It's Thursday!

I hope your week is going well (the weekend is almost here!).

We were without power for almost 24 hours on Tuesday morning. We had a LITTLE bit of rain, lots of wind and some lightening. We stayed at my in-laws, enjoyed the air conditioning, a pizza and junky TV.  (Pretty good Tuesday night, eh?)  We were happy to be back home last night though and I think we all slept MUCH better!!!!

IF you are interested, I posted some photos I took of my brother & sister-in-law: Maternity Photos. Thanks for looking!

What are your plans for this weekend?

There's a little festival in town this week and the parade is Friday night, so I think we'll walk the whole house away to the street the parade goes down.  The Olympics start Friday (HOORAY!!!!).  And I'm hoping to get some crocheting and scrapping done. Hubby talked about maybe going to Bears training camp, depending on the weather.

Have a great one!

PS: There will be more on our vacation posted in the next week.  Stay tuned!

The Tourists - Sites, Sand & Sea Edition

Part 2, Day 3 - Biloxi

(links are underlined)

As promised - Sunday (Father's Day) was an early start - as in 4:30 a.m.  We took portable breakfast, the kids slept for a while and we arrived at Vicksburg National Battlefield Site at 8:30.  (I would like to add as a side note that I-20 in Mississippi is really bumpy and roller coaster like) 

The entrance to the driving tour:

 Lookout over one of the battlefields:

The Illinois memorial:

 

 USS Cairo Gunboat:

 Aboard the USS Cairo:

 I can only get a "nice" picture if I promise a "silly" one:

 Vicksburg National Cemetary:

DD earned her Jr. Ranger badge here (to add to her collection)

We had lunch at Bumpers Drive In for lunch before continuing to our first beach destination:

BILOXI

(it's pronounced: Ba-Lux-ee)

We checked into the Motel 6 - it wasn't fancy (it looked like Ikea threw up in the room) but the price was right and the beach was literally across the street!

We stopped at Sharkheads Souvenir City (we are REALLY good at being tourists...):

 We walked across the street and played on the beach for a while, got cleaned up and drove to the Hard Rock Casino for dinner.

The weather in Biloxi was sunny and mid-90s but the gulf breeze felt SO good!

The Tourists - Sites, Sand and Sea Edition

Part 1 - Days 1 & 2, Memphis TN

(there are links where the words are underlined)

We decided to leave after I got off work on Thursday and drive a little ways.  We're glad we did so we had a little more time in Memphis. Memphis is a place we had talked about visiting on several occassions and since this was on our way to our main destination (the Gulf Coast) - we decided a couple of days there to check it out would be great.

At the Welcome Center right off the interstate:

 We arrived in Memphis on Day 1 around lunchtime. We parked across the street from the Gibson Guitar Factory.  We took the tour (no pictures/cell phones allowed).  We were in awe of the work that goes into making one of those beautiful guitars.

After our tour, we walked to Beale Street (if you want to drink and party - this is YOUR place!). We had a late lunch at Dyer's Burgers. We had seen it on Food Network and were really looking forward to it.  We were VERY disappointed in the food!

We walked a little further to the Peabody Hotel - it is an amazingly beautiful hotel. Our main purpose....to see the ducks in the fountain. They were very unbothered by anyone who was nearby and taking pictures.

The weather that day was HOT, humid and VERY summery!

Day 2 found us starting our day with a trolly ride along the river. 

 Then on to Mud Island.  We took a monorail car to the park. They have a 5 block long model of the Mississippi River that you can wade in - which DD thoroughly enjoyed doing - that ends at....

 the Gulf of Mexico (which overlooks Memphis)

We had lunch at Interstate BBQ. This was pretty good BBQ - DS really liked the BBQ spaghetti and DH & DS both liked the sausage link.

 And we DID end up at Graceland...it was quite accidental. We were just going to "drive by" and take some pictures of the house but I accidentally pulled into the pay lot. So we figured, what the heck. We hemmed and hawed about taking the tour - fearing it being really cheesy.  We were very pleasantly surprised!  It was interesting, we saw a lot and all enjoyed it (despite the heat).

 Graceland Living/Music Room: 

 DD's favorite Elvis costume:

After a swim at the hotel to cool off and relax, it was time for dinner!!!!!!!!!! Neely's BBQ

You know them (from Food Network: Gina & Pat) - I love their show and was REALLY looking forward to the food. O-M-G, it was really bad!  The meat had no flavor at all (not even smoky). DD wanted the mac & cheese and our waitress said that the cook had "messed it up" that day so they didn't have any...

