Big Day for Little A

AJ is now a Junior Associate Member of the IL Railway Museum. Membership allows us to get in without paying the high fees that they charge there. Going every month like we do will not put us in the poor house.

With us on our adventure is the ever present "StreamLiner". That is the Lionel Hallmark Ornament that Gram Betty gave AJ for Christmas. It has never hung on a Christmas tree. It is missing most of the paint on the front and it has a broken wheel.

We looked at soldiers over there. They were checking our "papers" because it was WWII day for the Memorial Day shindig they do. There were people in neat outfits and old planes and cars, too. We had fun!

Daddy and AJ Flying a Plane...Sort of.

AJ and Daddy went to the park.

They took a little plane.

They flew it. A little.

Daddy had fun.

So did AJ.

Memoir 2006

Reflecting on my life in Writer's Workshop has been interesting, difficult, enlightening, sad, happy, and all those other descriptive words teachers use to show writers there are other ways to say things. But I heard bad news this morning that made me remember a very dark and lonely time in my married life. Although the bad thing happened inside of me, both Mike and I felt a profound loss and we both felt grief. I remember that grief and live it each time I hear that another friend has joined that terrible group-

It is true that time heals. With each passing year and with each new memory that covers the old ones we grow and change. The layers build up over that time like sand. But it only takes some small news to make the sands shift and I remember all over again. And it still hurts.

Look At Him. Now Look Again.

Can you believe he is my LITTLE BABY? Geez.

Photo by D'Lara Photography 2011

Two Toots Cafe

AJ was playing with the trains at D'Lara Photography and was very happy to see that he could see the train tracks of the Metra line right out the window, too. Kathy suggested we eat at 2 Toots Train Whistle Cafe right down the street. We went over there after the "shoot" and had a great time.

Waiting for the train with our food riding on it.

"Whoa!"

"Butter Sandwich is on the train!"

"Look, it's coming out!"

"A train is there!"

Three and Half Years Old

We took AJ to D'Lara Photography this morning so Aldo could take pictures for AJ's Baptism invitations and such. It went well. Better than I was anticipating. I can't wait to see the finished products!

Blessings

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

We had dinner last night with some old friends. It was good to see them and it had been too too long. We shared a laugh and many a memory about a plethora of things...

Sara, Me and Kopec

Brenda and Demete are awaiting Baby's arrival...so exciting!

Rob and Sara

Betsy and Rosie

I forgot to get a pic of me and Mike and together. I always forget to get into the pictures, too. But Mike was there and looked great like always. He ate a regular sized meal this time, however.

It Always Feels Like....

somebody's watchin' me.

ABC's

Absolutely Adorable Athlete

Awww, Mama- Another Picture?????

Jackpot smile!

Jauntily Jiggling Down the Tracks