This month has been filled with the things you know you won't forget-the moments that last a lifetime to reflect on...some moments have been anticipated for a loooong time. Katelee has been anticipating attending a high school dance for years, so going to Homecoming for the first time was so so great!
She was asked by her buddy Phenix who lives a few streets over in our neighborhood.
She looked so beautiful! and I kind of think these two looked like they could be siblings- ha! Here she is in the group photo.
We had such a good time helping her get ready. She had Brenna grab her shoes and put them on while she was adding makeup finishing touches.
Here's to hoping high school brings all the opportunities she has been longing for. She signed up to play in the powder puff tournament, which was a blast to watch. Who knew she was a flag football super star?
Grant is an old hat at all the high school events (and he typically chooses not to go to them!) but he did decide to go to Homecoming with his good friend Tressa.
We enjoyed our time share up in Snowbird this year. It was a hot one...
our little condo doesn't have A/C or great circulation, but the views are still unbeatable. We just have a lot of fans going especially for that second floor. I spy a child in the railing of the loft.
We played tons of games, had yummy treats, made Italian sodas each day, swam, Harrison schooled Caleb's friends in basketball and I took some time to hike and walk in the mountains when I stayed alone. It was perfect.
Dave and all his brothers coordinated their schedules to fulfill Carl's life long dream of seeing the Crimson Tide play in their home stadium in Alabama. This trip took tons of effort to get everyone on board and committed and so much of the credit goes to Dave. He brought all those McArthur gents together and they were able to head back to their roots in the good ol south.
They rented a van and even stopped in Carl's birth town of McGargel, Alabama. It's a real place, real name...proof here in the pic.
They spent lots of time visiting the old ward, homes they grew up in, friends that they knew might not get to connect with Carl again,
I have a childhood acquaintance that lives in Pensacola now and he texted Shannon saying the word on the street was that the McArthur men were in town and so many people were excited to see them. Folks showed up hoping to get a quick visit. Carl (and all the McArthurs) had a big influence in that area in the church. He blessed a lot of lives during his service.
Peter, my sister's friend that sent that text also sent a pic of the back of their heads. We can pic out Dave's bald spot no problemo- by the looks of these head its must be a family trait! haha!
Of course, there was a heavy focus on food- donuts, Bubba's, Fish House, Joe Patti's, just a few of their favorite food establishments.
While the main event was the football game, the true highlight was for all of those boys to be together. They have never done a guys trip and probably won't do another one in the forseeable future. Dave said they had some great meaningful conversations, were spiritually uplifted, counseled with each other and received guidance from their dad. It was really everything they hoped it would be.
Pretty great to get to check off something like that from your bucket list.
Paige turned the big 4-0 in September and wanted to celebrate with a little getaway. So, I got a quick weekend with my mom and sisters in Chicago!
First stops were Millenium Park, the spitting fountains, the Bean,
Giardano's deep dish pizza. It was scrum-diddly-umptious. Paige and I shared a room, while Shannon and mom were on a different floor. Paige put on her eye mask, popped in those ear plugs and hit the sack early, so I contemplated all the pranks I could ever play on her...alas, it was her birthday, so I just let her peacefully slumber.
We did a lot of sight seeing the next day, walking up and down the streets, going on a Ghosts and Gangsters tour (no supernatural guests seemed to accompany us, drats)
We ate popcorn and had the greatest time at the Museum of Science and Industry. That place is just so cool.
We timed it so right with the elevator to the skydeck. We got there as the sun was setting so we could see it in the sunlight and as the lights in the city came up. Shannon, as you can tell, was not a huge fan of the height. She came around.
I, however, was perfectly zen.
People take the most ridiculous and serious photos there. So, Paige and I couldn't help but mock just a tiny bit. We flipped our hair with the most intense expressions, stared out in the darkness and then I couldn't help but get a little crazy. You only have so much time so you gotta go wild in those brief minutes.
We had a delicious dinner and had the best uber ride where Paige was professionally serenaded by the driver. He is a musician and just drives uber when he is between gigs, so we felt pretty privileged to get the VIP treatment.
Our last morning we had a river tour, which was fabulous. We ended with brunch, right after I was assaulted by a homeless man who pushed me into the street. My mom and Shannon had yelled at me to watch out, but that guy got to me and pushed me nearly into the road. He crossed and proceeded to slap another pedestrian. We lived to tell the tale, but it was my first violent assault, so I'll prob remember it for always.
We had such a great get away. Thank you, Chicago for being delightful and thank you, Paige for being born!
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