Friday-Sunday, September 19-21

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

 PHILIP

  

Our birthday boy and his sweet Annette

Congratulations to Philip on his 49th birthday!   WOW....how can that be?    Philip John was our bicentennial baby born September 21, 1976.   He's made us so proud so as parents and what a great hubby to Annette and Dad to Luke and Maeve.    He loves to fly, do woodworking, travel and enjoy his family and friends on beautiful Lake James.   

Been watching with so much emotion the memorial service for Charlie Kirk - so heartbreaking but so powerful with the many wonderful tributes to this great Christian man...

We are back from our weekend up north for Mark's reunion.   Busy and fun!

Friday - we left KK in the morning with our first stop in Minonk at the Brewhouse Coffee Bar (1st time for us and excellent warm raspberry scone).    Walked across the street to the Minonk Chocolate Co for some caramel apples and chocolates.   Onto Mendota and another stop at the Coffee Barn, (just opened in May).   I remember when this place was Jerry's Flower Barn many years ago.  Then to visit my Aunt Marian (almost 97).   She's now in assisted living at Stonecroft Village.   We had such a nice chat and saw her new "home".   We wheeled her down to play bingo and said our good byes.   She's such a dear...

Aunt Marian

Next stop was at St. Mary's cemetery in Sublette to visit my parents' grave.   Off to Sterling and Mark's sister Joan and Joe's home.    We settled in and enjoyed a slice of Joan's delicious raspberry/cherry pie and visited a bit.   We changed clothes and off to Mark's 60th class reunion from Newman Central Catholic High School (class of '65).   5:00 Mass at St. Andrew's with Father Jon Koehler (classmate from New Orleans) presiding.   Then to the Candlelight Inn for heavy appetizers/drinks and reconnect with classmates (I know several, so fun for me, too).    The food was wonderful!    A great start to this big event.

Saturday - we went for a hearty breakfast at The Red Apple in Dixon with Joe and Joan - more visiting and so enjoy these one-on-one visits.    Said our good byes and big thanks!

                                           

                                                                        Joan and Joe  

We went to Oakwood Cemetery to see the graves of Mark's parents and sister Carol.   Joe and Joan also stopped by.   We drove around Dixon (Petunia Capital of the World) - wow.....we remember for many years, the beautiful blooms that used to be in the ground along the streets of Dixon but now in these gorgeous hanging baskets around town.   

Spectacular blooms

Then we hit another coffee shop (our favorite in Dixon - Coffee Crush).    Off to Oregon for next reunion event.   The classmates boarded the "Pride of Oregon" for a 2-hour cruise on the Rock River.   

Our first hint of fall

Cruising on the Rock River aboard the "Pride of Oregon"

Chief Blackhawk - high on the banks of the Rock River

More fall beauty with our paddleboat in background

Some classmates

Linda (also a cousin), Mark, Pat, Joe, Judy

 More visiting with classmates and friends.    Afterwards we gathered at Maxson's for a buffet dinner which was excellent but the highlight was the 16-piece Rock River Jazz Band performing very entertaining music!!!    Said our good byes (the plan is to possibly get together in 2 years)  This class gives us a "save the date" well in advance.

Mark had a class of 150 students - there were around 60ish (with some spouses).    49 have passed.

Drove to Rockford to Mark's sister Janet and Michael.   (Another fun one-on-one).   We had a glass of wine and chatted before off to bed.

Sunday - we went to 8:15 Mass with Janet and Michael at St. Bridget's.    Their son (our nephew and godchild), Tommy and family joined us.  Afterwards we went to the Japanese Anderson Gardens for breakfast - what a gorgeous place.    Would love to tour these gardens someday.    Our meals were awesome + the specialty coffees.    

Pat and Janet with yummy vanilla/cinnamon lattes.

Tommy, Samm and precious little girls

Lily (3), Riley (6) and Olivia (4)

Janet and Michael

Zoom tonight included 7 siblings - football talk/scores, family gatherings, Mark's reunion, Drew's upcoming wedding, and the 3 birthday boys - Tom (Mark's brother), Philip and Paul (Jim and Lydia's son).

Have a great week!   Bye Bye Summer!