Happy 12th Birthday

Ashley!

You'll always be our little princess, your tiara is just a little bigger now.

We're going up north to Bill & Shelia's in a few hours, if I ever go to sleep. We are all (including Daisy & Maddie) looking forward to a weekend enjoying the outdoors.

We would have gone up today but Ashley had a volleyball game & I worked with my mom.

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go!

Vote NO on CON CON

On Election Day, November 4, Illinois, voters will be asked to decide whether the state should hold a Constitutional Convention (Con Con) to rewrite our state's governing document.

The last time voters were asked if a Con Con was needed, they rejected the notion 3 to 1. We should do the same this year.

There are many reasons to vote NO on CON CON:

• It will cost taxpayers as much as $100 million- money that could be better spent on education and critical services.
• It would open the entire constitution for major changes, threatening important protections and allowing special interests to push their narrow agendas.
• The state constitution can already be changed by amendment. In fact, Illinois voters have amended the current constitution 10 times since 1970.

A Con Con would be costly and unnecessary. Please join me and vote NO on CON CON on November 4.
Thank you.

Some of my favorite things...

My favorite season has arrived! I love how fall stimulates all of your senses.
I love the bright changing colors.
I love cool crisp nights.
I love the sound of leaves crinkling under foot when going for a walk and the sound of the dogs rustling in the leaves.
I love how excited Drew gets that it is hunting season.
I love the smell of burning leaves and the first fire of the season in the fireplace - we have not made a fire yet.
I love fresh the crunch of fresh apples.

Getting Taller & Growing Up

Drew & Alex went up North for a little work and a little dose of relief for hunting fever.

Alex has grown up so much! How is it that he is old enough to have a hunting license & to carry a gun?! When he took the hunter safety course in the spring, he only missed one question on the final test.


Some of the new season softball team at the kick-off party last weekend.

With mixed emotions, Ashley is not dancing this year - the first year since she was 2! Middle school seems to agree with her. She is doing well in school and has taken on another sport - volleyball.
We just barely got home from a softball round robin tournament that the Lady Dawgs hosted to shower, change and get to Rainbow Installation.