Seriously...this class counts???

This past weekend I was in Chicago for three days for a diversity class in my masters program. We did not sit in a classroom, or attend workshops, we planned our own trip to cover the 36 required hours in order to receive credit for the class. Some of the things we did throughout the three days were very beneficial and felt as if they qualified towards our requirements, while with other activities I found myself waiting for someone to come out of the bushes and say "got ya this isn't your class"!

My favorite places include:
Navy Pier, we went to the Children's Museum, on a boat tour of the Chicago River/Michigan Lake and played a round of mini-golf in our free time.

Katie's great idea for transportation:
The only brave girls to mini-golf with the boys :)

I felt like a kid again...and I think I also acted like a kid again :)Boat tour...would have been much more enjoyable without the guide who doubled as a cheesy comedian!

I also enjoyed a visit/panel discussion with the Chicago Police Department, and Chicago Public School System. Millennium Park was also one of the more enjoyable places that we visited.
Millennium Park:

"The Bean"

Inside "The Bean"

Splash Pad in Millennium Park...very different then the ones in Cedar Rapids!

I did not enjoy "Taste of Chicago", too many people and not enough room!
A bird was also disgusted with the "Taste" and shit on me :)
Beautiful Fountain (meeting place after the "Taste of Chicago")
Needless to say I was so excited to get back home to give Ellie and Jeremy a hug. In the future I plan on bringing my children to Navy Pier over a weekend. The atmosphere was great, it was fun to be so close to the water and there are a few museums near to enjoy. And next time I will also be able to stop in and see Carissa :)

Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary!

Monday was Tom and Mary's 25th wedding anniversary! They celebrated Saturday night with family and friends with a large party at a reception hall. We had a ton of fun at the party and Tom and Mary seemed to as well. Ellie was cashed out by 8 and left the party with YaYa and Grandpa Dan, thus Jeremy and I could relax and go out with his cousins/aunts/uncles afterwards.
Pictures from the night:

It was also Mary's parents (Grandma Marie and Grandpa Mac's ) 50th Anniversary :)

Family PhotoAunt Julie, Me and Rachel (two out of the three pregger woman)Dancing the night away...

Uncle Eric and RachelEllie with Grandma and Papa before she left...she was fascinated with Grandma's flowerThe three pregnant women...we can't wait to be done :)Grandpa Dan and Yaya taking my little Bean homeThe Village People came to entertain us!Jeremy's cousin Josh and his girlfriend Lindsey...our favorite CR buddies! Us on our way to the bar...good thing Jeremy has a built in DD for another 6 months!It was a great night and fun to help celebrate such a wonderful marriage!

Happy 1st Father's Day!

Happy 1st Father's Day Jeremy to the Best Daddy around!!! It has been a joy to become a parent with you. Ellie just adores you! She loves to sit and watch a baseball game on TV or relax in your arms while your jamming to some music...most of all she loves to wrestle and play alongside you!
We had a very busy day on Father's Day, we went to Jeremy's Aunt Kath's house to see his family and wish his dad a Happy Father's Day, we then went to a picnic at Eagle Point Park to see my dad and extended family. We then had to rush back home, because Jeremy had to work Sunday night.

Picture of Ellie and her daddy before he left for work:

Family picture at the picnic

Ellie eating daddy's food or her shoe :)

Picture of Ellie with Cora and Gracie, her second cousins

Flood Run 2009

Today I participated in the first ever, "Cedar Rapids Run the Flood Race". All proceeds go to help with flood relief. Jeremy was planning on bringing Ellie down to watch mommy run and get some fresh air, unfortunately Ellie is sick :( so I went on my own. I ran with Janeen, Jessica and Megan, who are all ladies I work with at McKinley. Jeremy's cousin Josh and his girlfriend Lindsay also ran, as well as some rugby guys. I was very worried considering I have not run for over 2 months (way too sick with the pregnancy). But, I'm proud to report that I ran the entire race and felt great!

Janeen, Megan and Me before the race

Information about the race:
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009
Location: Downtown Cedar Rapids
Start Time: 9am
Start Line: 2nd Ave NE & 5th St NE
Number of Participants: 1,373 (as of today)
Oldest Participant: 80
Youngest Participant: 1
Number of Volunteers: 163 (as of today)

Beautiful Sand Castle for the event

After the race by the sandcastle (Janeen refused to get in the picture :)


Here is some background information about the flood of 2008:
Despite days of preparation and sandbagging by the entire Cedar Rapids community, on June 13, 2008, the city experienced the worst natural disaster to ever hit eastern Iowa. Fueled by a hard winter and heavy rains, the Cedar River surged through downtown Cedar Rapids until finally cresting at just over 31 feet. The water surpassed the 500-year floodplain and reached more than nine feet above flood stage level at its deepest point. Damage and destruction were widespread, as residential, commercial, industrial and government buildings were all forced under water. Over 10 square miles of the city were directly affected by floodwaters; thousands of people lost their homes.
Cedar Rapids flood statistics:·10 square miles of the city impacted by the flood·18,623 estimated persons in flood-impacted area·1,360 estimated jobs lost as a result of flood·1,800 students displaced by the flood·5,390 residential properties flooded·$2.4 billion estimated damage cost to public infrastructure and future flood management

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Today is our 3 year wedding anniversary. Jeremy had the day off, so he made me a great dinner. Steaks on the grill, twice baked potatoes and asparagus...mmmmmm!

Best Husband EVER :)

Mmmmmmm...dinner!Ellie after she smeared potatoes in her hair!

We have much to celebrate today, since our wedding day we have bought a house, a car, went on numerous vacations around the United States, added two cats to join our two dogs, made new friends and kept in touch with old, and were blessed with our little girl and one on the way. Looking back to our first year of marriage I remember telling my mom that I was not having children for FIVE YEARS...funny how quickly we changed our plans :)

Our attempt at a family pic taken by me (not the best:)

Old Friends are the BEST of Friends!

This past weekend we had a wedding to go to Saturday night in Cedar Rapids...as luck would have it so did our good friend Keith (not the same wedding, but in CR). It was a bit random how it worked out so perfect, but Jeremy and I went to our wedding and then picked Keith up afterwards and headed home. Keith and Jeremy were a bit on the tipsy side so I was worried what they would say to my incredibly sweet 8th grade babysitter...but they behaved themselves. Ellie was asleep when we got home, I gave our babysitter a ride home and upon my return I was welcomed by a bonfire in our backyard with two of the best guys in the world. We sat outside talking with Keith and reminiscing about old times. The next morning, Ellie got her chance to hang out with Keith. He saw her over Christmas, but she was only 5 months old, now she is pure entertainment :) She of course had to put on a silly show for Keith with her sweet smiles. I took some pictures of Ellie with Keith. I think I have said this before but, MY CAMERA STINKS!!!!! At one point she laid her head down on his chest to give him a hug...which of course my camera missed...and then she waved with him...which the camera missed again! So, I don't have the best pictures, but I will get them next time! I was promised a new one for my birthday :)! We were just so happy to see our good buddy Keith!

Take #1 taken after she gave him a hug :(

Take #2 taken after Ellie waved

Memorial Day Weekend, Ellie and I traveled back to Dubuque to visit with family at my aunt and uncles house. Before we stopped over at their house we met up with Sarah at Happy Joe's. The food and company were great! Ellie was excited to see Sarah again, the last time she saw her Ellie was only a few weeks old. Ellie would not look at the camera she just wanted to check Sarah out...but can you blame her :)