2010 - A Photo Review

I really think I get most of my good ideas from Jo-Lynne. That's probably why her blog rocks and mine just rolls. (Tee hee!)

Anyway, Jo-Lynne (who, by the way, copied the idea from JanMary--so I'm not the only one copying ideas! *ahem*) recapped her year in pictures. I loved this idea, so I'm stealing it. Again.

Maybe next week I'll have an original thought.

JANUARY

What can I say about January around here other than it's cold? And sometimes we get a lot of snow, like on this day when I went walking with my camera.

When life gives you lemons . . . I always say.

FEBRUARY

Oh February was fun! We grown-ups got to sneak away (shhh, don't tell our kids!) for a few days of skiing in Park City, UT. We had a great time with our friends and loved staying in a gorgeous home in one of the most beautiful settings you could imagine.

MARCH

March, I loved ya! Especially since March was when Abby and I hopped a plane and landed in England of all places!

Imagine! Me? England? Who knew?

This time Abby treated me to the delights that are Liberty of London (I had never been here before).

And, of course, no trip would be complete (for me, anyway) without a trip to Borough Market.

APRIL

Looking back through my old posts, I realize that I forgot to write about this, but my birthday was (is) in April. Last year I decided that for my birthday I wanted our girls to experience a Chicago restaurant that I loved when I was in college and have hardly been back since. We weren't sure that the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder would be as good as we remembered, but it sure was.

Thanks, fam, for indulging me in what may just become a birthday tradition. Yum!

Best. Pizza. Ever.

Best. Family. Ever.

MAY

May saw some beginnings . . . and some endings.

I wrote about the opening of our French Market in town. I call this my happy place.

And the ending of the school year brought with it post prom festivities. I had never volunteered there before, but I'm sure I'll do it again this year. Lots of fun!

JUNE

June brought with it graduation. (Congrats, Kate!)

And almost equally significant was the Blackhawks championship season. We took Maggie downtown to see the parade. Along with two million of our favorite friends.


I love these fans.




JULY

England, again. I KNOW! I'm such a princess, right? That's what I've been saying all year.

So we celebrated 25 years of marriage this year, most of them happy. Ha! That's my dad's joke.

And speaking of dear old Dad, he and mom celebrated 50 years of marriage, most of them . . . you know. And in celebration, we all went to the British Open golf tournament. Along with a few other places.

And I found my dream home. Should suit a princess, don't you think?



AUGUST

Back to school.

Some stayed home. . . .

. . . one went far, far away. Like, eight blocks.

SEPTEMBER

I think September was a time of quiet in preparation for what would be the insanity that was the rest of our fall. So I spent a little time decorating. . . .



. . . and crafting. (And if you think that was for real, you don't know me very well at all.)



OCTOBER

Twenty-five years after graduating from Wheaton College, my roommates came back to celebrate our class reunion. This is pretty much all we did all weekend--laughed.

And posed for pictures. There may have been a little food involved, too.

I miss these girls.

B and I were invited to Pebble Beach in October. And, you know, when you're invited to go to Pebble Beach you pretty much go. Because Pebble Beach is wonderful and amazing and so, so posh.

They even have birds waiting for you to take their pictures.

Not to be outdone by their parents, our girls made us take them to the second-coolest place on earth: Springfield, IL. Oh, I kid.

We DID go to the birthplace of Lincoln. And we DID have a great time. But most of the weekend was spent by all of us saying, "I miss Kate. I wish Kate were with us." Boo hoo.

NOVEMBER

I think I was busy every single weekend in October, and November was hardly any different. But the best weekend, for sure, was my trip to Florida with my girlfriends. (Did I mention that we went on a private jet?) (And that my friend, Kim's house is amazing?) (This is the view from her pool.)

I got to spend some very precious time with my Grandma Nell while I was there too.

Another highlight from November was speaking at a Women's Retreat, but I don't have a photo of that. Just imagine me standing behind a podium. Great shot, huh?


DECEMBER

The season of joy. And crazy-busyness when you throw in two Christmas teas and hosting about five different events at your house.

I don't know why I'm throwing this picture in here, but those brussels sprouts from Trader Joe's just cracked me up. And they were yummy!

We ended the year and rang in the new at my sister's house in Dallas, TX. (She's the second from the right. Holla, Jenn!) And while I'm at it, I'll just shout out to my other sister, Jodi (farthest on the left), and Mom (the beautiful woman on the right).

A few years back all five of our girls came to us parents and said, "We just want you to know that even when we are grown up and have husbands we want to have cousins Christmas." This year was a bit of a challenge, but we pulled it off.

Wow, this looking back has really been fun. Time-consuming (just ask my family who watched me pull this post together in about six hours on Sunday afternoon), but lots and lots of fun. It's made me realize a few things, too.

First, I've covered some ground in 2010. Racked up a few frequent flier miles too.

Second, our lives are probably at the height of busy-ness right now. Between B's job and responsibilities at church, the kids' activities, and my writing and speaking, things can get a little out of hand at times. But that's O.K. It wouldn't be life if it weren't a little out of control at times.

Let's just say that life is indeed full at our house. Full of fun. Full of teenagers. Full of college friends. Full of surprises. Full of love.

I'm so grateful for 2010 and can't wait to see what 2011 holds.