Chi-town

We had a wonderful time in Chicago with our friends Paul and Tammy. Despite a touch of the stomach flu for me, we did some site seeing and lots of eating!

We ate at an Italian restaurant called Quartino's and an American restaurant called HUB 51. Both were amazingly yummy! Tammy even got her sushi at HUB 51!

We also checked out a piano bar called Howl at the Moon. And despite the bachelorette parties that were there, we had a good time listening to the dueling pianos. Our hotel comped us the $40 is would have cost us for a cover to get in there. Very nice!

Our hotel had a great lounge area with couches and flat screen TVs and we spent both nights lounging in there after being out on the town. The kind waitress even brought me tea with all the fixings the second night when she found out my stomach wasn't feeling quite right.

Even though everything at our hotel was super spendy, everything was also very nice. We felt pampered, for sure. We ate lunch in the retaurant one day and it was the best chicken salad I had ever had. The conceirge desk could not do enough for you. They were so helpful in finding us places to eat, getting us tickets, and making sure we were well taken care of.

Poor Paul, there was one night that he could not keep his eyes open for a photo no matter how hard he tried. There was no real reason for it, he had had no trouble earlier in the day, but it was quite comical. I think I tried 6 or 7 different pictures and then he refused to try anymore.

I cropped Tammy out of this one, she was laughing too hard. I don't want to upset Paul if he sees this blog (hee hee). I had a hard time taking the photo I was laughing so much! He's such a photogenic guy, so I couldn't believe picture after picture...eyes closed. Still cracks me up thinking about it!

He did better the next day on the site seeing tour boat. See?

I am pretty sure Oprah is on this boat. Just trust me.

There is so much more to see and do in this city. Mike told me last night that I would be going to Chicago three times next summer....once to meet Tammy and Paul, once with my online friends, and once with him alone. Guess he enjoyed it too!

Starting to feel a little better, but not totally back to normal yet. Kind of wish it would just rain for a whole day so I can lounge around and rent movies with the kids and recover.

Hope your week goes smoothly!

LB

My Fabulous Upcoming Weekend!

I LOVE THIS CITY!

I am flying to Chicago this weekend!!

And these two fabulous people are meeting me there.....

Oh, and this gorgeous hunk is coming with me.......

And we are going to have an awesome time eating, drinking cocktails, and staying up late and being stupid......or at least the eating part. And cocktail drinking. Which leads to the stupid part, usually. At least for me.

And guess what's going on there this weekend.....while I am in the same city....while I am sleeping blocks away? The Blogher Conference.

Guess who is going to be in town for it? Guess who is going to be walking the same streets as myself, quite possibly eating at the same restaurants and visiting the same museums?

PIONEER WOMAN

I will probably pee if I run into her. I should really get a new outfit.

Peace Out,

LB

You've Got a Friend

Been a busy, busy week here in the Budach house. Mike had been up in Canada fishing all week and I was busy getting together with friends. It was a fabulous, but exhausting week. I had some people over from work and from my masters group one night for cocktails.

This is Tammy and I. Tammy and I did our masters together and she is also my neighbor....lucky girl. She teaches at the Catholic school in town and is a proud member of the Two-Boys-Club.

This is Tricia and Justin, otherwise known as Mert and JK. Mert and I worked together the year I had Connor. She was the one that assured me I was not a bad mother for giving up breast feeding. She also sent me the HUGEST meat and cheese tray after giving birth and I lived on that for a week..... breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She's seen me through some dark days, that girl. JK has worked with me for the last four years at Willow. I don't think I have ever laughed as much as I laugh when I am around him. Hilarious.

