Convention

I went to a crazy convention this weekend at the Sheraton in Chicago. 1,480 women.....can you imagine the volume level? Whew! Here's some photo's of the fun! The swag was UNBELIEVABLE. I am going to be the queen of re-gifting this year ;)

Today...

Today was Katie's funeral. Just too sad for words. It was in the same church where she and Bob got married - only nine years ago. Katie was thirty-five. Too sad. We were all in the church and the pall bearers brought her in - just so reminiscent of turning to watch her walk up the aisle for her wedding. Too sad.


Uncle Julius, Bob, Aunt Marge, Steve, Carolyn, Samantha, Megan, Michael, Chris, me, Maya, Wayne, Mom, Dad, Pat


Carolyn, Mom, Me, and Maya


Steve, Carolyn, Mom


Chris teaching Maya how to flip. He also taught her how to "fist bump".




Michael, Samantha, Bob, Megan, and Chris


Carolyn (Bob's sister) and Steve came in from California. She's my one-month-and-one-day younger cousin. We would always play together at family events. Bob's three older children came in from Arizona and California. We hadn't seen them for awhile - too long. Cousin Pat just happened to be here, visiting from Arizona. Years ago, when she lived in the Mansards, she would see Uncle Julius and Aunt Marge frequently and they kept her extra key.

Rich's Visit

My brother was conducting a workshop at a conference in Chicago, so he stopped by to see us. We went to Popolano's for dinner and were able to eat outside in the beautiful weather. The next day we had breakfast at Sunrise, before he had to leave for Ohare and home. Pat met us and then she brought her things over to our house. She's visiting from Arizona and will stay with us for almost a week :) Pat was the flower girl at my parent's wedding and my confirmation sponsor. She's always been on of my special cousins. She bought me my first Hummel.

McGinnis Pub

We went to Michigan City - Lighthouse Place. Right next door to Cafe Elite is a cute pub called McGinnis. They have a large outdoor eating area and the weather was so nice, we decided to see what it was like. Excellent food! The patio area floor has large pieces of assorted granite - very cool. There was a large outdoor fireplace. Mom and I had the blue cheese burger, it was very good. They also had something called Treck-abouts, potato wedges coated and fried. Different and good.

Craft night at Fazoli's

Grandpa and Maya share a lemon ice.
Gra

Life is Short

My cousin's wife fell sick last week, she's on life support and likely not going to survive beyond tomorrow. She's not even forty years old...... Life is short. Note to self - don't waste a minute.

7/14/2009 Rest in peace, Katie. You will be missed.

Catching up on pictures...

These two are from our Fourth of July party. The original plans were to have an outdoor swim party, but the weather didn't cooperate. It was a fun day anyway. We were so happy to have Carol and Fred here with us. Joel too - we're very thankful that his job doesn't keep him busy on holidays.



Isn't Meghan looking grown up? She's 13 now! Wow! She looks so much like Maya, I might be getting a peak into the future. This picture was taken at the South Bend Chocolate Company in Lighthouse Place. Carol, Linda, my Mom, Meghan, Maya, Fred and I all went for some shopping and good food. Meghan had the best shopping karma - lots of cute new things! This was a great group to shop with, we all seemed to be on the same wavelength.





The Hobart High group joined us for a delicious Sunday brunch. Such good friends, we love you guys! Fred and Carol arrived that day too.





Maya playing skeetball and basketball at the FourWinds arcade. She is so adorable - concentrates really hard and has the whole form thing down pat, even a great follow-through.



One of the many times over the two weeks Carols was here that she sat reading with Maya.



Lori playing with Maya, Alex (or as Maya says, alec-ka-zander), and Meghan.




We went to see the movie "Up". None of us saw the whole thing :)




Almost finished!



Saturday fun with Carol, Linda, Maya, David.



Full! Special beads - The center one is a gift from Mom and Dad - and my fave. The blue enamel flowers is also from Mom, she had it on hers, but her bracelet is black and white (so cool!) and this one just didn't go.... The baby carriage symbolizes Maya joining our family. The shamrock-Notre Dame. The blue and green Murano are a combo that remind me of Lake Michigan and our pool. I just love both of them! The hedge hog is just so stinkin' cute and also reminds me of Maya's favorite tv show, Charlie and Lola. The butterfly reminds me of the nighttime routine Maya and I have of planning to dream about butterflies and her reaching for them in her sleep. The puffy heart is from my visit to Marianne and Kathy. The pink enamel heart beads are the first I ever bought - to celebrate the royal flush win at French Lick. The chubby bird ( I know, I know it's the happy bird - the lovely lady at Ashley's tells me every time ) is just cute and yes, happy. The clips are called "Journey" and I'm having a great one!





Shoe shopping at Stride Rite. Grandma bought Maya the cutest-ever-flip flops!



Maya's food is coming - delivered on the model train at Tyler's Tender.




Riding the warthog at Lighthouse Place.




Father's Day - giving Grandpa a watch.....


Surfer girl!





So pretty at Sunrise.