Love, plain and simple

Yes, I am partial to a certain little girl....


With red hair and a big pink hair bow


With a smattering of freckles spreading across her nose and cheeks


Yes, my Fin. I am in love. Such a familiar face, hair, and smile. She takes me back 28 years. But this time, I get to send the little girl home at bedtime. Age does have some perks!!


Jake hung up a swing at The View and Finley can't wait to try it out. That Jake, he's a talented one...


A recent visitor at the Drive Thru. Booties so the dog won't scratch the car.


Another picture perfect day!

Location:N Fairview Terrace,Jacksonville,United States

What a week!

If you ask me, a good boss learns how to delegate...provided you have the right people in place. And that I do! So when News Channel 20 called me about an interview regarding our swimming pool and ever increasing ADA regulations, I turned to my go to guy at the Y, Jared. I mean, he is after all our Program and Aquatics Director. And I was due for a root touch up, so really? Go on tv? Not a chance!!! And Jared?


Well, other than sweating like a fiend, he did GREAT!


Cole? Bought a helmet and hit the streets of DC...riding his bike to and from work.


Kelsey job shadowed me at the Y, but I think her heart (and all of the fun) was found at the Fire Station that day! But we did let her ride the bus, and back wash the pool...I mean, fun or what!?! Yes, it was "or what."



Mad was in love with the movable televisions in Same Day Surgery...she wants one!
And of course, Jake googled it.


A little "out of it" post op. it went well, and she is recovering.


Uncle Harmy was there as well...routine...50 year old male...colonoscopy. All clear I am happy to say!!!! I am certain that I am grossly unpopular in my family right now for posting these photos. I just can't help myself!


What's new at The View?? Jake took the legs off of an old table and made a new table...ready for a coat of paint. Awesome!!!!!


Maggie's new chairs...looking good!!
CHEESECAKE COOK-OFF!!


Marilyn


Vs. Jake.
OMG. No clear winner (well, technically not true... Madeline, Papa Joe and I were the winners...we got the cheesecakes!!!)
Both were and are BEYOND delicious! And they are banana, by the way.
banana = fruit= healthy, right????

Location:W College Ave,Jacksonville,United States

A weekend away

Madeline has to have rather major ear surgery...again..on Monday, so she and Jake and I ran away to the lake for a quick weekend...


But first...Jake mowed our yard...March people, it is March and we have 80+ degrees... We have mowed 3 times...and we live in Illinois.


And my staff gave the Y a nice check....


And Jake hung the chandelier that Madeline bought for The View...


Henry loved his food


And Nate joined another circus...look how awesome he looks...seriously he has lost alot of weight...all of that juggling practice at the Y!!!


And my sweet Fin...snuggling in my bed
So we hit the road...first stop...


Antiquing....just outside of Pittsfield


A Civil War statue..a beautiful day that quickly turned into....


A crappy day to drive!
But we made it...and my new couch was there!!!!


LOVE it!!!


A beautiful sunset at Baxters where we had dinner..


Jake and Mad


Seriously? Big Ten Football fan...come on...get real!!


Reupholstered chairs in the living room....


The new lamp I purchased today...pretty darn proud of it!!!


More new purchases...lake glass


More purchases... And speaking of purchases...here are Jake's


Not a bad day of shopping!


The lake was magical today... I sat on the deck and read for hours..



Great fun!!!


The Super Highway is complete...still in shock over it...


And then the tattooed people....ok, bad photo...Jake took it...this woman had a HUGE tattoo on her chest..."beautifully broken" is what it said....unreal...and I really wanted to share it... Then I saw this at Target...


Chin on down...tat city...oh yes, I was obvious and Jake deserted me. Oh well. I am pretty certain that he did not follow me home!!


Breakfast a the Cozy Cafe...rumored to be John Goodman's favorite....


Pretty Darn good!


The lake today.....remember..it is March in the Midwest...what in the world???


So what is this you ask? A spray tan gone BAD... Madeline got a spray tan....and then went out in the rain. Yep, a spray tan gone very BAD!!!!


Dinner at Little Rizzo's...yes, sun...from my afternoon on the deck....


And another beautiful sunset...a great way to end a perfect day...

Location:Brookhaven Ln,Sunrise Beach,United States

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Location:W College Ave,Jacksonville,United States

Friday...

Maggie had to have a procedure...this morning. I drove over to Springfield to wait with Adam and on my way, I saw THE most perfect DOUBLE RAINBOW. Always a good sign.


Did you know that it is always hard to find veins on redheads? Me either. Today was the first I had ever heard of this. And being the mama of 2 redheads one would think I would know this. And yes, I really did put this picture in! My girl is fine, by the way.


This is Cole's desk at work. He had a daily Starbucks habit, which to me is perfectly fine...since there is no Three Legged Dog in DC. But, ever mindful of expenses, Cole splurged and bought himself a Stanley thermos. You see, favorite son in law Adam, takes a thermos to work daily. You know, the hours in a combine call for caffeine fixes ... Frequently. So Cole, is now a Stanley man. Cracks me up!!!



Yep, just another day at work. OK...so it was a GREAT FABULOUS day at work!!
So I took the check downtown to show my Board Chair before we took it to the bank. And, well, in my excitement, I locked my keys in the car. Luckily, this beautiful weather saved me...the sunroof was open. And seeing as I was in a skirt, and there was a crowd gathering from the local tavern we were parked in front of (come on kids, 1:30 in the afternoon, day before St. Patrick's Day...doesn't everyone belly up?) I let Jared do the honors...to the cheers from the bar crowd...seriously.


Yes, that's my cute new purse on the hood.


Hero of the afternoon. Then I set off the car alarm. Yes, the crowd was then cheering.


We finally made it to Bob's office...he too was happy!


Today was a great day...weather wise...look at Duncan Park. Aglow with Spring beauties! my Mom's best friend Emy suggested we take Mom for a drive since the weather has been so beautiful...


(Just look at that temperature from my car on Thursday! Yes, mid March in Illinois and it reads 86 degrees.)
And to our great happiness, Mom agreed! So we took her to see her great grandchildren at the Farm... This was her first time out of the house since early January.


Here she is with Adam and Henry


Millie and Finley peering in at her. yep, Finley is eating a cupcake!
Then we drove over to The View...


Jake hung the shutters and...


Stenciled the door...which Madeline had painted. Mom actually got a tour inside as well...


Millie, Mom, me and Emy. like I said, it was a GREAT day. Yes, I still have a HUGE head.


Look at the bathroom...cruising along!
After we took Mom home...she told me that I was better to her than she had been to her mother. SO NOT TRUE. I learned by example. But it was an afternoon I will always remember...my cup runneth over.
Papa Joe and I took Finley to the farm. Papa Joe's farm where Finley's parents were married. And she played on the swings..








And yes, she is still wearing her boots.


When we returned to town, we decided to go to Leo's for pizza...


Julie's Italian, Salvatore took our girl into the kitchen...


Then his sister Antonia wanted to hold her....star of Leo's she was!


We had a great afternoon...and as soon as we pulled in her driveway and she saw her parents, she exclaimed..with a tearful tremor in her voice...."I came home!" and she was glad to be there.
As I drove off, I had to stop and capture this....


The view on Fox Lane. A perfect ending to a perfect day.


I am thankful. That is all. I am thankful.

Location:City Pl,Jacksonville,United States