The Parrillo Family

For Spring Break this year, we joined up with the girls cousins and went down to visit Mickey the Mouse at Walt Disney World.  Where else, right? This was our 11th trip to WDW and while each trip is different, this one was very special because we got to share it with Noonie and our family.  My sisters brought their kids down and we were able to wander around the parks together for a few days. Having Noonie there was great, not just because she's a big help with our kids, but because we get to see the kid-at-heart come out when we're trying to keep up with her!  My goodness...Noonie is a machine!  She walked every mile with us and rode every ride.  Simply amazing. Aunt Sharon and G & I were a special treat, too.  We've been to visit Disney World with the Gooz a few times including a trip in 2015 and in 2014  and all the way back in 2012 - when we were total Disney rookies. This trip, Aunt Linda and Uncle Shaun, along with C & J came...

We kicked off Thanksgiving with a "Black Wednesday" meet up at Solemn Oath Brewery in Naperville with our friend Mark, Matt (and his Dad) and the Morans.  Had plenty of tasty beer with some good friends. I don't post about Thanksgiving every year, but you can find a few year's worth of memories here on the blog . On Thanksgiving morning, Nat ran the Turkey Trot and the kids worked on their 'turkeys'. Then we got doll'd up and went over to Aunt Linda's house for our first tasty meal. And ended the night at Grammy and Grandad's place for our second tasty meal - and some quality time watching football with Uncle Frank (for me, at least!). We have SOOOOOO much to be thankful for and we were so lucky and fortunate to be able to spend the holiday (maybe my favorite holiday??) with the ones we love.

After a good run of more than 25 years, this past weekend, we said goodbye to Paw Paw Lake and Papa's place up there.  I have so many memories from my childhood up there and I'm so fortunate that my kids got to begin to grow up there.  We spent many a night at Noonie and Papa's place and having 'lake life' is so important to me and my family.  It was a joy to be able to live there all these years. Here's Ellie and SD along with their biggest cousin saying their respects and farewell to Paw Paw Lake.  I have a feeling that this isn't 'goodbye'.  More of a 'See you later'. So...so long Paw Paw Lake.  Thanks for all the fish.