Chris turns 40

Chris turned 40 on January 15th, 2013.  I organized a surprise bowling party for him earlier in January.  It was a lot of fun!  Most of his high school friends made the trip up north to celebrate with him, as well as our family and neighbors.  I had to lie to him and tell him we were going to a charity bowling event.  We had a ton of fun!  I had an awesome bowling pin/ball cake made and totally forgot to bring it out during the party - oops! Here are some photos (warning - some may be a little inappropriate - but totally "Chris").

Alissa & Chris (Jen's siblings) await Chris' arrival

Neighbor's Amanda, Julie and Julie

Alissa chats it up with Julie Mertins

Neighbors Ralph, Greg, and Chad talk to Jen's dad Jerry

Typical gift for Chris Mertins

Chris, Jerry and Laura (Chris' fiance)

Our friends gather as we are parking and ready to enter

Matt, Jean, Amy, Bob and Mark - college and HS friends of Chris

Random photo ... Chris loves Tacos/Burritos????

Chris enters the bar and doesn't get carded ... I, on the other hand, was stopped to show my ID as we enter for the surprise

Chris realizes that we went to a "surprise" party for him and not a charity bowling event

Chris takes time to greet everyone and is excited to party it up (Laura and Cathy - Jen's mom)

Neighbors and family drink before bowling - bad combo???

Chris says hello to his sister Karen

The party in the bar wraps up

The party in the bar

Chris, Andy, Matt and Chris

Jen bowls

Laura bowls

Laura's satisfied with her shot

Jerry practices ... he is the PRO at the party

Julie S. turns around for the camera and so she doesn't have to watch Ralph's rear end as he bowls

Chris takes his turn bowling and Jen B too

Jerry has strategy as he bowls ... the rest of us have fun

Bob laughs it up as he is not that good

Keith is ready ... ball in hand

Greg, Amy, Chris, Mark, Matt and Chris have a shot to celebrate

Down it goes!

RMHS buddies - Bob, Chris, Pat, Andy and Matt

The ISU crowd - Matt, Vickie, Chris, Amy, Matt and Andy

The Mertins family - Tim, Chris and Karen

Tim and Karen are envious of Chris (the baby) only turning 40

Neighbor photo - wild and crazy bunch:
Keith, Jen B., Julie F., Ralph, Jen, Chad (blue balls), Julie S., Greg, Amanda, and Chris (blank in a box)

More shots for the crowd - Bob, Greg, Chad, Chris, Karen, Amy, Tim, Matt and Julie M.

And the night slowly comes to an end ...

It's been awhile . . .

2013 has been a CRAAAAZY year for the Mertins family.  Our year started with Chris turning 40 and then a week later ... he ended up in the hospital for 10 days. Chris has battled diverticulitis for 6 years and this year it got the best of him.  For all that know Chris - you know how stubborn he is.  The MD that met us in the ER at the end of January told him that he was septic and needed to be operated on immediately.  Chris said he wanted to wait it out and try to heal on his own then have surgery in April.  To the doctor's surprise (mine too), Chris did it.  In late April, Chris had a bowel reconstruction and has a clear bill of health now.  This has been a crazy year so far.  I am ready to update this blog with pictures of the fun times that have transpired since January.

Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers.  We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family & friends around us.

Mackenzie turns 6

Mackenzie Leigh ... born around 9pm on Saturday, December 23, 2006.  I cannot believe that my first born child is already 6 years old.  What a little lady she has grown up to be.  She participated in cheerleading, dance and tumbling this year.  She is in all-day Kindergarten at Park school.  She has been able to read for about a year now ... and is getting better every day.  She meets/exceeds all of the items on her report card for all three trimesters already (we know she is an overachiever).  This child is so much like her mother: likes things neat and organized, must pick out her clothes the night before, eats breakfast/lunch/dinner and a minimum of two snacks inbetween, is sarcastic and a little sassy.  We could not be more proud of her ... we look forward to all the adventures and obsticals that will come with the next year.  She is a great daughter, sister and friend to all.

For her birthday she decided that she would like to go downtown to the American Girl Store to have brunch and pick out a doll.  Mac and I got on the train and headed to the city.  We had brunch together (which was the cutest thing EVER), then purchased a "Just Like Me" doll for her and then headed home.  She was so excited and well-behaved.  I am so proud of her ... she uses her manners all the time without prompting from mom.  When we got home, she played with her new doll and changed the clothes for hours.

On her actual birthday, we went to dinner with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Chris and Laura.  Then the next day we celebrated with the Mertins family on Xmas Eve.  It is a crazy time of year ... birthday, Xmas eve then Xmas day.  With all the hustle and bustle at this time of the year ... we enjoy it and it gets better each and every year.

On the train to the city ... we brought Bitty with us

Hilarious ... in the cab to the store ... Mac was facinated with how TALL the Willis (Sears) tower was.

Picking out the right "Just Like Me" doll at the store

 

Got the doll ... pose for a photo

Brunch at the cafe.  This is the most adorable thing EV-ER!!!

This is the picture of HAPPY!  Mac was so excited about this day.

Eating her "perfect" heart-shaped pancakes and feeding Bitty

 

My shining star poses before we leave

Full size pose at the AG Star

Move over Mary Tyler Moore ... This is the new city gal!

Cab ride back to the train station

 

Longest train ride home ... this kid was dying to run through the train car.  Super high energy!

At home ... the doll (named Mackenzie b/c it is a Just Like Me doll) with the dog Coconut

 

First snowfall

For some reason Chicago has a glass bubble over it this year and the crazy weather has missed us completely.  Well ... not completely.  We did have one day where the snow began to fall and about an inch actually stuck to the ground.  Of course the kids just HAD to go out in it.  Here is our first snowfall of the season 12-19-12: