Where did the summer go?

Hello from Chicago!

Sorry once again for missing our last posting period!  I could try to claim lack of time but that wouldn't be entirely accurate.  That's not to say our summers haven't been extremely busy!

As I'm sure everyone wants to know, wedding planning is going well.  We just met with our pastor to go over the ceremony and the day is becoming much clearer!  But we'll leave the details for later.  If you can't make it to the wedding I think Mom has passed around by now that we'll be having a reception for Katie and I on the Friday following Thanksgiving, so mark that on your calendars!

Anyway, on to the quick recap of our summers!

I finished classes in the first week of May and headed back to Kansas in time for Samuel's graduation and Mother's Day.  I was shocked to learn this was my first time in Kansas for a year!  As much as I thought moving back to the states would bring an end to the long gaps, it hasn't so far, unfortunately.

Around this time Katie started her summer hours which gives her every other Friday off in exchange for a slightly extended work day the other 9-days of the two-week period.  Meanwhile, I started working an internship for the Active Transportation Alliance, which is a non-profit advocacy organization in Chicago that works for improvements to pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure and policy.  They have a planning department that consults on projects that further their mission and I was brought on to help with a particular project over the summer that helped site bike racks and safety signs in smaller rural Illinois communities.  I also took an evening class, History of Planning, to get it out of the way before my second year.

So with that running as our day-to-day background, here was the rest of the summer in condensed form

At the end of May, we had some friends from Lincoln visit for Memorial Day weekend

In June, we each traveled for work: Me to downstate Illinois and Katie to Oklahoma.  We also saw Book of Mormon and house-sat for Katie's family friends for 3 weeks while they traveled to India.

In July, Hannah and James visited for the 4th of July and we did an express tour of Chicago.  (CityPass is a wonderful thing if you have 3 days or so to see everything).  Their visit also coincided with a bridal shower for Katie and all 4 bridesmaids were able to attend despite only 1 of them living in Chicago!  We hosted more friends and also made our first trip to Minnesota where it was about 55 and rainy the entire time!

August brought another trip to Minnesota, this one with perfect weather!  Upon returning, Katie had another bridal shower at work.  Hosted yet another friend!  Katie likes to marvel at the difference in number of visits between Lincoln and Chicago, it's like there's more to do in one!  Near the end of the month, the number of wedding related events ticked up significantly.  Meeting with the photographer a second time, doing tastings for reception dinner and cake, dress fittings etc.

And now we're here in September.  School has started again for me.  Katie just had her final summer hours Friday last week.  We're a month from the wedding and as busy as I thought summer was, I'm finding it never really lets up!  I'll leave you with some pictures, from the highlights of summer.

Katie and her bridesmaids

Fourth of July

Downtown Chicago from our Architecture Tour boat

Our neighborhood at sunset from the beach

The spoils of  Minnesota blueberry-picking