Okay so if you're here you notice that only the pics are uploaded for now. Gradually, over the next week or so I hope to have time to make entry updates. This will afford me the opportunity to reminisce over the time that is now gone and to decide what to share and what not to share.
Have a great fall!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Family Ties - Summer '08
This was definitely a summer of family starting with Uncle Al's b-day in May. Continuing through to the annual KL birthday celebrations. I have to add in the family days at the Taste of Chicago this year - mom did Chaka concert with cousin Val...me, mom and Val did the Stevie concert, which was ridiculously and dangerously crowded but cool to be outside. To me it was like watching him on tv at a block party. I just kicked back in my chair, read Warriors Don't Cry and listened to Stevie sing.
The big deal...the big plan of the summer was welcoming the down South fam...something that hadn't happened for like 10-15 years! It was something I think that Mama Nora would've wanted and that was the idea 2 years ago when the plan was proposed - "you guys always came south to see Mama Nora and us...now it's our turn to come see you." I was glad to hear that cause in all honesty I don't know how often I would keep going there...I didn't go as often as I should anyway - something I have come to regret and have to live with but I def would limit it now. So, anyway 4th of July weekend it was on! I think they came in on Thursday and left on Monday night.
Niecy, Erika, Ciara, Sean, Doris, Wayne, Dee, "Teacake" and Eva were the guests. Eva, Teacake and Doris stayed with mom for most of the time and with Al on Sunday night (Teacake stayed with me). Erika, Sean, Niecy and Ciara would room with me (the bedrooms, 2 twin air mattresses and queen airmattress got their use that weekend) and Dee and Wayne were between Jeff and Al's. Upon their arrival, we all convened at Al's for a long time...Tina and Willie brought the kids over, too. At first they didn't seem to click..but after awhile Chante, Crystal and Ciara were buddies and Ciara even spent the night with them.
The Real Men Cook...Moore style was planned for Saturday. So, plans had to be made for Friday, Sunday and Monday. I considered the festival in Washington park, but that is so expensive that we opted out. Instead we ended up going to Ford City Mall (in picking up Ciara we also picked up Chante, Crystal and Deja - our mall journey was interesting and fun), shopping up on Fullerton (TJ Maxx, Old Navy, B&BW, Marshalls upon their request - on Monday), eating dinner at mom's one night, going out on a downtown tour (several Walgreens for Chicago souvenirs and then, Sears Tower...Sean jumped up and down with excitement). Mom had occupied much of the time with Doris and Eva in their own shopping excursions. I had to make sure that they had Chicago classics - Giordano's with Jamba on their last day and JuiceHarold's Chicken Shack on Beach day.
The best day for me was 31st beach day. I haven't been to a Chicago beach other than with YDub kids during orientation weeks the last few years. Sean was surprised to learn that Chicago had a beach. So, we got ready and piled in their suburban and I first showed them Rainbow Beach by me and then, drove south to Al's to pick up Wayne before heading north to mom's to pick up Teacake. So after that, naturally, 31st beach was the best option. Morgan and Kyree met us up there (she'd agreed to be gone part of the weekend to allow space for the fam). Erika called Tina and her and Willie brought the kids up there. It was great. We found a parking spot and I pulled out the dolly to grab our beach gear - folding chairs, blankets, table, cooler stuffed with goodies, bags of snacks and a little radio. It was a beautiful clear day on lake michigan. the water was cold at first but soon felt warmer. I splashed a bit with all the kids, but mainly spent my time with Teacake - what a delight! Toddlers are the greatest joy in the world! At the end of our time, we headed to Harold's.
Their last day went quickly - Uncle Al dropped off Eva and Doris to my house. I took Erika by the AKA headquarters where her and Niecy got a nice tour and gift bag. We then headed north to do some shopping at stores they'd asked about. Much to Al's chagrin they didn't get going until like 6 or 7pm. He ended up meeting them at Pullman to get them going down the highway. It was agreed that this needs to be a 2-year thing so that the kids can keep in touch with each other.
The big deal...the big plan of the summer was welcoming the down South fam...something that hadn't happened for like 10-15 years! It was something I think that Mama Nora would've wanted and that was the idea 2 years ago when the plan was proposed - "you guys always came south to see Mama Nora and us...now it's our turn to come see you." I was glad to hear that cause in all honesty I don't know how often I would keep going there...I didn't go as often as I should anyway - something I have come to regret and have to live with but I def would limit it now. So, anyway 4th of July weekend it was on! I think they came in on Thursday and left on Monday night.
Niecy, Erika, Ciara, Sean, Doris, Wayne, Dee, "Teacake" and Eva were the guests. Eva, Teacake and Doris stayed with mom for most of the time and with Al on Sunday night (Teacake stayed with me). Erika, Sean, Niecy and Ciara would room with me (the bedrooms, 2 twin air mattresses and queen airmattress got their use that weekend) and Dee and Wayne were between Jeff and Al's. Upon their arrival, we all convened at Al's for a long time...Tina and Willie brought the kids over, too. At first they didn't seem to click..but after awhile Chante, Crystal and Ciara were buddies and Ciara even spent the night with them.
The Real Men Cook...Moore style was planned for Saturday. So, plans had to be made for Friday, Sunday and Monday. I considered the festival in Washington park, but that is so expensive that we opted out. Instead we ended up going to Ford City Mall (in picking up Ciara we also picked up Chante, Crystal and Deja - our mall journey was interesting and fun), shopping up on Fullerton (TJ Maxx, Old Navy, B&BW, Marshalls upon their request - on Monday), eating dinner at mom's one night, going out on a downtown tour (several Walgreens for Chicago souvenirs and then, Sears Tower...Sean jumped up and down with excitement). Mom had occupied much of the time with Doris and Eva in their own shopping excursions. I had to make sure that they had Chicago classics - Giordano's with Jamba on their last day and JuiceHarold's Chicken Shack on Beach day.
The best day for me was 31st beach day. I haven't been to a Chicago beach other than with YDub kids during orientation weeks the last few years. Sean was surprised to learn that Chicago had a beach. So, we got ready and piled in their suburban and I first showed them Rainbow Beach by me and then, drove south to Al's to pick up Wayne before heading north to mom's to pick up Teacake. So after that, naturally, 31st beach was the best option. Morgan and Kyree met us up there (she'd agreed to be gone part of the weekend to allow space for the fam). Erika called Tina and her and Willie brought the kids up there. It was great. We found a parking spot and I pulled out the dolly to grab our beach gear - folding chairs, blankets, table, cooler stuffed with goodies, bags of snacks and a little radio. It was a beautiful clear day on lake michigan. the water was cold at first but soon felt warmer. I splashed a bit with all the kids, but mainly spent my time with Teacake - what a delight! Toddlers are the greatest joy in the world! At the end of our time, we headed to Harold's.
Their last day went quickly - Uncle Al dropped off Eva and Doris to my house. I took Erika by the AKA headquarters where her and Niecy got a nice tour and gift bag. We then headed north to do some shopping at stores they'd asked about. Much to Al's chagrin they didn't get going until like 6 or 7pm. He ended up meeting them at Pullman to get them going down the highway. It was agreed that this needs to be a 2-year thing so that the kids can keep in touch with each other.
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