A Weekend Full of Adventure

The first weekend in April brought us some great visitors my cousin Alison, her husband Scott, their 2 kids Elizabeth and Freddie, my aunt Mary, and my uncle Fred. They drove down from Minnesota on Friday and then Friday night we had a very nice dinner at cousin Joanne's but Saturday was when the fun really began. Saturday morning we all got on the train to Chicago. Freddie was SO EXCITED for the train but, he has a funny way of showing it...

When we got to Chicago we split up into two groups, the boys went one way and the girls went another.

Girls day...

The girls headed right for the American Girl store. Have you heard of this phenomenon? It is AMAZING!! American Girl Dolls are a line of dolls that come with their own series of books. Many of the dolls are historical so they teach girls all about the time that they "lived" in. This might be the biggest store I have ever been in. This store has 3 full floors of shopping and activities.

As soon as we got to the store we went shopping. At this store you can get the same outfit for the doll as you get yourself...too cute!! Elizabeth and her doll got a very nice new lavender dress. Next we had lunch. This store has it's own restaurant where they have a special seat for the dolls.

After lunch there was more shopping and then the doll went to the hair salon. Yes, there is a special salon for the dolls.

At the store we also went to a live doll review show. After the American Girl store we walked Michigan Avenue, it was a beautiful day out and it was a perfect day for a walk.

Boys day...

The first stop for the boys was a trip to the top of the Sears tower. The Sears tower stands at 1,450 feet and 110 stories high. The Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America and the third tallest building in the world.

After the Sears tower the boys headed to the Field Museum, one of the great museums in Chicago. The must see at the Field Museum for Freddie was Sue.

Sue is the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil yet discovered and a HUGE treat for a 4 year old!

As an added bonus they also say mummys.

After the museum we all met back at the train station for a well deserved adult beverage.

Saturday night we all went to Ted's Montana Grill. Ted's is one of Jim and my favorite places right now. Ted's specializes in Buffalo burgers. Yes, tatonca. They are delicious! They are extremely lean, juice, and just plain finger licking good.

Thanks for coming everyone we had a GREAT time and we can't wait to see you again!!!

Not exactly the weekend we planned...

Last weekend my mom came to town and it was not exactly the weekend we had planned. My mom came in to town on Thursday and then on Friday my mom, my cousin Joanne, Jim, and I drove to Minnesota for my grandfather's funeral. 5 plus hours later we where in there!

My Grandpa's funeral was very nice. It was Hawaiian themed and very well done.

The highlight of the weekend was spending time with the Suhler-Hart clan and my cousin Joanne's very 1st trip to Starbucks. Can you believe it?!?! Her VERY 1st Starbucks coffee.

My mom and dad had a difficult time getting home. My dad was flying out of Minnesota and his flight was delayed for 3 hours and then they lost his luggage. My mom on the other hand tried to fly out on Monday but...her flight was cancelled and she was unable to get her luggage back and her luggage flew to Seattle without her on Monday. The good thing about that is that i got an extra day with her and her flight did successfully leave on Tuesday.

This weekend we have the Suhler-Hart clan visiting us here in Chicago...it should be a blast!!!

Chewy Gets a New Do

Today Chewy went in for his summer buzz cut and the pictures are too cute not to share.

Chewy before...

and then, Chewy after...

He is still too cute for words and he seems very happy with his new do.

Renovation, Game Night # 3, Easter, and the End of an Era

The weekend began with Jim chipping out the cracked tiles in the Powder Room. Once he got all of the broken tiles up we discovered the issue....a cracked foundation.

Jim has now filled in the crack and we are ready to re-tile.

Saturday night was game night # 3 with Frank and Manuela and, as usual, we had a GREAT time! This month Frank's kids Mo and Anika where in town to visit and it was a pleasure to see them again.

Here are some pictures from the evening...Tonight's game, Texas Holdum:

And the winner was...

Frank!!!

Here are the standings so far:

Game night #1:

1. Manuela

2. Frank

3. Amy

4. Jim

Game night #2

1. Jim

2. Frank

3. Amy

4. Manuela

Game night #3

1.Frank

2. Amy

3. Manuela

4. Jim

I am due for a win and we are behind in the money contribution. Jim and I have contributed $55 and Frank and Manula have contributed $35.

On Easter we went to meet Joann and her family for brunch. Joann's mother Kay has recently moved into a nursing home. The interesting thing about this particular nursing home is it used to be a hospital....the hospital where my father was born, St. Joseph's.

Easter brunch we ate at the Gasslight Manor...it was interesting but, HIGHLY entertaining!!

The weekend ended on a sad but good note, Fredrick Stolp Suhler Sr. has moved on to a better place. The people he has left behind will be better for knowing him. Rest in peace Biggy.

