The Countdown is ON!

On Friday July 22 David proposed!  We've set the date for April 21, 2012 in Pittsburgh and the countdown is on!We're pretty psyched and I think our families seem pretty happy with the choice too.  Can't wait to celebrate the big day -- I have a feeling the next few months will fly.

Architectual Tour

Finally, we met up with my mom and brother and took an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River.  I've wanted to take one of these tours for years and highly recommend it for those playing the tourist role!

Captain Nora!

 Matt swears he enjoyed it!

It got a little chilly... We dealt with it accordingly.

After the tour we headed over to Trib Tower for a little look around.  The really cool thing about Trib Tower is that there are stones and rocks from all sorts of famous/historical places around the country/world.  There was a stone from the battle of Vicksburg in The Park -- obviously I had to stop for the photo op.

Art and Millenium Park

We enjoyed some good times at the Art Institute and Millennium Park Thursday.  I always enjoy a trip to the AI and Millennium Park is definitely one of my favorite places in Chicago.

I love public art... which really makes Millennium Park, and Chicago, my kind of place. 

Mon Incline

Kate is visiting this weekend.  The weather isn't exactly fabulous for visitors, but we ventured out anyways.  We took the Incline from Station Square up to the top of Mount Washington for some fabulous views of the city. 

Flashback: South Bend

On a recent trip to Fox Lake I was able to stop in South Bend and visit with my cousin, her husband, and her adoreable spoiled monkey girl!  It was a nice breaking point since it is still a bit of a haul to FL from PGH.  I was given the tour of their new house -- absolutely beautiful!!  We also took a trip to the South Bend Zoo, enjoyed a delcious dinner, and watched the beginning of the ND game before I headed onwards to the greater Fox Lake Area.  I look forward to getting to come for a real visit!!

Congrats Mommy, PhD

Visiting South Bend IN to see my cousin Abby recieve the big hood and that little piece of paper.  I'm proud of her to say the least!

It certainly is great to be close enough to family that I can participate in these types of events!!! Yay for re-yankee-ifying!

Family Fun Time in the Big Easy

The family came to visit a couple of weeks ago. We took that oppertunity to head down to the Big Easy. Highlights of the trip included going to the Audobon zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, Mardi Gras World, the French Quarter, and a Swamp Tour. Fun was had by all... and there was some good eating too!