Louise and Johnny visit

I know this is way over due, but it is time to finish the summer vacation in time for Christmas vacation. We had so much fun with Louise and Johnny even at the Flea Market. Which was my first and may be my last. While they were in town we were able to get a few babysitters and do some of the grown up things in Chicago. Also thanks to Louise for watching Lucas so that we could celebrate our 3rd anniversary at Ruth's Chris which is delicious.

Here we are at Quartino. I love this place it is yummy.

Lucas getting his last cuddles.

Here we are at Second City Comedy which was so funny. We were front row right next to the stage.

I swear I am a good mom. He just loves a drain

At the temple to meet up with Johnny's friends. Lucas loves to point so do I.

Johnny and Louise at the Bean downtown

We got to go to a Cubs game which I think was the greatest thing for Louise she was grinning the entire time.

Of we went shopping so we stopped at a play area. Lucas loved all of it especially driving the car.

Every morning someone snuck Lucas chocolate. I wonder who.

Bath time with Grandma while mom and dad were out. Thanks again.

At the Cubs game. Funny thing happened at the game-Johnny was feeding Lucas a hot dog when Lucas took a big bite of Johnny's nub of a finger. He thought it was the hot dog. So funny!

Lucas got a new table at Ikea which he loves.

Mary and Darlene

My whole life I have been blessed with amazing friends. Two of my oldest, Mary and Dar, came to visit this summer and it was so much fun to get all of us together again.

We have been best friends since we were in seventh grade and Mary moved to our school. We were in most of our classes together so we just hit it off. We always laughed our heads off when we were together and had the best time.

In high school when we were graduating and going different ways we promised that we would be friends forever until we turned 25. Funny that 25 would be the pinnacle of life and the longest we could be friends. I am glad we beat it and made it to 30. I am sure that we will at least make it to forever--40.

Anyway I love these two girls and I am such a lucky person to have been blessed to have them in my life. They really have enhanced my life and I am so happy whenever we are able to get together.

Here are some pics throughout our childhood and then their visit.

Good old high school spirit week dressed like hippies.

We decided that we needed to get professional pictures done at Kmart. We coordinated our outfits based on black, white, and gray. Oh we are weird.

Picture after school. I included this one because the guy waving his hand is Nady, Mary's husband.

This is middle school on a bus trip some where

This is our middle school professional picture, and yes my shirt has painted fish on it. And if you can't tell there is some excellent use of puffy paint on that shirt.

We always need a good picture of Lucas

Isn't he cute

The whole family out for day with friends.

Uncle Nady is so sweet to Lucas. Lucas loves him so much.

Thanks so much for coming to visit. Lucas and I miss you so much please come back.

Grandpa and Lindsay visit

Lindsay, Meagan, Samantha, and Grandpa came to town, and it was so fun. Lucas loves having so many people to play with. Plus Lucas is very fond of his grandpa. It was so fun to have them here and we are so grateful that Grandpa made such a long drive to see us. Thanks so much John.

Jumping on the air mattress Lucas usually would join in the fun.

Aunt Lindsay snuck Lucas a brownie for breakfast. I think Samantha must have helped.

Grandpa and all the crazy kids. Lucas kept hitting Meagan on the head.

Lucas loves his Grandpa.

We went to the Museum of Science and Industry and Lucas loves the play area with the water.

Meag and Sam are so silly.

Lindsay and Sam

Riding the bus to the children's museum. This was the highlight of the trip for Meagan. She said it was her favorite thing we did riding the bus.

At the Children's Museum Meag and Sam were such good cooks.

Grandpa loves Lucas.

On the architectural boat tour. I had a lot of fun I am not sure about Meagan.

At the Children's Museum Lucas was the DJ.

Sam riding the Merry Go Round.

Sam and Lucas had fun playing together.

Lucas and Meagan at the fountain. It is funny how much they look alike They even have the same hair. I guess Lucas looks more like Ned than I thought.

Meagan being silly at the fountain.

Lucas is having a good time too.

Playing at the park

Grandpa loves playing with the kids which is a nice break for the moms.

Thanks so much for coming to visit and please hurry back. We miss you!!

