Pioneer Women's Book Tour 2009

Thanks Ree for coming to Chicago! This has been quite an experience! I left my house about 5:15am to get in line at Barnes & Noble a little before 7am. I was a somewhat hesitant only because I am TERRIBLE with directions. Luckily if I did not take the expressway and added a little more travel time it turns out Skokie is only two turns from door to door! That I can do :) I am So glad I went. I met the nicest people standing in line. Bill and Alisa from Naperville and Debbie from Rockford were the first three after me in line and we got to spend a couple of hours together. The made the wait go a little quicker. I drove home and about 2pm my niece and I headed out again. My niece has no aversion to expressways so we got there a little faster. While waiting for Ree to sign books we sat around and talked for a few hours with fellow PW blog readers and some bloggers. It was a very friendly group. I can't wait to check out some websites like
onpicnichill
susansnippets.blogspot.com
talesfromthecoopkeeper
and Marcy if you would send me a link to redbootsnruts I would love to link it, but I can't find it.

The highlight of the day of course was meeting Ree herself. She remembered my name from blogging comments which really made my day! She is just a lovely person. We all know her so well from her blogging and feel like she is our friend after following her so long reading about her and her family. As you sat down she makes you feel the same way. I sat down with her and we could have been having a cup of coffee at the ranch. Marlboro Man was nice to pose for pictures and sign books. Even their boys signed books! They were too cute, ok handsome :)

I only have one question left for you Ree, what is next for you and when are you coming back to Chicago?

Thank you for putting Chicago on your tour!

Meeting Pioneer Women Tonight!

I've been away for a while from blogging, but the excitement of seeing Pioneer Women today at the book signing has me back :) I couldn't sleep. It's 4am and I am leaving at 5am to stand in line to get a number so my niece and I can stand in line again tonight. Pioneer Women and from what I have read Marlboro Man and her two boys will be there tonight. Our two permanent flat travelers are coming with too. Skokie is about an hour and a half away from us. So wish me luck getting back before I need to be at work. It will be close! I will have my camera and bringing PW our family cookbook along with 5 of her cookbooks to sign. So check back tomorrow for pictures.

Happy 21st!

My first born turned 21 on Sunday. We had a party with family and friends over at my parents house. Lots of fun and a big cake :) My children are surely a blessing. Twenty one years flew by. I know it won't be long until he is out on his own, but for now I am still enjoying every minute he still lives with us. I couldn't be prouder in what he has already accomplished in the first 21 years. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for him. He are a few pictures from Sunday. Happy Birthday!

Mary Poppins

This weekend I took younger son to see Mary Poppins downtown. The show closed Sunday so we just made it. It was wonderful! The choreography was so good. I think our favorite was Step In Time. The cast was a very talented group. The kids that played Michael and Jane had great vocal range. We enjoyed every minute of it. Our seats were two rows from the very top of the theatre, but the view was still good. The actor that played Bert already played this roll in London and New York. He was so good! After Younger son and I had dinner reservations at the Rainforest Cafe. It was our first time there and really enjoyed the setting. The food prices were higher then we would usually do, but for a special occasion it was well worth it. The whole place was a jungle and even had a rainbow set up in part of the room. The big thing everyone is seen ordering there is the desert they are famous for, a chocolate volcano that comes out with a sparkler lit in the middle. We were too full to try it, but if the three of us go back we will get one to split. A very fun day!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY 2009!

Guess who was able to get to the groomers today and have a bath? We found a new groomer that Milo loves. He can walk around and play with other dogs. Today was the happiest I have seen him! They were wonderful with him. Normally he doesn't like many people or dogs. I was worried in the open environment they have, but he did really well! If you are looking for a groomer, Pretty Paws in Oak Forest is great! He came home and was so tired he plopped on his bed and slept most the day!

