Milwaukee-kee-kee

Thursday I found myself in Milwaukee with my sister Camille. We dropped off my niece Holly, her friend Alex, and my nephew Aaron at Warped Tour and went out exploring the city for the day. Initially she was going to go by herself until I randomly had the day off of work and said I would go to keep her company.

The weather was pretty much perfect. We had no plans, which I love. And basically had a great day!

We ate lunch here! It as alright...

There was a jazz fest starting in one of the nearby parks.

Camille got the large nachos... whatta heffer!

Beautiful.

Alisa and Mike's Wedding Day

Last Saturday, July 24th... Alisa and Mike tied the knot!

It's hard to believe that all the planning and all the fun is over.

It was a great day, started by an awesome rehearsal dinner at Jamesons on Friday where I gave Alisa the scrapbook I have so diligently been working on... she absolutely loved it... making everyone wipe their hands off before they touched it. And that was all I needed to know that she liked it.

It rained like crazy the night before and was pretty gloomy looking in the morning, but before the ceremony it brightened up. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, every single detail. Afterward pictures were taken in Alisa's parent's backyard, and then onward to the reception.

Here I snapped a quick picture of the bride and groom post ceremony thru the kitchen window. It was too cute not too.

Cocktail hour with Barb and Al!!!! Look we all have our eyes open and somewhat smiling!

Me and my amazing date for the event!

Alisa and me at the head table!!! Before the speech!

After the reception we all headed over to a sports bar where the party kept going! I swear the worst part of the wedding day is when it ends!!!!

Our first picture with the four of us.... sweet!

All in all it was such a fabulous whirlwind of a day from beginning to end!

Hope you are enjoying Maui, newlyweds!!!!!!!!

Congrats!

Kai!

I met Susie, Joslyn, and baby Kai on a spur of the moment lunch date last Wednesday.... and made Susie snap this picture of me holding Kai whom is NOT crying... is my luck with babies changing!? Who knows... either way, this was the first time I met him and he is a charmer!

Burger Fest 2010

This Saturday was Burger Fest in Roscoe Village, where Andrea and Dave live. It was so much fun. Basically they shut down all the streets in front of their condo and had a fest in honor of the hamburger. My kinda day. We sampled different burgers, and Andrea and Dave provided Coors Light from the keg they bought.

Outdoor Improvements

In our recent house updates...

Patio and Fence!

The fence was put in a few weeks ago and has been a blessing to just let the dogs out and let them prance. We still walk them, but it is so nice to wake up in the morning and let them out, rather than getting dressed to walk them.

The patio was under construction all last week, and finished on Friday!

Here are the beginning pics...

And here is the final project. We only have those 2 plastic chairs for now, but are currently in the market for patio furniture. We hope to hold out till late August to get great clearance specials!

I think the patio turned out great. I had to pick the colors without Adam being there which I stressed about till it was completed. I also picked the stone and the shape. So in the end, I am glad it is over and looks good!

Rascal

One year ago today my best friend in the entire world died.

I sometimes feel like a freak that I think about Rascal as much as I do. I wonder if I am the only one who thinks of their own four legged friend and gets sad like I do.

I don't know what it is about that little ball of fluff that I loved so much... okay, well I do... but above all I miss his personality even until his last fighting day. I miss that most.

Putting your best friend to sleep is by far one of the most traumatizing things I think one can ever do, realizing the moment when I had to do it was even worse.

Of course, I know that a dog can't live as long as a human can. I know that I had him for 17 years of my life. 17 of my most life changing years. I know that he lived a good long life, with a good family, making good friends along the way. But still, in my childish ways, I wish he could have lived forever. Nothing turned a bad day around like he did.

They say there are 2 things a girl could always count on... her dad and her dog. It's true.

So, on this day I will remember Rascal as a healthy, energetic ball of fluff. My tears are minimal now, but my heart still aches. There will always be a place in it for him.

the FoUrTh

Our Fourth of July was pretty low key due to the fact that Adam was on call the entire weekend. He barely got sleep due to all the hours and work he put in. We did manage to make it Fourth of July night to my parent's house for some BBQ and then to Alisa's parent's house for their annual party... after only one round of badminton, Adam had to leave to get back to our house and do more work.

On Monday we both had the day off and went to the Kane County Cougars game, a minor league baseball team that we always like going too. Everyone got in for 5 bucks that day due to a power outage, but the power came back on after the first inning and all was well.

Of course, that day I forgot sunscreen and I am a lobster now.... I will never learn.

BBQ, baseball, fireworks, and sunburn... nothing is more 4th of July than that!