Kayaking for Kids a CHIPS fundraiser

These three guys have walked the length of Alabama, now they are going to Kayak from Montgomery to Mobile down the Alabama river for kids! These three guys have such huge hearts and give unselfishly of there time to do this. In order of the pictures below: Allen, Mark and Brent you are truly blessed with amazing hearts!

The Mayor of Montgomery spoke and read a declaration as well as Lou spoke for the Governor of Alabama and read a state wide declaration. The declaration was stating that the two week time frame that it would take these men to travel 333.10 miles would be know as the Kayaking for Kids days.

A former Alabama football player Roger Schultz who had recently lost 363 lbs who is also a friend of Brent's came and spoke as well. Mark was given a "Wilson" made by a friend and his daughter to take along on the trip.

The CHIPS gang that was there included: Lou Lacey our director, Lucinda Armstrong and Kristin Lowery two of our Social Workers, Katcha(Lucinda's best friend), Cherry (Lou's friend) and myself.

Pictures from the Grand Opening of The Scrapbook Princess

Grand Opening of The Scrapbook Princess in Odenville, owned by Paulette and Christen Hammond! Great store, great prices...please go and check them out!

Kevin's Baptism

We drove over to Atlanta on 8-9 for Kevin's Baptism, Jenn and Joe's bday. The Priest was from Poland and very casual which was nice, we all got to go up on the stage when he actually baptised Kevin. At Mark's Baptism the Archbishop carried out the service and it was just the parents and Godparents on the stage.

Alicia and Joseph made a strawberry cake with creamcheese icing for Jenn's bday. After the cake was finished Mark and one of Tom's boys decided to have a little taste. Mark liked it so much that he stuck his head in the bowl and used is tongue. The picture and seeing it in person was priceless!

The last picture is of Kevin when he was on his changing table, such a cutie-pato0tie!



Joseph gave Kevin a fawx-hawk too!

Here are pictures from the concert!

What an adventure this was! Before we left on Wednesday morning Donald and Joseph changed the oil in Joseph's explorer...Donald went to get the towel to wipe his hands and when he did the old oil filter came down and hit him above his left eye and split it open. So we rushed to get ready and packed and went to St. Vincents. They decided to use dermabond on his laceration, which now looking back I wish I had pushed for the stitches. So we arrived just in time to check in at the condo, get a quick bite to eat at Doc's and head to the wharf. Once we picked up our tickets at the will call window (Thanks again Jill and Melissa!!) I went ahead and purchased a Heart t-shirt for Donald and a Journey one for me. We knew we were on the floor but had NO idea we were on the 5Th row!!

The first pictures are from the Hang-out were we had dinner on Thursday night, if you have not been it is a really cool place.




Cheap Trick. I really did not know any of their songs other than "I want you to want me". They put on a good show. I actually have a guitar pick from the guy in the black.


Heart came out next. Ann Wilson's voice is still as great as it was in the 80's! She is just remarkable. Nancy can still play and she was kicking that leg up like she did years ago. They were awesome!


Now this was my all time favorite group in the 80's, Steve Perry the original lead singers voice was unbelievable! For the guys to find his replacement on "you-tube" was just crazy! He is a 21 year old young man from the Philapeans that had a cover band and he sang all of Journey's songs. On their new stuff on Revelations you can tell that his voice is somewhat different that Steve Perry's, but if you listen to the old stuff he is very close. If you close your eyes there are a couple of songs you can't tell the difference. The pictures of Cheap Trick are better because is was still day light, but as the sun starting sitting my pictures are not as sharp. I only took in my small 35mm point and shoot, I was afraid to take in my big camera.

JOURNEY, CHEAP TRICK, HEART!!!

Off to Orange Beach for the a rockin' concert of some awesome 80's bands! Hope to get to take pictures! If not will post about the concert!

see ya!

Random Pictures from Chicago...

Home from Chicago! What a great city!

We left out early Saturday morning and drove to Indiana to visit Don and Doris (the pastor that married Loretta and David). We met their wonderful family, had dinner and went to church with them on Sunday morning. They also made us feel at home and we had a great time getting to know them. I know David and Loretta had a fun looking at old pictures and catching up with the family. After lunch at the church we headed to Chicago. We arrived and checked into our hotel and went to Carmen Garcia's house (Alicia's Godmother) and met her and her incredible family...Choli (Carmen's sister), Lety, Don, Little Don, Vanessa, Baby Lety, and Christina(Carmen's daughter and her family), Santi, his wife, Little Santi and Gabriel (Carmen's son and his family), Memo (Carmen's son) They are such a loving family...made us feel at home and special.



