Chicago ~ July trip

We had the opportunity to go back to Chicago in July. We spent quality time with the Chicago peeps, Grandmother & Poppa and celebrated my 40th birthday.

Mother, Nichole and I were downtown Chicago on my actual birthday. When we returned to Nichole's house, my girls, the Chicago peeps, Poppa/Daddy & Dan decorated the house with streamers, balloons and signs. Louie was in charge of the directional signs telling me where I was to walk, etc. Emily and Gracie were in charge of the sign that told me how to ring the doorbell and how to enter. Anna Kate and Charlie were the supervisors and told Dan/Daddy/Uncle Danny and Poppa/Daddy what to do. :)

These two waiting anxiously for my arrival....

And these two could have cared less when I arrived - I mean there was something really good on TV...plus making signs and giving out orders are tough jobs. :)

I can't find the pictures of the decorations....more to come later!

We did a lot of swimming ~ Nic's next door neighbor has a pool and let the kiddos use it. During this trip, we took the GA/Chicago peeps (minus Charlie) to Navy Pier.

Navy Pier has a really cool ferris wheel. We all really enjoyed it ~ it was so neat to overlook downtown Chicago.

Anna Kate is just not real sure about the ride. Emily and Gracie really liked it.

And of course, the boys liked it...Here are best buddies sitting away from all the girls!They had to ride the swings...Anna Kate wasn't tall enough to ride (which broke her heart).

But the heart break wasn't for long ~ she got to ride the Lighthouse ride on Navy Pier and her facial expressions says it all. We had such a good time! We can't wait to see the Peeps again soon! Thank y'all for making my 40th birthday such fun, fun, fun!!

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Happy Birthday, Mom/Kathy/Mimi. We have A LOT of summer birthdays...once we get past the summer birthday expenditures, Christmas sneaks up on us. :)

Hope you had a great birthday!

A special visitor

Dan's grandmother, Nana, came to visit. She lives in California and traveled all by herself at the tender age of 87. Fortunately, the weather was cooler (than normal for July) so she was able to do exactly what she loves...read on the front porch and go down to the dock/lake!

The girls were so happy to see her as well as Dan and I ~ She lived here when Emily was born and moved back to California when Emily was 2 1/2 years. Emily was her first great-granddaughter and they have a special bond.

Anna Kate, Nana and Emily sitting on the boat!

Anna Kate and Nana drawing & coloring....one of BOTH of their favorite things to do!

We ordered Nana a yummy cake from Very Vera....it was so very, very good! If you have never had a Very Vera cake then you just don't know what you are missing (www.veryvera.com)!

Happy Birthday, Nana! We love and miss you!

When we visited Nana, the girls and Dan took the opportunity to enjoy the jetski and lake. I like the lake ok (not really) ~ the older I get the more I think water is just toooo dirty for me. I prefer to see the bottom of the place that I'm dipping my toes. :)

Chicago ~ June trip

We had the opportunity to visit my sister and her peeps in June. They live in Chicago. We did very little site seeing ~ it was just a trip to be with family and take care of some family business. The girls had such a wonderful time with the Chicago peeps.

The Chicago Peeps welcomed the DPGang with big smiles and warm hearts (if I didn't know better I would think they were born and raised in the south)....
We spent time at the local park, in their backyard and at a water park...

Lou Man and Anna Kate coming up with some type of game to play....The trampoline seemed to be a favorite meeting ground....

The temperature was unseasonably cool but we had one day where it was warm enough to go to a water park in Orland Park. It was such a great place and the peeps had such a fun time!

Emily & Gracie in the Lazy RiverAnna Kate has NO fear....I was scared to death Louis had the biggest smile when he jumped off of the platform (and I just about had heart failure)Anna Kate was Charlie's buddy...aka partner in crime!

A great time was had by all. We will visit again in July. We can't wait to see "y'all" again!

Wheww.....One year down ~ One year to go!

Have you ever sat back and reflected on any of the really challenging and/or difficult things in your life and realized that those are really the best and most rewarding times of your life?

I took my Nurs 1102 final on Wednesday, May 6th. I have successfully finished my first year of nursing school (2 classes down ~ 2 classes to go). I will have to honestly say that this is the hardest thing I have EVER done in my life....the body is a complex thing but add full time mommy, full time employee, full time wife, taxi, short order cook, etc., etc....it is just plain HARD!

Fortunately, I do NOT have summer classes....until August, I will focus all of my time and energy on these three amazing people....

HOPPY Easter

"Hoppy" Easter from the DPGang.

We celebrated Easter at my parent's house. My sister, Nichole and the Chicago Peeps joined us for an egg hunt.

My brother's missy prissy, Sammy Jo, came over to help color Easter eggs.

The Chicago Peeps ~

Here is Nichole and Gracie Girl....have you ever seen a little girl look so much like her mother?

Shhhhh....be beary, beary quite....Charlie's hunting for the prize egg!

Louis finds his prize egg first...Poppa makes up the best prize eggs ~ everyone gets one with their name on it!

My brother, Cla, has a little guy named Mason...this was his first Easter!

Couple more of my favorite pictures from a weekend of good, old fashion family fun!