We wish you all a Happy Holiday and a blessed New Year. We ourselves have been blessed this past year and wanted to express our thanks to all of you for the support and the wonderful times we have spent together.

We initially thought for sure this would be a difficult year with both of us finding out that we would be losing our jobs, but we chose to stay positive and took the opportunity to travel together.

We wanted to share the highlights of the year with all of you. We were lucky to spend a lot of quality time together across the U.S. and and abroad and were afforded the opportunity to visit with many people we love.

We have the best family and friends in the world and again thank you for all that you have given us this 2009.

January

We rang in the new year at Megan Elbe’s house, lots of good times and good friends were there, to name a few, Haley/Jeff, Tim/Stace, Megs and Madi, Katie/Andy, Shel, Kris/Orlando and Lil O and Katie B.

Seven days later off to NYC we went for work for me, and Bry’s “Pink Slip Trip,” to see Eliot, Mark & Keith on Inuaguration Day for the new President. Bry took lots of pics on this trip which sparked a new idea and passion for him. Quapet Photography was born and his shop on ETSY is in the initial stages.

This video is individual stills Bryan took of the Virgin Megastore sign in Times Square set to music.

February

We took a trip this month again for my work together to Indy and Louisville. Again Bryan took a lot of great pics in both cities and we visited with Kev and Bel – our favorite Kentuckians. We toured a winery on Valentine’s Day, and visited Colonel Sanders in his final resting place. We also got our passports for the “Urban” Bourbon Trail and almost finished it! We will return to try it again.

March

Wedding #1 for the year took place this month is Jamaica. We luckily booked and paid for the trip 6 months earlier, so it was a nice getaway and wonderful way to spend time again with Kevin and Belinda as well as the bride and groom Brooke and Jerry. It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for Brooke and Jerry, best wishes!! This was our 1st ever MPU international trip and it was a huge success. In fact, we want to ensure that there will be plenty more in the future it was so much fun.




We came home to Milwaukee to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Dan, Sherry, KC & Gebby.  Bryan and I also made a work trip for me to Chicago and went to Navy Pier for a day where we rode the giant ferris wheel.

April

Wedding #2 Tyler and Angela in Auburn was this month, congrats to you both!! In addition to the wedding was a wonderful Easter meal with Dan and Kate (thanks!) and their newest addition, Lindsey and our buddy Big B (along with Crissy, Brad & Tyler)! We also got to see Will and Nancy a bit prior to their wedding and Kev and Bel again!! About this time as well Bryan started to get offers from a client online to purchase pictures of his on Etsy. It was very exciting. She bought about 10 or so photos of Bryan’s from around Milwaukee.

May

Again for work, I needed to go to Detroit, so we decided that Bryan should come with and after the work week we would finally go and see Aunt Joanie’s awesome place in Saugatuck, MI (thanks so much!) and relax over Derby Weekend. It was so funny that while there we saw my Unlce Jeff and Aunt Connie that live in MI! They were on their way to the Derby, and decided Saugatuck would be just as good!! We climbed the stairs of Mt. Baldhead while there, ugh, but it was worth it once we reached the top. Great views.

Also in May we traveled up north with Dan, Sherry, Erin and the Rosenberg’s to White Lake for Memorial Day weekend! We got to hang on the lake and sit around the campfire and just chill! It was great!!

Another interesting thing that happened in May, since I am ordained (via the internet), was that I married a friend and co-worker of mine Beth and her now husband Bart in Delafield, WI. Wedding #3 for the year! Bryan and I had a very nice time at this wedding and were so lucky to be asked to be a part of their day.

Bryan also found a new job in May!! He began working for his cousin Mike on The Date Safe Project doing Website Design/Social Media/Online Marketing. He is loving this new position and opportunity and learning a lot.

June

In June we traveled to hot and sticky St. Louis for my work and had the opportunity to have Bryan work from the hotel. In the evenings we toured the new Cardinals stadium and the St. Louis Arch – the Gateway to the west!! That was quite possibly the scariest thing ever, 5 people in a tiny round dryer size capsule carried up to the top of the arch by a pulley designed 50 years ago…..awesome.

We also had the opportunity to reconnect with a very old and dear friend of mine from 1st grade. She now lives in Chicago and was married there in June and we were invited!! Hooray for wedding #4 and congrats to Jenni and Dave!! That same weekend we hit up Taste of Chicago and Summerfest as well, our favorite time of year, Festival Season!! Great times with Dan, Sherry, Julie, Steve, Mike, Erika, Carissa, Lynell, (re)Phil, ..

