I failed to folllow-up to my blog over a week ago about our first family party at our condo.  Everything went really well!  Jack cleaned the condo on Saturday while I cooked the day away.  Then on Sunday, we went to church and got straight to work once we were home.  My parents offered to come early to help with the final preparations and it was a good thing they did!  My mom helped get some of the food plated and ready for everyone.  My dad and Jack did a number of miscellaneous things - basically anything I asked them to do.  And they saved the day with my cupcake frosting!  I was using the standing mixer my grandma gave me and was thrilled to put it to use, but while I was trying to whip the frosting, the speed kept getting slower and it wasn't fluffing it up.  So, my dad and Jack made the switch for me and used the hand mixer while I kept prepping and cooking and all went well after that. 

We had more than enough food and drinks for everyone.  And thankfully, we had enough seats too, especially since people brought a few for us to borrow.  The families got to talk with one another and the kids played together, which was the whole point of this get together, so it was a great success.  Everyone said they like the food, so I was thrilled for that too!

The final menu was- Appetizers: Guacamole & Chips, Bruschetta with toasted french bread and a big veggie tray, Dinner: homemade Italian beef, marinated chicken wings and drumsticks, green bean and tomato salad and pasta salad, Dessert: Brownies, Cupcakes (made from my grandma's cake recipe-YUM!) and a fruit tray with fruit dip.

Here's a bunch of photos from the preparations and the party.

Me with my new apron, our crockpot and the standing mixer my grandma gave me. :)  (Jack didn't want us to register for a mixer since he didn't think it would get used enough, so I was very lucky when my grandma offered to give me hers.)

Making "Grandma" cupcakes - YUM!

Our Italian Beef - Thanks for the recipe, Aunt Lor!

Bentley was so well behaved all day. He got a BIG treat after everyone went home for the night.

Much like my mom, I had a list of everything that was supposed to get put out for our party, so that I woudn't forget anything. Jack was helping me checking things off while my dad and I got our fruit tray ready.

Me and Annalee

Rhys and Andrew playing on the kitchen island

Jack and I with the dinner all ready for everyone. Let's EAT!

Andrew and Rebecca

We had so many people with March birthdays in both of our families that we put a candle in all of their cupcakes and we all sang Happy Birthday to them.  Happy Birthday Andrew, Rhys, Ania, Mom and Dad!

How's that brownie, Carys? :)

Here's a shot of everyone just relaxing and enjoying dessert.

This past weekend, the guys went out to celebrate for Ken's bachelor party.  It was organized by Ken's brother-in-law, Tom, and we all had a great time!  The only part that was a little tough was the travel to and from all our destinations.  We spent time in Downers Grove, Addison, St. Charles, Elgin, and West Chicago! Fortunately, we had a couple guys volunteer to do most of the driving.

The first activity was by far the best.  Tom had organized racing for us at Chicago Indoor Racing in Addison.  This place was fantastic.  It was like a huge man-cave!  Aside from the race tracks, they had multiple bars, tables, games, leather couches, tvs, and even whirlyball!  If they had one of these in the city, I have a feeling we'd be spending a little more time there.

The racing itself was great.  We raced on track seven in what were basically high-performance go-karts.  We got up to about 30-40 mph around the track and raced four times total.  The first three races earned us points, and we took turns starting toward the beginning of the pack.  The driver with the most points from the three heats started in the poll position for the final, championship race.  Jen's brother, Steve, ended up winning the whole thing, which we pretty much all attributed to him being the lightest. 

After the racing, we drove out to St. Charles and ate dinner at Al Capone's Hideaway and Steakhouse.  Aside from the several wrong turns, and a reservation mix-up by the restaurant, this was also a great time.  The meal came with a LOT of food.  I ordered a ribeye steak, which was great, and it came with cream of potatoe soup with bacon and cheese, a chef's salad, bread and garlic mashed potatoes.  Had we known, we probably wouldn't have also ordered the appetizer platter! 

The restaurant was completely decked out with '20s style decor.  Large photographs of Al Capone and family were everywhere.  It also seemed as if the restaurant couldn't have actually been in operation in the days of Capone.  After dinner, we ended up bar hopping a bit, at the end of which we took at $100 cab ride from Elgin back to Downers Grove.  Only a few more weeks, and Jen & Ken will be married!

Today's blog is a tough one for me to write.  Four years ago today, my Grandpa Nayder passed away.  I think of him almost every day - but the ache of losing him doesn't really go away for me.  I was extremely blessed to have lived with him twice.  Once was while we all still lived on the southside and he was recovering from knee replacement surgery.  I stayed with him for about a month while he went through physical therapy.  The second time was when he, along with my family, moved into a related-living house in Homer Glen.  Although I have numerous wonderful memories of him throughout my childhood, the time spent with him in Homer Glen is the period I treasure the most. 

During that time, I got to know my grandpa in a much more personal way.  It was so great to see him every day and to exchange hugs and stories.  After I graduated from college, I took some time off and was his full time care giver for 8 months.  I took him to his appointments, to the bank, I ran his errands, put away his groceries, did his laundry, etc.  I was his personal assistant.  I learned about the things he needed so much so that I could anticipate what he was going to ask for even before he could find the words.  We developed quite a relationship; he became almost a best friend to me.  We talked about all kinds of things, he gave me advice and encouragement, and I'd like to think I did the same.  After those 8 months, I knew I needed to take the next step in life and find a job.

I remember one particular day on my way home from work- it was during autumn, the sun was setting and hitting the trees just right that the colors were incredibly vibrant.  I called home and suggested to my mom that Grandpa, she and I all take a ride as soon as I got home to look at the colors on the trees.  We all piled into my grandpa's van and off we went for a drive.  We had no real destination - we just drove to see what we could see.  We saw the most beautiful colors that day.  I don't know that we could have planned it better to have picked a more perfect day.  My mom and I both still remember that day well and carry that memory with us.

My heart breaks to know he is not with us now, but I am comforted by the idea that he is with my grandma now in Heaven.  I have no doubt that is where he is, as my grandpa was one of the best men I have ever known.  I wish that he could have been at our wedding as I would have loved to have had a dance with him, but deep down, I know he was there.  I like to think that he and my grandma were dancing right along next to us.