A special birthday....and a special rememberance!

1st, and MOST important, we wanted to say...

Happy Birthday, Papa!!!!! We hope you are having a GREAT day, you deserve it!!!!

We had a great afternoon celebrating Papa's birthday yesterday!  Nana spoiled us with tons and tons of food...and homemade pizzas, yummy...while Papa treated us to great drinks!  We had a great time celebrating Papa's birthday, and hope he did to!

Pizza Makers

Football Watchers

And as a special birthday gift to Papa...the Bears WON!!!! 

Go Bears!!!

Yesterday also marked the 10th anniversary of 9-11.  I know everyone remembers where they were when they heard the terrible news.  I was "teaching a class full of innocent children " (from the country song "Where were you?").  They were 6th-8th graders in downtown Chicago and we watched the actions of that day unfold together.  The children were scared (and we were too)....it was a scary day as parents came rushing to get their kids, not sure if the terrorist attacks were coming to Chicago next.  They were at that age that we had to talk about it...and there were some rough days ahead, especially because most of the parents worked in high rises in Chicago.  But the children learned a lot about what it means to be an american that day...and that freedom isn't free!

Rob and I really wanted to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on that day, especially the 343 heroes who went into the buildings when most were running out.  Our town had a beautiful ceremony to honor those and we attended with the girls.  It was long (almost 2 hours) and there were lots of "moments of silence"...but the girls did great!  I was really impressed with all our town did. Lead by a local newsman, there were firemen, bagpipes, a high school band and choir, a teacher of one of the men on the United 93 who was from a neighboring town, and a steel beam from the World Trade Center that is going into a memorial our town is building.  It was a moving day and I am proud of our town for honoring the men, women, children, and families of 9-11.

Color Guards March

High School Band

Steel Beam

The first responders who gave their lives to help others to safety are amazing and we honor them!  We will not forget!

I came across 1 picture that touched me so much!  I think of the mom or dad and what must have been going through their heads as they picked up their child out of their stroller and ran for their lives.  I pray they are alive and healthy today!

We will always remember the men, women, and children who lost and sacrificed their lives....

A Blessing in our Backyard!

It's that time of  year again...the Eric and Kathy 36-hour radiothon to raise money for Children's Memorial.

Rob and I began donating before we had kids....with the thought that if we'd ever need it, we'd have the best hospital in our own backyard.  Never did we think that not 1, but 2 children would be touched my Children's Memorial. 

Obviously our life was shaken a little when Abigial was born 9 weeks premature.  It's not natural to see your baby having machines help her breath, and not being able to hold her for days.  We had amazing doctors and nurses from Children's Memorial (and Central Dupage Hospital) that were there for us.

And 2 years later, when Caitlin was having some scares, we were back in Children's Memorial.  They literally have her the gift of sound!  :) 

We have worked with pediatricians, neonatal specialists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, gastroentonologists, and ENT doctors and nurses from Children's...we they are all here in our backyards!  We know we are so so blessed to have them here, and will continue to support this hospital!

I have been listening to stories of parents who need Children's for serious things such as pedatric cancer, heart transplants, etc.  I know those parents' lives literallly changed in a split second.  It is something no one thinks they will need, but are grateful it is here when you do.

We hope to never need Children's Memorial again (although I'm sure stiches are in our near future with our explorer Caitlin) but are so grateful it's in our backyard if we do!  Please support Eric and Kathy's 36-hour Radiothon....do it for our girls! 

Caitlin's Stay

Our cone head....seizure free!  :)

Our 3 lb miracle

Daddy meeting his daughter for the first time!

1st Day of 3 Year Old Preschool

Abigail had her 1st day of 3 year old preschool today!  Both my girls will literally have 4 years of preschool before they start kindergarten, it's crazy.....but they love it!  Abigail is in the 3/4's classroom, but all the kids are older 3's so it's perfect for her.  She has her teacher she started with last year, Mrs. K., whom she loves and we love too!  Her class is smaller with only 10 kids, and 7 of them are girls so she's so excited to have tons of girls this year to play with. 

The drop off went great.  I was waiting for her to get a little sad, but she didn't, which made me a litttle sad!  :)  But only a little...I'm happy she's so excited.  The only thing that she didn't like was that Caitlin couldn't stay with her. She was very worried about Caitlin...who is starting her own thing in a few weeks!