Monday morning we headed to the Lincoln park Zoo (which is a free zoo). Then we went to Navy Pier ate lunch at the Billy Goat Tavern (the history behind this dates back to the World Series in Baseball between the Cubs and White Sox), we spent the rest of the day at Navy Pier walking around, shopping, we road this HUGE Farris wheel and dinner at Bubba Gumps (yes the one from Forrest Gump). We headed to Wrigley field for pictures and went to where David went to High School- Lane Tech. HUGE school, like a small college campus!

Tuesday morning we rode the L-Train into downtown and went to the Sears Tower amazing view of the city. Ate lunch at Giordano's unbelievable pizza--better than anything around here! Back on the train and headed to Michigan Ave (Magnificent Mile) did some shopping, went to Tiffany's, Hershey's Store, Disney Store, American Girl for Maddie J., several other stores. Went to the Water Tower, which is the only building left standing during the Chicago Fire. Ate dinner at the U Lucky Dawg ( a true Chicago hot dog)...I did not eat one because my hot dogs have two names Oscar Myer...LOL. Went and played a round of mini golf at the Bunny Hutch and back to Lety and Don's house for a visit and to play Rock Band on the Wii. Tonight we met Anna and Little Alex (Carmen's niece and great nephew)

Wednesday we went to the Shedd Aquarium at lunch outside in the park by the Field Museum (this is where they filmed parts of A Night in the Museum) we then went into the Field Museum and saw "Sue" the most complete dinosaur and many other interesting things. After that back to Lety and Don's for Italian Beef sandwiches and sang Karaoke. We were able to met Alex tonight (Carmen's nephew). We were going to go out on Alex's yacht to watch fireworks but they closed the harbour due to a Lake Tsunami (I forgot what it is called). Rich was also there his daughter, Taylor, his wife and Christina were in Missouri and were coming in Friday.

Thursday we headed out to the Taste of Chicago...WOW! my senses were going crazy with all of the yummy smells. We had ribs, crab claws, calamari, frozen chocolate dipped bananas, chocolate covered strawberries, grilled corn, and a lot more! Buckingham Fountain is right by the Taste and is gorgeous, Millennium Park which has the huge "bubble thing" that has been in video's. Then we headed to Jade Dragon which is a famous tattoo parlor in Chicago...let say 9 walked in 5 came out with a new tat. Then to Lou Malnati's Pizzeria for a true Chicago style deep dish pizza. The crew from Alabama liked Giordano's better and the crew that are originally from Chicago is all about some Lou Malnati's.

Friday breakfast at Jacks Restaurant (not our Jacks) then off to Gurnee Mills for a day of shopping and just taking it easy. I was able to go in the Achiever's Scrapbooking Store and bought a few things. After that we headed back to Lety and Don's for a cookout and to Oakton Park to watch the fireworks. We we so close to the fireworks we could feel the debris hitting us. I really hope my pictures turn out! We met several more family members and Rich's wife Diane and their daughter Taylor and got to finally meet Christina.

Saturday our last day :( We did not want to leave the Garcia family/Martin family. They made us feel at home from the 1st second we were there. We had fun hanging with the Diffy's and seeing where they went to school, hung out, worked and lived in Chicago. After we packed up the cars we headed back to Lety's one more time for lunch and made another trip to the Jade Dragon for Alicia a tattoo. She was not able to get one on Thursday because she did not have her ID.

This was a great trip filled with wonderful memories, we made new friends and got to know the Diffy's better and developed a stronger relationship. Can't wait till we have the opportunity to visit with them again. Pictures should be posted by Tuesday.

Bibi

Month Of June

Well, it looks like that I am only posting monthly as a catch up!!! It has been a crazy June, but when is it not crazy around the Vodosia's place?

On Memorial day I hurt my back moving our couch to clean the hardwoods (big mistake). I was off work until June 23rd. I am finishing up my 3rd week of therapy on Friday, this has pretty much consumed this month.

We finally got to go to Dunwoody and see our new nephew, Kevin. He is just gorgeous and the sweetest baby. Mark is being such a great big brother. Jen is doing well and Jack and her are adjusting to have two little boys! Unfortunately I did not get to do a photo shoot but I am planning a trip over in July for that. The are having Kevin's baptism in August so hopefully I can get a group picture of all the "grands" for Gigi and Joe then.

We leave for Chicago on Saturday I am so excited!! We have never been and we are going with the Diffy's who have lived there and know where to take us to see the sites. Also the Taste of Chicago is going on while we are there so that is going to rock as well. The sad part is we have to leave our furry child at Nana-Gigi's for a week, boy are we going to have separation anxiety (us and Buck)!

Will post pictures and news from Chicago when we get back!