It is a beautiful morning here in the Chicago area. We've been sitting outside on the patio for morning coffee(in my case Coke) and just basking in the beautiful weather. Later on my sisters , niece, Maggie, and Emily and I will venture to a local mall for a bit of shopping. We will all end up back at my sister Meg's for dinner, maybe followed by an evening of sitting with an open fire, roasting marshmallows and enjoying the beautiful evening-until the bugs usher us indoors.

We spent the 4th at my brother Patrick's home. He has a pool so the younger kids had a great time jumping in and playing games. We all brought goodies to have for dinner. Patrick grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, and Italian sausages. It was a wonderful feast! I had a great time talking to my brothers and sisters I don't "see" very often and just watching the kids in the pool. Our time at Patrick's ended with my youngest sister Meg (we are staying at her home) pushing my 21 yr. old nephew, Andy, into the pool-he did have some dry clothes on . Of course that got the younger kids having the same idea and soon both Joey and Jack were in the pool with their clothes on as well.

After arriving back at Meg's, the darkness settled in and the fireworks began. We were able to be on her driveway and see the fireworks from a village on the other side of the river as well as ones being set off at homes nearby. It was a spectacular show, although the mosquitoes had a feast-there has been so much rain up here the mosquito population is is increasing daily.

Emily and I have had a wonderful visit. We have shopped, and shopped and shopped. We have been able to see most of my brothers and sisters (6 of the 8). I helped my nephew, Jack, work on a scrapbook-I sent it to him for his First Communion. We have just relaxed and visited with anyone who happens to be around.

Tomorrow we head back to Kentucky. It will be along drive-at lease 8 hours- depending on the holiday traffic. Fortunately we hit very little road construction on the way here, so that won't be bad-we will be just one of the thousands returning home from their holiday travels. Although we love coming here to visit and we will miss everyone it will be good to be back in our own home and our own beds. Take Care. Mary Jo