Making Memories

We had a weekend full of memory making.

It began with the ceremonial stuffing of the wedding invitations, as mentioned in the previous post. Matt had the spreadsheets copied and organized, assigning each of us responsibility for 1/4 of the invites. It took us less than an hour. We celebrated the completion of the task with a little bubbly and sushi.

there they are

On Saturday, we had a fun sleepover with Abbie and Nina. We picked them up at 4 and headed straight to downtown Chicago. We began our outing by playing in the park for about 45 minutes. It was a beautiful evening, perfect temperatures...the first really nice day we have had this spring. After Abbie and Nina had their fill of the park, we went looking for the carriage rides. We could not believe that we found Taco again!!! He was the same horse we had on New Year's Eve!! Different driver and different carriage (no top on this carriage...yaaay for spring!), but the same Taco. The girls were thrilled and the driver was all about letting them pet Taco and take pictures. We rode along Lake Michigan, chatting and enjoying the scenery. After our 1/2 hour ride was over, we walked down Michigan Avenue to the Disney Store. Our two princesses each got a new pair of shoes, then we went to get some dinner. We ended up at Food Life in the basement of Water Tower Place. It was not really a very convenient place and was pretty much just a complicated food court, but the girls got their chicken fingers and a mini pepperoni pizza and that was all that mattered. We got home around 9 pm, took baths and then watched the movie Brave. The girls slept on cots in our room. Those cots are fantastic. Abbie and Nina love sleeping on them and everyone gets a good night's sleep.
On Sunday morning, Susie came over. I had not seen my sister for about a month, I think! And she still had the girls' Easter baskets, so it was high time for a visit. We had the best time and one of the highlights (in addition to all of the fun things in the Easter baskets from Susie and Karen) was looking at old pictures on facebook on the iPad. Great stroll down memory lane:)
Sally and Matt picked up the girls around 1pm and took them to a fun fair at the high school, then dropped them off at home.
Such a wonderful weekend.

Sharing a laugh with Susie

Abbie at the park

I love the smiles! so genuine

so much to see on the carriage ride

 

Invitation Time

The wedding invitations are ready! Jack, Sally, Matt and I are going to stuff, stamp and seal them tomorrow night. So excited!
Jack, Sally and I had such a great experience working together on this project. We used a local stationery shop named Ashley's. The women there were so helpful and fun and full of great advice. We spent a few winter Saturday afternoons in that shop and we could not be more pleased with the results. When I stopped in there yesterday to pick up everything, Denise and Wendy both told me how awesome it was to see how we interacted as a family and what a delightful bride Sally is. I agree! I shared with them a picture of Jack looking at the finished invitation for the first time and they got such a kick it of it and took my phone to the back room to show Ashley(the owner, of course!). Ashley came out and asked if I could send her the picture. I showed her two of the other shots I had taken during the process and she asked for those, too. This morning, one of Sally was on their website!

