Christmas Eve

We then spent Christmas Eve with my in-laws and neices and nephews. We are a bigger family this year with the weddings of Margaret and John Kelly. The more the merrier! It seems like yesterday that we had to pack along a nuch of diapers, bottles, a baby monitor and the works for when Johnny and Ali were just babies. Now instead of spending time packing up the truck for Hinsdale, we spend it with Ali selecting the perfect dress and explaining to Johnny why he has to wear the fancy pants. Ha! And my homemade Limmoncello. And it was at last time to say goodbye to "Tito," the elf. Thank God.  I cannot tell you how many times I found myself racing him around in the morning after he had been forgotten the night before. He spent the last month fishing, riding plastic horses, getting into cookies...I need to boost my creative reserves for next year.

Her Legacy Will Live on.

Ellie Kate "EK," was that very special girl who touch the lives of so many people she had never even met. She was born with a rare terminal genetic disease called NKH for short. Her parents (met and got to know  her incredible mom, Ryan, in 2007)  have been her champions for her seven years here as she has been in and out of the hospital. She loved music and to smile. And when she was called to go home, she did so surrounded by her brothers, sister and parents. I cannot imagine a worse heart break than that of losing a child. But I do believe EK is now free from pain and dancing above as she watches over her brothers and sister. This collage was created by her grandfather.

Tough Decisions!

This weekend I flew down to Tennessee to serve as a judge for the Mrs. Tennessee America pageant. I have gotten to know the state director, Delayna Bridges, over the past few years and I adore this woman. She is such a kick in the pants and so upbeat! It was also a perfect excuse to see a few of my favorite girlfriends from Nashville. Let me tell you just how impressed I was with every single contestant! Each lady was so polished and well-spoken and each was a complete package. Congratulations to every contestant and to the new Mrs. Tennessee America, Marlena Bohanon!

1)Mrs. Tennessee America 2013 2)Monette Bryant (TN '10)was a hoot at nationals. 3)We judges, Terra Tucker (TN '01), me and Mallie Nagle (TN '99)met with Marlena to give her our insight and advice for her year. 4)Paige Bennett's (TN '04)husband is in the final stages of MS and a fundraiser was held that night for the family. Her family's story is heartbreaking and she is so inspiring. 5)Kerri McMillin (MS '10)entertained the crowd with her fantastic voice. She is such a jem. 6)My girlies!

Making Progress

Tonight I was invited to help with a fundraising event on behalf of the Partners for Progress organization. They provide equine therapy to individuals with disabilities. by working with horses, riders are able to improve physical, mental, emtional and cognitive abilities. And they now have a program which works with military veterans who have been injured or suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. The Denim and Diamonds Doe Down was held at Arlington race track and several of us ladies helped with the raffle and auction items which included the cutest black lab puppy! It was wonderful to see everyone again as it gave us a bit of a chance to catch up in person.

1)Robin, Christine, Claudia, Jennifer and me. 2)Ready to sell those raffle tickets! 3)Getting ready for the live auction.

Happy 8th? Anniversary?

How is it I have the memory of an elephant, but had a hard time figuring out how long John and I have been married? well, I am terrible at math. But I guess it is also because time flies when you are busy living life. September 25, 2004. That is when we found ourselves surrounded by many family and friends as we said our vows of forever. Flash forward eight years: We have a first grade son who is a genius builder, a pre-K daughter who is always dancing and singing-unless sleeping, a cat who refuses to eat cat food, five horses, three fish and much much more to keep us running. We were introduced through my sister-in-law while I was still reporting in Indianapolis. And for almost a year I would fly from Indy to chicago almost every weekend. It doesn't seem like that long ago when we were long distance dating. But between then and now, we have created so many wonderful memories and faced the challenges together. I know the next eight years will pass just as quickly and I cannot wait to see what it has in store for us!

You Gotta Have Heart

Early this morning a group of us who are competing in the Illinois International pageant met up in Palatine for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk. Our job was to get teams organized for their photos before kicking off the 5K trek. We learned more about the AHA's Teaching Gardens program and the walk gave a few of us contestants the chance to get to know one another a bit too.

Yee Haw for a Cause!

