July 4th Weekend Chicago Trip

Kids,

For the holiday weekend this year we got to go see your Aunt Terry and Uncle Allen, who live outside of Chicago now. We just happened to get there on the day after Grace's 8th birthday party, so we got to eat her birthday cookie with her.

On Sunday we all took the train into downtown for the Taste of Chicago! I've been wanting to go to this event since I first heard about it when I was in college, so I was really excited!

Here are cousin Grace and Claire at the train station.

And here are cousin Andrew and Logan waiting for the train.

Here it comes!

After about an hour's train ride, we were in downtown!

Oh my goodness, here we are!!!

We did a lot of, well, tasting. Logan sniffed out a sausage.

And Claire......she fell asleep.

Here's some of that famous stuffed Chicago pizza!

Aunt Heather and cousin Grace

Andrew and Logan sharing an ice cream.

Claire.....still sleepin'

Here's a view of the crowd. It was busy!!

Figuring out how to tackle a caramel apple is tough with so many teeth missing!

We took a break from chowing down to get a group shot in front of this fountain. Claire was......still sleeping!

Looking out over Lake Michigan

Chicago skyline

Sweet little stairstep cousins!

Finally! Claire's awake! And we had just enough tickets to land a cookie for her!

Later we got some Italian Ice from a street vendor. She looooooved it.

But oh, my, look at that Italian Ice face!!! Anyone who knows me knows that this is about to send me into a heart attack!

Heading back to the train we passed this restaurant advertising "sympathetic bartenders." I've never seen that advertising angle before, and it made me laugh.

Back on board the train to go see some fireworks!

Uncle Allen took us to the naval base where he works. They had a carnival and a fireworks show.

Nothing like the too-close self portrait!!

The next day we hit up the Jelly Belly factory before heading back home.

Claire-Bear made a new little friend while we waited for the tour to start. She is getting really good at making friends now!

We got to ride a little train and wear some super fancy hats on the tour!

Good times!

Love,

Mama

Quail Ridge Park

One day I found myself with only one kiddo to babysit, so we took a rare trip to Quail Ridge park to celebrate.

Here is Claire pushing little L. on the swing. Even though Claire is almost a whole year older, L. is a few inches taller already!

Logan begged me to let him have the camera for a bit. It was hard to let my (expensive) camera go, but I thought he was ready, and he really loves to take pictures. The rest of these shots are his.

Good job, Logan!

Love you guys!

Mama

Logan's Sleepover

The day after we got home from my reunion, my old pal Brian came into town with his little girl Charlie. They spent the night with us before heading out to Six Flags the next day. Aside from having cousins over, this was Logan's first official sleepover!

Having fun!

Love you so much,

Mama

High School Reunion, Day 2

Does my class know how to throw a party, or what? On Sunday we got together for a family BBQ at the city park. Here is our class as it was in 1991, immortalized in butter cream!

The kids played at the Kiddie Park while the grown ups chatted and ate. This is my high school friend Brian's little girl, Charlie, with a random dog that had the unfortunate luck to show up at the park that day and ended up being manhandled by the kids all afternoon. Brian was two classes ahead of us, but he came in to hang out with us anyway. His best friend, Jamie, is married to my best friend, Tricia.

Speaking of Tricia, this is her little girl, Chloe.

Claire-Bear!

All aboard!

Here are the grownups, taking a break from chowing down for another group picture! Have you gotten them straight by now? Here we go...

Top Row: Aaron P., Lorenzo C. (didn't go to the dinner the night before), Becky D., Tricia S., ME, Becky U., Joe P., Larry C.

Front Row: Jeannie P., Jen B., Stephanie N., Curtis J.

Still cutting up.....

Charlie and Logan riding the shuttle

Here's a cute bunch of kiddos on the train!

Charlie, Logan, and their little dog too.

Here are Tricia and Brian's other girls, Brooke and Riley

After the picnic, some of us went back to Pappy's house to hang out and play in the back yard. There goes Claire on the zip line!

Jamie takes a turn watching the kids while Claire scoots by on the zip line again!

Skip, Chloe and Claire

What a cute bunch of kids!

Daddy was sooooo good to Mommy that weekend. He did almost everything with the kids so I would have lots of time to chat with my old chums. Thanks, Daddy!

It was a real full-circle moment to see my old backyard full of my friends' and my children, the same backyard we all used to play in when we were kids. There's something really special and sentimental about that.

What a great time.

Love,

Mama

My 20th High School Reunion - Day 1

Well hey kids, let's talk about ME for a change, eh? A few weekends ago I had my 20th high school reunion in my home town of Slater. It really doesn't seem like it's been that long, but the calendar doesn't lie, apparently. Wow. Here are some of your mom's OLD buds from back in the day.

On the first day we got together for a couples-only dinner. Here is my old friend Curtis showing off his original Wildcat jacket! Curtis and I graduated #1 and #2 in our class and I always had a lot of respect and affection for him. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have gotten that A in Chemistry! Thanks, Curt!

Cutting up in the group photo.....

My good friend Jen. We used to dance our little feet off together. I miss that girl!

Here's the gang that made it in! It actually turned out to be almost half the class, so I'd call that a decent showing! Now you know just how tiny our class was!

From the top row: Aaron P., Tricia S., Becky U., Becky D., Curtis J., Larry C.

Middle Row: Heather S., Jeannie P. (married Aaron!), Stephanie N., Jen B., and ME

Bottom Row: Joe P., and Sam K.

Let me tell you, it feels so GOOD to get together with your old pals and still be able to laugh like you used to!!

Check out these hot mamas!!

Heather S., Jeannie P., Becky U., Stephanie N., Becky D., ME, Jen B., Tricia S.

And our guys: Aaron P., Curtis J., Sam K., Joe P., and Larry C.

More to come later....

Love,

Mama