Michigan Lake House - Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend we spent a few days with some of our best friends at a lake house in Michigan. We want to try to make it a tradition. It was one of the most relaxing weekends I've had in a very long time. Ben and Aaron fished nonstop, while Emily and I relaxed at the pool. Vicki and Chris came in a day later and joined in on the fun.

Emily's parents were amazing to us all weekend. They really know how to live it up! Can't wait for next year! We'll have a little one with us then!

Here are a few more pics from the weekend...


Oh..yeah... we also found out that Chick-fil-a is only 20 minutes away! We happened to go on a day where you got a free chicken sandwich if you sported clothes of your fave sports team!

Ravinia - Carrie Underwood Concert

Monday, we went with some friends to see Carrie Underwood at Ravinia. This was our first time going to this outdoor venue.

The lawn seats were cheap and you can bring your own food and drinks in. So, we packed up a picnic dinner and our lawn chairs for a wonderful evening under the stars!

Weeks 21, 22, 23, 25

Missed week 24...

Mom & Dad Visit - Chicago Air & Water Show

For Rachelle's birthday, she got plane tickets to visit our other sister, Angie, in Colorado for the weekend. Her flight was scheduled to fly out of Chicago, so my parents drove her down, stayed with us for the weekend, then picked her up today and left to go back home to Michigan.

As Rachelle and Angie were having fun in Colorado, we were having fun with my parents here in Chicago. They came Thursday afternoon when we just took it easy and had King Ranch Chicken for dinner. (Thanks for the recipe, Steph!) ..and followed with a fire in our fire-pit and roasted up some s'mores.

Then, Friday, we had lunch at Texas de Brazil. Afterwards, Ben and Dad headed to the theater to watch G.I. Joe while my mom and I went and registered for Baby G at Buy Buy Baby. We planned to go to the pool, but it was so hot, we decided against it. Instead, we had dinner at Portillo's, then hit up the Vintage Rides night downtown Wheaton to look at all the classic cars.

Saturday, we got up early and grabbed the train to downtown Chicago for the Air & Water Show. We got back, had Gnocchi for dinner then headed to the cheap seats to watch The Proposal.

Sunday we just had time for church and Meatheads for lunch, then it was time for my parents to pick up Rachelle at the airport and head home.

Thanks for visiting mom and dad!

Graney's Visit Chicago

Our posts have been all baby lately. Now here is something fun. New friends of ours, Neil and Teresa, came to Chicago for a conference. When I heard they were coming, I quickly offered up our home to them so they wouldn't have to pay for a hotel. Sounds like I had their best interest in mind, but little did they know it was all selfish...so that Ben and I could hang out as much as possible with these two cool folks! :)

We attempted to take the 3 'o clock train into the city, but missed it by literally 1 second. We were driving along side the train just as it arrived, but there was no way we could make it. The next train was at 5 PM so we decided to kill time by heading to the nearest 7 Eleven for some Slurpees. Unfortunately, the machine malfunctioned and sprayed all over Teresa's white tank! And, the mean store clerk wouldn't even let her have the drink for free! bleh!
After that we hit up Old Navy to get her a new shirt, then caught the 5 'o clock train to Chicago. We decided to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant called Zapatista and it was A-mazing! Very delicious! The made to order guacamole was a favorite!With our bellies full, we walked around the city a little bit to sight see and take a few more photos, including this one at Millennium Park. And, of course, anyone who comes to Chicago needs to see the Bean, or the Cloud or whatever they call it now.Inside this bean, you must take photos of your reflection...We hopped the train back to Wheaton and ended the fun day with ice cream at Oberweis. Yum!Thanks, Neil and Teresa, for such a fun weekend!

Weeks 16 - 19

It's a Boy!!

We're keeping the name a surprise. (Once we finally pick one out!)