Corinne Comes to Town

Our dear friend Corinne came to visit us the weekend of the 15th - 18th, it was so GREAT to see her! It was Corinne's first visit to see us and we "tried" to make it memorable. Corinne came on Saturday afternoon and we showed her around our home; she saw her old friend Billy and met our boy Chewy. First on Corinne's to-do list was to give Chewy a new hair-do...

...Chewy looks good in a pony tail! HE WAS NOT PLEASED!!!

Billy was so happy to see Corrine that he slept with his tongue out.

Saturday night we headed into the city to Greek town. In Greek town we went to Greek Isles. Jim and I had been there once before for my 30th birthday. It was VERY tasty!!!

Sunday was a bit of a bust, we where going to go into the city but time got away from us for a Sunday. We tried to go to a nice little town near us named Hinsdale. Hinsdale is a cute town full of little shops and restaurants but, the problem with Hinsdale is, EVERYTHING IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS! Corinne and I ended up walking around our local mall.

On Monday, St. Patrick's Day, Jim and I had to work so Corinne headed into the city to The Art Institute of Chicago. I have not been there but I hope to this summer. One of the main things that I would like to see there is the American Gothic...

On Monday afternoon we headed to Quigley's, our favorite Naperville Irish pup. It was crowded but a lot of fun!

Corinne even had a shot...

First thing on Tuesday morning Corinne headed back to Seattle. It was great having her and we can't wait until we see her again!

1000 miles is a long way to drive in one weekend!

The weekend after we got back from Florida I made the long trek to Minnesota. My Grandpa Biggy has been fighting Parkinson's for a long time and it has become clear, in the last few weeks, that he will be moving on soon. On Friday afternoon I drove to Rochester, MN to my cousin Allison's house, a 5 hour drive. Friday night we had a great dinner with her neighbors and then then next morning I woke-up bright and early to drive to Stillwater, MN., 1.5 hours away. My dad had been there for a week, he was supposed to leave on Friday but, he extended his trip by one day to see me, thank you dad! We spent the day talking and playing tile rummy. My Grandma won hands down.

The high point of the trip, besides seeing my dad of course, was Allison's birthday dinner...back in Rochester. It was so nice to sit down with the Suhler and Hart clan. Here are a few pictures from dinner:

Above: Elizabeth (the best pre-teen I know), Me, and Allison (the best cousin a girl could ask for)

Above: Frederick Stolp Suhler III

Sunday it was was back to Stillwater. My dad had left the previous evening so, I taught Grandma a new game, Phase 10. At 1 I left for home, a 6.5 hour drive. No joke it was over 1000 miles in total that I drove. Needless to say, I am still tired and have had my fill of driving.

I am very glad I went though. It was important that I said goodbye to Biggy. He is, was, and will always be a great man who has had the most wonderful life. He will me missed by many and be thought of often.

While I was away Jim was busy finishing up the Family Room. When I got home the room was done and it looked fabulous!!! Thank you Jim for working so hard this weekend. Here is the fished product...

Next weekend...I am VERY EXCITED...Corinne is coming for her first visit!!!!

Disney World where EVERYONE is a kid again...

Jim and I have been looking forward to going to Disney World for a long time not only was Mickey there but so was Andy, Tracy, Emma, Charlie, Grace, Ethan AND Elin...how could we ask for more? We went to 4 parks. The first stop was Magic Kingdom.

In Magic Kingdom our first ride was Pirates of the Caribbean which was Ethan's first Disney ride ever.

Also at Magic Kingdom we went to the other GREAT classic rides like the Haunted Mansion, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain. They were all almost as fun as I remember them as a kid.

The next day we went to Jim's favorite park, Beers around the World or better known as the World Showcase at Epcot. The rides were not as good at Epcot but beers around the world was a lot of fun and the light show at the end was the best we saw the entire trip. Now beers around the world...

Champagne and pomegranate in France

Guinness in The United Kingdom

Cervesa in Mexico

Norwegian Beer in Norway wait...who are those confused vikings?

Germany

Wine and Limoncello in Italy

Back to France

United Kingdom one more time...why not!

Tuesday we relaxed and then on Wednesday it was off to Hollywood Studios where we experienced the Tower of Terror. This ride is AWESOME!! This ride rises you up and then drops you 5 stories but it never drops you the same way twice..it is always a surprise.

Thursday we went to the 2 Universal parks, Universal Studios and Adventure Island. These parks where much more adult. Literally, on some of the rides, there were warning signs reminding you to make sure that your prosthetic limb was securely fastened. Our brains were a jumbled mess after this day so we all needed an adult beverage... Hurricanes and spiked lemonaide at Pat O'Briens.


Even though 2 of the days had only a high of 58 we had a GREAT time with all of our friends. Thank you to all of you for making this such a memorable trip.

Emma...

Charlie...

Shhhhh....he does not liked to be kissed.

Grace...