the chicago sockers reunion

last nite all the girls that i played soccer with in club got together for a much needed reunion. we met at charlie's in palatine and just sat and reminisced. it had been over 5 years since we last played together and caught up. everyone is doing great and getting together resurfaced so many memories that hadn't been thought of in ages. it was a great nite and i am glad that we finally got together again. next step...a reunion match vs. the younger sockers team. lookout....i forcast another championship in our future :)

the originals

kristen, holly, liz

amy, ashley, katie (stud goalie), jen

bayleigh

the crazy dog life of bayleigh heil

baby bayleigh

he loves to sit on people's rumps and feet

could he"beeeee" any cuter?

me and my two bro's

(they both have a black belt in crazy!)

in his holiday sweater

happy turkey day!

Happy thanksgiving everyone! Man, I am stuffed! My mom put together a great feast (as usual). Jen and Jonathan came over early and helped us bake banana bread and cranberry/orange bread (a first timer at our thanksgiving this year-I would def recommend). The guests of honor this year were my Uncle John and Grandmother as well as Jonathan's father and wife, Janet.

the menu:

Turkey (of course)-a 19lb bird

mashed potatoes

sweet potatoes

veggie caserole

stuffing (a personal favorite)

banana bread

cranberry/orange bread

pumpkin spice bread
cranberry relish (used as a subsitute to the usual blah cranberry...delicious!) and of course good ole pumpkin pie

So yet again, another great Thanksgiving and I do have a ton to be thankful for. I have an amazing family who are always there for me, supporting me. I am blessed that my sister has found jonathan and that they are starting their lives together-which looks to be like an amazing life already. I am also thankful for my friends from all over. I am truely blessed.

travel 07 planning

2006- Its been a pretty weird year. I decided after getting back to the states after my semester abroad in France, that I wanted to travel.....again.....as soon as possible. So I have been saving up, working odd jobs and at times feeling a bit lost in my life. I wish someone would have told me that graduating from college doesn't mean you will graduate with your life figured out. However, all this strife has not been for nothing because come January 15th 2007 I start my adventure around the globe! Just last week I took the mucho dinero plunge and booked my first flight to LA and then on to Fiji and New Zealand. I am so excited about these first locations because it will allow me to get used to traveling again all the while enjoying secluded beaches and majestic glacier mountains, thus preparing me for the craziness that lies ahead in SE Asia. I am however going to really miss my friends and family and that is the sole reason why I have created this blog. So I hope my posts help bridge the thousand-mile gap between me (wherever in the world I might be) and my friends and family back home.