This weekend John and I were cowboyed up for the annual sold out Equestrian Connection gala. EC is a phenomenal equine therapy center on the edge of Lake Forest. It offers 10 acres of riding for special needs children, giving them chance to bond with horses and improve skills such as balance. There is even a pond on property that is equipped for wheelchair access during the summer camps! The stories of those who have been helped through EC are nothing less than amazing. And the those who volunteer their time to help clean the stalls and work with riders are truly wonderful. I ride with a couple of those volunteers and theu have inspired me to get involved. So, we all honor the efforts with a concert by Kenny Loggins and the Sky Riders. At 66 years old, we ladies agreed that he is just as cute as he was during the day of, "Footloose," and "Top Gun."

Rain or Shine...or Rain

The annual club camp out over Labor Day weekend was cancelled due to impending weather. But my kiddos had spent the better part of Summer planning the camping out part. So, we did the next big thing. We pitched a tent in the back yard and made smores on the patio and called it a night...a late night, but worth it.

The Heart of It

This week 500 of us Northshorers came out for the first fall fashion show and dinner to benefit the Glenview Giving Foundation. The foundation gives to several organizations such as Youth Services of Northbrook, the Northfield Food Pantry and Clearbrook. A few of us friends got our glam on to cheer on Tanja Hamm who walked in the show for one of the shops. The fashion show was held inside a movie theater. The models walked across the stage while famous movie clips played behind them. It was very original and Tanja was just fabulous dahling!

Congratulations to Everyone!

Tonight was the big night for Mrs. International 2012. We were thrilled when Deanna made it to the top 16. She looked incredible and was so well-spoken, as always! And then she was called to the top 10! The ladies were all sophisticated and articulate. Each was also very passionate about the causes they represent. And with that said, only one person can be selected for the job. Tough call. Congratulations to Sarah Bazey who is the new Mrs. International 2012! Friends, Holly Ernst and Sarah Moses had already told me such great things about Sarah so I felt like I knew her, but have yet to even meet her! He story of surviving critical burns following a helicopter crash is inspiring as is her work on behalf of the Phoenix Society. 1)Heading in to prelims with Michelle, Jennifer and Ali. 2)The new Queen and her court 3)Congrats Deanna!

A Toast to the Graduate!

Our nephew John Kelly is such a fantastic person (and soon-to-be groom). He not only graduated from Notre Dame, but is now a graduate of the business school at the University of Chicago. Just being accepted there is an accomplishment. Reading over the list of the undergrad schools where these new graduates attended made me like I was at the United Nations. So impressive! Congrats John. You are always making the family so proud!

And the Trophy Goes To...

Another hockey season over. Whew! That gear gets me every time. There are so many steps in the process and a 6 year old is very little help when it comes to squeezing the skates etc on his little body. I consider it a workout of sorts worth a couple hundred calories! He had fun and got a trophy...and it's all about the trophy at 6 years old. But then he turned right around and gave it to his little sister instead. THAT was worth it all.

Am I on? Hello?

Friend and podcaster, Tim Kretschmann from "Pageantcast," asked me to be a part of his first ever show on Spreecast. It only required a computer with wifi,a microphone and camera. Simple, right? Well, I have yet to even try to Skype. So thanks to our "In House Director of Chaos," I was ready to go with her laptop as my camera cord was maybe 12 inches long which meant I would have to lay on the ground for be seen or heard. Not a good angle. It was fun! Tim, Sarah Bertrand (Miss Illinois Teen USA runner-up and former Miss Teen Illinois International) and I spent an hour rehashing the Miss USA pageant. It was cool to see them both again via computer. http://pageantcast.com/2012/06/pageantcast-spreecast-tonight-miss-usa-roundup/

Chirp! Chirp!

Spring Fever has sprung! Ali had a special friend day at school. I adore her teacher, as does everyone. And the little ones were so excited to share their day with all of us. That was followed up by Johnny's Spring Sing. Those children woorked incredibly hard on their songs and moves and were absolutely precious! 1)The adorable table and the bird houses our kids made for it! 2)Ali in all her art glory. 3)Spring Sing 2012!

