In Honor of Mom's Everywhere!

In honor of mothers and to the strong and beautiful women who mother other mothers children, thank you for being you and for sharing your love and tenderness with us. We love you!

Shelly & Lynn

A great visit with the Bates & Mohr Families

Lynn and I are having the time of our lives with family visits. Lisa, my sister, and her family are in Chicago visiting their daughter, Cori. For some of Lisa's family, they are meeting Seth for the very first time. We got the entire gang together last night in Glenview at Hackney's Restaurant. I will be heading with Lisa, Steve, Kim and Andrew for a fun-filled adventure to Nauvoo, IL. We will come back tomorrow. Poor Lynn, Cori and Jeff have to work, so sadly, they will not be able to go with us to Nauvoo. Picture postings of Nauvoo will be posted soon.

-Shelly

A friends blog WORTH reading

I have a friend in Idaho who's daughter has Cystic Fibrosis (CF). A year ago she crashed and had to have a double lung transplant. She has written a blog that chronicles her ordeals, her faith, her highs, and her lows.. That she is alive today is a miracle. I thought it good enough to post a link to her blog on our sideboard to the right. I think that for it to make more sense you should start at the older posts and follow them to the present. Her name is Jamie. If you know anyone who has Cystic Fibrosis, refer them to her site, it would be worth their time. She is more than willing to communicate with others about her illness, and has done so with many people.
Lynn

A week with Vali

Last week with Vali (our niece) was wonderful as we toured various parts of Chicagoland. We had a nice time when we visited my sister Ami in Dearborn, MI. I am going through over a hundred pictures (I'm not kidding either) of our outings so I can post some of them, send copies to Vali, and to just categorize them. Here is a picture we had taken of the three of us when we were sampling brewed root beer at Walter Payton's Roundhouse Restaurant. I have more pictures to post or I will put them on a small video at another time.
-Shelly

Second Missionary from the Hook Siblings

Just wanted to report that my nephew just received his mission call to go to the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. Our second Missionary, and the first foriegn Missionary.He is leaving on Aug 6th. He is bummed though. He was hoping that it would be sooner than that......Congratulations David you will do well.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Lynn & Shelly

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wow! It has been amazing living in Chicagoland. The communities that dot the landscape surrounding Chicago and Chicago itself really get active and festive for their holidays. North Chicago celebrates St. Patrick's Day the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day. Then the South side of Chicago follows suit and celebrates the 'BIG GREEN' day on Sunday. Parades, dying parts of the Chicago River green, wacky and elaborate St. Patrick's Day costumes, are all part of the holiday revelry.

Since Vali (our niece) was in Chicago during this spirited and fun holiday. We decided to celebrate as well. We took advantage of the day by cruising through the lime, slime, shamrock green Chicago River dining on corn beef & cabbage, potatoes, etc. while admiring Chicago's architecture.

So, on behalf of the Chicagoland community, Lynn and I would like to be the first to wish you a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. (The green dye is harmless to the environment and wildlife and will be gone by the end of the week.) May the Luck of the Irish be with ye this week and always!

-Shelly

Seeing Chicago w/Vali

I have had the most wonderful time with my niece, Vali. Vali arrived on Friday and we have been on a whirlwind march ever since. We visited with my other niece, Cori, her husband, Jeff, and their lovely son, Seth, on Saturday. On Sunday morning we traveled to Dearborn, Michigan to see my sister, Ami. We had a fun time in Dearborn. Besides being w/Ami, John, Max, Tim, Sydney, and Vali; we also met up with some good friends, Shirley and Lee, and toured Henry Ford's Museum. Vali and I returned to Aurora on Tuesday.

Wednesday morning we rode the Metra down to Chicago. Toured the Sears Tower and several 'hot spots' around Chicago. We had such a delightful time that we decided to head back into town and visit Chicago's Field Museum. Tomorrow, Friday, we are heading to Cantingy Park, tour parts of Naperville, and who knows what else we will find to do. Saturday we are heading back to Chicago for a St. Patrick's dinner cruise. We will be feasting on corn beef & cabbage, potatoes, soda and dessert. Then we will rush back to Aurora for a Mystery Dinner activity. Sadly, on Sunday we will be putting Vali on the plane for Salt Lake.

Lynn and I have had a wonderful time being with Vali and sharing her enthusiasm for life. Hopefully, I'll have the pictures I took ready soon so you can actually see for yourselves how much fun we really had this week. :)

-Shelly

Waiting for Vali!

We are SO EXCITED! Our niece, Vali, (residence: Castle Dale, UT) will be coming to visit us for 8 days. We will pick her up tomorrow evening and have planned some fun-filled and memorable activities. We will be heading into Chicago for a few days (my first 'real' time in downtown Chicago), run over a few state lines to Michigan to visit Ami (my sister). Hopefully, I can get a few pictures and words posted next week. If not, tune in to our blog Sunday, March 15th, and you'll more than likely get the total rundown.

-Shelly