Our Chicago Neighborhood...

20/50

Erin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:45:24 +0000

I did it, too! 20/50…not bad, but Derek and I have an itch to travel again soon. Time to make some plans!

5 more states and I will have visited half of the US.

Tagged: Travel

Other weekend things…

Erin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:11:20 +0000

In addition to Joey’s birthday party and the MLK Day activities…

We had dinner with Bob at Parici’s; it was really good and I definitely recommend it.
I got a much needed haircut.
We had lunch with Paul’s Godfather and his family.
Paul had his first big kid sleepover.
Paul, Izaak, and I met Joe and Sarah for breakfast and helped Joe celebrate his 87th birthday!
I met up with my friend Meridith for a quick coffee. (And got to introduce her to Izaak!)
Derek had lunch with our friend and former professor, Paul.
We accidentally left Izaak’s carseat in Bob’s car and had to buy him another. We got one that he can grow into though.
Paul and I started reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins.
I did a little grocery shopping. (Food in SB is much better priced–with no food tax, too!)
Had one afternoon that was filled with lovely, long naps!

Tagged: Family, Life

Hacienda and MLK Day

Erin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:00:57 +0000

Since we were going to be in SB for Joey’s birthday, our friend Lawrence asked if we would be able to meet for a group dinner on Saturday night. Easy to say, we were happy to! It could not have been greater to see everyone and catch up. All of these friends not only defined a huge part of my/our college experience, but also continue to shape how I/we approach life now. They are more to all of us than just friends, they are family.

Imani and her daughter Malika…

Uncle Jonathan, always with a baby….

Paul was thrilled to get to hang out and talk, talk, talk…

LeAnne’s boys, Saeed and Zane. Paul and Zane both managed to get iPhone/iPods to play Angry Birds. (And now Paul asks every single day if we can get an iPhone or iPod “tomorrow”. Oy.)

Katy and Izaak…

Lawrence, Anne, and Arianna. For the looongest time Paul called Arianna his sister. (“When do I get to see my sister Arianna again??”) And doesn’t Anne look so pretty?

Group! Love these people!

We also stayed for some of the activities for MLK Day and were so glad we did. It’s been a couple of years since we have been able to (DP doesn’t give students MLK day off from classes–boo!) and it was so nice to be involved in community again, to see so many familiar faces, and to celebrate such an important day.

We had a hectic morning and got to the celebration at the County/City Building a few minutes late, but still got to hear most of the speakers and see the performances.

David and Izaak…

(That’s the new mayor in the background!)

Dancers…

The March! Love, love, love the march. Seriously one of our favorite parts of the entire year.

I was also thrilled to run into Monty. He never misses an event! He should get some kind of community involvement award.

After the march a group of us went to La Esperanza for lunch and, again, it was so nice to spend time with friends. Derek and I are still establishing ourselves in Chicago but it was nice to have something be so automatic.

We also went back to the Century Center, hoping to see some of the tables that were set up, but we missed most of them. Some of the new members of the CRHC (now the CRSA) were also there, so it was nice to get to know them a little better and see what activities were more current.

Before we left SB (in 2009, not this weekend!) Derek was getting more and more involved in the community and one of the things he had done was to write a history of Pastor Dave Davis, with the intention being that one of the streets be renamed in Pastor Davis’ honor. (One of the Common Council members was the one who initiated it and ultimately got it done.) While we were at the Century Center Derek was told that it had been successful! So while we were heading home we took a tour and saw the new sign added. So awesome!

We love our life in Chicago, but it really is so great to go back home and connect with so many people and events that have been so meaningful to us–especially when we come together to celebrate such a great day.

PS I will post more about the pictures I posed on MLK day soon!

Tagged: Friends, Holidays

Joey’s 6th Birthday

Erin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:09:40 +0000

This little sweetums turned SIX this week–and there was a nice little party to celebrate!

There were games…

And friends…

And decorations….

And little babies smiling…

And mommy hugs…

And tickles…

And family…

And a shark cake! (For his sea creatures themed party!)

Happy Birthday, Joey! I know SIX will be awesome!

Tagged: Birthday, Family, Life

Martin Luther King Day

Erin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:55:26 +0000

Some photos from Freedom Summer 2006…

I’ll post more about these pictures later but wanted to post something as a part of MLK day.

“I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

- Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963

(source)

Tagged: About, Friends, Travel