AUDITION FOR WILLY WONKA PRODUCTION - Part 2

Friday, September 18, 2009

This was the dance audition part of the program for Willy Wonka! Go Colette!

AUDITION FOR WILLY WONKA PRODUCTION

Friday, September 18, 2009

Tonight was Colette's first audition to play a part in a Willy Wonka Production through the Chicago Youth Theater. There were over 70 kids participating in the audition process and we had one week to prepare a one-minute singing/acting routine. The dance part was taught to them and they danced it in groups of 5. We are so proud of her that she performed in front of 4 judges and so many parents and kids. Colette said she loved seeing all the smiling faces while she was perfoming. And this morning we checked the callback list and she is in the "Callbacks" from 12 :00 - 2 pm!

CHANTI'S GIRLSCOUT CAMPING WEEKEND- Part 1

August 29, 2009

Five days after starting our new school year, Chanti going into 2nd Grade and Colette into 4th Grade, Chanti and I had to go on a camping weekend with her Brownie, Girl Scout Troop. There were 16 girls and their moms and we met at the campsite, about 1 1/2 hours northwest of Batavia. We had a log cabin and the bare necessities (outhouse in the woods....eugh :) Once we all settled, we went on a hike through the woods collecting several items for the collage the girls needed to prepare. Then we played games, played ball, danced and enjoyed each other's company. Our troop leader, Sherri, was very enthusiastic, having come from a long line of Girl Scouts, telling us that this was just an introduction of what camping is all about....but for many of us moms and girls, it seems this is the only introduction we need, thank you!

CHANTI'S GIRLSCOUT CAMPING WEEKEND- Part 2

After coming back from our hike, the girls painted their crafts and we made dinner and set up the sleeping bags/beds. Then all of the girls/moms sang Happy Birthday to Jennifer and me with a cookie cake! We then went outside and roasted marshmallows and ate s'mores. It was really fun. At around 9 pm we got the girls to stay in their beds while we moms stayed by the fire until about 11:30 pm. Jeni, one of my friends, brought us all goody bags in celebration of our birthdays, which included a mini bottle on wine, earplugs, a bandana and a nailbuffer, all necessities for our one-night out in the wilderness!

CHANTI'S GIRLSCOUT CAMPING WEEKEND- Part 3

Sunday we woke up way to early...and we packed our beds/sleeping bags, ate breakfast and then decided to go for a hike through the trails to try to find the river, which we never found yesterday, but we also got to go into the corn maze, which was a lot of fun and a true maze! Made me think of the Harry Potter book...

SUMMER FUN AT ABUE AND OPA'S IN FLORIDA 2009

We were in Florida from July 16 - August 17, 2009 at Abue and Opa's house. The kids and I really enjoyed the beach, the pool, reading, being together and doing nothing, watching old movies... Derek's favorite, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", which we watched over and over again! It was the Summer we needed after our hectic year. Derek got over his fear of the water and he swims like a fish, without putting his face in, yet. But he loved playing "dead" and "scaring" his sisters. We also took an intercoastal cruise with Abue (Opa was traveling with Richi and Dietrich in Europe, and Doug was working). The boat was called "Lady Atlantic" and it was great fun. We got to talk to the captain and Derek got to steer the boat!

CHANTI'S 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY - Part 1

Today was Chanti's Birthday (August 5) and we started the celebrations as soon as we woke up. Opa went to get balloons and flowers and her favorite bagels for breakfast and Abue prepared a pool-side feast. We had carvel ice-cream cake for dessert - at breakfast! Only at Abue's house....how fun and delicious.

CHANTI'S 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY - Part 2

In the afternoon, we got all dressed up to go to see the Broadway show "Mamma Mia" at the Kravis Center, which was fabulous and so much fun. The theater was fun of moms, grandmothers and daughters/grandaughters, so we fit right in. We all got up and danced the last number. And then we went to dinner at Chanti's favorite restaurant: The Cheesecake Factory, where we all sang her Happy Birthday and she opened her presents. Derek was very involved in "helping" Chanti open her presents and loved singing to her. It was an all-day extravaganza! Happy Birthday Chantilin!

SURFING....IN ABUE AND OPA'S POOL

Richi brought his paddle board into the pool and the kids practiced their surfing poses. Even Doug tried it! It was like going on a big boat and so much fun.

SURFING IN FLORIDA

This was an "awesome" day at the beach with Richi and Dietrich. The waves were good for surfing and although I was a little worried, all was in good fun and the kids loved it. Abue, of course, had the greatest outfit of us all...jaja. Derek thought he was the coolest dude out there, along with his Daddy, who gave us a little exhibition of 007 Daniel Craig's getting-out-of-the-water scene..H O T

SUMMER FUN AT ABUE AND OPA'S IN FLORIDA 2009

August 16, 2009

This last day we took family pictures just outside Abue and Opa's house. It was a wonderful ending to our 6 week stay in Florida. Thank you Opa and Abue for all your devotion to us and for making us feel so special and loved. You are one-of-a-kind.

Matt and Avis' 40th Anniversary

July 14th (celebrated July 9th)

We celebrated Matt and Avis' 40th Anniversary at our home with Mike, Cyndi and Sean, who had come up for a visit from Atlanta. We had a great time. We drank some mojitos and had a picture cake!