QCA

QCA (Quad Cities Area) is where I spent 4 years of my life, but I hadn't been back since graduation (well, actually one quick afternoon trip to talk to the accounting class the Fall after I graduated, but that doesn't really count). It was as fun as it was when I left in 2004.

Wally and I stayed at Jumer's Hotel & Casino in Rock Island (http://www.jumerscasinohotel.com/) . The casino was previously a riverboat on the Mississippi dowtown Rock Island and the hotel was in Bettendorf, IA, but as of December 1st of last year, the two joined together and it is really nice! The hotel is very modern and gives you that little taste of Vegas that Wally and I enjoy every once in awhile when we can't actually get to Vegas.

We stayed at the hotel Friday night. We did a little gambling and then ate at the Steakhouse onsite. We proceeded to play a little more and drink a little more and enjoy some entertainment at the Edge Nightclub there (it really isn't a nightclub...we really aren't nightclub kind of people, ha!). We didn't win any money, but we had a good time.

Saturday we slept in a bit (although, I slept horribly that night - go figure!). Then we headed off to walk around Augie's campus. It was a gorgeous fall day...check out the pics below...can you see how doing a campus visit in October might pretty much suck you in??? The campus is absolutely beautiful!!!! There were a few changes to campus, but overall it is pretty much the same. After walking around for almost 2 hours, we headed over to the Rock Island Arsenal (http://www.ria.army.mil/). In all the visits Wally made to see me at school, we never went on to the island. Wally was excited to walk through the museum...I have never seen so many guns in one place...a little creepy to me but Wally was excited. After the Arsenal, we headed for a late lunch at Arthur's Deli - one of our favorites. We walked through the mall in Davenport, hit up Gander Mtn. for Wally, and then headed back to the hotel. Wally caught the second half of the Notre Dame game and I took a nap :) Then we headed back to Davenport for dinner at another of our favorites - Azteca!! The Augie crew always had a GREAT time at this place!!! We ordered a pitcher of margarita, ate some good Mexican food and then headed out to a couple of bars. We stopped at a sports bar first and watched the end of the Iowa/Michigan St. game...wow, what a great ending!! I honestly could care less, but having so many Iowa people around got me really excited and into the game - ha!! We hit up one more bar in the District and then headed back to the hotel...after a little bit of gambling and a lot more drinks for Wally, we were done for the night!

Sunday we headed home to our baby boy who we couldn't wait to see!! We picked him up at Grammy and Papa's and I would say that he was excited to see us!! He had a big ole smile on his face when we came in!! The report from both grandma's was excellent although the little guy is not sleeping very well these days. For the last 4-5 nights he has been up quite a bit...hopefully we can get back to sleeping through the night here really soon!!!

We had a great weekend away just enjoying the company of each other and not having to worry about really anything!! It was good to do, but we are glad to be back with Luke!
Thanks to the grandparents for taking care of our little guy - we know he enjoyed it as much as you guys did!!! He told us so :)

A pic before we leave for the weekend...


Friday night fun!


Beautiful Augustana










Wally made me take this one... :)


The library

Our house from senior year is still standing...amazing!!!

Lock & Dam at the Arsenal

A big hug with our baby!!!

100...

that is the number of times I have posted...make that 101 now...wow!!! I honestly wasn't sure how this blogging thing was going to go when I first started. I wasn't very good at it at the beginning...I was still trying to find some balance in being a new mommy and a working mommy at that and then to add a blogging mommy to the list was a challenge. I feel like we have a good balance going right now and I try to keep up with the blogging because 1) not everyone gets to see Luke everyday, and he is constantly changing and developing so I think it is important to keep family and friends in the loop so the next time they see him there is no "catching up", they can just take off from where the blog left off...2) I don't scrapbook and I am not very good at keeping up to date with his baby book, but this website, to me, has every milestone, picture, video that I feel is important and fun and will be the best memory keeper we will have (Lord knows my memory is shot!)...and 3) I enjoy it! As Wally would tell you, it is my "hobby". I like to blog and blog-hop!

While it is always nice to get comments and have "followers" (click that section on the right hand side of the screen ;) ) so you know somebody is actually reading what you are writing, in the end, this blog is really for Wally, Lucas, and myself so that we can remember together this adventure!

