To Disney!

Andy and I weere up early Saturday for Allison to drive us to O'Hare. We had breakfast in the United Club and then were on our way to Disney to see L.

We went to Magic Kingdom and rode Pirates of the Caribbean. We were in line for Thunder Mountain when they had to shut it down for lightning in the area. It rained a bit and then it poured for quite a while.

Andy managed to get a reservation for the (fairly new) Beak and Barrel bar for 4:45 p.m. It's kind of hard to get a reservation, or so we thought, until the guy next to us said he snagged a reservation two hours ago. Hmmm. He said he asked us so he could brag lol.

We were seated in the main bar area so that was nice. The decor is pretty neat.

My beer was around $12. Andy's margarita was $20. Disney prices. One drink each was enough to see what it was about.

Then it was time to got to our room. I'm not sure if we've had a one-bedroom in Bay Lake Tower before but if we did it's since been redecorated because I don't remember any of it. The furniture is not comfortable.

We have two full bathrooms and a real kitchen. With pull-outs in the living area, it can sleep five. Too bad we didn't know about Vacation Club rooms when the kids were little. There's so much more space than the regular resort rooms that can accommodate five - and the kitchen and extra bathroom would have been welcomed.

Andy asked for a room near the elevator and on a high floor so we're on the 15th floor (there might be a 16th floor of rooms but we're not sure - it might just be a lounge up there). This is our view.

We picked up L and W from their apartment and took them to the Celebration Brewery, where we went on Father's Day when we were visiting. This time it was all decorated for Oktoberfest ...

so I had to have them pose by the beer mug of balloons as we left.

Quite the honor

Andy sent this to me the other day. He was named Attorney of the Month for September and got his picture in the company newsletter. Apparently, it's the second time he's received "the honor" this year. Too bad it didn't come with a financial award - just the glory of being in the newsletter.

Weird beans

Made a stop at Walmart the other day and saw these fall-flavored (?) baked beans - apple pie and dill pickle. Gross.

Halloween puzzle

It's officially fall so it's time to bring out the Halloween puzzle. Piper and I thought this eould be a hard one - it wasn't easy - but once I got going it came together pretty quickly.

Finished and complete!

So many cute details on this one.

Tati visits

L's friend, Tati, jas been bisiting her. Here they are with friend J and roommate T at Universal. (Not sure about that shirt L is wearing).

W couldn't join them at Universal because he had to work the next day but over weekend he went with the girls to Disney.

He bought L a pair of Coach sunglasses ...

and a nifty pair for himself.

He looks pretty happy with this Pirates of the Caribbean light-up sword. (Someone must have had a payday).

Here they are on one of my favorite rides. Hopefully, I'll be on it soon!

Pretty sure Tati went along for L's Halloween-decoration shopping and helped decirate the apartment.

Mahjong hat trick

Andy was lucky last night at mahjong. We played four games - one was a wall game (no winner) and Andy won the other three.

Apparently winning three games in a night is a hat trick so he got three ducks and one of those is wearing a hat.

We were playing with Allison's newest set which apparently was lucky ... at least for Andy.

Back to the city

Here's the retreat gang posing for an after-breakfast group shot Sunday morning.

We had breakfast, loaded up the car, decided to skip worship and were on our way home.

We made a quick stop in New Buffalo, Mich., to see the lake since we didn't walk to the beach from camp.

Then we made a quick detour to the Albanese candy shop where we got a huge bag of gummi bears for $10. Andy bought a bag to take into work too.

Back in Chicago.

Full retreat day

Saturday morning started with breakfast followed by our one "churchy" activity. Afterward Andy and I went to the local thrift and antique stores but didn't find any treasurer.

We went into Sawyer to a produce store. Aren't these flowers pretty?

We bought some honeycrisp apples and triple berry jam.

Lunch was a salad, grilled chicken fingers, roasyed sweet potatoes, and mac and cheese. It was ok but it was better than dinner - salad, veggie lasagne, garlic bread and corn chowder. I had the salad and bread. And no dessert? Fortunately, a church member provided dessert later so I got my chocolate fix.

After lunch we drove to Watermark Brewing Co., in Stevensville, just north of our camp.

We enjoyed a beer in their large beer garden.

I wanted to see the lake without walking, if possible, so we drove to Glenlord Beach Park in Stevensville. There was free parking but no beach access. Boo.

We found a Meijer grocery store so I convinced Andy to stop so I could get some Diet Coke. We also bought Jiffy Pop popcorn for 25 cents. I miss having a Meijer store nearby. I didn't buy these but how cute a football-shaped chocolate chips?

Back at camp, we had a (cold) outdoor happy hour, the bad dinner then played a trivia game. My team lost.

We finished the game time with my friend Maureen explaining the directions to a balloon game. Our team won that one but another team claimed victory too so we had to share the honors. Let's just say some people are way too competitive.

Then it was time for Andy to start the campfire! I didn't last outside for long because it was pretty cold and I was wearing a T-shirt, flannel shirt and sweatshirt. THe low temperature was 42 to 45. Brrr. The good thing, though, was that B called.

Retreating time

We left about 1 p.m. for our annual church retreat in Michigan. The one good thing about driving through Indiana is lower gas prices.

Our first Michigan stop was the Church Brewery in New Buffalo, Mich.

We drove our friend Leslie to the retreat and here we are enjoying our first drink. Cheers! Her husband went to camp a few days earlier to help with some landscaping so he drove over and joined us.

We checked in at camp then went to the Red Arrow Roadhouse for dinner.

I had the beer special - an Alaskan amber - just like I had on the Alaskan cruise.

We're staying with Leslie and Byron in a cabin with a full kitchen ...

it's nice because we have a comfortable sitting where we can all relax and talk.

Thursday sunrise

Andy left early for work on Thursday and sent this picture of the sunrise from the train station.