Hello summer... wait where are you going?

So first we sit around and wait and wait for it… and then it pretty much just passes us by with a quick wave and sends us on our way. Don’t the door hit ya! I can’t believe we are nearing the end of July and it has hardly gotten warm enough to even declare that summer is here! It appears though that our summers do seem to last longer…well into September and I do know that we have been on the boat in October. Let’s just hope the next three months are much nicer and warmer so we don’t totally feel like we got jipped! (How do I spell that word? Someone let me know as I am having a brain freeze and unfortunately not from Whitey’s).

Anyway… we’ve been busy spending time up at the lake. We now spend Thursday nights (or Friday mornings) until Tuesday mornings up at our house in Wisconsin. Let me tell you how it is 100 times better than Illinois in my opinion. It constantly makes me feel like I am away at some posh resort for the summer like in Dirty Dancing. Although there is golf and plenty of water activities, there are no fox trot lessons or charades in the main hall. And although my husband is one of a kind… he doesn’t sport the black slacks and black wife-beater and take me away in his cool car while it is raining to practice lifts. Damn. Sorry… now I have all of these other Johnny Castle involved thoughts running through my head. I digress.

Last weekend we hosted the bulk of my city friends at the lakehouse. This included: Jaime and Dan, Dan and Julie, George and Marnie, and Laura and Chris. Most of these folks have been around for quite some time ever since I lived in the city. We used to see each other every Friday, Saturday and Sunday it seemed meeting for meals, drinks, festivals or the occasional Hairbanger’s Ball at Joe’s. In fact, pretty much the only reason I even miss the city is that I miss these folks. I am SO very thankful for this great group of tight-knit pals. We were missing a few: Jason, Paul, Larry and Tricia…and we did indeed miss you.

We took everyone for boat ride on Saturday which I think they thought we were going to try and drown them all. You see… it was windier than all get out… and we have a pretty small boat. Instead of gliding over waves, the waves seemed to want to join us IN the boat. Well… you see we just did this on purpose because some people said they didn’t want to swim! HA! After the treacherous 3-hour tour, we hung out on the pier. This, with food and drink, was more up our alley. We caught up and even found out that two of our guests went to high school together. Small world!!! We went back to the house in early evening to BBQ, which turned out spectacular. Bryon built a nice campfire that new BFFs Dan and Chris enjoyed and we sat around until the wee hours sobbing because we were laughing so hard. “If anyone wants to know where I am, I’m RIGHT HERE!” When was the last time you played “I Never”…probably in high school or maybe college? It’s just not as much fun with mostly married folks. We had a blast anyhow. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages!!!

We enjoyed our company through Sunday afternoon. Watch out if you want to take a run in our neck of the woods – because as we found out it’s easy to get lost. Sorry Julie! Glad you found your way back!! We were so very happy that that group decided to venture out of the city to join us, and we do believe they all had a good time. I miss them a lot and I am very happy when we see them again. We’ll be seeing most of them soon as we have TWO weddings this fall! YIPEE!

This weekend we will have many of Bryon’s family members as guests and then the next weekend we are heading home for THE FAIR! Bryon is a MVF virgin, so those of you fair-goers need to help him have a wonderful experience. He’s going to have indigestion for days after he has all of the wonderful fried samplings of fair food.

After that we have I believe 2 free weekends until the third week of November!!!!!!!! Can you believe it?!?!?! Oh wait I just realized then it will be Thanksgiving. So, we will look forward to relaxing in December! Merry Christmas!!! Holy Schmoly.


XOXOXO
BNT

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Us!

One year ago today...our wedding day... Time flies when you're head over heels....

I love the 80s - both the temperature and the decade!

This past weekend was a BLAST!!! We had so much fun! Friday night didn't quite turn out the way we thought it would. We were originally supposed to go watch my niece's softball game in Naperville, but Bryon couldn't get off of the phone and we were going to be late. He's back to work like normal! So we went for massages and dinner instead! Whatever... it works. On Saturday then instead we headed to Naperville to watch Maddison's game. It was fun! It's really a good time watching the girls. They are awesome! Mom and Dad were there and we went out to lunch after the game. It was an absolutely perfect day for a ballgame. We headed into the city after that and went to meet Jaime and Dan at the Village Tap and then headed over to the Rock Around the Block. If you know us - you know that Bry and I are the biggest 80's rock band nerds ever. We rocked out like we typically do to one of the best cover bands EVER... course I decided NOT to post our renditions of Pour Some Sugar on Me and Talk Dirty to me (yes I did record them), because we will actually see the REAL DEAL this Friday.!! Yes, we actually paid for tickets to Def Leppard and Poison. Yea...we're cool... or not.

Sunday we headed up to the lake and hung out on the pier. It was so nice and relaxing and great to catch up with some of our neighbors. The great weather actually motivated me to get up early and take a walk by the lake and after work we went kayaking and for a swim. It was amazing! I (we) love it here....

Back to Illinois in the morning though... see you then!

XOXOO

Groupies!

Weirdo guy behind us
Me & Julz

The guys

We were told not to quit our day jobs...hey...we are just havin' fun!

Remember this guy?

You are not going to believe this...but today...I was in a different Subway when the Pompous Ass that Ruined my Lunch walked in. I looked up and thought I know that guy. He's kind of a dweeb...where do I know him from. THEN... I remembered. I looked and saw that STUPID effing earpiece and then looked down and saw the velcro shoes. Noooooooooo... He can't take over my Subway spot #2!!!! Thank god I was already headed out the door or there would have been a brawl had he started in again.

A Year Ago Today...

We were starting our adventure in Ireland. Waa.. Time flies.

For Nolan's About to Rock...

Happy Birthday America, Mom, Dad, Tyler & Jordan, etc!

Good Lord the Crowleys have been busy with Birthdays! Let the good times roll though! We'll start with the weekend before last. My Mom and Dad came out to our lakehouse for the weekend and we had a blast! They came up on Friday night, but Bryon was still getting home from LA, so I took them out to Crandalls for birthday dinner #1. You see my parents birthdays are within a few days of each other so that is why we have one big birthday celebration! They love Crandalls in Hebron, IL, if you have never been...you should go. All you can eat broasted chicken... the best chicken anywhere! AND the best chocolate cake EVER. After dinner I snuck to the "bathroom" and ordered up the giant chocolate mess with two candles. Poor Bry missed the best part!!

On Saturday, we headed up to Milwaukee for Summerfest. We met my cousin, Courtney and her hubs and also Coach, Julie, Paul & Jody were up as well. We listened to some tunes, drank some brews and wandered around until the rain shut us down. It was fun anyway...but we headed home earlier than had we been drinking dry. Dripping wet just isn't as enjoyable. ;)
Sunday was windy but beautiful... we had a wonderful breakfast on the deck and took off down to the pier to enjoy the day. It was mom's actual birthday and I think she enjoyed it. We took her out to our favorite Italian joint, Paisano's in Richmond (again if you haven't been there you need to go). It was so flipping good I thought we would all explode!! Mom had birthday gelato as well! She is the cutest birthday girl.

Monday night we headed back to Illinois to the Crowleys to celebrate two of our nephews birthdays. Bryon's sister, Suzy and her family were in from Colorado and joined the regular crew.

This past weekend, we held Bryon's mother's family reunion/combination 4th of July party up at the lake on Friday. We hosted 38 people, many being cousins that hadn't seen each other in years. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. We had so much good food and great fun! I think everyone is thinking it may be an annual event! After everyone left on Saturday...we took the rest of the weekend to recover. Throwing parties wears you out! I also need rehab from CAKE and Cookies and any other sweets that I have inhaled in the past couple of weeks!