This and That.....

Even though I haven't been working all summer, it seems like I've been busier than ever!  As you know, Scott and I have been traveling quite a bit, starting with our trip to California to pick up our Pleasure Way RV.  Let me tell you, that was QUITE the experience!  Although we love the van, we had a few challenges on the way home - haha.  Turns out that someone put on the wrong shocks (which we didn't know until later), and about midway through our trip, we noticed that we seemed to be bouncing around quite a bit (understatement)!  At one point I was in the back of the van, laying down on the bed, and I bounced so high that I almost hit my head on the ceiling!  You should have seen us when we stopped in Chicago on the way home to show the kids the van.  We bounced our way in, and then picked them up and stopped in a Wendy's parking lot for a quick chat, before heading home.  (It's hard enough to drive in Chicago, but in a malfunctioning van, it was quite the experience - Scott did a good job getting us to Holland.)  Long story short, after some repairs and numerous telephone calls, now all is well, and we've taken the "P-Mobile" on a couple of more trips.  The trip back from California itself was wonderful - we just loved Sedona, AZ and of course the Grand Canyon, and then we went to Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico; followed by a short stop in Denver, Colorado to see Cousin Dave, Mary, and even our cousins Nancy and Laila (Dave's sisters).  I hadn't seen Laila in like 40 years!  Great fun - I think she looks just like Aunt Lu - what do you think (she's in the purple shirt)?

 Here's just a couple more pictures from that trip, but if you'd like to see them all, I have loaded all them on my Facebook page:  RVing Out West

Below:  The P-Mobile near Sedona, Arizona - Red Rock country....beautiful!

What can you say about the Grand Canyon?  Absolutely breathtaking....

Then came our trip to Tuscany - are you KIDDING me?  Beyond gorgeous!  (only downside for me:  the driving!  We have many stories to share, including some driving escapades, at our upcoming Italian night - stay tuned for date and time....)

Here are my wonderful traveling buddies - we're visiting Cortona, an utterly charming hill town, where the film "Under the Tuscan Sun" was filmed....

Another shot of Cortona:

The Duomo (main church) in Florence:

Our last night.....(ahhhhhh, Rach, not sure what's up with that expression, haha.....)  Guess it was a long day...

We had a wonderful time - can't wait to show you all of our pics on "Italian Night" at the Hamberg's!  (If you want a sneak peek, mine are also posted on Facebook:  Tuscany

Stay tuned for more in a couple of  days, but for now......that's it! 

Visit to Colon a Delight!

Brenda, Sis and I had a super fun day in Colon yesterday!  It was so good to meet sweet little Taylie, and to see Jen, Jason, Macey and Kelsey, too!  We enjoyed going to the Amish store and picking up some bargains, and then out for ice cream - I have NEVER seen such BIG helpings in all my life!  The girls were delightful as ever, and brought many smiles to our faces throughout the day.  I am in awe of new mom, Jen, who looks like she just spent the day at the spa, and who balances her care of all three girls with humor, love and patience.  It was a wonderful day!

"Aunt" Jean was delighted to meet darling little Taylie.  I think she liked me!

Playing Memory with Aunt Brenda (see her legs?) and Aunt Sis.

Macey had such a pretty smile for the camera!

Kelsey is talking SO much more - she is a total trip.

Those pretty eyes are just starting to open up....

Macey and Kelsey love their new baby sister SO much.  I saw a lot of kisses all day.  Here, Macey wants you to see how she just gave Taylie a big kiss, and, not to be left out......

...so did Kelsey! 

 Jen, with her gigantic ice cream cone - all this for a little over $2.00!

 Mace and Kels shared a bowl....

 Bren - what did they call this concoction again?  I remember that it had peanut butter, fudge and bananas, and obviously just a little whipped cream - all for like $2.50.

 Back at Jen and Jason's, "Spice" dropped by with her new baby girl, Eliza - so cute!  Here are Sis and Jen holding both cuties...

"Bren, the phone just rang.  Can you answer it please?" Ha ha... 

 Here's where you can see that Taylie still has a bit of jaundice.  She looks like Eliza's new friend who just returned from her Florida vacation.....

Jen put both girls together in a bouncy seat while they were napping.  Need I say more?  Cutest thing ever!

So innocent....I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!..

Kels and her upside-down sunglasses.  She is too funny for words.  What a complete delight!

On our way out of town, we stopped for gas at the same place we got ice cream earlier in the day.  I asked Brenda to take this picture, where the sign verifies that they are indeed "home of the big ice cream cone."  No kidding!

Thanks, Jen, Jason, Macey, Kelsey, Taylie, Brenda and Sis, for making this such a great day!  Love you all....

The Doobies + Check Out Our Italian Villa!

I have to admit, I'm pretty psyched about the upcoming trip to Italy that Carol, Rachel N., Jean H. and I will be taking - it's only about 6 weeks away!  Can't believe it.  Thought you might enjoy seeing the villa where we'll be staying - it's called "Fattoria Degli Usignoli", and here's the link:  http://www.usignoli.it/EN/index.php  (click on "ENG" on the right to see English version).

Last weekend while in Chicago we attended a Doobies Brothers and Chicago concert on Friday evening.  It turned out to be a perfect night weather-wise (so glad we didn't go this weekend!)  The two groups were fantastic, and the outdoor venue was awesome - had SUCH a great time!  Below are some pics of the concert, followed by a couple of pics from our trip to the dog beach the following day, and then breakfast at Rachel & Dave's on Sunday morning (where the doggies enjoyed getting blueberries and grapes out of the kiddie pool), just prior to our leaving for home.  It was a wonderful weekend - thanks for everything, kids!

Dinner at Moonshine's, near D/R's condo, prior to the concert on Friday eveing.

Charter One Pavillion on Northerly Island, near the museums