Girls' Weekend

We had a girls' weekend in Sullivan with my friends from college (L-R: Christy, Jenn, Krista & I). We went to Monicals for lunch and then went to EIU and to the Gam house. It was so great seeing them.

Here we are at the Gam house in the chapter room.

Composite picture...look at my short hair!!

We stopped by Ike's for a beer, but it was only 5 so we were basically the only ones there.

We went to Jibby's for dinner in Sullivan. The designer from Trading Spaces owns it. It was such a cute restaurant and the food was great.

Ethan's Cub Scouts Crossover

Ethan had his crossover from cub scouts to boy scouts today. Although he is not doing boy scouts next year, we went to the ceremony so he could get his arrow plague. He made the arrow and decorated the plague.

Ethan had to give a speech about what he has learned as a cub scout. He did a great job!

Crossing over...

Dinner at Coast

We went to dinner Sat night at Coast with Allison & Scott, Natalie (to my right), Danielle, & Pavil.

Valentine's Day cookies

I made Dutch style pork tenderloin with new potatoes and salad. My brother Bryan came over for dinner. Julia and Ethan helped me make Valentine's Day cookies (one day late).

Valentine's Day Cont...

Here are more pictures from V-Day

We figured out how to use the timer

Bella has an underbite so it looks like she is smiling...

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! We hung around the house in the morning and then Craig took the kids to the park. We madea delicious V-Day dinner - crab legs, scallops, steak (for Ethan), and devil's food cake cupcakes with homeade icing.

Craig and Julia playing their guitars before dinner.

Ethan playing a game on Craig's iPhone. Craig and the kids are obsessed with some game on his phone and try to beat each other's score.

Craig teaching Ethan how to steam crab legs.

Ethan making brocoli cheese risotto.



Posing for the camera...




Ethan cooking the scallops.

We used our fireplace for the first time tonight. It worked great!

We had a nice fire going and then decided to light the candles.

Sitting down for our V-Day dinner.

Opening our V-Day cards.

Playing Uno

We made devils food cake cup cakes with homeade icing (got the recipe from my best friend Allison's family)

Bella was pooped.

Mom in Chicago

My mom was in town Wed - Fri and then flew to Florida to see her sister and mom. We went to Unlce Julio's Thurs night for Mexican food.

Daddy Daughter Dance & Step Mom/Step Son Date

Craig and Julia went to a Daddy Daughter Dance at the Union League Club in Chicago. They went with Craig's friend Peter and his two daughters and Craig's client Matt and his daughter. They had a great time! Julia looks so grown up!

Ethan and I went on a Step Mom/Step Son date at Hugo's Frog Bar. We both had steaks and shared a twice baked potato. While we ate dinner we listened to a live piano player.

Can you see the frog statue behind us?

After dinner we went to The Hancock for dessert. Here is Ethan with the city skyline behind him.

He had a chocolate mousse cake.