July

This month Bryan traveled for his new job to Phoenix for the NSA convention. While he was there I had the opportunity to see the Dave Matthews Band with Haley and Jeff and Beth, was uber fun!

Bryan and I met up in Phoenix thanks again to my work schedule and we drove together through Sedona over the Hoover Dam to Las Vegas for Haley and Jeff’s wedding! #5 o’ the year!  Best wishes to you both!!  We had a wonderful time there with Stacie, Tim and Shelly. Thanks to Shelly’s aunt and her awesome time share! Bonus: We spotted Huey Lewis & the (Partial) News!

A week later, we were back in WI for wedding #6, congrats to Stacie and Tim!!! And congrats to us for the 1st wedding in WI all year! A lot of our great friends were able to be there and we all had a magnificent time!

August

We took a break from travel and headed to State Fair in August for chocolate covered bacon on a stick. And surprise, I liked it. We met up with lots of friends here, Julie/Charlie, The Wildes, Tom and Steph and Smills, Haley/Jeff, KC and Carolynn. Good times.

We also went up north again but this time with Haley and Jeff, Sarah and Mike and the Boi’s, Megs, and Katie and Andy. Boating and fishing and laughing, we had a blast.

September

Football season had finally arrived, so we flew to the ATL to hitch a ride to Auburn for the game. We played West Virginia after hours of downpour and we won!! War Eagle!! We got to see Tyler and Angela and Kev and Bel and Dan and Kate – Rain Bowl 09!!

October

In October we got to see a gorgeous wedding again, #7 that we attended, for Angie and Mike in San Francisco. WOOT! We stayed in a cute little condo with Tom and Renee (Renee officiated the wedding!) and Anna and Paul and Jan. It was so much fun. We toured Alcatraz, visited my aunt Sue in Palo Alto, took a catamaran ride out in the bay, walked the Castro, ate at Sushi Boat downtown with Tom from the MKE and rode every mode of transportation they offer. We absolutely loved it and cannot wait to return!! I truly left my heart in San Francisco.

November

We got to spend Thanksgiving with family this year. In Mundelein with my mom and dad and Sean and Grandpa and also at Aunt Joanie’s with Aunt Mar and Kimmie and Jan and Paul and Tom and Renee and Anna and all Bry’s cousin’s and their spouses and their kiddos. Was a wonderful time and we have so much to be thankful for.

December

So, as indicated before we will for sure have an ending this month with my job but also a new beginning. A new start and a new opportunity. We can only hope that 2010 will be as wonderful for all of you as 2009 was for us. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Have a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Love to you all,
Bryan & Megan

wine shop owner
store owner (art, music, coffee & wine) “Roast & Toast”
loss prevention auditor
psychologist
behavior psychologist
wedding planner
event planner
joke store owner
actress
nanny
author
radio dj
jail worker
home ec teacher
flight attendant
travel show host
chick golfer
aerobics instructor
brewmaster
bucket drummer
queen
party planner “La Di Da Di”

Dave Matthews Band
Pearl Jam
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Brett Dennen
Huey Lewis & the News
Extreme
Tangerine
Winger
John Mayer
Spoonful James
Fleetwood Mac
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Buddy Guy
Jack Johnson
Paula Cole
Widespread Panic
Wilco
Ryan Adams
Violet Femmes
Train
Tom Petty & the Hearbreakers
The Toadies
REO Speedwagon
Soul Asylum
Rusted Root
Pete Yorn
Pat Benatar
Modest Mouse
Kings of Leon
The Allman Brothers Band
Live
John “Cougar” Mellencamp
Howie Day
Hootie & the Blowfish
Counting Crows
Black Crows
Guster
The Bengals
Gin Blossoms
G. Love & Special Sauce
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds
House of Moist
Flickerstick
Five For Fighting
Collective Soul
Fiona Apple
Eddie Vedder
Drivin ‘N’ Cryin
David Gray
Buckcherry
Kid Rock
Blues Traveler
Big Head Todd & the Monsters
Alanis Morissette
David Lee Roth
Ben Harper
Vertical Horizon
Velcro Pygmies
Morrissey
The Whigs
Matthew Sweet
Ruby Horse
Jim Belushi
Ryan McIntire
Presidents of the United States of America
Spin Doctors
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

to be continued…

I saw David Gray @ the Summerfest grounds and there were no benches. It was really nice and just makes sense…