Night at the Theater

Tonight Ali and I went to watch our dear neighbor perform in her school's play. It was about the cyber world and life with Facebook and texting. It was very funny and observant and each student in the class was a part of the show. Janie, you were fabulous-as always! 1) Jane and Ali after the show.

A Day of Rest? Ha!

Ah, Mother's Day. That Sunday where you break a sweat getting the kids ready to see the rest of the family. It is not a day of rest in our household. I'll be honest, it just gets dressed up a bit. Still, it was lovely to spend the morning with Ali and John. We later met John at the club when he finished golfing so we could have lunch with his parents. Wait a minute, was this Father's Day? I was able to go out to the barn later that day to see Legacy, my overgrown child. And although my mom is miles away and I miss her madly, I am so thankful I have her as my mom. She really has taught me so many things in life and has shaped the way I raise Johnny and ALi. Being a parent is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes it feels like survival of the fittest. But it is the most rewarding job out there. Happy Mother's Day ladies! 1)The kids (with help from Monica) made these "I love you this much..." gifts. So sweet. 2) At the club

A Parade of a Different Kind

Every year at my son's school, they hold a vocabulary parade. And we go all out for it, or so I thought. So when John decided to go as the word, "Meteorologst," I got to thinking and planning. I found a sombrero and we painted a sun yellow. Simple, right? We (I) decided to make the hat a huge cloud by sewing on pillow stuffing. Many, MANY finger pricks later...I spent HOURS then sewing long streamers on for rain on one side and Ice on the other. Of course I had to add some bling for effect.So, bloodied, sticky and hunched over it was then I realized the sun was on the back of his head as the head piece kept sliding back. We made some adjustments to the 10 pound obstracity and luckily he was able to turn it sideways to fit it through the classroom doors for the big parade. I think I overdid it. But in the end he was a hit and hard to miss. Next year,he's on his own!;)

Surviving Complex Traumas

This week I spent time with other child advocates learning about children who endure complex trauma. Trauma is considered complex when abuse or witnessing abuse happens more than once. For years, expert therapists have tried to give effects of long term abuse and violence a term for better research and understanding. Post Tramadic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was often the closest way to explain the effects of serial abuse, violence and stress on a child. But to diagnose someone with PTSD, they must "fit in," to certain specific categories and sub categories. Children are not mature enough or developed enough to be properly diagnosed with PTSD although the effects are similar. We learned what takes place biologically in and to a child's brain development when there is compex trauma. Their brains tend to shut down to preserve itself. The brain goes into survival mode, which means when a child is being abused or is witness to violence again and again, their brain shuts down development while it is in survival mode. There are several therapies to help children overcome the emotional and physical fall out of abuse and neglect. The therapist we worked with has been helping children for 30 years now. She said in spite of the horrific acts some of these young ones have lived through from family members, they always want to go back to to those abusers. Every time. As heart breaking as it is, the innate need to belong and to be loved and to be with their abusers is so strong, they almost always want to go back home, even if it is unsafe.

Welcome Lisa!

Lisa Sonnenberg is the new Mrs. Illinois America! She is also an absolute doll! Lisa found me through Facebook and asked me for guidance as she prepared for Mrs. Illinois. She is such a dynamic person AND a mother to FOUR young ones (and a killer six pack.) She has not only been like a sponge and soaking up advice, but she has such a great presence about her. So when we were in Atlantis, I was sooo thrilled the international texts were finding me, letting me know she had WON! Lisa, you are in for a fantastic year. You, your husband Scott and your four sweet children are going to have so many great memories of your time as Mrs. Illinois America 2012 and perhaps even Mrs. America 2013!You've worked so hard~enjoy it!

Farewell to a Fantastic Man~

This week we lost a dear family member, Uncle Ulu. Ulu Grosbard leaves our world a more beautiful place place and his work as a director on Broadway and on film will remain a way to continue just some of his legacy. There are some wonderful articles about his life and work. A favorite is from the NY Times. 1) Ulu directing the marvelous Meryl Streep

A bad break...or a couple of fractures later...

