Remy and Joe's Wedding

On August 20th Jim and I got on a plane to Honolulu for the long awaited wedding of Remy and Joe. It was a VERY quick trip and we came back exhausted but, it was worth every minute.

We arrived in Honolulu round 5:30 pm (10:30 pm Chicago time) Wednesday evening and we headed right to our hotel, the Hale Koa. The Hale Koa is a military hotel that is right off of Waikiki Beach. We were able to stay in the military hotel because Jim's pop is retired Army Corps of Engineers. This is the 2nd time that we have been able to stay at a military hotel and both times they have been great! The other time was when we went to Orlando Florida in February. Here is a picture of the beach that was right off the hotel property...

On Thursday Jim and Joe along with their parent's and Remy's Dad, brother, and cousin headed for a sight seeing trip to Oahu's North shore. They had a great time eating fresh shrimp and playing in the surf. It was on this day trip that Jim received his new nick-name...the great white beacon. Remy's dad Adrian gave Jim this name because he is just SO WHITE!

While they were out discovering the North shore I was with Remy. One of the highlights of our day was going for massages...well needed massages. The funny thing about this massage is that we went in 2 at a time, kind of like a couple's massage. Well...Remy went with her friend Cindy and I went with Marci. Marci is one of the other bridesmaids and by the time we went into the room for our massages I had known her a whole 15 min. What a way to get to know someone...hi my name is Amy now let's go in a small room together and get naked.

That night the girls went out for a small bachlorette party. We went out to dinner and then hit a few bars.

When I got back to the hotel Jim, Joe, Russell (Remy's brother), and Michael were hanging out at our hotel's tiki bar. The tiki bar was giving their last call so they decided that they needed to check out the local night life...Jim didn't get back to the room until 3:15 am and Joe....well Joe does not remember leaving the tiki bar.

Friday was my only day to do nothing. We woke-up went down to the beach, rented a few chairs and and umbrella and we sat there all day long. Well...at least until we had to get ready for the rehearsal.

The rehearsal went great and then we had a very nice dinner at a family style Chinese restaurant

The next day was wedding day! Soonie (Remy's mom) picked me up from the hotel at 7:30 am so the girls could start getting ready for the big day. It was very nice we all got our hair and make-up professionally done. This is the 1st time I have ever had that happen...not even for my wedding.

After some normal pre-wedding mishaps the wedding ceremony went off seamlessly! Here are some of the great family pictures that we got...


After the pictures at the church the wedding party all climbed into the limo and headed to a local beach for some more pictures. On the way to the beach though we couldn't help ourselves we stopped for the following items: a bottle of tequila, case of Coors Light, a 4 pack of Guinness, some McDonald's iced coffees, and McDonald's sandwiches. Taking pictures on the beach was a great way for us all to relax before the reception and they turned out GREAT!

Next, it was off to the reception. The reception was at a local country club. The reception was a lot of fun and Jim did an EXCELLENT job with his best man's speech.

We got back to the hotel around 12:30 and when I called the front desk for a wake-up call they chuckled at me a little bit...we had to wake-up at 4 am.

Like I said at the beginning it was a very quick trip but it was worth every moment.

CONGRATULATIONS JOE AND REMY!!!

Fish Lake

A couple of weekends ago Jim and I headed to Fish lake with our neighborhood friends John and Karen Trelo and their friends Steve and Kelly. Well the crowd was actually bigger than that. There were 6 adults, 4 kids, and 3 dogs. We had a GREAT time! Fish lake is in Indiana well...actually the lake is 1/2 in Indiana and 1/2 in Michigan and it takes about 2.5 hours to get there. It was the perfect distance away for a weekend and it was great to have a change of scenery. We stayed in a great lake house that is owned by one of John's friends.

We didn't have the best of weather but we didn't care. We fished...

...and even caught a few...

The kids played with the water toys...

The adults tried to relax...that was when John wasn't making us laugh about something does anyone remember the cat on Mr. Rogers? Well John sure does and he does a GREAT impression!

One of the best things of the weekend was watching Chewy swim for the first time.

Chewy was not so sure of the water at first so Jim literally picked him up and threw him off the dock and to my amazement he did not panic instead, he swam. It was not long at all until he was swimming every chance he got. He even swam out to meet Jim and I when we were out on the boat.

Thank you Karen and John for inviting us out. We can't wait for the next invite!!

Mom Comes for a Visit

On July 31st mom came to town for a long weekend we had a great time, here are some of the highlights.

On Friday night we headed to downtown Naperville where we walked the riverwalk. After living in Naperville for 2 years, this was the first time that I had been on the riverwalk and it was very nice. Naperville has a nice stream running through it and it has a great path that that follows it though out the city.

After the riverwalk, we headed for a few drinks at one of our favorite placed, Quigley's.

On Saturday morning mom and I when to the Wheaton, IL French Market. This is one of the best Saturday markets that I have been to in this area. There was a lot of great fruit and vegetables, arts and crafts, and some other great goodies. I will definitely be going back to this market!

After the market, we went to Morton's Arboretum. The Morton's Arboretum is an amazing 1,700 aces with great trails and beautiful gardens without. They even have a labyrinth!! I was very excited; I have been itching to go through a labyrinth for many years! I have wanted to go through a labyrinth ever since I saw the move Labyrinth featuring Jim Henson's muppets and Billy Idol. I know what you are thinking...classic paring and...you are right! This is still one of my favorite movies.

