Chicago is our kind of town!!!

Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurant in Chicago---tasty ribs!

Steve doin' his robot at Oz Park

Blue Man Group concert----what a party!

To die for orange bread french toast and strawberry orange juice at this gem

This was the cutest group of men outside the park, playing their instruments--

Cubbies game at Wrigley Field---we love baseball games!!

Beautiful Wrigley Field---gotta love the ivy covered walls

The most beautiful fountain I have ever seen--loved the architecture of it.

one of my favorite pictures!

Crazy masks at Grant Park fair

Enjoying some soulful music at the Chicago Jazz Festival

A "quick" hour wait for the yummiest bruschetta and deep dish Chicago pizza at Lou's--

Seriously...the tallest ferris wheel I have ever seen!

On the ferris wheel with my babes!

View of Chicago from the ferris wheel

Kicking off Steve's birthday with midnight sundae and hot chocolate at Ghirardelli's

Happy Birthday my love!

Steve opening up the Christmas advent calender I made for him while he was deployed

(it patterns the one he grew up with as a kid...he loved it!!)

Walking through the city in the rain---such a fun night!

This little...errr..big guy was so tucked in and cozy I couldn't resist a picture...so cute!

Steve...imitating his personal mascot----THE LION!

On a water taxi going down the river

AHHHH!!!....don't look down!!

Standing on the ledge in the Skydeck of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)...so high!

Steve's personal message on the Willis Tower wall

The Bean in Mellenium Park

enjoying a tasty cinnamon roll in the park from Yolk...mmmmm

Last weekend for Steve's birthday I planned a surprise trip to Chicago for him!! We had a blast and crammed the few days we had there full of fun!! We loved everything but here are some of our very favorites about Chicago:
*yummy breakfast's at Yolk
*Blue Man Group concert

*Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park
*Cubbies game at Wrigley Field
*Skydeck in the Willis Tower (formerly Sears tower)
*Chicago Jazz Festival at Grant Park
*Lincoln Park Zoo
*Steve's birthday dinner at Benny's Chop House and our $61.00 appetizer that was "on the house" (as a thanks to Steve for his military service and safe return home!!)
*Walking through the city at night in the rain with my sweetheart
*Seeing Steve smile so much!
It was a great trip---it was the coolest city and we loved it!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!! You are the best husband and make me so incredibly happy! I'm so glad you're home and we can play again! Love you!

HE'S HOME!!!!!!

I don't know if I can even write how I feel---I am so unbelievably happy and complete!!! Steve was supposed to come home this Tuesday (the 17th) after being in Iraq for the last 6 months and I was getting really excited. I woke up last Saturday morning (the 14th) and got a call from him--he asked what I was doing that night? And if I would want to come pick him up at the airport! I was so surprised and happy!!!! He was able to get on a earlier flight and get home sooner than we expected! Needless to say, I said "yes--I'll be there!", hung up the phone and ran around the house squealing for about 10 minutes!!

Not seeing your husband for 6 months is hard!! I have missed him so much. I know there are people who are deployed for a lot longer and I appreciate the sacrifices they make--for us---6 months was enough!! We feel so blessed and grateful that he did not have to be gone longer than that. Apart from the emotional difficulty of being separated, I have worried every day about his safety. There were numerous mortar attacks and car bombs very close to him, during his time in Iraq and I feel so blessed that he was protected and is home safe.

So since Saturday night we have been living in our own little world! It has been wonderful. The best thing about him being back is--EVERYTHING!!! By that I mean everything is better! We appreciate and revel in all the "little things"...being able to eat dinner together, snuggle on the couch, kiss each other whenever we want--life is bliss! I couldn't be happier to have him home! Love you Steve! Thanks for how hard you work for us!

The 3 Musketeers (+ Roscoe) Roadtrip to KY Adventure!

This past week my parents helped drive Roscoe and I back to Kentucky, after being in California for the past 6 months, while Steve has been deployed. It was a great trip. We had fun along the way, stopping in Tucson to see my sister-in-law Sarah and her husband Cary and 2 adorable boys, seeing my Dad's mission companion in Midland Texas, and then staying at a "pet-friendly" hotel in McKinney Texas and exploring some of the area. It was a fun trip! When we finally reached my home in Vine Grove, KY...my parents stayed for a week and we just played and played! It was a blast. We went to Fort Knox, the Patton Musuem, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace and childhood home, Mammoth Caves, Glendale, the Louisville Slugger Bat Musuem, a Bat's baseball game (the Cincinnati Red's AA team), and also explored some of Amish country and bought some produce from an authentic Amish farm. Not to mention all the good food we ate and the games of ping pong Dad and I played in my basement. It was so much fun and I was really sad to see them leave. Thanks again Mom and Dad for all the fun times and the support you gave me over the past months! I miss you!!!!