So I will continue to blog as often as I can and work toward the next blogging milestone - 200 posts!!

And We're Off...

to the Quad Cities that is! Wally and I are going away for the weekend. We are staying at Jumer's Hotel & Casino in Rock Island, IL. We enjoy a little gambling and Augie is in the QCA. I haven't been back since graduation over 5 years ago so I am anxious to check out the campus and eat at some of our favorite places out there!

The hard part - this is our first time leaving Lucas for a whole weekend!! We have done one night overnight, but not two. Luke is also doing his first sleepover at the grandparents. He is staying with G&G Z. on Friday night and then heading over to Grammy & Papa's for Saturday night. I know he will be in great hands and that it is good for Wally & I to get away, but we sure are going to miss the little guy!!

Have fun Grandparents!! Have fun Bubba - but don't forget to sleep :)

Halloween Costume Help!!!

Well, we thought we knew what Luke's Halloween costume was going to be. We had bought two, but once we put on the Little Monster costume we thought for sure that was the one and were keeping it a secret. Then, last night we tried on the lion costume, and I loved it!! I was originally going for the atypical baby Halloween costume with the Monster, but how can you resist a cute, cuddly lion...we can't decide!! Check out the pics below and vote in the poll to the right...thanks for your help! And so much for the Halloween costume surprise!

The Lion

The Little Monster

Baby Steps

Tonight Lucas was standing holding on to my leg while I was getting dinner ready in the kitchen. I took his hands to have him stand on his own and all of the sudden he took 3 or 4 steps before kneeling down and laughing. Wally and I were both just silent while he was doing it...we couldn't believe what we were seeing. We are just working on him standing on his own right now, but if he wants to take steps...so be it!! I have a feeling it was a fluke, but it is just sign of what is right around the corner!!

Asian Beetles...

took over our house yesterday! Luke and I walked in to see a lot of these bugs around the doorway to our deck...it was gross. As Luke was eating, I grabbed a magazine and started killing the bugs...who knew it was so funny!! He was cracking up. There is some video below, but I really wish you could have heard him from the beginning, he was laughing so hard!! Sorry the video is all over the place, but I was swatting at bugs while recording.

Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love

We headed to L-P this past weekend. Friday night we ordered in some La Grotto's with my parents and Carly and just hung out until the little guy went to bed. Then Wally and I headed out to meet some friends for a couple of drinks. Saturday was the big event though - the main reason we headed back for the weekend. My Aunt Kathy and our friend "Toots" put together an Oktoberfest for their subdivision in Oglesby. My family was invited to come too especially since Elvis was going to be there!! So, if you know my family at all, we enjoy this Elvis impersonator. It all started at my Aunt Kathy's 40th birthday party and he has been back around as recent as Carly's high school graduation party a couple of years ago! We find great fun in watching and listening to him! Wally and I thought we would introduce Luke to Elvis! It was little chilly, but we had a good time!


The Hostesses


A bundled up little guy and Aunt Stacey



Grammy and her boy!



"Elvy" and my mom

The neighborhood boys doing a kick line to an Elvis song!

Stacey (aka Anne Margaret) singing some "Fever" (Elvis had to 'feed' her the words though)!

The boys took a time out in their football game to watch Stacey perform...LOL!!!

I think their might be quite a few boys going as Elvis for Halloween now!

Luke getting his very first scarf from Elvis :)

All bundled up and not enjoying the lack of movement due to the bundling :( He looked like Ralphie from "A Christmas Story"...he wouldn't really move...it was funny!

Back outside after his nap and enjoying a "sweet"

Elvis is done and we are warming up inside!

And some video!

After the party, we made a quick visit to TJ and Hill's. Luke had pretty much reached his breaking point, but we wanted to pop in and say hi and see Julie and baby Connor too!

We headed back to my parent's after that and we 'thought' Luke would have his bottle and go straight to bed, but he had other things in mind as he was getting his jams on...like climbing on Chloe!!

Sunday we went to church and then headed over to Wally's parents for the day. Luke was a bit of a train wreck by then....he was pretty worn out from the weekend and his "late" nights....but that is what grandparents are for right!!! Wally's parents will get their turn to wear him out Halloween weekend!