Scrappin Fun!!

Anybody who know me, knows that I absolutely LOVE to scrapbook our family memories among my many other crafting hobbies. Thanks to my wonderfully talented Mom, I grew up surrounded in a creative and an artistic environment. I didn't inherit all of her talents, but that's OK! I guess... hee,hee...

Anyways, this past weekend we visited our great friends in Michigan. On friday, Melissa and I headed to the Grand Rapids Scrapbooking Expo where we spent 15 hours playing in creativity (and it only seemed like 3!!) . We took in the day shopping, making small projects at various booths and taking a few classes. We had such fun and learned a few new techniques. A big Thanks to our wonderful husbands who took the day off of work to be with the kids so we girlies can go play. Here we are with our class instructor, Crystal Jeffrey Rieger, http://www.memorymakersmagazine.com/crystaljeffreyrieger/default.aspx, who was a real neat lady and we made a canvas wall clock and a mini acrylic book with her guidance. So cool!!

These pictures were obviously not from this weekend, but from our Scrapbooking weekend last month. When I opened my crafting picture folder, I saw these and couldn't resist adding them on here. No, Kirsten is not an alchie (sp???), but just caught up in the moment! The addition of wine is only an added bonus and sometimes helps the creativity flow!

Here, Mom is deep in thoughts of productivity surrounded by her paint brushes...how appropriate since she is so talented in drawing and painting (yes, that would be one of the talents I did not inherit.....hee,hee..)

I love all the time I spend with these creative woman and can never seem to get enough!!! It's so wonderful to share our passions together. Love you guys!!!! xoxo

How can I not LOVE my LIFE!!!

I heard this song today (in my arms by plumb..first song in playlist) and it so reminded me of the pure joys of motherhood and my little girl. The lyrics are so beautiful that it bring me to tears! Hard to believe Makenna Claire is already 17 months old but it just reminds me of how fortunate I am to spend everyday with her. I am so in love with her that it can't be put to words. She has taught me so much, given me the greatest sense of pride and love and reminds me each day of who I am meant to be. Makenna Claire, you will never be too big for my arms and I dedicate this song to you, my precious lil girl. Thank YOU for choosing ME to be your Mommy!! I love you!

Love, Mommy xoxo

Does the Tour have a minimum age for caddies?

If not, I dare say that my lovely daughter would qualify to tote anybody's bag. Her advice at this juncture is limited to pointing and requesting various things (ba=ball, peez = please, etc), so I'm not sure how well she could assist with club selection into a recessed green. But hey, considering the scores that were posted at The Open Championship over the weekend, she couldn't do much worse.

This picture was taken at the Bolingbrook Golf Club on Saturday after a lovely dinner...and we were then shut out by the Bolingbrook Arts Council because we were told no children when we tried to hand over our money to attend their "World of Wine" tasting despite the fact it wasn't on the signs anywhere for the event. Apparently a child got a glass of wine and was drinking from it and the last time I checked, that's bad parenting and NOT the fault of the people hosting the event. The same situation could happen at any restaurant, so what makes it so heinous that it happened here?

So, bugger them, we went and had a flight of wine and some dessert at Branmor's American Grill which was even more fun.

13.2 MILES......NO SWEAT!!!

Well, maybe a little sweat but Scott made it look so easy! This last Saturday, Scott ran in his first Half Marathon and won awards for it too!!! He finished the race in ONE HOUR and FORTY TWO MINUTES (WOWIE!!!!) and won 4th PLACE OVERALL and 2nd PLACE in HIS AGE DIVISION! We could not be more proud of him! Congratulations Honey...you are simply AMAZING!!!

Here he is coming into the finish line...
And sporting his winning sports hat!!!!

Love you to the moon!!! xoxo

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

WOW...What a great weekend full of fun. We spent the days together as a family and enjoyed them thoroughly. On July 4th, we went to the Bolingbrook family picnic and watched the air show and the fireworks. What a blast!! We are definitely making this an annual tradition! MC had fun running around and saying "hi" to anybody who would listen. She also entered into many ball games, bean bag tosses and even helped herself to somebody else's book. Too bad she is so introverted!!!
A rare quiet moment.. Mommy catches up to Makenna, even if it is for a moment!

Flying through the air with the help of Daddy.. After a fun filled day, she was in awe with the fireworks and we even got her to say "cool" with the big ones! It was quite an outstanding show and we certainly had a lot of fun. Hope everyone else also had a great weekend!! xoxo

Daddy Daughter Weekend and Pride Sunday

Makenna and I were left alone this weekend while mommy, Nana and Auntie Kirsten spent the weekend at The Paper Dollhouse in Sycamore, Illinois.

