Sparty

This is Sparty, my niece's new King Charles Cavalier puppy, who we are watching for the weekend.



Sparty meeting Tessie....who was not impressed...



Sparty...drinking out of a 1 cup measuring cup.....





Clancy and Simon trying to decide what in the world it is.....

 

In the shade of the old apple...er.... maple tree

 
My little Russian vistors and German vistor as well....Can you tell who is from where? We had a very international house this weekend.....2 girls from Russia via Shannon and Michigania and 1 girl from Berlin who visited at Michigania (as well as my niece who speaks German and English!)......we are having a wonderful visit with all our English idioms!!! Klara....we miss you !!!

Camp Michigania

 
Here is the crowd that vacationed at Camp Michigania this year.....a lovely time was had by all.....

A Daughter traveling

The daughter off to her travels in Costa Rica for 6 months.....with all she needs on her back and front......

Another niece

This is a one of my many nieces (ok....to be fair I have only a great nephew....truly they are my husband's nieces and nephews but I love 'em like they were mine!) who broke her knuckle playing basketball. She was delighted to be asked to pass out the programs for the bride, her cousin. Doesn't she look sweet? or at least busy!!!!

Some more Wedding pictures

The bride and her parents.....

The Bride and Groom on the altar....

Yours truly at the piano with the opera singers(my nephew)....the song?
One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story...

The Wedding Party....

ABC Wednesday Y is for Yoda

Today is ABC Wednesday. I wasn't sure I was going to come up with anything for "Y" as I have already done Yellow and Yeast...and my brain was having trouble thinking of more Y's! But....while walking through one of my sons' rooms, I saw this. What I like about this is the depiction of time from my point of view. There was a time that my boys lived for Star Wars. We even had an R2D2 toy chest....which was way more fun to play with when there were no toys in it I might add.......Looking at his book shelf, I see the love of his youth and how he grew up. Notice the shot glasses? and the vase from his trip to Berlin...also on the shelf was a souvenir from Australia and the Berlin wall.....and other items from college and his travels to China...where he currently lives. How time flies.
Please stop over at Mrs. Nesbitt's place to look at all the creative "Y" choices!

The bride and groom

It was the bride and groom's first dance as a married couple. I just love how this turned out.....it reminds me of a very vintage, romantic time. Her dress was made from her mother and grandmother's wedding dress by her new sisterinlaw who is a designer in Montreal(where we were for the wedding).....Congratulations Laura and Alexis!We really enjoyed your special day!

A Sad Day

This will come as a BIG surprise to my nephews in Virginia but the LE BARON is no more...I know I know..... you thought the tominator would be the first to go but No...It bit the dust today when Uncle Charley slid into a mini van and the air bag deployed and the left headlight is gone and the hood is bent and the list is endless. The good news...no one was hurt..no tickets were given so not even really his fault but Uncle Charley has NEVER been in an accident before....he was pretty surprised...and still feels shocked...so ...goodbye to the Le Baron...it has moved on to the car resting place ( isn't that called a junk yard?) ..now....if only I can unload the '88 suburban.......*SIGH*

My Opera Singing Nephew

Last week, we (#2 son, niece from HongKong, MIL) drove to Cincinnati to hear my nephew's Master recital...part of his receiving his Masters degree in Music.....this is a photo of him and his piano player. I wish I knew how to video and put it in my blog because I have been to some wonderful performance's this year with just people I know! Dan sang beautifully and we all enjoyed it immensely! He is such a great nephew.....and talented....even if I am his aunt!! My husband and I have been truly blessed with nieces and nephews -on both sides-!!! We are very fortunate.

Happy 32nd Anniversary!

It's a sign of our love and devotion that we have stayed married for 32 years!....or we are just too damn stubborn to give up....but then...why give up on a good thing?
Actually, I was one of the lucky ones and was able to marry the love of my life.
Happy Anniversary to my hubby!(We haven't changed much have we?!!
But when someone said you don't marry his family............
let me be the first to assure you that you would be wrong!

ABC Wednesday T is for Teddy

Teddy, my great nephew, just turned one. My sister, his grandmother, made this flag for him. His mommy took him out to see it and doesn't it look like he loves it? Stop by Mrs. Nesbitt's place to see other participants today.

