Happy birthday, Grandma!

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday. Marie is an amazing mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, loved by all of us. She is intelligent, honest, fair and loving. We were so grateful that both she and my father-in-law, Bill, were able to be at Sally and Matt's wedding. We do not take for granted how sharp and ageless she is. Our entire family is thankful for Marie and her unconditional support of us all.
We love you!
Here is a picture of Marie and Bill that our friend, Chuck, took of them at Sally and Matt's shower in June.

The Meghan

This morning Jack and I participated in a Lupus walk in honor of our friend, Meghan. 

Background: We have known Meghan since she was in preschool; she and her twin Caitlin took ballet classes with Sally. Sally did summer swim team with them and spent time at their family's lake house. I taught 8th grade CCD with their mother, Siobhan and I was Meghan's Confirmation sponsor. Lots of great memories. 

Meghan was diagnosed with lupus in her senior year of high school. It has been quite a battle for her, but she has done well, mostly because Meghan doesn't let it get her down. She has a very dry sense of humor and is a talented writer and uses both of those things to help her deal with this serious chronic illness. 

The 3 mile walk this morning was held in Lincoln Park and Meghan had quite a team there supporting her. It was great to catch up with Meghan and her family, including her parents, aunts, and cousins as well as other friends. The fall weather was perfect, blue skies and bright sunshine, which is what wish for Meghan. 

God bless The Meghan! 

Be back at ya soon

Just a quick post before I go to bed. Man, these days have been super busy. I have not gotten to bed before 11:30 the past 4 nights. That's not enough for this aging body!

Last weekend was filled with fun from start to finish. On Saturday we went to Caitlin and Todd's wedding; they are great friends of Sally and Matt's. Caitlin and Todd stood up in Matt and Sally's wedding and vice verse.  On Sunday, we went to the Hillsdale County Fair (Jack's 41st). Arne, Beth, Abbie and Nina came with us. Each event deserves its own post which I will get to as soon as I can. For now, I will share one picture from each and will leave you on the edge of your seat until I can write a proper post. Haha! Good night 

Schuler meatball

Caitlin and Todd

Happy birthday, Jack!

Yesterday was Jack's birthday, but he was in Maine on a business trip. That was probably a more exciting place to be than home and we all know how Jack loves to travel so it worked out perfectly.  We celebrated tonight with homemade pizza ( a really good one, if I say so myself) and a Kirschbaum's whipped cream birthday cake. It doesn't take much :)

I am so darn blessed to have the best partner in life. I could not ask for a more caring and loving husband. I praise God every day for giving me the gift of a husband who is faith filled, kind, compassionate and FUN! 

Fun Friday

I had a jam packed Friday. Fridays are usually pretty crazy anyway because of my work schedule; I travel between three schools over the course of an average Friday and things are often unpredictable because of...well, they just are. A week ago Friday I had the wildest work day ever (pretty much) and I would tell you about it, but there are confidentiality parameters. I will just say that day involved head butting , kicking, some parent issues and then my car was hit from behind at a stop sign on the way home. This past Friday was much better!
After a short "happy hour" at Lisa's with some really fun people, Jack picked me up and we met our old neighbors, Joe and Michele, for dinner. It was an amazing evening, with such awesome conversation. Joe and Michele are about 15 years younger than Jack and I are, but we have had a nice connection with them since the day they moved in next door to us two years ago. They were renting that house and have since bought a beautiful home a couple miles away in our town. We miss them and their four cute kiddos. Jack and I loved spending time with Michele and Joe. Such great people.
After dinner, we returned home to hang out with Sally! Matt was away at an all weekend bachelor party and Sally had to coach at a swim meet early on Saturday, so she spent the night with us. There is something quite comforting/settling/reassuring (not sure what word works here) about going to bed with at least one child under our roof. I love it.

Jen's wedding shower

Last weekend we had the privilege and joy of showering Jen. Jen will be marrying Matt (son of Christy and Steve) on October 21st and Wayne is in the wedding and Jack is doing one of the readings. As you may or may not know, Wayne and Matt met the first day of kindergarten back in 1990. And here we are, 23 years later, getting ready for Matt's wedding. Wow.
Four of Christy's friends (Cath, Kathy, Cheryl and me) hosted a shower for Jen on September 7th at Jane's, a darling restaurant in the city. I had never cohosted a shower at a restaurant, only home showers, so when Kathy suggested it, I was initially hesitant. I should not have been. The shower was so much fun. One of the things that I really love about showers is getting to meet other people who are going to be at the wedding, like the bridesmaids and other family members. It is such a happy time and we had an especially beautiful day to celebrate.
I cannot wait for Matt and Jen's wedding!

such a bright and cheery room

Cheryl, me, Jen, Matt and Kathy; missing Cath

Girls + Jack night out

Jack and I got to spend a lovely evening with two darling girls on Friday. We had the best time. There is nothing like looking at the world through the eyes of a 4 year old and a 7 year old. Pretty much everything is interesting and you can take your time to explore the simple pleasures of life.
We started out at the high school, watching part of the swim team's Red-White meet. It is the annual intra squad meet that kicks off the season. The draw for us was that amazing assistant coach they have...Sally :). We got there during diving and the girls were mesmerized by it. Abbie turned to me and said, "I don't think I could do that" and Nina chimed in, "I could!". We got to sit with Matt for a bit  and visit briefly with Coach B (!) We watched a few events, then left to go to McDonald's for dinner. As we got into the car, we heard the marching band warming up for the football game (there was a home game). Abbie wanted to know if we could go find where the music was coming from. Sure! Why not? We followed the sounds to the practice field and stood outside the fenced area, just watching and listening. It was a gorgeous time of day, about 6:45 or so. I took a few pictures (of course). As we were standing there, two pommers (dance team) came by and I took a picture of them with the girls. Those high school girls were such a big deal to Abbie and Nina!
We went to a different McDonald's than we usually do. We are always on the lookout for another good PlayPlace. We found one. The girls played and ate for over an hour and made lots of new "friends". Jack and I sat there, just amazed at how easily these 6 or 7 kids, who didn't know each other, played. They assigned roles and chased each other and ran and screamed and laughed. And what was cool was that there were at least three different race/ethnicities represented. I am sure that the kids did not even notice. What if the world could be like that? How amazing would that be?
We got back to our house around 8:30 and made some chocolate chip cookies. They LOVED it! So helpful and careful about germs (I am really strict about licking a spoon and putting it back in the batter!) The cookies were the best ones I have made in years. Maybe because I was being more careful than usual. Arne and Beth came to pick up the girls around 9 and had a fun visit. Arne pointed out that the scene at our house, two kids cuddled up watching a VHS movie, had not changed in 20 years. Just the kids were different!
Jack and I could not think of a better way to spend Friday night, keeping the traditions going.

love the lighting on this

the pommers!

Nina climbing the rock wall at McD's

chocolate chip cookies

watching a VHS movie:)