On Friday, Makenna spent the day at grandma and grandpa's house. They had a great time together. Auntie Kellie spent the night on Friday while daddy went out and took a ride and a run with Matt, Nick and Jarred. We knocked out fifty miles in two and a half hours and then went for a run afterwards. All before 8:00! But then again, when you start at 5:00, you can get a lot done before the rest of the world starts moving.

When we came back, Auntie Kellie's boyfriend Rich (happy one year anniversary you two!) joined us for a trip to the French Market in Wheaton. It's probably the nicest market with produce and vendors in the area and there's always a great find, including terrific baked goods from Hahn's Bakery in Geneva.

Daddy and Makenna both opted for a nap and spent the afternoon playing, shopping and calling it an early night.

On Sunday, we decided to take a day in the big city of Chicago. So many things to do, which one to choose? There's that Bacchanalian food festival, the Taste of Chicago. There was game three of the Crosstown Challenge down at U.S. Cellular Field.

Did we pick either one of those? Heck, no. We hooked up with Uncle Brad (fresh off the successful opening of Oracle Productions' newest show, termen vox machina) at his place and staked out some real estate to watch the 39th Annual Pride Parade!

Did Makenna enjoy herself? I'll leave that for you to decide.




Say what you want about the parade, it's nothing if not a collection of ecclectic individuals. Everybody had a float; even the lottery. And you've to love people who are so comfortable in their own skin.




We went over to grandma and grandpa's house and spent some quality time in the backyard, including on Makenna's favorite backyard accessory; their swing.

We tried a new restaurant for dinner this evening, Uncle Bub's Barbecue in Westmont. I heard one of the owners on a radio show in Chicago and last year, they finished second in sauce at the Naperville Ribfest and first in ribs. The food was as delicious as I was led to believe. If you don't believe me, just ask Makenna.



It was a great day today and an awesome weekend, but we were both happy to come home to mommy who made some beautiful pages that she shared with us when she returned.

Oh, Canada!

So I flew to Buffalo today to attend the NCBFAA board of directors meeting tomorrow at the Holiday Inn Grand Island. If you have the chance to come to this particular hotel, take a pass. The place is old, crowded, staffed with well-intentioned college kids probably home for the summer and just not my cup of tea. We're probably here because we haven't had the opportunity to be close to the folks on the Northern Border who represent a significant amount of the national association's membership. They're great people and given the way that CBP has implemented changes and new rules since September 11th, it's no surprise they're having problems. I'll post more about this later, but our new border security rules have really changed the way people on both sides of the river interact.

But the meeting is tomorrow. Today, I had the opportunity to spend the day with Mike Carroll of Canusa Logistics. Our company has been working with Mike for probably more than twenty years and he showed me the hospitality that is the Canadian side of the border.

Upon entering Canada, he took me for a quick bite at Tim Horton's, a fixture here on this side of things. Lunch was in downtown Ft. Erie where we drove around and he showed me the houses of two members of the 1963 Chicago Blackhawks (they won Lord Stanley's Cup that year). We took some time to shop (Makenna's going to have a few new outfits!) before taking a drive up for our boat tour. The ride took us down a scenic boulevard that passed winery after winery, including one that we know down south called Iniskillin. They make a terrific ice wine.

We took a ride on a Whirlpool Jet Boat tour that took us up the Niagara River.

We went past the power stations which generate hydroelectric power from the river which in places towards the "top" of where we could reach were as deep as 200 feet. You couldn't tell it from where we were, but there was a point at which we passed under a cable with buoys that indicates that if you get in trouble upriver from those points, you're on your own because the Coast Guard won't risk their lives to go get you. The jet boats can do it because they're flat bottomed and not propeller powered. They're impeller powered; they take in water at the front and shoot it out the back. They're powered by 3 x 500 hp Volvo motors and the boat can top out at 60 miles per hour.

The views from the rapids were just amazing.

After enjoying about an hour's worth of a ride, we rode up the Boulevard into downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake on the Canadian side. We had a drink and an appetizer at a street side cafe. Looking down the street into downtown, the view was gorgeous.


We then finished up with a drink at The Olde Angel Inn, which is supposedly haunted. Great place, ton of character, packed for the Friday Night Fish Fry and folks out looking for a beverage.

All in all, it was a great day, but I'm looking forward to getting back home to my ladies because tomorrow is KELLY'S BIRTHDAY!!! I'll be home in the evening, sweetie. Love you and good night, I'm heading to bed because I've got to run ten or twelve miles tomorrow morning.

Got a marathon in October that needs preparation.