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!)

Tomorrow's the Big Day!

We have our ultrasound tomorrow. Hopefully the baby will cooperate and reveal his/her gender! Then, we can finally start to register and even buy things here and there! I've put it all off until now because I didn't want to fall in love with the nursery decorations of one, but then find out we're having the other.

You can anonymously vote for what you think we're having. The poll is in the top right hand corner of this blog. It closes at Noon tomorrow, since our appointment is at 11:30. I'll let you all know tomorrow!! yay!

4 Years of Love

Ben and I have been married for 4 years! Although we planned to spend the weekend in the city, the Librarians booked all the hotels for their conference, so we stayed for a night in Schaumburg, did some baby shopping, and saw The Proposal (very cute movie!). We had lunch at one of our favorite places, Texas de Brazil, where they gave us free champagne and dessert with "Happy Anniversary" spelled out with caramel. YUM!

I can't believe it's our 4th anniversary, and here we are expecting our first baby. What a journey and what a journey we have ahead! I love you, babe!

Prego Pics Weeks 12 - 15

Our 2nd Ultrasound at 12 Weeks

Our First Ultrasound at 8 Weeks

Wiese's, Quinn's, and Gladd's Michigan Weekend Trip

This weekend we took a trip to Michigan with our friends, the Wiese's and the Quinn's. We stayed with my parents' in Rockford and hit the beach in Grand Haven. Here are a few pics from the trip:

Topol and Fiddler on the Roof

I surprised Ben with tickets to see Fiddler on the Roof because it's his favorite movie. To make it even more special, the original cast member, Topol, was performing in it.
His mom traveled up that weekend, so I gave my ticket to her since I've never even seen the movie and I thought she would enjoy a date with her son. They had a great time. In fact, Ben woke up the next morning singing "If I were a rich man...dah dah dah dah dah...!"

Hanging with my Sister in Colorado

I've been in Colorado since Friday visiting my sister. We ate at a restaurant called Casa Bonita the night I arrived, which is an all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant with a ton of entertainment, including cliff divers, gorillas, arcade games, haunted cave, mariachi band and more! Saturday, we drove around Fort Collins and Loveland to do a little sight seeing, then headed to Colorado Springs to celebrate a friend's birthday. We stayed the night in "the springs" and then woke up the next morning and drove to Estes Park to see the elk. Sunday night we changed into our pj's and ate some Papa John's pizza while watching a chick flick. Today, I rode along with my sister as she worked and did some property adjustments. Best part? We stopped for lunch at Pei Wei. Delish!

Now, we are getting ready to watch another chick flick. Heaven! :) How often can I just be lazy and watch a movie with my sis?

The weather has been chilly and a little rainy, but it's been nice to just relax with my sister. I'm going home tomorrow...when the weather is warming up. But, we'll have part of the day to enjoy some of it.

Meanwhile, Ben is in California for a speaking gig at The Master's College. Maybe I can convince him to blog an update about his trip when he returns. :)

Visiting the Lindsey's

Last weekend we drove to Michigan to visit Chris and Vicki. What a fun weekend!! Vicki and I made an Irish meal for their friends. It was fun getting know them all better.We also spent a day at the outlets (Pottery Barn and Northface) then headed over to Frankenmuth for the biggest Christmas store ever! It's called Bronner's and even though I grew up in Michigan that was my first time there!



I miss living near my best friend, but there is something special and exciting about looking forward to our visits. Can't wait 'til the next!

Sledding 2009

Two weeks ago we got a ton of snow in just one morning. It was perfect sledding weather. I had to call up my friend, Stephanie, because sledding is one of the things on her list that she wants to do before turning 30. So, she and her husband joined us. We headed out to Blackwell Forest Preserve and found a nice little hill right at the frozen pond.I tried pushing Ben down the hill a few times. In this photo, I think Ben and Brian were racing, but I obviously wasn't getting Ben a good start.
A nice man and his sons were also at the hill and let us use their sled and snowboard. So, I tried my hand at snow-boarding, but didn't make it very far.
Next time I think we'll head back to our house and make some homemade sugar donuts like my mom would do for my me and my sister after ice skating on the pond down the road. Ooohh.. the memories...

Glow and Behold!

Stephanie didn't turn 30, she turned 29. But, she had a party anyway because she wanted to start her last year in her 20's with a BANG! She invited a few of her close girlfriends over for a "glowing" dinner and dessert. The formal invitation requested that her guests wear something that makes us feel like we are glowing! So.. I wore my golden bridesmaid dress from my best friend's wedding over 5 years ago! I was holding on to this dress wanting a reason to wear it again. So, how perfect! Yay that I still fit into it!!

The party was so much fun! The theme was "Glow and Behold." We played a Family Feud style game where the subject was Divas. Who knew that a diva's favorite nail color is hot pink!?

Steph made a fantastic pork tenderloin dinner and served up some little pizza appetizers with drinks. She also gave all of us gifts!

Thanks, Steph, for such a wonderful party! I adore our friendship!

Return of Jack Bauer

Hip Hip Hooray!! Jack Bauer is back! Night one of 24's two night premiere just ended and we are pumped!