Stop. Rewind.

Stop. Rewind. Press Play at the same time.  The scenes fly by in a strange fast forward, except reverse, direction.  The VCR plays the movie back, or forward, until you find the scene you want to replay. Remember those days?

This old blog, like an old VCR,  has been tossed into the closet to gather dust with the summer sunscreen and beach bags.  For the last three months life in these parts has felt like living with both the PLAY and the FF button pushed. Before the first snow falls I thought I'd push the STOP button.  Share a few pictures from our Iphones. Rewind. Replay a few frames from the Little Family in the Big City.

It is hard to believe we are in our fourth year living on Chicago's North Shore.  We love living on Maple Ave. and are thoroughly enjoying being back in a house with a yard and a puppy!  The contentment plane has finally landed in Chicago, and we have much for which to be thankful.

Front yard Lemonade Stand in August

Wilmette Harbor and Dog Beach

Summer round out with a great visit with my Mom, 

lots of afternoons at the beach 

(which is now only a five minute walk from our front door!),

 and a few visits to the city.

Our puppy Daisy has been so much fun. 

 A walk by water + a Happy Dog= Daily Dose of Happiness

She is lively, laid back, and pretty much all around amazing.

In October Jason and I took what has become an annual bike ride to the city. 

 In honor of our Thirteenth anniversary we stayed the night in the Loop

 and drank some mighty fine cocktails.

My girls keep getting bigger. 

 They tell me it's got to happen.

So one Saturday morning we made a trip to Claire's.

To quote Eleanor,

"Mom, this was a big day. 

It isn't every day you put a hole in your ear 

that will be there the rest of your life."

Jason is still serving as an Interim/Associate at Grace.

 If you see a guy in Spandex whizzing by on Sheridan Rd. 

at lightening speed, it is probably Jason. 

 That's him out there in front in the black/white/red 

with the little white bobby socks and shiny SHAVED legs. 

 Yep, not lying.

I am in Nursing School full time this Fall and loving it.  

Yesterday I got to assist University of Chicago Medical Residents 

in a high tech Simulation Lab simulating emergency situations.  It was so much fun!

Jason and the girls have been all around amazing in helping keep life together while things have gotten a lot busier for me.  This whole second career thing is definitely a team effort.

Fall sports keep us hopping on the weekends.

Eleanor branched out this Fall and tried a new sport- Lacrosse.

That's my girl

#4

going for that ball.

Rynn stuck with Park District Soccer 

helping her team- "Green Slime"- to a victorious season.

Fifth grade brings lots of changes in our little lakeside village of Wilmette.  

Rynn rides the bus to school now and is thriving in her amazing school of 500 

5th and 6th graders.

Fall arrived quickly as we raced to and fro.

Wilmette is beautiful now with fall color. 

Even the oaks decided to compete with the maples this year 

by trading in their usual brown for a deep auburn. 

Lots for which to be thankful as we head

 toward a season of gratitude and Thanksgiving.

Thanks for checking in here. 

 Come see us...a guest room is waiting!