a day at the park gone wild

I picked up karrick and a buddy from school and pulled them in the trailer to the park. I brought a loaf of stale bread so they could feed the ducks

when out of nowhere I hear "Honk Honk honk..."

these grazy Geese start charging through the park

"Can they smell bread?"

"honk honk food honk food"

they came with a vengence, holy smokes. I had to grab karrick and N and make a run for it

Wings a flappin, angry honkin...then they charge the sweet little ducks

playground bullies, thats what they are!

they steal the ducks bread...little big bastards

when all was said and done, we had a great afternoon at the park. I got some great excercise as I grunted while I stood on the pedals to generate enough power to pull those 2 little boys up and down the hilly streets of Lombard. To add insult to injury, Karrick kept repeating

 "Mommy, you are getting a lot of excercise pulling us, this is good for you"

"How good is the heart waiting to happen"

I thought to myself

A true south side gal

Penelope, soaking up a little WHITE SOX sun

Conference

Today the GWMS 8th grade boys volleyball team had Conference. They had to be at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellen at 7:15 am this morning. Each team played 6 games that determined who qualified for finals. Our team was the only team to win all 6, so we faced O'neil middle school (5-1) from Downers Grove for 1st place. The championship was best of three. They won the 1st, we won the 2nd and the 3rd game was neck and neck until O'neil scored to win 25-23. Our boys took home the 2nd place trophy. Tough loss, but they did great...9 straight games..Whoa!

TJ's # 1 fan

who's kid is that? oh, THAT"S MY BOY

TJ went from never picking up a volleyball to first string. He's very tall, a 5'9  13 year old and very athletic, but a lot of credit goes to his coach...a very competitive and tough coach. TJ has volleyball everyday some 6:30-8 am practices and some 3-6 pm practices

BLOCK!

 after TJ makes a good play he still gets that shy smile and his cheeks turn red...so cute

After playing and winning 2 full games TJ still has perfect hair....oh the life of a teenager.

TJ has a decision to make for next year in high school as the volleyball and baseball season coincide. More scholarships for volleyball than baseball, but baseball is his passion and he has a mean fastball. It's not a decision I would like to make...thank god he has some time to think

Happy Birthday Patrick 3-17-2001

were my boys ever that small?

Happy Birthday to our loyal woofy Patrick who turned 9 yesterday. Patrick is a dear member of our family. We got him from a breeder in may of 2001 at 8 weeks old. He is fiercely protective of all of us, especially TJ and Cal. As a puppy he would herd the boys if they wandered away more than a few feet. When Callahan was 2 he taught him to fetch by throwing a ball then grabbing Patrick by the scruff and hurling him towards the ball while yelling "fetch"
 Today Patrick barks and runs around in circles at 3:10 knowing the school bell will ring in 5 minutes. at 3:20 he has been known to wander down the street to look for the boys. When I ride karrick to school in the trailer of my bike, Patrick goes insane barking and jumping afraid that we may get hurt. My across the street neighbor commented that she knows if it is nice out when she hears Patrick going crazy in the morning

Patrick, born on St. Patrick's Day was named for Patrick Starfish from Sponge bob, not St Patrick, as we didn't get his pedigree papers until after, stating his birthday 3-17-2001. That was just pure Irish luck on our part. 

Callahan Patrick McGinty 3-16-1999

Happy 11th Birthday Callahan!

Callahan Patrick McGinty was born on March 16th 1999

and on

March 16, 2010 he turned 11 years old

Callahan is a very unique child and has been a blessing to all of us. He is a loving son, a loyal friend, has a  sensitive soul, a brilliant mind, an advanced sense of humor and at times it seems he may have swallowed  the devil whole

Happy Birthday little man, we love you more than life

Love, 

Dad, Mom, TJ and Karrick

My First Medal

Karrick played the last game of his first season of basketball this morning. He is telling everyone

"Look at the medal I earned"

Love the fact that he uses the word "earned"

CONGRATULATIONS!

WELCOME.....Really?!

Last weekend when Tim and I were in Lake Geneva we hit probably hit every store in the downtown area.

