I am Old
Well today I am officially feeling very old. No it isn't because my back hurts from lifting, or even just from sitting in the same position for too long... no it isn't cause I have to do my taxes yet again... no it isn't cause my 8 year fraternity anniversary is coming up...

Today Novali turns six years old! WOW. In two months she will graduate from kindergarten... man how the time flies.

This weekend will be her big birthday who-ha at Chucky Cheese. I won't get to be there cause of a trip for work. So instead this past weekend Heather and I took her to downtown Chicago and we had a blast. Friday we walked a little around our hotel and got some pizza (she loves pizza). The hotel staff gave her some balloons and she chased them around our suite all night and tired herself out. We slept in... and on Saturday when asked what she wanted to do for her birthday... "I want to see dinosaur bones."

So we got some breakfast, hopped a cab and spent the afternoon at the Chicago Field Museum. After about 3 hours of walking, looking, reading, touching bones, grinding corn in the Ancient Americas exhibit she said, "Lets get out of here."

We went back downtown, walked around, did some shopping at Walgreens where she carried and read the list (her reading is great!). We got her some flip flops, sunglasses and went to the hotel pool. It was on the 19th Floor so the views from the pool were awesome! She is really close to being able to swim, maybe one more time and she will have it!

Later we went to the big Lego store in the mall where she wanted to get a present for Miguel (who had a birthday on Saturday). We hung around the mall, raided the Hello Kitty store and just had a good time relaxing. A nice dinner at Buca di Bepo ended the night. She was a riot to hangout with for the weekend.

Sunday morning we got up early... it seems as though the Easter Bunny was able to find our hotel room and left her a basket of candy and little toys. Not to mention some Hello Kitty bandaids. I guess the Easter Bunny knew that Novali is the youngest Hypochondriac ever and needs a bandaid several times a day.

We went to Easter service at the Moody Church in downtown Chicago. It is a beautiful church and we went for service there once with my parents so I thought it would be nice to go back. We also picked them cause it was a 9:40am service so we thought it would get done early... well over 2 hours later church let out. We took some pictures with Syed and Tamara who met us for church and some of just Novali cause she wanted photos of her dress. Then we left to head north to the McGurn's house for Easter brunch (we were very late).

Brunch was great... Kate and Miguel got Novali some gifts and an Easter basket as well. So Novali was good to go. For some reason she was less then enthused about the birthday cake, maybe she is devote in the no celebrating birthdays before they happen superstition as well. Anyhow... it was a great weekend. We dropped Novali off at an afternoon party and then we went home... it was a GREAT weekend.

Photos will be posted in a day or two... they are on Heather's camera.

I also want to send a Happy Birthday to my Pop. He turns one year older today as well. I told him I don't have to get him presents ever again since I gave him his first grandchild as a birthday present six years ago. Plus he is a little far away for presents... but lets say big BBQ on me when you guys get back to the states this summer! I can't wait for you all to visit.