Saturday, September 25, 2021

Anna'a Trip! Chicagoland

They are loaded up and on their way to Chicago! 


On their way, the stopped to visit Patricia Lee. Mark and his companion taught and baptized Patricia and her family over 20 years ago.


One of Anna's biggest wishes was to go on a trail ride. She loves horses!

Mark found a place in Spring Grove, IL and booked a ride.




They stopped by the house Mark lived in when he was little in Crystal Lake, IL.


The owners were so nice and let showed them around the house and backyard...even let Anna come in and play with their dog!


Brunchtime! 

Then over to visit Grandpa Jim's grave. 

After a long day of travel and horsebackriding, nothing will do but Giordano's!




Bedtime? NO!

Off to the movies to see "Free Guy". Anna said that everytime someone said a swear word, Mark would lean over and say sorry. 


One tired kid!


At the Chicago River


Anna's first Chicago Cubs game!



A chilly visit to Lake Michigan


And then riding the huge ferris wheel by the pier. I'm glad these two share a sense of adventure!




These two packed alot into their trip together! I'm so glad they had this time to spend together! 






Saturday, September 18, 2021

Meg and Mom go to Utah

Last time I flew out to visit my mom, I sat by a man that also made trips frequently to visit his parents. We quickly got into heavy conversation about the effects of dementia and ways to protect the mental health of a caretaking child or spouse.  He mentioned that he uses those trips not just to help his mom and dad, but also as an opportunity to take one of his children with him. Having time with just `kid is so hard to get! 

So I took Megan with me! 

She was introduced the the only scenario in which I am happy to wear a mask...no one can see my mouth hanging open when I fall asleep mid-flight. 


Our main objective for this trip is to visit with my mom and have yummy things to eat. Second is to turn this gorgeous abundance of blossoms....


Into this:


For that, we need ALL the people!




Mom is supervising, of course. Without her, I don't think I could've made the decision to "rip them out!"

She knows that making the sacrifice now while we are all in town to help will make it so she doesn't have to do all this prep in the spring. 

She's a wise woman. 

Feels like old times with mom and all her worker bees out in the yard. 

Jay came by at the end of the day and we loaded it all up to take to the dump. 


While we were in town, there just happened to be a Johnson reunion! I haven't seen most of these aunts, uncles and cousins in a couple decades. It was fun to catch up and fun to introduce Megan!

And if that wasn't enough, we snuck out of there with Mom's pico de gallo recipe!







Thursday, September 16, 2021

Mark's 44th: Guns and Cake and Grandma Sycamores

 At this point in our lives, what we really want boils down to just a few things:

Kids that care enough to hang streamers for you

A wife that is willing to go shoot some guns with you, even though it causes her to feel a  visceral desire to run far far away. (You gotta respect the decor choices in the ladies bathroom.)



THE CAKE


And a shipment of soft, divine Grandma Sycamore's from your mother-on law. 


Mark has a special talent for knowing the best way to say thank you. Here's the picture we sent to my mom after he opened his birthday bread. 




The world is a better place with Mark in it! Happy Birthday!