Peoria May 2010

Blog, what blog! We have just returned from our trip to Peoria and between catching up with family and officially closing on our 40 acres it has been a busy few weeks for us. To top it all off Aniela was pretty much sick from the moment we touched down in Chicago and then Charles and I ended the trip getting sick as well. I think it was too much excitement and activities in a short period of time!

Since we hadn't been back for 9 months we spent our trip just catching up with family this time around. There have been a lot of changes since we visited last.

It was so nice to finally meet and hold our new niece and nephew. I forgot how little babies are. Jozef and Celina are 3 months old and just doing amazing. My sister Ela and her husband Kevin have there hands full with their beautiful daughter Gabby and the twins, but run the house like a well oiled machine. It was also the first time we were able to see their new beautiful home in Bolingbrook. It is a perfect fit for their growing family! Aniela and Charles loved playing with Gabby and adored the twins. Charles was so curious about them and Aniela couldn't stop asking to hold them! I only wish we could have visited longer.

Then my older sister Danuta just bought a new house and is busy getting it renovated and ready to move. Her husband, Michal is graduating from residency so there are so many amazing changes happening for them. My sisters oldest son, Tomasz, is Anielas age and they were joined at the hip when together. And her little boy Szymon is almost 12 months old. He was merely 2 months when we saw him last and is a spitting image of his big brother. I can't wait to see there new house when we come back later this year.

This time around we were able to make a quick trip to Sterling and visited Charlie's sister Susanna and her family. There new house is beautiful and Aniela and Charles had a blast playing with Rebecca and Patrick. They even threw Aniela a little belated birthday celebration with ice cream cake. Then they came down to Peoria a few times so the cousins could spend more time together. One of the days they came down it was even sunny so we hit the Ivy club. Unfortunatley it was the only time we got to go because of weather!

The Grandparents are doing well and did what Grandparents do best...spoil Grandbabies. We also did some spoiling and celebrated both Grandpa's and Dziadziu's fathers day a weekend early...so there was lots of cake eating this trip too. One afternoon we spent with Grandma Mullen. She is an amazing lady... 92 and still driving, living in her own home and even meeting her friends for bridge. The kids also love her house. So many neat things to look at. Now that we're back I've had to put the kids through mommy boot camp to whip them into shape. No we can not have mac-n-cheese everyday and yes there are such things as manners!

Lastly during our trip we closed on our land! There were several days that we went out to mow the trails, put up deer stands and explore. It's a lot of land and we have so many things we would like to do. Until we move back though we will just maintain the trails and hunt on it. Someday we hope to have a little cabin out there so the kids can experience what Charlie and I had growing up...endless hours of romping around in the woods!

It was a much needed visit and we hope less time passes between now and the next one. Thanks everyone. We love you and miss you already!