I made a poll of Halloween costumes that we are looking at getting for Ailie. Please vote and let us know what one you like best!

The summer has flown by so far. I know it is only August, but it already kind of feels like the summer is already over. I am already talking of how "I would like to do ____ at least one more time before the summer is over." We have been busy as usual around here, though our summer plans didn't end up being quite what we expected them to be. We had plans of a 2 week West Coast trip planned involving stops in Seattle, Portland, Ashland, OR, Tracy, CA, Morro Bay, Ventura, and finally San Diego. However, not long before we were to go Nathan was in an accident. He was riding his bike home from work and someone opened their car door, not seeing him. He slowed down and swerved as much as he could (didn't want to go in front of moving traffic) but his handlebars still clipped the door of the parked car. His handlebars spun around and he went flying over them. He rolled as much as he could, but landed on his shoulder. He broke his collarbone in two places, it was displaced 300%, and had two broken fragments as well. He ended up having surgery to repair it, he now has plates, screws, and wire holding it in place. Because of the surgery Nathan was not allowed to fly for 2 weeks - for a fear of blood clots. And that is why our trip was cancelled. So instead of friends and family - mountains and oceans - we spent time at home and went to the Garfield Park Conservatory here in Chicago. It is really beautiful there, but not quite an even trade for our trip ;-)

While this was a great disappointment, in some ways it worked out for the better. The morning we would have left, Nathan's grandma passed away. She had Alzheimer's for almost 20 years. The funeral was just over a week later in Stoughton.

Coming up this weekend we are looking forward to having Nathan's sister Ellie here with her boyfriend John and the kids. Ellie is participating in the 3-day walk (60 miles in 3 days) for Susan G. Komen 3-day for the cure. Nathan's parents are also coming to support her in this walk. It will be great to see them again - and have them visit Chicago in the summer! Also the same weekend our friends Maria and Andy are coming to visit and we are all going to go to Lollapalooza. It should be a fun and crazy weekend!