Slow down time...

I can't believe it's been a week already since we returned from our weekend trip to Chicago! Time just keeps flying... can someone just slow it down a bit??

Melanie and I had a BLAST in Chicago! We arrived very late Thursday night (or Friday morning) and were greeted by my Dad! It was great to see him - he looks fantastic! We got to sleep in a bit on Friday, but then gathered up cousin Cindy and went homecoming dress shopping at the mall! I think Melanie enjoyed having Cindy with... they could be sisters - they liked the same things! Melanie found the "perfect" dress, even with a few sparkles on it! It's purple!! We had a wonderful lunch and even a few minutes at the nail salon treating ourselves before we headed back to Grandpa's! Then the three of us and Grandpa had a quick bite before heading off to see a local play! It was in a cool playhouse and was awesome! I can't remember the name, but it was fun!

On Saturday my "great" friend and fellow card maker, Marlene picked us up for yet another long day of shopping - but this time it was all about the scrapbook stores! I got some great supplies, despite not spending too much money! We had a nice lunch on the patio in Glenview and a wonderful dinner at her house eating one of my favorites - gyros! You just can't get a good one here! It was fun as always to spend time with Marlene (and Paul)!

On Sunday we took Cindy and Phil with us to the Shedd Aquarium! I hadn't been there in over 15 years! It was just as cool as I remember it - maybe even better! I wasn't impressed with their dolphin show, but then again after you've had an opportunity to swim with them yourself, it's never as good just to watch! We did have fun watching the fish, penguins, dolphins and turtles and can't wait to see them in person in Aruba really son! It was also great to spend more time with Cindy and Phil! That evening we had dinner with the family and I got to see everyone but Katie and Matt (but I did get to see him on Monday)!

On Monday, Dad, Melanie and I ventured down to the Museum of Science and Industry. The exhibit on weather was really, really cool! They had a great hurricane to watch and we were mesmerized by it! Melanie got to see her Fairy Castle and couldn't stop staring at it! I love to watch the train move around the country - it's always been one of my favorite things! We wandered around for hours and had a great time at a Chicago favorite! Later that evening we were able to share dinner with Ed and Dad and enjoy the last few hours together before heading home on Tuesday morning!

I will always miss my family, but I seriously do not miss the weather there. it was humid 1/2 the time (I guess that's better than all the time)! I don't miss the traffic and pace, but I do miss the really good food, friends and family!

The day after we got back Dad had a pain in his chest and spent a night in the hospital, thankfully just as a precaution. The test came out just fine and he was diagnosed with a spasm! I'm glad he was OK. After talking to him tonight, he's back in therapy and doing wonderfully!

So, I'm still waiting for someone to slow time down... you can start about 3 p.m. on Friday and make my holiday weekend coming up longer!!! Enjoy everyone!

Hidden Treasure

After we returned from North Dakota, we hitched up the camper and set off for a new camping spot in Colorado - Spruce Grove campground in the Terryall Wilderness. It's an area we have driven through but have never explored and it's only about 2 hours from home! What a hidden gem this turned out to be! We LOVED this campground!

On Saturday morning we set off for a leisurely hike up to lizard rock. It was about 2 miles of constant incline, but nothing major! We really enjoyed the views from the top and the conversation we had with another hiker from Parker! There are several trails in the area and we are anxious to come back another day and check them out as well. You don't always find trails within a campground, so that was very nice!

The campground was surrounded by some great rock formations and there was one that loomed right above our campsite! It looked like it would be hard to climb, but was actually easy - anyone could do it! The views from here were also amazing!

The Terryall River runs right through the campground and people would jump in at one end of the campground and float to the other on inner tubes! It looked like so much fun on a really HOT day! We know now to come back with tubes in the middle of summer!

On the 4th of July we took a roadtrip to nearby Florescent Fossil Beds, a National Monument that we had never seen. Millions of years ago, there was a redwood forest there and after a volcano erupted and then the area flooded, it caused all of that to fossilize! The specimens were cool! Something to see if you like geology! It was a nice way to spend the 4th since we would not get fireworks this year!

So later tonight Melanie and I are headed to Chicago to visit with family and friends! Looking forward to a few good meals as well! Catch you soon!

15 years ago...

my Melanie finally joined the world! This past weekend we celebrated her birthday with family and will continue that celebration when we join the rest of the family in Chicago later this week!

She is very excited to be 15 - she is going today to get her driver's permit! Watch out Castle Rock, stay off the street! I'm sure sh'ee be a good driver, it just takes lots of practice - right?? She has to have her permit for 365 days and then when she's 16 she can get her license! Then she can be my charuffer!! Can't wait!!

60 Years!!!

Back at the end of June, we took a roadtrip to North Dakota to attend Dan's Aunt Kazia and Uncle Bob's 60th wedding anniversary! It was the first real roadtrip that Melanie could remember and I'm not sure it convinced her by any means to do this often!! It was fairly uneventful, hot, humid, but lots and lots of fun to visit with the family! Many of them we hadn't seen since our wedding, so it was fun to see how everyone has aged!

We arrived in Grand Forks on Thursday night around dinner, got situated, and had a good night sleep. On Friday we checked out town, got a pedicure and did a little shopping to keep us entertained! Then on Friday night we went to a gathering at Randy's house. Bob and Kazia were surprised when we walked through the garage into the backyard as they had no idea we were coming! Randy had an awesome yard for a party and the kids and dogs had fun running all around! Eventually Mom and Dad showed up, along with Susan, Bill and Betsy! Bob and Kazia were thrilled to see all of us!

I finally got to meet his cousin Ken, who lives in Oregon. Dan hasn't seen him since he was a kid, and of course I've never met him! Ken and his wife Nancy actually rode their bicycles from Oregon - it took 22 days and a whole lot of determination in my mind! What an achievement for them!

On Saturday we headed to Mayville for the actual party! Kazia treated all of her guests to her famous pancakes and Polish sausage! It was delicious!! I could have eaten them all day if she would have just kept cooking!! Kazia has always been known for putting on "big" meals - well she did have 6 kids, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren! (And still counting!)

During the afternoon we wandered down to the picnic area by the lake and enjoyed watching the kids play and talking with all the cousins while trying to stay cool in the shade! We loved talking with Ray and Shirley, their daughter Sarah, cousin Randy and her son Jared, among all the others! There were a lot of "old" childhood stories as well as stores about what we're doing today! Then we headed back to the senior center where they catered in a great dinner for everyone!

All of Dan's Zurowski cousins also made the journey from Wisconsin and Minnesota! What fun it was to hang out and talk with them as well! This was the first time in well over 20 years since they had all been together! We made sure that we got a picture of that!

After a really long day, we headed back to Grand Forks, hung out in the pool with the girls and relaxed! On Sunday we hit the road and headed home! After 15 hours in the car, we finally pulled into our garage and sighed with relief that we were finally back home in our "heaven"! It was a fun weekend, but next time - let's FLY!

CJ Challenge - August

It's been a few weeks (or more than a few) since I last posted. It's been a busy summer, so I'll try to recap it over the next few days so not to bore you all at once!!! :) /div>

This great LO was completed for Debbie as her challenge! She recently went to NYC and Chicago and asked us to take some of those photos and make a great LO. I kinda wish I got Chicago, since I can relate to that much easier, but I got NYC instead! I've never been there, so it was interesting to scrap something I was unfamiliar with! In the end, it came together well and I actually LOVE it! The colors that she picked are great and I think I used them well! I love all the little pieces that make it seem warm and friendly! I hope she will enjoy it as much as I do! And that it will fit well with the other pages she gets back as well!