Well almost every store. This store (above) had these little signs all over the door. When tim and I started reading them we were floored! I'm talking mouth open, speechless floored. We decided we would not enter this store due to the crazy signs all over the front, but I would however take a bunch of pictures.

This store was not a china shop, not a sex toy shop, not even a fancy boutique. It...maybe you had better sit down...it was a freakin toy store...yes, A TOY STORE!

Read each sign below

yes, this sign above was posted twice

to add insult to injury, check out the parking lot...did I miss the candid cameras?

Why don't they just post a giant

"I HATE EVERYONE AND REALLY DON'T WANT YOU IN MY STORE"

sign

cool mural

This is the mural on the gym wall at TJ's school. I had to take it in 2 pictures because I only had my zoom lens.

If you clink on the picture it is a pretty cool mural. If I had time I would have stitched together to make it look super cool

Happy Anniversary

Tim and Mary

March 8, 2010

14 years ago today 2 people were joined together

Over a month ago Tim asked me to get a babysitter for the weekend of Mar 5-7th. That is all I was told. He planned a special weekend to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. Friday we got in the car and I had no idea which way we would head. Turns out we were spending the weekend in Lake Geneva at the very

romantic  Lazy Cloud Lodge Bed and Breakfast. He got me and got me good, I never would of guessed anything like it. We stayed in the Tree house Suite which was magical

I shorted out my flash in Colorado so I had to use the night time setting and then correct the color

  If your idea of a romantic Lake Geneva WI B and B honeymoon

includes a double whirlpool with fragrant bubbles and a cozy fireplace that can be viewed from any place in the room, you've just found it!

    Our romantic B and B will make your honeymoon special with lots of candles scattered throughout the room and great amenities throughout your stay.

Check out our honeymoon à la carte for additional Lake Geneva romantic B and B honeymoon ideas...gorgeous bouquets, silk rose petals that we'll strew upon the bed...even romantic CDs!

.

 Birdhouses, watering cans and baskets decorate this romantic suite.  Honeysuckle vine with wisteria flowers and miniature white lights meandering through it are on the ceiling above the bed and sitting area.

    A dining area for two is by the windows that overlook the grounds.

The Enchanted Treehouse is our only two-story suite. Your shower is on the first floor, then you go up a private staircase to your room. (It is totally private - you can go to the shower in your pj's and no one knows!)  There is a half bath on the second floor. some pictures and  text copied from website

that is me on our deck...oh the starts at night. We don't get that in Chicago...millions of big bright starts at night

This is the wool Irish hat I bought Tim for our anniversary...I think he looks adorable

Our Saturday night dinner was at the Hunt Club in The Geneva National Golf Club. Below I got to wear my teeny tiny black dress. I went on a special diet for the dress. In 1 month I lost 12 lbs and I felt wonderful in it

Friday night we went out for Italian food at Cafe Calamari . I thought it was possibly the best Italian food I ever had. During the day we walked and shopped all over downtown Lake Geneva and spent many hours at the Lake front.

A race track was plowed on the frozen lake for dirt bikes...ahhhhh, not in this lifetime

We spent 2 1/2 days together...alone! we laughed, we snuggled, we gazed at each other, we had no worries and it was wonderful. I will remember this anniversary forever.
Tim is the most romantic man that I have ever met, I haven't  heard a story from someone else that can top what he put together this weekend. He planned this by himself and was able to keep me in the dark until we pulled up to the lodge. I was just speechless..the thought and care that was put into this is beyond words.
Thank You so much

Happy Anniversary
I Love you!

When pigs fly......

Meet the latest addition to the McGinty clan. Penelope Latour Pigasus adoption papers were finalized this afternoon in Lake geneva. One look at Penelope with her snout up in the air was all it took for me to fall in love. She carries herself with pride, sass and attitude. Penelope is 25 lbs of solid steel and I just adore her....

Food poisoning crushes Lombard

At least 4 different families that I am friends with got violently ill from our local Subway restaurant. The Dupage County Health Department received so many complaints that they shut the place down. I am amazed that so many people I know ate there in the same weekend, am I missing something?

So I just shared this story with Callahan and without missing a beat he replies

"Well, that's not fresh"

Some cool Colorado pictures