Wet and Wild Week

It was quite the busy week. I had things planned for almost every night, work and then there was the flooding.
I'll start from the beginning.
Jack had a business trip to Nashville. He left on Monday morning and was supposed to return on Wednesday evening. It was another rough travel time as his flight on Wednesday was cancelled due to the massive rain and thunderstorms that were happening here. He ended up getting a flight to Dallas on Thursday morning (he knew he had a better chance of making it home from there since Dallas is a hub for American Airlines) and he did make it home by dinner on Thursday.
Meanwhile, at home, Sally and I worked on some more wedding details Monday night. On Tuesday, I had a spur of the moment dinner with Christy, Teri and Carol to celebrate Christy's birthday. We went to a restaurant in Forest Park called Duck Fat and it was a great evening. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. I loved catching up with the girls. It was definitely out of the rut for me to go out on a Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, the storms started around 2:30 in the afternoon. Heavy rainfall and lots of thunder and lightning, but that did not keep me from going to Bunko, where I had more than my share of Costco English Toffee. (I am kind of obsessed with it. It's easy on the teeth, texture wise. So yummy.) I was home by 10. All was good and the basement was still bone dry despite all the rain.
It stormed all night, however, and by morning, we had some minor flooding in the basement. I took care of it with the wet vac and left for work. I only had 1/2 of my students in attendance. Many districts were closed and some parents just did not want to deal with the flooding; I totally understood. The rain continued off and on throughout the day. I left work around 4pm so that I could get ready to have dinner with a group of about 20 sorority sisters, many of whom I had not seen for 25 years or more. But when I got home, there was much more water where it should not have been...in the middle of the basement. (Luckily the tv area and laundry room were dry.) I did a bunch more wet vaccuming. It's pretty hard physical labor. Our wet vac only holds about 2 gallons of water, so you have to empty it often Oh my gosh. So hard on the back! At one point, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and I was horrified. My hair was crazy frizzy from the weather and the sweaty work. It became clear that I would have to cancel my dinner outing. I could not meet up with women I had not seen in 25 years looking like I did! 
Jack was home from his trip by 6:30 and we took turns manning the wet vac.
By Friday morning, the weather had settled down and Jean and I were able to walk. As we walked into Starbucks to get our Friday coffee (we treat ourselves on Friday), I looked at my phone. I had two incoming texts and both said the same thing...the school district where my Friday classes are housed was closed due to flooding in that town. It was the most lovely surprise!! A total shock. This district had not been closed the day before, so I had no reason to think it might be closed on Friday. But it was!! I was practically giddy! Not only did I not have to go into work, it meant that my lesson plans for next Friday were already done:)! Plus, it gave me unexpected time to work on the basement. I got so much done. Such a gift of time!
On Friday evening, Jack and I were the guests of our friends, Brad and Deanna, at a benefit for Family Shelter Services. And Teri was the MC! Fun times for a great cause.
Saturday was a memorial service for Chuck's mom. We woke up to sunshine, which was a welcome change of pace for everyone and made for a nice backdrop for the day. The service was perfect; the presider was one of our favorite priests, Father Larry. All of Kay's 8 grandchildren had a role in the mass and they were so genuine. After the service, we stopped in at the reception and ended up staying most of the afternoon. We loved visiting with Chuck and Teri's families and I loved seeing Chuck's parents' wedding pictures. I had never seen Chuck's mom as a young woman. So beautiful.
This morning, Jack continued to try to rent a blower/air mover to speed the drying of the carpeting that got wet. Still none available anywhere. I researched the possibility of buying one and found a well-priced model with excellent consumer reviews. We started making calls and found that it wasn't going to be much easier to find one to buy. We finally discovered the one and only store in the greater Chicagoland area that had one in stock was the Home Depot at 87th and the Dan Ryan. Yes! We headed straight there and got ourselves a Ridgid 925 air mover. It works like a champ! I am in love with it.
I cannot close out my post about this week without acknowledging the Boston marathon bombing and the explosion in Texas.We are praying for all of those people impacted by those events and all of those who have experienced their own personal tragedies this week that no one even knows about. I am thankful for all of our blessings and for our normal, everyday problems.

Safe and On Time Arrivals

Following up on my post from last night
Jack did arrive safely in Columbus OH at about 2 am and was there in plenty of time for his first speech at 8 am. Never mind that he didn't really get any sleep.
And I was really on a roll this morning. So organized. Lunch packed, clothes laid out, lesson plans done. I thought for sure I would not be the last one to the team meeting. But I was. The good news is that I was not late. I was there at 8:01, which I think is within the margin of error, don't you? I cannot help it if I work with overachievers. :)

April + Showers and Thursday night lesson planning

Yep, that about sums up this month so far. April and showers, and I am not talking the bridal kind. Damp, gray, dreary, cold and misty. I do believe it is time for some sunshine. Anytime now would be good!
Jack left on a business trip early yesterday morning and the stormy/foggy weather has not been good for his air travel. His flight was delayed five hours yesterday, but he finally made it to the east coast. I talked to him briefly tonight and there were no available flights from Albany NY to Columbus OH and so he rented a car and is driving the ten hours. Jack is doing three different speeches tomorrow and is moderating a panel; he kinda needs to be there. Praying for him.
In the meantime, back at the ranch, I am doing my usual Thursday night lesson planning. I cannot believe how much easier it is with technology! Between my iPad with all of its apps, my iPod touch, and my new laptop (yaaaay! I love my new laptop...used to have a little 4 year old netbook which was kinda junky, but I wasn't complaining, but oh my, it is nice to have a fast new laptop), I can google search all sorts of awesome ideas. It is very very helpful. I am pretty much done for the night and just need to pack things up for my early out in the morning. One of my teams meets on Friday mornings at 8am and I hate it when I am the last one there (which is often). Most of the other team members have many more morning responsibilities than I do, including single parenting to two boys under 6 ( soon to be 3 boys as Ruthanne is getting closer everyday to going to get her third son, Manno,  from Haiti! click on her name to check out her blog), folks coming out from the city...you get the picture. All I have to do is get myself ready and on the road. Tonight I am trying to structure myself for an on-time arrival tomorrow morning! I'll let you know how it goes.