The motto here, as I have heard dozens of times now, is "It could've been a lot worse." Okay, fine, whatever. It happens often to riders and normally you dust yourself off and get back on to end the ride on a better note while retaining some bit of confidence. That would not happen on this Friday. Instantly after I fell, it felt like I was either having back labor or massive lower back spasms. My first thought was not of the pain, but of my husband. How would I explain this to him as he has never really been a fan my horse habit. How would he react? My poor mom got the first call. Then calls to Michelle and Deanna. Jennifer would have also had the pleasure, but was out of town. I am sure none of them could understand me through it all. I barely understood myself! After refusing to be taken to the hospital (I know, real bright, huh?) I found myself driving to the hospital where I then called John. I swear I lost ten years in the parking lot as I called his number. He met me there. We were told I fractured my L1 and L2 vertebrae and needed a CAT scan. FANTASTIC. The poor techs told me to be still, but I couldn't stop shaking from all the sobbing. I am not a pretty crier, mind you. My poor husband asked, "Is it from the pain?" No. That I could handle. It was the prospect of not riding again. Crazy, huh? As much as he hates it, he has...so far...agreed to let me continue. Of course, I have been told by the orthopedic surgeon that will be in three months from now. THREE MONTHS??? Better than never though. 1)The two squares with the ridges are where the breaks are from landing on my butt. 2)Legs. We think he pinched a nerve after landing from a jump which likely caused him to buck...me off. He's still my boy! 3)My back brace...with "STIRRUPS"...to tighten it down. Wish these stirrups were on a saddle.

What Can You Tell Me?

Today I was at the College of DuPage to help the North Surburban Law Enforcement Academy with their media training. I have been lucky enough to do the training since my days at Fox and before Ali was even born. And it was my first time inside the newly constructed Homeland Security Building. Wow! It is SPECTACULAR! This is where law enforecement classes and crime labs are housed. There are so many high-tech gadgets here I can't recall it all! The classrooms and labs are convertible to change as needed in terms of various types of evidence collection etc. Mock crime scenes can change lighting, there are sound effects and even fog can be used to help future officers get more practical tactical training. Cameras are able to capture how students work in certain situations with lasers to follow the action. I know, I am doing the facility such a huge disservice in its description. Much of the building comes from what is used by the FBI and DuPage is now THE example for other campuses. In a foyer, they have a 13 foot steel beam from one of the trade towers. It is compelling and rattling to see such an enormous piece of steel that has been peeled back, much like a banana, from the force of what happened on 911.

Da Bulls!

Today we took John and Ali to their first Bulls game and what a way to go! I have recently had the chance to get to know a Mrs. Illinois America contestant who wanted some insight for her first ever pageant. Lisa Sonnenberg has become a bit of a friend as well. Her husband, Scott, works for the Bulls and they invited up to a game in one of the boxes. The box could not have been cooler!Lisa and Scott have four of the most beautiful children too. It was such fun, even though Johnny spiked a fever and had to leave before the final buzzer. Thank you Lisa and Scott

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Lessons Learned

This weekend I was part of clinic by the well-known and respected Julie Winkel. (Thank you honey!) She is a high level judge and well known for riding. It was a priviledge to learn from her expertise in the hunter/jumper world.Let me tell you, she is grace under pressure. You would never have known only a few short weeks ago, she lost her home, a barn and a grand prix field to the recent fires in Reno, NV. Luckily the rest of Maplewood Stables, which include 8 live-in interns (one is Lauren DiTallo-my trainer's daughter)and 80 horses are okay given the 80 MPH winds that day. Her decades of awards and memorabilla are gone and only her riding boots made it out of the home. And so, much like the cliche, she pulled herself up by those boot straps and spent time with us in Illinois. And now, she is off to judge in Wellington, Florida.
1)Julie Winkel
2)Part of Maplewood Stables after the forest fires.

Have a Heart to Help

Saturday night was the outcome of a ton of work by some of CASA's hardest working advocates. For the last year plus, they have been brainstorming and finding ways to make tonight's benefit worth it for those who attend and for those we will help. What is CASA? Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children. Simply put: we volunteers serve the best interest of abused and neglected children on behalf of juvenile court justices. We work along with children and family services. We work with teachers and therapists, foster parents and everyone else who is involved at all with "our" children. However, we are the unbiased eyes and ears of the court. And our focus is solely on the best interest of the child. If only there were CASAs for every child in need as there are, unfortunately, so many who need a voice to speak up for them.