Wicked Vacation

I guess it is about time that I post about our midwestern experience. Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures, but if you bug Jonnie enough, she might post some on her blog!

Dave had his yearly Otolaryngology Meeting in Chicago this year, so we decided to make a weekend of it and visit Chelsea and Matt, and Denney and Jonnie. We flew out Friday morning early (thanks to my mom and dad who drove down to watch/chauffer/parent our kids!) and got to Chicago about noon. We rented a car and drove up to Milwaukee. We had a blast with Chels and Matt. They recruited us to play softball on their intramural team. I struck out 5 times. I used to be a hitter! Oh well. 15 years without swinging a bat will do that to you.

We ate a traditional Friday Fish Fry, and walked around by the lake. After the game, we spent a while driving around looking for the perfect flavor of frozen custard. Then slept soundly. Saturday morning I lazily got ready for the day, to the tune of "don't you want to do your hair?" from Dave. Weird. I didn't think anything of it though. We left Chels and Matt around noon and drove to Rockton/Roscoe Ill to go to Chicago with Denney and Jonnie. They've got a great house on a huge, grassy lot. A nice change from AZ!

Dave had been telling me we would be going to a nice restaurant in Chicago, which was why he wanted me to get ready, etc. But the truth was revealed at Jonnie's that we were actually going to the musical WICKED! A little background: 4 years ago we went to the annual meeting in NYC. My sister Monica told us we should see Wicked. Dave wasn't excited by that and we went to 42nd Street instead. Which was fun, but I felt a little cheated that we didn't see Wicked, which was, in Monica's opinion (as a New Yorker) the best musical playing at the time. So for the next 4 years we endured the rising popularity of Wicked amongst our friends and relations while knowing we could have seen it on Broadway. I tried not to show irritation everytime someone asked, "Have you seen Wicked? You've got to get the CD!" etc. I decided we would never see it, just to spite all those who were in the know, tee hee. (See my I Am A Pig post.)

Anyway, I was thrilled by the surprise that I got to see Wicked in Chicago! It was really fun, and had a different ending than I was expecting. (Thanks everyone for not giving it away!) And, I did have some time beforehand at the hotel to do my hair and makeup.

On Sunday, we took a double decker bus tour, walked around Millenium Park, went into the art museum, and snacked at the top level of that really tall building that I can't remember the name of now. Not the Sears Tower, but the free one, all the while enjoying visiting with Denney and Jonnie. Tons of fun. Then on Monday, I caught the train out to O'Hare and flew home. Dave stayed until Wednesday going to his meetings.

So here are a few pictures.

I Am A Pig

I thought this was funny. It is pretty accurate. Who knew. I tried a crayon quiz, but it said I was a red crayon, which might be accurate, but this feels more like a description of me.

You Are a Pig

You are very intelligent, and you enjoy being around people. You can trust others easily. You have great reasoning skills, and you are quick learner. You are able to adapt to most situations. You tend to be very territorial and picky. You don't like people messing with your stuff. You have keen senses and reflexes. You can defend yourself well and quickly sense danger.

What Animal Are You?

Time Constraints and Conundrums

So I don't know if I've mentioned that Elaine is playing softball at the middle school. We are so proud of her for going outside her comfort zone. She gets up at 5:40 am, heads out the door at 6:20 am, and arrives home at 5:20 pm. Long days. Every so often and on Fridays she has a day off from practice and gets home a few hours earlier. She usually has an hour at least of homework.

Anyway, she has only made it to swim practice about 5 times all month, as opposed to the ideal 5 times a week. The boys have made it often enough, but now soccer has started. So, we have decided to take a break from swimming during September, and reevaluate at the end of the month. With the new September schedule, I would be driving for about 3 hours twice a week, and 2 hours thrice a week to get everywhere where they needed to be if they kept swimming. I am a little sad, since they are all really good swimmers, but Elaine may decide to pick it up again, or she may just wait til high school and swim then. In the meantime, our weekends will be a lot simpler, not to mention our weeknights!

The boys are all going through an illness. I was scheduled to give a presentation at a Buffelgrass Training Workshop this morning, so I took the youngest two to a friend's, left recouperating Jeremy at home, then drove to the training and gave my presentation to grand accolades, then got a call from the nurse that Alex needed to be picked up. So I left early (after arriving late -- I warned them beforehand) and spent another hour rounding everyone up. Now I am debating taking a nap to build up some energy reserve to avoid getting sick myself. Thank goodness I'm not driving to swim practice! Although it is the Middle School Meet the Teacher(s) Night.

Sigh. Anyway. Here are some pictures of our vacation to Sedona last month. Great Fun. I need another vacation already.

I just know you are all checking my blog everyday wondering when I will ever get around to posting. Wait no longer. Dave and Elaine got our fall birthdays off to a great start. Dave has yet to wear any of his presents, but I won't consider it a failure until next summer. Elaine got her ears pierced (thanks, Maria Elena) and looks so grown up. She gets on the bus at 6:30 am about 7 min. away from our house. It has been nice to get up early, but we are all very tired.

Last week we were eating breakfast, looking out the window and Dave says excitedly, "great horned owl!" So I grabbed the camera and carefully walked toward it. It wasn't scared of me at all until I got within about 5 feet. It was eating a lizard. It hung out in our trees all day long. Haven't seen it since. We wonder if it is the same one that hung out on our porch as a baby.

I haven't uploaded birthday photos to my computer yet, but I will post again when I do. In the meantime, let me tell you how I much I love The Children's Place Monster Sale. I got matching shirts for 17 boys, and Melissa got matching shirts for 7 girls for a fun family photo at the beach in October. The boys are a blue button down mix of madras plaid and Hawaiian print, and the girls are a mix of pink jersey knit and Hawaiian print. It's ridiculous, I know, but less expensive than t-shirts thanks to the sale!

Summer

Targhee Trail Hike
Alex and Bryce on the River.
Jeremy and Brittny at Mesa FallsBaking in the Easy-Bake with Georgia
This is the life.
Wacky costume day at soccer camp.
Hiking in Yellowstone National Park (Mystic Falls).
Floating Henry's Fork from Big Springs.

Memory of Chelsea

On Chelsea's blog she asked for us to comment leaving a memory of her. Here is the picture to go along with the memory. Unfortunately, the negative was damaged, and this is the best adjusting I could do but I think you can see plain enough what is going on with 4 year old Chels just out of her bath. I cropped for decency's sake.

Buffelgrass Invasion

This is a quick post to refer everyone to watch a youtube video called Buffelgrass Invasion. It shows you about what I am volunteering to inform the public. It is really scary. Please look it up or link from my youtube links list.