School officially started and while I have been thinking about posting for a while I haven’t made it a priority…bad me.  The pictures I have are from the last part of the summer.  They include some great nights out with friends!

Noah and Mom (Lindsay)

We celebrated with Travis’ family in mid August.  Noah received a new liver a year ago this month from a wonderful family friend. He has been getting stronger and the future is looking brighter each day. Noah is Travis’ cousin’s son.  Travis and I played in a bags tourney and we made it to the second round.  We would have made it farther because I was on fire, but one of the guys we played with seriously only missed 1 throw!

My friends Noreen and Adam came down from Chicago last month and we had a little Marshall 5 reunion.  Noreen, Michelle and I all lived on the Marshall floor at Waterson Towers.  We went to the “Hot Summer Nights” aka taste of Bloomington and had a great time listening to live music on the streets and catching a great bite at a tapas place called ”reality bites”.

Yummy tapas….thanks Adam for making sure the picture was lively! Our friends Emily and Jeff also joined us for dinner that night.

Trav and I at Kilarney’s in downtown Bloomington

I have been really slacking on the posts!  This July started with me taking a class for National Boards, as well as a week long computer conference where I made my webpage for school!  Also, I have been working in my classroom the last two weeks and it is finally done….did I mention school does not officially start until August 20^th. Really, I wanted to do a lot of rearranging and reorganizing (my favorite).   Trav and I have also been busy mingling with friends and family this summer as well. 

This is Gail, Gavin and Gabby.  We ran around town and played in their inground pool two days a week.

Steph and I at  Beyonce…..we shook it, for sure.

Beyonce!  Her concert was so much fun.  I stayed the night at Steph and Matt’s and we shopped the next day in her neighborhood in Chi-town.  Travis was Golfing with his old co-workers both days so it worked out great because we were able to drive up together.

We also went to my Aunt’s lake house in Wisconsin this month.  We celebrated my brother’s college graduation and my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary.  The green…and brown.. gown was courtesy of my cousin Lori…..priceless.

These are the little ones I hang out with on a regular basis.  They are my co-worker’s kids.  My friend Courtney came back into town after moving away this summer and we all got together at the splash park.  Afterwards, 6 adults and 9 children ( 2 more were in strollers) headed out to lunch! 

It has been a busy July but it has been really nice to not have class everyday like last summer.  However, I am taking a week long SMARTboard training class starting on Monday.  At least it is only one week!

Last week Travis and I went to visit one of my best friends from high school, Aubryn, and her husband Adam. We had a great time Friday night because she hosted a party so that we would be able to meet all her wonderful Denver friends.  Saturday we dined on yummy mussels and mimosas for brunch and then shoped around the downtown area. We also went to a wonderful “celebrity” filled Saturday dinner. Sunday was spent driving up Mt. Evans…(a fourteener you mountain folk).  It was beautiful at the top and I really enjoyed hiking around different parts of the mountain (though the altitude did get to me at some spots).

Mimosas and Screwdrivers at 7:00 am….I was relaxed on the flight.

Aubs and I at the party on Friday

Aubs and Adam on Mt Evans. We stopped at a few different places to take pictures on the way up the mountain.

The view from the top!

It was chilly but not as bad as it looks.  The view was just AMAZING!

All the way up and down the mountain the sights were just great.

Our model husbands on the way to dinner on Saturday.  We saw Clinton Kelly from What Not to Wear and Kyle Orton, the old QB from Chicago.

Travis and I….downtown Denver in the back

“Jazz in the park” on Sunday.  We packed a picnic dinner and enjoyed the live music

Our wonderful hosts!

Monday we flew out of Denver and into Phoenix where we stayed with our friends Marty and his fiance Rhianon.  When we got there we went tubing down salt river (tubing = no camera) and really enjoyed relaxing and taking in the Phoenix landscape.  Later that night I was able to go to dinner with one of my oldest friends Patrice.  We were so busy catching up we forgot to take a picture!! On Tuesday we went hiking around Popago park.  This was located near Camel back Mountain. The view was great from on top of the rocks. Tuesday night we went out for some great Mexican food and Travis ALSO decided that he needed to accept the challenge from his CDW friends and ate a 5×5 from In and Out burger….yes people 5 - 1/4lb burgers on one bun and 5 pieces of cheese….it looked really gross but it was no contest for my husband.  I really think that he could have a career in competitive eating!

Travis and Marty on the way up the rocks

catching a little shade while we hiked through the rocks

Marty where are you?

We were able to see a great view of Phoenix from the top of the rocks.

That is one big cactus!

Both places we visited were wonderful and I really appreciated the hospitality of the Glods and soon to be Mr and Mrs. Buns.

WARNING: Lots of bragging in this post!

So I might have had one of the best days of my life yesterday.  I went to Chicago to see a country music summer tour featuring Kenny Chesney at Soldier Field.  But I also was able to see Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, and Sugarland as well.  One of my best friends (Katie) was able to score us these amazing seats…ready….for free.  We were literally standing in the front row for the whole 8 hour long concert.  AMAZING!!!!!!

Yes… I know you are jealous

Nick (our personal security guard…ha ha. He had to love our screaming and off key singing all day!)