Rehearsal For Seussical June 28, 2009

Younger son is in full blown rehearsal for Seussical The Musical! It is a community theater about 20 miles from here. He is having a great time. I am SO glad he is driving now. Rehearsals are 4 hours long and 4 days a week. This is the big month of rehearsals. The musical starts the second week in August. He is now a Who Citizen, a Who Cadet, a sea horse, a zebra and a circus animal. The musical has 40 numbers. Younger son is in 20 of them. Seventeen on stage and three off stage. So lots of costume changes! I can't wait to see them all. When I went to a practice to take some pictures I was able to see the fish heads for the younger kids. They are so adorable! The seamstress is doing an amazing job!

Wow,the pictures when clicked on are huge! I know the quality is poor too. I had to take them all with no flash and low lighting. It didn't help that everyone was dancing and wouldn't hold still for the pictures ;)

Our Church Picnic & Contemporary Service June 27, 2009

We recently had our church picnic along with our contemporary service. Younger son played bongos for the service. When I arrived I found him filling balloons for the younger kids before the service. I didn't stay too long because it was hot and muggy, but at least the rain held off. Younger son went and helped set up earlier in the day. They had a lot of entertainment for the younger kids. Inside was all the food. It ended with a family movie. A very nice day. I though I would post a couple of pictures.

Sparky

Older son is also the safety person at Walmart. Guess who got to be Sparky for a couple of hours Saturday greeting everyone and letting kids check out the fire truck? I thought he made a cute Sparky :) It was very hot, but when you have the fire department looking after you, I guess it is safe! It was fun to watch.

I'm Here!

Good thing a picture is worth a 1000 words since I have been away from the blog for so long! We have not been home much. Lots of change and fun stuff going on. I have been helping out a lady across the way from me and working on Board of Director's business for our Condo Association the last couple of months. So I am in and out a lot more. Love doing both!

Older son is working two jobs and gone a lot. I recently fixed up our patio and bought a small grill so we can barbecue when he is home and have a meal together. He is enjoying being able to have his friends over when he is off and grilling for them. He loves his full time position at Walmart. He is enjoying security and getting to know the local police well. He still has just a short wait until 21 to start applying to police departments. I have mixed feelings about it, but he will be a great officer if he ends up getting on a force.

Younger son landed his first job working for our Condo association. He is really enjoying it. The big news is younger son is now a licensed driver. I put it off as long as I could, but when all the Spring rehearsals came up for everything he is in and he was cast in Seussical the Musical I finally had to let him go get it. It was impossible for us both to be in two places! His concerts and recital went really well this Spring. He has his Fine Arts group play coming up two days in June and then is in rehearsal for Seussical most days until August. Our whole family is going to his final (He has 10 performances. I will be at them all of course!) performance in August. Along with getting his first job, I see him just a little more often then older son! I can't imagine not homeschooling. He has had so many more opportunities! He is doing the cleaning of our buildings, painting, helping out our maintenance guy and learning a lot of skills for when he has a family. He is taking up accordion this summer too:)

That leaves Milo, he has had to adjust too, poor dog. He is used to having younger son and I home a lot more. I started giving him a treat when I leave for a couple hours in the morning and now he just about opens the door for me so he can get his treat :)

Hopefully I will be back a little more regularly :) Thanks for checking in!

Younger Son's Spring Concert for Tonechimes & Concert Chorale 5-21-09

You may notice a moustache in a picture:) The chorale sang a song called "If You've Only Got a Moustache" Younger son had a solo verse and another singer also had a solo verse. They both put on moustaches as they went up to sing their parts.

First Rehearsal for Seussical the Musical 5-17-09

Younger son is in his first committee musical, Seussical the Musical. He is a Who Citizen, a Who Cadet, and an animal. The musical has 40 numbers in it and younger son is in 19 of the songs. Rehearsal are 4 days a week for 4 hours until August. He has 10 performances! I am sure I will be writing more about this :) The pictures are from his first rehearsal on May 17. There were 80 or so adults and kids trying out and 40 were given parts. Younger son's parts are extra's but he is so thrilled to be part of 19 songs!

Band Concert5-12-09

Guess Who Has His License? Yep since 5-8-09

Younger Son's Summer Project Taken 5-5-09

Younger Son's Voice & Piano Recital 5-03-09

Grand Opening of the New Walmart 3-17-09