Another Wedding Shower

We have been blessed with many nieces and nephews. Another niece-who is also a god daughter- is getting married this summer in Montreal. She and her fiance were the recipients of a surprise wedding shower at the club (not mine!). A very small but lovely affair. Here they are opening their presents. .....and-- I got to see every single one of them. (Placemats, candle holder, very nice cutting board, lovely,very sharp knives, pizza slicer, garlic press-with the admonishment to not use your fingers as the blade is very sharp!!!-waterford crystal, waffle iron.... just to name a few)...not sure what the protocol really is but it certainly was lovely watching them open their gifts.

ABC Wednesday S is for Santa's

I have decided to stick with the Santa theme for ABC Wednesday. Drop over to Mrs. Nesbitt's place to see what others have come up with.

Driving School

*sigh*
I had to spend 4 hours in driving safety school this week. Why- you might ask? Well, according to the policeman who pulled me over, I went through a red light (I assured him it was yellow). The comment he made was "you can either admit your guilt ($65 and goes on your insurance record), go to traffic school ($115 no black mark on your record) or go to court and plead "not guilty" (and hope the judge agrees with you...otherwise...you incur court costs....over $130.)

The police officer assured me that he would be at court and "lady, you can tell them it was yellow and I am going to tell him it was red and who do you think he will believe?"

"you, apparently", was my answer.

(For all you that know me....I REALLY don't argue with policemen since my dad was one so if you think this was out of character for me....you'd be right.)
Hence, my afternoon in traffic school.
I won't bore you with how the whole four hours went but this is how it started.....
"I know you don't want to be here" says the instructor, " I am only here because they pay me but we are going to spend 4 hours together. Think of the worst thing you have ever done while driving a vehicle and consider yourself caught and now we are going to break into groups and have a fun afternoon."

Thank heavens he had a sense of humor, huh?

So, 40 of us spent 4 hours together bonding over the driving booklet that we had to finish and yes, we did break into groups, yes, we did read out loud, yes, we did answer all the questions and no, I will not be getting a ticket again anywhere in the near future or so I hope!

ABC Wednesday R is for Restroom

When we were at Shannon's graduation, we took her out for breakfast. The woman's restroom got a big thumbs up for cleanliness and creativity!It is the pink and even the men's looked fabulous-it is the black with all the photos of the Eiffel Tower. Enjoy as many of the ABC participants as you can over at Mrs. Nesbitt's!

A fund raising evening

The Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, President Chicago Legal clinic (A family friend I might add)


We went to a fund raiser on Friday night for a legal clinic that does pro bono work. All I can say is, good thing Eric was paying attention or they would be out $100.

A college graduation

We had a college graduation from the University of Illinois this weekend...yesterday to be exact....Ms. Shannon graduated with honors as well as earning the James Scholar Award-an honors program award you need to be invited to do with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and you have to complete certain requirements each year ...31 of her fellow College of Aces graduates also earned this award--it is the medal on the orange and blue ribbon-.....Here are a few pictures of the event.
Here is our little hugger -Tina- notice your bracelet on her wrist!(you will need to click on the photo to see it!)-



The Happy Parents!

a brother patiently waiting to go and eat SOMETHING

ABC Wednesday P is for Pool and Presents

I am so glad I took a picture of the beautiful pool and presents when I was at my nephew's engagement party a few weeks ago! Make sure you stop and see as many participants as you can over at Mrs. Nesbitt's place!

my Lightning Tree-as in "Struck by"

Getting struck by lightning or getting eaten by the Emerald Ash borer.....either way, this tree is not long for this world....and too bad as I really like it. In the last picture, notice the dirt blown out on either side of the tree....it exited on both sides......

ABC Wednesday O is for Orchestra

My Korean(actually she was my foreign exchange student but I call her my 2nd daughter!) daughter's orchestra recital at Roosevelt University with the choir.
Please stop in at Mrs. Nesbitt's place and see all the ABC Participants.

@#$*%^*Word Verification

I am shamelessly stealing this from Tom over at Wigger's Place.
I HATE this feature. Please, enable your blogger moderator if you are getting spammed..this is soooo annoying when it takes 3 or 4 times to type in the word....or whatever it is. Thanks!