Two month Vacation to Chi Town

Everyone keeps asking me if we have any trips planned, and I keep telling them that I am taking a vacation to Chicago. It would seem easy enough and pretty low key none of that pesky packing and flying. Well, it has been action packed, so much fun, and exhausting. Thanks to everyone that visited and went on vacation with me now I am so bored. To anyone that didn't visit you have ten months and since winters are so long you really only have 5 months so get it together we would love to have you and I miss the go go go.

So starting on June 26 we had our first visitors, Mom and Dad and then on August 13 we dropped of our last visitors, Johnny and Louise. In total we had 28 visitors. Here is a list of all the visitors in chronological order of arrival.
1-Mom and Dad
2-Meredith, Mike, Marissa, Annika, Connor, Bronson, and Zander
3-Karen, Ken, Jeremy, Austin, Morgan, and Eric
4-Matt, Emily, Rebekah, Kate, and Ben
5-Karen, Ken, Jeremy, Austin, Morgan, and Eric again
6-John the dad, Lindsay, Sam, and Meag
7-Mary and Nady
8-Darlene
9-Louise and Johnny

While everyone was here we were going none stop here is a list of all that we did.
1-Cubs Game
2-Outlets shopping
3-Aquarium
4-Greek town
5-Field Museum
6-Taste of Chicago
7-Millennium park Fountain
8-American Girl place-Lunch with the dolls (Girls)
9-Lego Store and Museum of Science and industry (Boys)
10-Six Flags
11-Picnic at the point
12-Swimming
13-Beach a couple of times with Emily's family
14-Millennium park Fountain again (Lucas's favorite)
15-Chicago Children's Museum
16-Architectural Boat tour
17-Museum of Science and Industry
18-The Dark Knight
19-Shopping Magnificent Mile
20-Wicked
21-Top of the Hancock tower
22- Architectural Boat tour again
23-Field Museum again
24-Magnificent Mile Shopping
25-Wrigley Field
26-Flea Market and Ikea
27-Antique Stores
28-Museum of Science and Industry
29-Cubs Game
30-Second City Comedy Club
31-White Sox Game

It may be more exhausting writing it than doing it. There are still probably a dozen things I would still like to do in the city. I am just waiting for more visitors. On top of all of this I went to about 20 different restaurants and there are still a ton I want to try. So needless to say it was busy. The first two days after everyone left I just laid on the couch and read. Here are some pictures of the first group of visitors. I will be posting in increments.

Silly Rebekah and Kate with crazy Uncle Ned

My sisters and I. Maybe not the greatest picture, but they are two of the greatest friends I could of asked for so I wanted to post this. I cried when they left. I miss you guys a ton.

This was the only way to get them to look at the camera. Morgan, Annika, Connor, Bronson, and Marissa

At the top of our apartment building. It is 37 stories high so it no Hancock building, but it is pretty exciting for a couple of kids from the burbs. Connor, Morgan, Annika, and Marissa

Play area at Six Flags. Austin was such a great help with Lucas. I am sad that I did not get any pictures of Lucas with Jeremy and Austin. Lucas pretty much followed them everywhere. He thinks they are the greatest which they are.

Bronson, Connor, Zander, Annika, and Morgan

Lucas and Ben. They did not really play together, but whenever they saw each other for the first time in a while they would smile so big and point at each other.

Picnic at the Point. Lukey and Dad.

All the kids. It was so much fun. Lucas loved having so many play friends.

The whole family. Wow we are getting old, but still gorgeous.

I think that we are in trouble when these three grow. Can you believe that Zander is seven months younger than the other two. Glad he can finally sit up. Lucas, Ben, and Zander.

Lucas loves a good slide.

Fountain at Millennium park one of his favorite things to do.

Cubs game with Mom and Dad. I wonder who we are cheering for.

At the Aquarium. Meredith, Zander in the Ergo, Connor, Bronson, Annika, Marissa, and Mike.

Aquarium. Me, Lucas, Annika, and Marissa

Lucas at the water park at six flags. He went down the slide to fast and I didn't catch him. He is not too happy. Sorry.