Making progress with wedding plans

It was a big week for getting things done for the wedding.
On Tuesday, Sally and I picked up her dress from the bridal salon and took it over to the seamstress for the first fitting. It is such a beautiful dress and looks so fantastic on Sally. We go back for the second fitting in mid-May.
On Thursday, I stopped by the invitation shop and picked up 3 sets of the invitations for us to enjoy. I left the rest there because they are going to address them for us. We are so thrilled with the final product! Sally had a clear idea of what she wanted and it worked.
After the stop at the invitation shop, Jack and I met Sally, Matt and Matt's parents, Mary and Bob at the Hyatt for the tasting. It was a whole lot more than a tasting, though, as we had to make decisions on lots of different things. For example, which one of the six different napkin folds did we want? I didn't even know there were that many ways to fold a napkin! We tasted wines, two different entrees, two starches (let me just say that the parmesan mashed potatotes are a.maz.ing.), two vegetables as well as four different wines. Tough duty, I know! It was interesting that all 6 of us had pretty much the same preference on everything.
On Friday, I only had to work a 1/2 day because of different spring break schedules.  I got a ton done at work, then went over to see Christy and Cath who were working on invitations for Sally's shower. Such good friends. Afterward we went out for a quick lunch at Corner Bakery. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and I loved having time with my girlfriends.
It was a wonderful week, with much accomplished. Maybe that's why I couldn't get out of my pajamas til 2 pm today!

Sally and Matt in front of the Grand Oaks Pavilion

Spring Break 2013 is history (almost)

I am getting ready to head back to work tomorrow after a pretty nice spring break. Easter was yesterday and this was the first year that I had Easter Monday off...ever, I think. It was such an awesome thing, psychologically. The break seemed so much longer than usual.
It was a productive break. Unfortunately, the weather was cold, damp and dismal for most of the nine days. I did end up going in for a 1/2 day of work because the class where I do a Social Skills group on Wednesday mornings was in session. That was another psychological boost because I felt as if my vacation was beginning again and the beginning of a vacation is always the best part, isn't it?? And I left work on Wednesday and met Cathy and Christy for lunch which was totally vacation-y. On the other days, I got so many errands accomplished! It really felt good. There were several days that I was out of the house for four or five hours, shopping around, picking things up, etc. Sally and I got lots of wedding related items knocked off our list. On Monday, we went to the bridal salon to visit Sally's dress and order a veil. We could have waited til the first fitting tomorrow night, but we were too excited. They recommended that Sally have her wedding shoes for the first fitting, so that was another mission we were on this week. She found a beautiful pair at Nordstrom. We also spent lots of time looking for dresses for her showers, rehearsal dinner, etc.

One of the most memorable events of break was the funeral of my sorority sister, Claudia. She died after a long and brave battle with breast cancer. Claudia is one of the eight sorority sisters that I have kept in close contact with over the last thirty years. She is one of the participants in the annual "day after Christmas four hour breakfast". We have one of those same time, same place events, always the day after Christmas at the Marriott suites by the airport. We meet for breakfast and visit for hours (we don't even have one glass of wine!), catching up on everyone's news. We also try and get together at least one other time each year. Claudia was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after our 40th birthdays, then was clean up until almost exactly her five year cancer free anniversary. It returned and had spread to her bones. But Claudia fought hard and lived with a terminal diagnosis for almost 13 years. And she lived well for most of that time, taking many wonderful trips with family and friends to Europe, Florida, all sorts of exciting places. But she became quite ill about six months ago and was not able to come to the all day breakfast. We offered to go to her house, but she was not well enough. Claudia passed away on March 22nd and her funeral was on Saturday, March 30. It was a beautiful tribute to her. I was surprised how hard Claudia's death hit me. Part of it was that I was so sad for her and her family; she was super close to her siblings and nieces and nephews and I relate to that. But it was more than that. It really made me think about my own mortality (it's all about me...my friend dies and here I am thinking about me). And just how fast time goes. So fast. Unreal, sometimes. I was pretty much weepy all day Saturday and I don't cry very often any more. I was just so sad. We were invited to have lunch with Matt, Sally and Matt's parents, but the service was at 2, so I could not go. I just would have been a mess anyway. I did feel much better after the service, though. I think it helped to be with others who were processing the loss of Claudia. I don't have a picture of Claudia handy; I will find one and post it later.
On Saturday night, we had Julie, her parents, and her sister and brother-in-law over for dessert. Julie's parents were in town visiting and so Wayne and Julie were spending most of the Easter weekend with them. Matt and Sally came over, too. It was a fun night.
On Easter, Jack, Wayne, Sally, Matt and I went to mass together. Jack, Wayne and I ended up going to brunch with Julie and her family. Matt and Sally spent the rest of the day with Matt's family. It was such a different Easter. It was the first time in 30 years that I did not see my in-laws on Easter! I missed them. A lot. And I did not see my sisters or anyone from my family of origin. I usually do something with them on Easter Saturday.  I missed them too! I do not like changes to traditions, but that is where life is heading. And it will be fine. It's all good.

Tim, Sarah, Julie, Gordon, Marie and Wayne

Wayne and Julie

Jack, me and Wayne