Update

Good day my friends! It has been over a year since my last post.  This is the only week this year that I will have a chance to update all of you.

DS1 completed Book 1 of his Suzuki piano lessons just before the Spring Semester ended (he started his lessons in February 2011) and he has been regularly practicing even though they do not offer any Suzuki lessons during the summer.

I have been in training since our school year ended and only have this week for relaxation (sort of).  Next week, I will be starting in my new school and the children will be with me. DS1 is now a first grader and DS2 is still in preschool (they have grown tremendously - specially DS2).

When I have a chance to share with you what we have been up to, I will share some pictures. Until then, I wish you all a good, happy and healthy year. God bless us all!

Essen Haus

On May 28, we went to Essen Haus, a German restaurant and drinking hall in Madison,Wisconsin. We wanted Grandma, who had German/Bavarian ancestry, to watch the polka band due to play that night. Unfortunately, we got there too early for dinner and did not see the band. I would like to share with you some of the pictures we took of our food and of the restaurant (using my cellphone camera so its a little blurry):

That is the stage in the background where the band was to play that night.

This is by the entrance if you are coming from the lakefront (notice the sign on top and the waitress' clothing).

  This is the bar area (with all those glasses on top).

 This is the very interesting lamp that was on our table.

 This was my noodle dish - Käse Spaetzle - a casserole baked with assorted cheeses, mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, onions and smoked ham - it did not go well with my stomach :(.

 This is the sweet German potato salad that Grandma had on her dish (see picture below) - Deutsch Sampler - Smoked pork chop, Schweine braten and smoked Thuringer with sauerkraut and a German potato salad. I think that if and when I am going back there, I will choose this dish.

 We checked-in to our hotel that night and put the children to bed with Grandma and went out on our first date in years. We had a very enjoyable date and all thanks to Grandma.