It's here!

Okay so I finally got my ring!  Here are a few pix. I also posted one pix on my facebook, but wanted to show you a few more angles here for the family to see.  Love it, love it. Jay surprised me at dinner tonight with it. We had a bottle of champagne to celebrate.  

Early Bday Celebration for CC in Chicago

At the Drawing Room, after dinner cocktails and mocktails for the preggos!

Around the table - Lindsey, CC, Lauren, Sara and Marie


Auntie CC with Julia (Lauren's girl) and Bella (Marie's girl)

Play time for Julia Rose Solberg and Isabella Marie Lytle

Road trip 2009

Ok fambly.. I know, no excuse for not posting...it's not like I have to go to work, lol. Here's some pictures. Enjoy

As Kelly described. We started Sunday on our way to Indianapolis. We stopped in Lafayette to visit Purdue University and the Triple XXX diner as featured on food network. Of course I facebooked Joe Filbrandt the details as he graduated from Purdue. Fun, lovely campus and great diner food, homemade rootbeer, t-shirt for Brian.

We continued on tho Indy, got there as soon as the men's NCAA basketball games were over and sat 2 seconds from our hotel, against the flow of traffic. Well, we cruised down to the artsy district to have dinner and headed to the speedway the next day for a tour of the track and museum. We headed toward St. Louis and hooked up with Uncle Joe, toured his house. WOW. He showed us all the secret passageways and all the cool remodeling and spooky church stuff he has stored. We were able to met up with Brian for dinner and St Louis famous concrete. We toured the city museum, zoo, AnheiserBush and the Arch, with a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River.We spent 2 days in St Louis then headed down to Rolla. That's where Brian does most of his work. He talks about a restaurant called "the tater patch" everything on a baked potato. Brady was challenged to eat the whole thing for $40 bucks...and he did it. Whew.

Next day we headed down to Kelly and Jay's place. It was awesome to meet all of Kelly and Jay's friends at the Brew co. as we hear soooo much about them all every week. Wow it's great..make sure you visit them soon.

Well new week starting, Brian was home this past weekend and we start the redo on the laundry room to be completed by June...Can't wait to see everyone...and have it done.

Luff ewe, Lisa

Cronley Easter 2009

The Easter bunny was kind to Lily and Raymond this year. The wind-up chicken left little treats all over, too. Sandra joined us for Easter mass and Easter dinner.

Lisa & Family visit Jay and Kelly

Yes, after 13 years (almost 14) Lisa finally made it to Missouri to visit Kelly.  Fair is fair--it's been almost 10 years since I've been to her place in Berea, but hey, I've been there before. This was the first time for Lisa, Brady and Brian.  GLAD TO HAVE THEM.

After a whirlwind few days trekking from Indiana to Illinois to Missouri, Lisa and Brady (with Brian following) made it to Springfield on Thursday, April 3.  After a quick tour around Bass Pro, we caravan home to Fair Grove in the rain. We made fabulous homemade pizza for dinner and Woody and Dorothy joined us.

Friday was a fun filled day traveling to Branson for a little outdoor shopping and lunch with margharitas.  Then we drove the "strip" and down to Table Rock lake for a quick survey of the water.  Lisa and Brady so cute, Kelly and Lisa, and then Jay and Brian playing with Brian's new fishing gear (just bought from Bass Pro).

Friday night was Brew Co night for sure. We met Laura, Jana & Anthony and their kids.  It was first Friday artwalk so we also took in the sites and fought the crowds downtown. It was a great night!  They got to see all our regular hangouts and even met a few of my students.

Saturday was all girls' day. Lisa and I went for pedicures and lunch together. I showed her my office and then we met the guys back at home. We grilled some steaks, made a bonfire in the back and talked all night until we all just crashed.

Sunday was Brady's 15th birthday!  I made him pancakes and bacon--he was still full from dinner the night before. But he ate some breakfast for Aunt Kelly.  And then they were gone by 10am.  Lisa was the trooper and drove home the entire way--an 11 hour marathon, in the rain.

Had a great time and looking forward to our time together in Ohio in June.

Kelly