Here are some of the other beautiful sites at the Arboretum...


Saturday night we headed to Walter Payton's Roundhouse for a night of comedy and friends. There where 13 of us that met for the night out and we it was a blast and the comics were mostly funny. My favorite guy was 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Mexican and man did he really play that us, he was great!

On Sunday we went to watch Jim play soccer, they won and scored a couple goals...he must have been trying to impress mom.

Sunday night we had our cousin Joanne over for dinner, it is always wonderful to see her.

Mom was supposed to leave Monday morning but in true Chicago fashion, her flight was canceled. This equals the second time in a row that mom's flight was canceled when she was trying to leave Chicago. It ends up that the cancellation was for a good reason, we had a wallop of a store Monday night. The storms were so bad there was actually a tornado that touched down in the town just south of us...SCARY.

Mom was able to get home on Tuesday and I can wait to see here and dad here for Christmas.

Junior

On Thursday, July 17th, Jim and I heard Junior's heartbeat for the first time. I am 12 weeks along and it was amazing that to finally have real confirmation that I am indeed pregnant. The heartbeat was in the 170s. If the wives tales are true then we are having a girl. It is said that if the heartbeat is really quick then it is a girl. If the heartbeat is slower than it is a boy. The doctor said that there was no truth to this wives tale but we will find out for sure in September. September seem like a million years away but I keep on having to remind myself that it is only 2 doctors appointments away.

Yesterday I went to the doctor for a 1st trimester test. This test checks for signs of Downs Syndrome. I am not in a high risk group but, I figured, since my insurance was willing to pay for it...I might as well get it done. It is always better to be in the know. During the test, I received my first ultrasound and everything looks good. It is amazing how developed it is already. It was moving its arms to its face and kicking its legs...I think this is a sure sign that it will be a soccer player.


Here is Junior...

Frank Turns the BIG 50!

Our dear friend Frank turned the big 50 on Wednesday, July 16th. On Saturday was the big birthday bash.

One of the activities at the party, besides beer drinking and bags, was a group paining. All of the guests were assigned 2 numbered puzzle pieces that they were responsible for painting. If our puzzle piece had a letter on it then we had to incorporate the letter into the paining. Once the painting was completed a secret message would display. Everyone really got into his or her painting.

Jim painted a Killepitsch bottle....

Here is the finished product...

The message is a bit was a bit hard to read but is says, friends are the sunshine of life. I loved this idea, so much fun!

Thank you Frank and Manuela for a great evening!

Quick Trip to Seattle

On Friday, June 27th Jim and I headed to Seattle for a whirl-wind trip. We arrived in Seattle last in Friday night. On Saturday, and the whole time we were there, it was absolutely beautiful...the temperature during the day was in the 80s with VERY little humidity. Chicago's weather was humid as all get out but in the 70s. I always say, there is no better place in the country then a beautiful day in Seattle.

The main reason that we went to Seattle was for Remy's Bridal Shower on Saturday afternoon. The event was held at my uncle's glass studio (http://www.jamesnowak.com/) and we had about 15 girls. We had a fun afternoon of socializing, eating some fabulous cake (created by Miss. Jackie), and playing silly games.

On Sunday Jim and I help Joe and Remy move. They had been living in the same one bedroom apartment on Westlake for one too many years. They finally decided that they needed more room so, they upgraded to a spacious 2 bedroom apartment in West Seattle.

Sunday night Jim and I had a great dinner at my parent’s house with my parents, my uncle's Animal and Bennett, and My Aunt Ellen and Uncle Larry. It was very nice to be around family!

Due to all the great vacations, that Jim and I have had this year I do not have any extra days off of work so, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I worked from the Redmond AT&T office. It was great to be back in this in the Redmond office, I missed all of my old work friends!

Monday was Joe's 29th birthday so we met up with Joe, Remy, and Corrine for a delicious pizza dinner. One more year and Joe will join Jim and I in the 30 club.

Wednesday night we took the Redeye back to Seattle. We arrived around 6 am and then it was back to work. It was great being in Seattle and I can't wait for the next time!!

Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio

As soon as we got back from Ireland Jim got a message that he had to go away for work for 2 weeks! Poor Jim, we literally washed his clothes from Ireland, repacked him, and away he went. One of the weekends that Frank, Manuela, and I went to see Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio in Oak Park Illinois. Jim had been there already with my mom but it was the first time for me. He is a bit of information from http://www.oprf.com/flw/:

"Oak Park, Illinois is home to the world's largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings and houses, with 25 structures built between 1889 and 1913. It was in our village that Wright developed and perfected his signature Prairie Style architecture, emphasizing the use of interior light and open spaces in low, earth-hugging buildings. His designs changed the course of 20th century architecture. Many of the Wright houses and buildings in Oak Park and River Forest are registered National Historic Landmarks. "

Here are a few pictures of the homes in Oak Park:

Frank's Studio...

Prairie Style & my favorite of the day...

It was a fun day! Thank you Frank and Manuela for hanging out with me while Jim was gone!!