Davy turns 22

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVY!!!

 I'm always under the delusion that my boys are still little..... but they are obviously not!

I need to get a grip for heaven's sake!

 Oh Davy I love you! Smart, creative, funny, musical, sensitive..... and very loud :)

 New laptop he'll need for school in the fall!

Hey - he got a scholarship to his dream fine arts school in Chicago! 

Way to go Davy - so proud of you!

 Davy and his awesome girlfriend Taylor :)

Birthday planking?

the boys are back in town

So fun to have Henry and John over to practice new music with Davy!

Someone was really happy to relax after his first semester in grad school!

A very, VERY familiar sight - hehe - and one of my favorite things to listen to from the other room!

There was MUCH poker being played during Christmas break!

Talk about CARDS.....

everyone's a comedian :)

I snuck this pic of Tay while she was warming up by the fire :)

Tay brought her kitty Mila over for a play date with Kitty... Kitty was NOT very hospitable :/

Aw, and there's the Mouse :) Having some fun with his friend Caroline :)

Chicago trip - post 2

 Suffice it to say, that Urbana is one adorable mid-west town!

The University of Illinois packs a walloping 75,000 students, but Urbana still feels quaint :)

The weather was cold but gorgeous, and very Christmassy!

 I'll never forget walking into the train station and seeing my precious Davy's smiling face :) 

I've missed him sooooooo much - I never wanted to stop hugging him. 

And it was very sweet to see these two together again :)

Davy took us to their apt. where Daniel was waiting, and it was AWESOME to be with both my boys!

Davy took us around the town so we could go into neat little shops and I could take pics :)

We found the COOLEST independent book store (3 stories!) and loved poking around!

They had all kinds of old, first editions and quirky things - it was awesome!

This is where I hid while looking for books on Irene Sendler in Holocaust section

 I *love* REO Speedwagon!

I wish our post offices looked this ornate!

Be still my heart..... we found the BEST BAKERY! I'm still dreaming of their French macaroons!

Even the sun going down looks spectacular :)

YAYYY!!!

Davy's favorite independent movie theater - he even owns a share :)

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Next post: the 4 of us hit Chicago!

Chicago trip - post 1

 Dawn broke as Taylor & I were riding the "L" train from the airport :)

 Walking from the "L" to Union Station in the early morning - my first dose of architecture :)

 just around the corner and.......

 YES!

 I could have taken pics of Union Station for hours!

 ....... and I thought the OUTSIDE was amazing - the inside blew me away!

 Finally on the train to Urbana - my first view of Chicago from the train :)

It was 2 hours south to Urbana and I loved every minute!

Next post: Urbana!

you are not here

~ UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, URBANA ~

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Happy Monday Friends!

Tonight, unbeknownst to you, I will be getting ready to fly home from Illinois!

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Davy's girlfriend Taylor and I are going on an adventure to visit Davy & Daniel!

First we will stay in Urbana for 2 days at the boys' apartment.....

then all 4 of us will be traveling to Chicago for 2 more days - YAY!

 WOOT!

Here's a view of the skyline/Navy Pier from the water

 We're staying at the Hyatt right on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago!

 This is one of the attractions I hope to see in real life!

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Hang tight and have a great week!
I'll tell you all about it - with my own pics - when I get back!
Can't wait to see my boys! :)