Katie, Jenna, Megan and I (with my new Sugarland t-shirt)

Lady Antebellum….love the lead singer…he touched my hand (sigh)

Miranda Lambert

Katie with the drum stick given to her by Miranda Lambert’s drummer

Montgomery Gentry

Greg Olsen (TE) and Jake Cutler (QB)….GO BEARS!

Lead singer from Sugarland

Kenny flew in from the back of the stadium!

oh Kenny!….look’n good in his levi’s

gotta  love a man in a cowboy hat!

I went out to dinner with some girl friends last weekend.  It was Adrienne’s first entire night without Gavin (thanks to Grandma) and one of the last nights in town for my friend Brandy who is moving to Texas.  Adrienne, Sarah and I met before dinner to have a few drinks and then met up with the rest of the crew at a a fabulous restaurant called Medici.  It was a fun filled evening.  After dinner Travis and I went to meet up with my family and Trav’s.  My family came down for a graduation party that my very gracious mother in law, Barb, decided to throw for Trav’s brother and I.

Sarah and Adrienne

Adrienne (“A) and I and dinner

Brandy and I…..I will miss you Brand-O!

On May 16th my cousin Emily was married to her long time boyfriend Scott.  I am so excited for her and I was honored to be apart of her special day.  The ceremony was at the church I grew up going to on the weekends I visited my Grandma Cordts. We were picked up by a Hummer limo that took us to a few bars before we went to the reception.  I had a great time (even though Trav was at U of Illinois from his brother’s graduation).  Also, my parents barely made the ceremony because they were at U of Iowa for my brother’s graduation…..it was a busy weekend for my fam!

Emily and I before the wedding

The Newlyweds!

I have my Masters!!!! I graduated on Saturday while Trav’s and my entire family showed their support by attending the ceremony.  It was so exciting to walk across that stage and feel done….umm for now.  I just signed up for National Boards so I will be doing that this next year. There are many benefits to National Boards.  One being that it is the highest certificate that a teacher can hold and it qualifies me to teach in all 50 states.  My current certificate is only good in IL.  I also signed up for a 2 classes this summer.  One is a week long and will train me on how to use a SMARTboard (I will have one in my room next year!!!) and another is to get a “jumpstart” on my boards.  Finally, I signed up in the fall for a 16 week, 6 credit class that is supposed to help you get through the NB process.  3 out of 4 teachers fail the first time they submit….so hopefully the class will ensure that I am the 1 out of 4 that passes the first time!

My supportive hubby….who knew when to leave me alone some Saturdays when I was vigorously typing away or would ask if needed anything to eat or drink when he felt I had worked too long without a break….Thanks babe.

My family

Scott, Lance, Tav, Ginnell, Dad, Mom, Barb and Gary

Last weekend I headed to Chicago for my friend Jill’s last night out.  We rented a Condo where each girl was able to sleep in her own bed….a luxury at these functions!  I arrived on Friday after driving to Arlington Heights and then taking the train into the city.  We grilled out and played some really great games.  It was also nice to catch up and watch Jilly open some spicy bedtime attire. Saturday we sent to Sushi Samba and then proceeded to paint the town black.  Everyone in the party was asked to wear black while Jilly wore pink.  I thought this was a refreshing way for Jill to stand out without having a giant blow up to carry around, or a crown to wear.

Friday Night playing games and having a good time

Rachel, Katie and Ginnell

Jilly (who got some roof top sun that day) and Katie

At Sushi Samba on Saturday

Saturday I attended my friend Brandy’s bachelorette party in Peoria.  The night was filled with the usual hillarious one liners from the bride and blue UV vodka (Brandy’s favorite).  I was glad to get away because I had just taken a 3 hour test (for my reading specialist certficate)  just before leaving.  Literally, I had 20 minutes to get ready! 

We started at Old Time Chicago Pizza by the river and then headed to a local hotel to open gifts and play a few games.  Adrienne and I left around 11:30 before they went to the bars because “A” had to get back to Gavin (her adorable 8 wk old son)

Adrienne and I at dinner

Brandy and her blue UV…umm on the rocks…

by this time the UV had kicked in and Emily was really blowing the whistle….priceless

Two weekends ago I drove up to the Chicago burbs…..yes again.  I am so lucky to have so many fun events to attend up in the Chi-town area.  Anway, so I went to my friend Katie’s b-day on Saturday  night where Jill, Katie, Jenna, and new mommy to be Whitney, went fordinner and drinks (Whit had ginger-ale of course). 

On Sunday I was able to attend Jill’s wedding shower at Prairie Landing Golf Course from 12:00 – 1:15 and then drove 30 minutes to attend Joy’s baby shower from 2:00 -3:30 at my friend Karen’s house.  Both events were a lot of fun and I was able to catch up with some old friend.  Joy worked with me in Bellwood so I was able to see quite a few old co-workers.

Katie and Mrs. Bab.  The shower was a tea and and tables were decorated with the cutest flower stuffed tea pots!

Jilly, Christine (MOH), Jenna and Katie at the Bridal Shower

Mommy to be, Joy….just a few more weeks!