Grandma's 90th

Here are the pictures from our first actual WHOLE family gathering.  It was a great time, and I am glad that we were all able to be in one spot to celebrate with Grandma!

Grandma and her 5 children

(behind them is the slideshow my uncle made of pictures over the past 90 years)

All of the grandchildren

The whole family

Grandma and the girls

Yay for pictures!

Here are some pictures of the past few months.  Everything I have talked about, just the image that goes along with it. 

Lollapalooza...

Taking a break from the heat.

Duffy

Lots and lots of people!

Front row... Dierks Bentley!

The skyline

Mackinac Island

Mackinac Bridge

The main drag
Arch Rock 
Mom, Dad, and I

Arch Rock from below

Overlooking the main area

My classroom 

It looks a little different now, but you get the idea

My First Actual Blog...

We will see how this goes.  Jackie and I have been pretty busy over the last couple of months.  She is doing extremely well teaching, even though it is a little taxing.  The classroom part of it is great, but all the surrounding circumstances seem to cause the headaches.  I have just been trucking through school and branching out a little more with extra curricular activities.  I am on the Negotiation Team, which is kind of like a debate team on some levels (go ahead and make your jokes), but I actually find it interesting.  Wanting to go into transactional law, I feel that negotiations are going to be something I do a considerable amount of the time.  Plus, we go to St. Louis and then possibly Boston.  I am starting a Corporate and Securities Law Journal at the school (currently working through the steps), and I am starting to make some important contacts with the faculty at the school.  Law school and being a lawyer is all about who you know, which I guess that pretty much goes for most everything in life.  Cubs blew it...  Can't win the World Series when you don't act like you want to be in the playoffs.  Oh well, what can you do.  On the brighter side... the Bears are starting to look really solid.  I used to doubt KO (all from the Wisconsin fumble), but when he has won 14/19 starts, I cannot complain.  Bears should be 5-0, but the Packers suck and Bears are first in the division.  Hope everyone is well and I will try to do this more often.  Kind of enjoyed it....

October???

Man, oh man!  The last few months have just FLOWN by, I can't believe its October already.  School is CRAZY!!  Being a kindergarten teacher is even CRAZIER!  Things are coming along slowly, but surely.  I'm trying to take everything a day at a time... baby steps, right?  My kids are actually pretty good (all 29 of them, soon to be 3o) , no real trouble makers- I'm lucky in that aspect.  The days are going faster now, but I still have soooo much work to do.  No time for free time, it took me 3 days to watch a full episode of Grey's, and all of you out there know that I need my weekly dose of Grey's and McDreamy.  

Thanks to  Allison I'm really into Gossip Girl now, you should check it out- kind of a good show.  I just wish I had time to catch up on it.  

Plans for the weekend- hopefully not too much!!  I just need a day to me, I'm really hoping to make it to the GAP or H&M.  Al's mom is in town for the next few days, so I believe we're hanging with her on Saturday.  

Right now the Cubs are playing their first playoff game next door, I think Wrigleyville is about to get a little crazy- too bad I don't have time to take part in any festivities- like even watching the game!

I hope everyone is doing well!  Congratulations to the Standeford's on their recent purchase of a car!!  I'm excited for you guys!

We'll be back the weekend of the 18th for the Cowden Family Annual Fall Party.  Until then....