A beautiful cake

In all the excitement of the nephews and great nephew, I would be remiss in not stating that I am absolutely thrilled that Michal has invited Courtney to be part of our family. She is a stunning, charming, intelligent young lady and I adore her.....I only hope she knows what she is letting herself in for! Welcome Miss Courtney!
This is the cake that Courtney's sister made for the engagement party. Her sister is a chef but still....what a cake it was.....I was impressed when she told me she used 32 eggs......yum!

Getting to know you

Teddy wasn't too sure about his FAVORITE GREAT aunt (who is this woman that keeps kissing me???) but once he was down and cruising he was a happy boy!

Another Name TAG!

Another Nametag I could have used for ABC Wednesday....except we didn't have it at the end of the day!

ABC Wednesday N is for Nametags

Thanks to Jessy and Jeffers for suggesting the name tags from the engagement party...The explanations for the abbreviations....
FAOG.Favorite Aunt of Groom...
GOG....grandma of groom....
LOG ...Landlord of groom and bride....(and boyfriend of GOG)
Hope you have a chance to visit over at Mrs. Nesbitts place for all the ABC participants.

A trio of women

Michal, my nephew, was quite concerned that feelings would be hurt with my description of who was at his engagement party....as in MY name tag read "FAOG"...translation.....FAVORITE Aunt of Groom.....and he was/is afraid that his other aunts...of which he has a few....might get their noses out of joint....well, here is the answer to that....if they came, they could put whatever they wanted on their name tag....as I was your only aunt that came....I chose that moniker! ...besides ...how else will Teddy learn how to say my FAVORITE GREAT aunt unless his uncle Michal practices it???!!!
This is me, my mom and my younger sister, Tina....mother of the groom!

A Manassas Engagement party

Here is the only picture I have of the groom and bride to be....I am falling down on the photo job!

The others that are here ----Bill-my mother's significant other or boyfriend or gentleman friend...(really, Mom, you need to decide what we should say!!!!); my mom, Avis; my BIL and father of the groom -Tom; my sister-Tina; my nephew --the groom, Michal...(without an "E"); his fiance, Courtney; my great nephew(baby) Teddy and his parents, Becky and Tommy (my oldest nephew). I am in the back row with my younger nephew, Jeffrey and his girlfriend, Jessy.....A lovely day was had by all.....but about those presents I didn't get to see you open, Michal and Courtney.........

Peter Olson in Paris

This is from one of my favorite bloggers....the music is done by a friend of his and I really liked it. Hope you do too!

You tube credits

Azer Mantessa is the musician of the above song and Peter Olson is the photographer, I couldn't get it in that post!

ABC Wednesday M

If you know me well, you know I am not a big fan of chocolate.....but I AM a big fan of M&M's...peanut preferably. This is my chocolate fix.....and mostly it is all about the nut for me! Stop by Mrs. Nesbitt's to see who and what is up for ABC Wed!

Chicago College of Performing Arts

My Korean "daughter" had her concert last night with the student orchestra. They played Beethoven's Fantasia in C Major and Beethoven's Symphony NO. 9 in D Minor. I am not sophisticated enough to be able to put it in blogger but it was really nice. The auditorium is lovely. The singers on the stage are actually faculty members performing. My only problem with the performance was the audience.
I KNOW it is for the family's of the students so little kids get to come..I applaud that. What annoyed me was the request by the President and CEO (also he is the Chair and Master of Ceremonies) to HOLD your applause until the end of the movement(there were four) and after every little pause, some yo-hoe would start to applaud. 2 things I have to complain about....you were asked to HOLD your applause and when you don't...you are annoying!.....if even this little girl from West Virginia can have some class...so can you...and more importantly, you slow the whole process down and I MISS MY TRAIN because you were an idiot and delay the performance....that annoys me. Here is a big heads up for you non-symphony goers......you can applaud ONLY when the conductor turns around and smiles and waves his/her hand over the orchestra and the ORCHESTRA stands up.
'nuff said.

A Junior recital

 
SeaKyung is my Korean "daughter" and she had her college junior recital last Monday. Eric, Kathleen, her mom(came just for this from Korea), my friend Ann and I went to hear her. She played lovely....