Countown to Thanksgiving 2008!!

There are as many reasons to love Thanksgiving as there are things to be thankful for! We are really looking forward to celebrating both!

Local Friends

I have had the pleasure of making some fabulous friends since we've been here. Thanks Katie for taking all those pictures when I forgot my camera, which was pretty much always!!!!

Please darling, I tell you...

Allan was able to get back in touch with his friend Jason. They worked together many moons ago at a couple of great restaurants here in Chicago. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet him and I know why they have stayed friends after all these years. I think it has something to do with insanity!

Election 2008

It is such an exciting time for the country. But, living in Chicago, the intensity was definitely a few notches higher! The entire city was buzzing with excitement with the news Barack Obama's election. His acceptance speech was right here in downtown Chicago, the event was admission with tickets only (before you ask why we didn't go...) Obama has also held meetings in various locations of downtown Chicago, so it's always exciting to be in the midst of a new beginning.
Senator John McCain's concession speech was so gracious. It is evident that he is a man with a true love for his country. It has been such an exciting ride and I am curious and hopeful to see what is in store for America.

Labor Day weekend 2008

Lynne came to see for Labor Day weekend from Dallas. She enjoyed the departure from the triple digits and humidity. She got to see a lot of the city, and it was great to experience things that I had not done yet. And, what holiday weekend would be complete without a baseball game? I think that was the best part!

Visits from Friends

Our friends from Dallas paid us a visit in August. We spent almost the entire time outdoors. We went to the Whole Foods festival, ate way too much and listened to live music. And then, of course, we had to show them true Chicago pizza, which is never complete without wine!

Our sweet niece

I got an opportunity to meet my niece Lucy for the first time in August of 2008. It is so much fun being an aunt!It will such a joy to watch her grow.

Our life in the windy city

We moved to Chicago in the spring of this year. So, for the first couple of months, we got to play tourists.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Mardi Gras 2008
We were lucky to be able to spend Mardi Gras with our friends, Austin and Mindy, New Orleans veterans!

Anniversary 2007

We celebrated our 1st Anniversary and Andrew's Birthday on the Florida/Alabama beaches. There was a 70% chance of rain all weekend, but we were lucky enough to avoid it. We ate some great seafood, some of which we caught (with a little help)...and we also got to meet a dolphin.

Summer 2007

We had an opportunity to attend Allan's brother Sam's wedding, and we were also able to spend a few days in Chicago. It was the first time everyone was together in years.

New Orleans - Spring 2007

We went on our annual trip to New Orleans to visit friends. We had a great time and the weather was absolutely perfect! These photos were all taken in the French Quarter.

Honeymoon

California, here we come! We started the week in Los Angeles, rented a car and drove all the way up to San Francisco. And, of course our travels included Napa!

2006 - Our Wedding

Our wedding was September 16, 2006 in south Louisiana. It was the perfect day, although it rained! "Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling, to enter into the days of your life together, and may your days be good and long upon the earth."