A Good Time With Family

Last week we were lucky enough to get 4 glorious days off of work so we could spend time w/ my parents. They flew up from Texas and spent over a week in Illinois. My mom went to an ObesityHelp seminar and got to meet Dr. Garth Brooks from the TV show Big Medicine. She's been doing amazing since her gastric bypass surgery last year!

(sorry Mom, this isn't the greatest picture but you're still lookin' awesome!)

Dan & I picked Mom up from the hotel Sunday morning and headed over to Uncle Ken & Aunt Sue's...we got there just in time to find them pulling out of the driveway, "We're headed to Shannon's, follow us!" Okie Dokie! We found out everyone was meeting at Shannon & Alan's to go watch the parade for the Oak Forest High School Softball Team, because they just took the State Championship. Go Lady Bengals and Emily (Gatorade Player of the Year!) We also got to meet the newest member of the Gormley family, Maggie Joan. She's was just 5 days old! We had a great time at the parade and loved watching all my little cousins run around. The kids definitely had a good time. After the parade we headed over to my Gramma's to pick up my Dad and hang out w/ his side of the family. They had a surprise party for my cousin Jacob's 8th grade graduation. It was a great day! Of course, no one remembered to take pictures and in fact I forgot to take our camera when we left...ugh :) On Monday, Mom & I hit the stores. We shopped till we dropped for my soon-to-be nephew. It was definitely a successful shopping day and that boy will be one sharp looking baby in his duds. Tuesday we took a bike ride around the neighborhood and up a bike path. I commented to Mom that we haven't been on a ride together in more than 15 years! It was awesome to see her out & about on Uncle Ken's bike! Shortly after returning from the bike ride the rain came, so we just hung out in the screened-in garage and watched some tv. Mom & I worked on our current crochet projects. Wednesday morning we had breakfast at Chef Klaus (It's got a different name now, but I can't think of it). Dan really wanted to go there again, because the last time we were there he was too hung over to enjoy his breakfast! Afterwards we came back to Uncle Ken's and relaxed with Shannon, her sister-in-law Kathleen & the Irish Kids. That evening we headed over to Jack & Michelle's to celebrate Jack's birthday. Oh, and if I forget to email you Michelle....can I get the recipe for that pasta salad you made?! It was sooooooo good! We had a wonderful time with the family all week and are so glad we got the time off. Dan & I are looking forward to moving to Illinois in just a 4 & 1/2 short months and hope to see our families way more often. It'll be nice to be closer to everyone! I feel like it will be a long time before we get another mini-vaca like this, so we made sure to cherish every minute!