This is me and my current team mate Betsy (far right) and our past teammate Kristin (middle). Kristin also was in the masters program with me. Our team worked very well together and we miss Kristin. She is now in another town teaching and doing quite well. Bets and I will venture forward with yet another new team this upcoming school year. This is Gia. We will be in-laws one day. Her daughter and my son are a perfect match. Just ask Gia's husband. Gia and I did our masters together and Gia teaches 2nd grade. I like her very much and intend on spending much more time with her, whether she likes it or not. Did I mention this woman moves at 150 mph at all times? She does. It's why she weighs 90 pounds. It's why I dislike her. JUST KIDDING.....she cracks me up! Never stops, that woman. My bestest friend from high school also visited me and stayed overnight a couple of nights with her two adorable children. Leslie and Ella Adorable, no? Mr. Nicolas Family Pic

Mike is home. He had a GREAT time in Canada with family. Personally, I am glad he's home. I do not sleep when he's gone, and he really is my entertainment! Evenings just weren't the same without him. I think he missed us some too.....

Thanks to my friends for keeping me company this week. I am very lucky to have such great people in my life. Love, LB

P.S. I read this week that hijacking people's blogs has become quite popular. People steal someone's pictures and life and claim the whole thing as their own in their own blog. One way you can tell if someone is legit is if they post lots of pictures of themselves.....this post should be proof that I am not an impostor. You've never seen so many pics of me in one post, have you? I apologize.

No Luck Chuck

We took a day trip with picnic in tow to a lake near us to do some fishing. It was a gorgeous day and it was perfect fishing weather. We have never had much luck on this particular lake. Why we keep going back time and time again is beyond me. This little gem might have some to do with it. We like to pull up, dock the boat, and eat sinful food in this little establishment. We also like the familiarity of the lake. Noah is ALL ABOUT fishing. This is his usual pose on the boat.

Connor, on the other hand, could find about 20 other things to do.

Luckily, on this particular visit, little blue gills and crappies bit at regular intervals and kept him entertained most of the time.

Sometimes we got this face, however.

And sometimes he had to be lured out of crabby-ville with food....nothing like a little PB&J to lighten the mood.

Let's see what Noah has been up to......more of the same.

Poor Mike ended up having to dislodge one too many swallowed hooks. A lot of work when we weren't keeping much. Poor guy never barely got to fish. Good thing he's going to Canada for a week next week.

Isn't summer grand?

Peace out,

LB

Happy 4th of July!

Boys and fireworks. Need I say more? Isn't it heaven for a boy to blow things up and not get in trouble for it? I am pretty sure Connor lost 20 pounds just from the sheer need to gyrate his body the entire time we lit off street fireworks.

A shot of him still = Miracle

Noah basking in the noxious glow

Don't stare into the bright light!

All together now, "Oooooh, Ahhhhhhh"

Granny and Papa

My children RAN THROUGH the toxic fumes of this lovely explosive. I won't be surprised if they grow another appendage in the night. Hope you are all enjoying the holiday weekend. We are on the boat today! Woo Hoo! Picnic, fishing, sun, water...someone pinch me.

It's Not a Bird or Plane.

It's been cold and windy here lately. Makes it difficult when all the kids want to do is be outside. Two years ago I bought kites for the kids' Easter baskets. Before Easter arrived, Noah saw them in the laundry room. Guess I couldn't exactly put them in the baskets from the bunny. So, I just forgot about them. At some point Mike hung them in the garage so they were in front of my face every time I got into the van. We decided to try them out. Luckily, we have an open field behind our house which makes for great flying. Connor didn't have much luck.... Before any attempts to fly. Doesn't he look so optimistic? Attempt number one. Attempt number two. "Please Lord help me!" Finally I took over the kite and also took pictures at the same time. Because I can multitask, I am a woman after all. Gorgeous, huh? I loved the tails, but I think that's what gave Connor so much trouble. Noah, on the other hand, was a pro.... Very serious pilot Run, boy, run! Sweet boy Scary huh? Avert your eyes if it's too much. Not only was poor Connor unable to actually fly the kite, he was injured in the process.... Don't ask me how the string got him there. We will try again another day. Connor swears he can't fly kites.