12.27.2019
So nice when people “get you” and then get you the perfect gift!
Who’da thought that OREO cookies could be so fancy?!
Thanks Michael & Anna… you know me too well !!!
12.24.2019
Roller coasters, yummy s’mores, festive lights & so much more! Another great night playing in the park with my sister Jen, niece Taylor and cousin Kim. Holiday fun for everyone last night at Six Flags Great America!
Of course we had to stop off to toast some marshmallows and make s’mores…
who doesn’t like ooey, gooey, yummy toasted marshmallows on a chilly winter night?!
Huge displays of LED covered walls showing festive images with holiday music!
Holiday lights everywhere you look!
And Ugly Christmas Sweaters for everyone!!!
My niece Taylor & sister Jen waiting for the X-FLIGHT roller coaster…
and yes, we went on it THREE times!!!
And who doesn’t love spinning in tight circles while revolving in bigger circles?!
The joy & hilarity of the Spinning Teacups!!!
Kim loved it…
Taylor loved it…
My sister Jen… not so much.
Amused, but just trying to keep her stomach down.
Kim playing in a dramatic gobo light pattern.
More LED displays with images & songs moving & playing all around the building.
Had to laugh at this display of “pharmacy” health-aides… just in case.
None for me thanks… but my sister “may have” had a bit of the Dramamine!!!
And my favorite…
Nothing says Christmas like a DANGER sign all lit up with festive lights!!!
11.28.2019
Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.
Hope you’ve spent your day with family, friends or friends-who-are-your-family!
And remember… pumpkin pie is NOT just for today!!!
11.04.2019
I couldn’t narrow down my photos to only ten in the “Family†category in my Instagram Photo Challenge… so here’s another batch featuring my adorable niece Taylor!
And Taylor working her new fancy camera for her Instagram Photo Challenge!!!
A great day downtown… where we even ran into our friend longtime Tracy
who had just finished climbing the stairs at Sears Tower!!
11.04.2019
So much fun playing downtown with my Dad & niece Taylor for their first ever 5K race yesterday!!! And a fun Instagram Photo Challenge along the way during the HOT CHOCOLATE RUN!
It was a personal best for my Dad… who logged over 20,000 steps on his FitBit.
Of course I made him walk off the last 50 steps in the parking garage just to make the goal!
11.04.2019
Yesterday was the HOT CHOCOLATE RUN through downtown Chicago!
So much fun spending the day with my Dad & niece Taylor who both completed their first ever 5K Race… okay, so we walked… but still, a 5K!!! Gotta start somewhere!!!
08.11.2019
Huge heartfelt thanks to everyone who has expressed their thoughts, hugs & condolences over the passing of my Mom last week. She left us early Tuesday morning, and was finally put to rest yesterday morning. It has been a sad & enlightening experience for all of us as we work our way through the loss & grief. Yet with so many positive thoughts & memories I’m sure we’ll all make it out the other side… as she will continue to guide us through with her teachings & our memories.
The visitation Friday night was beautiful, with so many people passing through to pay their respects. It was the first time that someone so close to me was the “guest of honor”… that I found I was treading into new territory. I wasn’t quite sure how to react, but to be thankful and cherish the moments & friends as they shared stories & support.
My entire family thanks everyone who made it out say their good-byes to my Mom.
She was a wonderful lady, a fantastic Mom and one of my best friends.
It will be tough over the next few weeks to come to the full realization that she is gone.
I’m sure moments will pop-up that catch me off guard. And even more “signs”
that slap me upside the head to force a memory and a smile. It was wonderful to see
all of my family together yesterday at the gravesite ceremony…
even if it was for such a sad occasion.
Thank you for your support & caring.
Thank you for your understanding as we all move forward without her.
Thank you for sharing your fond memories of how she touched so many people.
Thank you Mom… for just being YOU!!!
You will be so sadly missed by so many people.
A fond
08.09.2019
SO SWEET. SO THOUGHTFUL !!!!
My Mom was known for always having homemade chocolate chip cookies for family functions… and she frequently made them for my art fairs for my “groupies” & shoppers to enjoy. Many people would look for my Mom and that tin of cookies before even noticing the pottery on my display shelves!
 
So, my niece Taylor decided that she would honor her Grandma with a tribute by baking the same chocolate chip cookies for tonight’s visitation service. This way all of the guests can enjoy another cookie.
Strange notes… they ended up with 316 cookies. Taylor’s birthday is 3/16.
As well as 3:16 being the most commonly quoted bible verse.
Coincidence or some crazy master plan?!
08.08.2019
It is with heavy heart that I share the news of my Mom’s passing this week. It has been a long journey for my Mom and our family. On June 25th, my Mom suffered another major stroke… the same day as her 80th birthday! We struggled with her situation as her health continued to decline. We’ve all been working to process & prepare for this eventuality. She was a wonderful Mom, friend, support system, art fair assistant… and Chocolate Chip Cookie Baker!!!
 
Visitation will be held this Friday, August 9th
from 5:00pm-8:00pm with a brief ceremony at 7:00pm.
 GLUECKERT FUNERAL HOME
1520 North Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
 
Thank you for keeping my Mom, Dad and our family in your thoughts.
She will surely be missed by us all.
08.01.2019
Also last week, while I probably should have been “training or packing”… I spent the day with my own little Great America Gang. So much fun playing with my niece, sister & cousin on all of the roller coasters, eating snacks and focusing on the FUN!!!
Oh wait, but first… Taylor had to braid Kim’s hair. Sure, we came all this way…
and THEN we braid hair???
And then finally… we got onto some rides!!!
Great fun flying out of our seats” on The Viper!!!
I love that feeling of “weightlessness” when flying over the wooden hills.
Spinning Teacups!!!
Ready for one of the originals… The American Eagle!!!
A beautiful sunset over The Raging Bull… my favorite roller coaster here at Great America!
X-Flight… so smooth!
Spinnin’ & flyin’ high on The Revolution… so much better when the lights come on!!!
And the end of another fantastic day at Six Flags Great America!