We were disappointed!

We went to bed early because we were getting an early start the next day....

(stay tuned for further adventures)

PS:  These are quilt patterns that are outside the City building in Memphis. They are made from cut up street/road signs. I thought it was really cool!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!

It's a fortunately, unfortunately kind of day today.
FORTUNATELY...Ron Santo is FINALLY going into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  UNFORTUNATELY....Ronnie won't be there to give his speech (but I'm sure he'll be smiling down on Cooperstown).

 Courtesy of: bleacherbummed.tumblr.com

Courtesy of: sunfanshop.com

Congrats to Ron and Barry Larkin!

I will make that trip to Cooperstown.

The weekend is almost here!

YEA!!!!!!!!!!

My plan is to get some cards and scrapbook layouts done.  DD has a birthday party to go to tomorrow afternoon - she has been "preparing" to make sure she will be able to walk all the way down the balance beam.  DS is off to see the new Batman movie with his friends tomorrow afternoon.

I'm hoping for a quiet Sunday (I think I feel a nap coming on...).

What are your weekend plans?

Not that there was a doubt...

Once again, I was reminded what a great company I work for!

I got to spend a great weekend our company puts on for us almost annually, with co-workers from our office and the other offices in our company.  We had a great weekend, staying at the Hyatt in Deerfield. We had a wonderful speaker and nice dinner!  (And when will hubby & I learn that we are not young enough to stay up until midnight and drink with friends?)

Anyway...Saturday, we all went to Six Flags. It was hot but not unbearable!  Hubby & I walked around a lot, rode the train and people watched.  Yes - I DID ride some coasters (as evidenced in the photo below).  These are my co-workers (I'm in the light green shirt at the top).  Again, when will we learn we are not young enough to stay out late (we closed the park)?

Sunday we had breakfast with a co-worker and his girlfriend.  Hubby & I went to go see Ted.  (NOT for children but funny!)

The children returned around 6:00 but we had both had naps before they arrived. (Thanks, Mom & Dad!)

Thank you 1st FCS for a great weekend!

Cringe

I had taken some maternity pictures of my sis-in-law and brother a couple weeks ago.  Then they had some taken by a friend of theirs.  Oh wow!!! They are truly beautiful. 
I'm thinking I'll just keep the ones I took to myself - I am truly embarrased by mine now.  I obviously have LOTS to learn!!!!!  Off to study some photography.

Attention sewers!

(or those who like to collect fabric)....

Here is a link to a wonderful fabric giveaway: Bohemian Fabric Giveaway

HURRY!!!!!!!!!!!  It ends at midnight today (7/10)!

Trudging on

DH believes it's the alternator.  He's probably right (he usually is when it comes to vehicle diagnosis) and he & DS will be replacing it today (in the 100+ degree heat).  I hope all goes well!!!!!!

I am off to the Brewers game today with co-workers and clients.

I got my sewing project completed that I wanted to and will try to post pictures soon.

Have a great rest of the week!

Sewing challenge

I decided to take on this challenge this week:  One Thing One Week
I'm hoping with a day off during the week and it being so hot, that I can get a little sewing done...  I hope to AT LEAST finish the doll dress that has been sitting on my sewing table for 2 months.

What do you want to finish this week?

July...

Wow - July already!

We gave my brother & sis-in-law a baby shower on Saturday. It was a lot of fun - LOTS of pink! The company and food were great.  My siblings hung out after the shower for a little cookout at my parents. It was a good time - I always enjoy visiting with them.  Nothing funnier that story telling from our childhood that you can almost physically see our spouses cringing and rolling eyes (and our parents too).

Every once in a while there's a "slip" from someone about an unknown fact about something that happened while we were growing up. Those are the times that always make me wonder, what I don't know about what my kids are doing/have done...

I felt like crud yesterday so I spent most of the afternoon laying on the couch. I'm feeling a little better today but would much rather prefer to be in bed than at work.

I haven't forgotten about sharing our vacation - it's coming....

PS: If someone could find the control to turn down the blast furnace that is outside, that would be great!!!!  OY!!!!  Those of you who don't have power right now - my heart goes out to you!  Please find a cool place to be.

Have a great 4th!