I said shutterfly.com. let me know who wants the link (if you do check out all the other pics, make sure to take notice of my bouquet, i loved it!) . Here I am showing you two pics. The first is just us resting between the church and the reception. The second pic is to give you an idea of what your friends will make you to do receive your presents! we had "soft air" shoot down rubber duckies who where tied to balloons and had checks strung around their necks! Not normal, but fun!

September 7th, 2007 Rehearsal Dinner Round 2

So, it wasn't really a rehearsal dinner, but a big dinner with all my Italian/Swiss/American realtives and Mirko's closest family. It is rare that we all get to see each other, so it was a wonderful evening.

September 2nd, 2007

Now you are probably saying, you have been gone for a month, you have to go back to work tomorrow, and have another wedding to plan in a week, you are probably hard at work doing laundry, planning, resting for work, WRONG! In between laundry, cleaning the house, going back to work, spending time with my family that is in town for the Italian wedding, last minute planning for the Italian wedding, we find time to to the San Marino Motorcycle Grand Prix! Not only that, but the guy, who I can't stan, who usually wins, his bike breaks! And the Ducati wins! And the Ducati goes on to win the entire Championship! Go Italy! (ps the driver is Australian, coincidence? I think not). Here's a shot of the winner!

August 31st, 2007 Home

So after a month away we are finally home. And we come home to find our neighbors have left us champaigne and champaigne glasses dressed as brides and grooms, a house filled of balloons and decorations, and rose pedals leading to the bedroom and on the bed.

August 29th, 2007 Phillip Island, Australia

Our last day we spent on a day trip to Phillip Island. Lots to do and see on this island, great beaches, famous race track, but the main reason we went, the penguins. And I couldn't let you finish your blog tour of our honeymoon without a Kangaroo (this one is actually a wallaby). Hope you enjoyed and remember if you are thirsty for, I will send you the shutterfly link.

August 27th, Melbourne, Australia

Great city! I liked it more then Sydney. We did have exceptionally good weather, so that probably helped. Modern mixed with historic, very clean, small, easy to get around,etc.... I loved it, highly recommended.

August 26th, 2007 Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia

After going from extremes, hot, to cold, to warm. We decided on a place that gave us all that (and more) in one day! The outback! The whole point of going to Ayers Rock (Uluru) is to see the sunrise and sunsets, therefore, when you roll out of bed at 5.30 am, it is about 4-5 degrees Celcius outside. As the sunrise the day warms up to a good 30-35 degrees Celcius. Taking you from the lost tempatures that we see in Pesaro in winter, to the highest. All this happening in the desert with no water and no moister, you might think, hey that might help you stand the heat and not suffer from the cold. But all this lack of moister only means one thing, every fly within 100km of ayers rock is looking for ANY water he can get too. The majority of this water is coming from your mouth and eyes! Yes, it is not the most fun. So we did the best we could to arm ourselves.

August 24 th, 2007 Port Douglas, Australia

On quick trip to port Douglas, not only did we go diving in the reef again, we also went on an amazing evening to dine in the rainforest, lit only by candle light and entertianed by the aboriginies of the region, the Tjapukai.

August 23, 2007 Cairns, Austrlia

So we then set out for Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, a divers paradise, only this time we weren't sky diving. Cairns was a pleasant surprise, very cute and great warm weather. After going from the shock of 42 degrees Celciuos in Vegas to -2 degrees Celcius in New Zealand. The 25 Degree Celcius perfect weather is Cairns was a "warm" welcome.

August 21st, 2007 Sydney, Australia

Although I liked it, it may have been one of my lease favorite stops. But most people rave about Sydney, so it is a must see. I must say though, that they did have the most beautiful botanical garden I've ever seen. And if you are a bird lover, Australia is the place to be.

August 20th, 2007 Blue Mountains, Australia.

So we sadly said goodbye to NZ and a happy hello to Australia. Here we are on our first day, in Australia in the Blue Mountians. I thought it was beautiful, but it is a hit and miss with the fog, we got lucky. Behind us you see the "Three Sisters".

August 19th, 2007 Queenstown, New Zealand

My personal favorite spot, of all the places we went. This town and all of its surroundings are fabulous. It is so beautiful that the near by national park is called Paradise. This place is dear to me not only because of its beauty, but because it is the place where we jumped from 12,000 feet. Here's the proof!