I can't even imagine where this year will take us.  She's writing her name now, drawing the CUTEST people with lots of toes and the BEST eyebrows, and starting to learn to read her sight words.  We are still working on counting and looking forward to all this year has to offer.  It's crazy that she still has 2 years of preschool...Kindergarten out in the suburbs is literally like 2nd grade used to be....so insane!  But I am happy she's at a school that we all love!  And it was funny cause the gym was full of moms after drop-off, so it's like a mommy preschool! 

Abigail, we are so proud of the big girl you have become.  We hope you have the BEST year in preschool!!!

My ABSOLUTE new favorite picture....EVER!

Abigail and Luca getting ready to leave

Happy for school!  :)

Waiting to go into her classroom

Playing in school

2011

2010 Comparison picture....and yes, tears were shed when I realized how much she grew in a year!

Here's to 3 quieter mornings a week!  Cheers!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Lulu!

Happy birthday to the sweetest niece, cousin, and goddaughter there ever was!!!  We love you to pieces!  It has been so fun to watch you grow over the past year!  You have grown into the sweetest, spunkiest, most adorable little girl.  We can not wait for all that awaits you in the next year of life...and all those after!  We love you so much and can't wait to celebrate the big day with you and your mommy and daddy today!

Happy Birthday, Lucy Alexandra!  We love you so so so much!!!!  PARTY!!!!!!!

American Girls

Wednesday was our last day for a while with no school, no ballet, no gymnastics, no classes, and no other kids to watch so we decided to do what the girls have been asking to do all summer...take the train!

Abigail had "Meet the Teacher" (who is her favorite teacher from the first few weeks of last year that we were so sad to leave so the transition to preschool this year is so easy) until 9:25 and our train left at 9:55.  I should have done a little more research, because the only parking left was 4 hour parking, which meant we had to take the train to the city, do our "things" and get back in 4 hours.  Wasn't the relaxing day we had planned, but we made the train so that was all that mattered!  As expected, the girls loved the train...and abigail has decided she wants to move to every town that the train stops at! 

When we got there, we hopped into a cab and headed over to American Girl.  This was the girls' first exposure to the CRAZINESS that is American Girl Dolls, but it was fun.  When we got there, Aunt Katie was waiting for us (she works 2 minutes away) so that was so exciting for them.  We walked around the store and let Abigail pick out things to ask Santa for (which should be no surprise is 1 of EVERYTHING).  It's such a fun store!  When I found out Abigail was a girl, one of the first things that popped into my head was "We can go to American Girl!"  Weird, I know...but a family I nannied for was obsessed with the store and we always went there and I couldn't wait for my kids to do that!

Of course, Caitlin liked the store, but is really too young to get the store concept!   Abigail's favorite part was the hospital where sick (ripped, torn) dolls go and the salon where you can get your dolls hair done!  This is Abigail's year for a bday party, and I told her if she wants, she could pick a friend (or cousing and sister) and go to American Girl to have a tea party and get her dolls hair done (if Santa comes through for her)....so we'll see what she chooses!

After American Girl, we headed over to Disney for a quick souvie!!!  Thanks Aunt Katie for our princesses!!!! 

(Darn Camera...don't get me started)

It was a fun couple of hours on Michigan Avenue!!!  We can't wait for our next visit!

Happy Birthday, Jules!

Happy Birthday,  Jules!  You are such an amazing sister, aunt, sister-in-law, and friend!  We love you and hope you have a great bday with Joe and Lulu!  Since I can't sing...I'll let someone sing a little tribute to you on your bday (although  it has nothing to do with your bday cause I don't want to forget you or hit you!!  )Have a great day!!!!  Happy Birthday!




H

A Love Letter

Dear Las Vegas,

Thank you for having my sisters and me to your town this weekend.  We had a great time!  Our brother-in-law sent us to you to celebrate Jules bday, and the trip was more than we imagined!!!!

From the moment we arrived,

our trip was full of adventure,

entertainment,

and family

that left our heads spinning!

We stayed very active

and pressed our luck a little!

There were BIG drinks 

and even BIGGER winnings

(5 cents)

It was like a little slice of heaven....

with angels!

And the trip ended with the sweetest treat of all!

(Sugarland)

Thank you so much for having us!  It was a trip of a lifetime we will never forget....but next time we will try to remember a camera between the 3 of us to capture more memories!  See you soon! 

Love,