August 17th, 2007 Mount Cook, New Zealand

As we were driving from Christchurch to Queenstown (on the left hand side of the road, what an experience!) we stoped for the night in Mount Cook, the talledst peak in New Zealand. Beautiful mountains, so beautiful they are know as the southern Alps, a perfect place for us! When we where there we did lots of hikes, especially to glaciers, and glacial lakes. Here we are covering

August 16th, 2007 Mount Sunday

So I couldn't go to New Zealand without a Lord of the Rings tour (we actually went on two, one here and one in Queenstown). Very cool, on location tours, with guides who were either in the movie or worked on it somehow. Here we are on Mount Sunday, we are standing on the hill where the kingdom of Rohan was built. Behind us was another location spot, that unfortunately for you, I can not seem to remember right now.

August 15th, 2007 Christchurch, New Zealand

Departed Las Vegas Monday night, the 13th, and got to New Zealand August 15th. A day of our lives gone for ever.

A very cute town, we saw the countries national animal, the kiwi bird, and many others at a national wildlife preserve. We also went to the Antartic Center, where most excursions to the Antartic are planned and depart from. Here you see Mirko sliding down some ice in the simulated Artic Room, reaching down to -40 degrees!

August 12-30th, 2007 - The Honeymoon- First Stop Vegas

Again I am going to do my best to limit the blog posts and let you know that more honeymoon pictures then you ever wanted to see are on shutterfly. Let me know if you would like me to share them with you.

We are starting off in Vegas with 22 Italians that came to our wedding, here are a few of them with Mirko in front of our hotel.

August 11th, 2007 American Wedding and Reception

So, I am not going to post a million pics here. I've posted quite a few on shutterfly.com, so if you are interested let me know and I will share with you. I am only going to post one pic, ma favorite one. Taken apporpiately by my matron of honor, Giovanna. Suffice to say we were not estatic with our professional photographer.

August 10th, 2007 - Rehearsal Dinner

My parents put on a most amazing Rehearsal dinner. It was, in a word, perfect. I loved it just as much as the receptions. It was in my parents backyard, which was great for all of our italian friends to see where I grew up and it made everything alot more relaxed and "at home". Here are a few pics to give you an idea.

August 3rd, Last Day

So not only was this our last day of work before the wedding and the month long vacation, but it was also Mirko's last day at his lab. where he has been working for the last 10 years! How many of you have worked in one place for 10 years? Here he is on his last day, with some of his closest co-workers.

July 13th-14th, 2007 Ryans' Weekend

Making it to first place, as my only american's friends who have been to my home town and seen my house (outside of my family), and Wags being a second time Italian visitor, we did our best to try and make sure they had a good time. Thanks guys, we had a blast. Hopefully these pictures will encourage others.

Bachelore Party - Same weekend!

Mirko's weekend, was quite different then mine.

Instead of going 4 wheeling, they went go-karting, complete with pole positions and race.

Instead of dinner, they drank.

Instead of dancing, they drank.

Intead of sleeping they drank.

And instead of going to the pool, they passed out.

More Bachelorette pics

So I realized my pictures were posting in the reverse order I wanted them to, but anyways heres I few more.

June 30th-July 1st Bacehlorette Weekend!

This was amazing. First they blindfolded me and took me to the most amazing breakfast. Then we drove up into the hills to this beautiful hotel with pool. In the afternoon I was suprised with 4 wheel driving, before dinner drinks on the beach and an amazing fish dinner. Where i received 7 pretty panites, one for each day of the week leading up to the wedding. The next day we relaxed by the pool. A great time, you all were missed!

April 29th, 2007 Second Shower

This was a fabulous shower given to me by my cousin and maid of honor, Lisa, and my Auntie, Tizi. Two amazing women, who only fall a half step short of my amazing and perfect mother. The shower was amazing, Lisa did all the invites and name cards, etc. If anyone needs invites, or announcements, etc done, she is fantastic.

April 28, 2007 First Shower

Yes, you may not belive it, but I actually even had two family showers! Here is a quick pick from the first one, with my flower girls.

April 14th, 2007 PARTY!

Smack-dab in the middle of our two birthdays we celebrated our 30th birthdays together.

Me made out like bandits. Gambling books (for our night in Vegas this summer), Dvd's (mine was An American in Rome), two Bonsai trees, bottles of wine, grappa, liqurice falovred liquor, a traveling alarm clock, a bbq! with all the equipment and utensils, and two tickets to the San Marino Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Great time! Thanks to all for our wonderful gifts.

April 8th, 2007 Chateau de Versailles

After changing trains several times, and from train to bus to train, we finally made it to Versailles. Here we are at the end of your tour in the gardens.