July 2008

Samantha's Baby Shower (Samantha, Shelley & Rich)

Bachelorette Party (Shelley, Sarah, Kristin & Rachel)

Florida Beaches (Daytona) (Meredith, Shelley, Blake, Sarah & Melissa)

Dave's Family Reunion (the cousins)

Hen Party (Melissa, Sarah, Shelley, Katie & Sarah)

Kane County Fair Evening (John, Dave, Shelley, Gina, Vince & Sarah)

Little Big Town Concert

4th of July (Kelly, Scott, Jonica, Nate, Shelley, Dave, Melissa & Bob)

Bandito's Evening (Shelley, Dave, Katie & Dan)

Bar Garage Sale (Dave, Shelley, Scott, Jonica & Chad)

Boating on Lake Delavan (Melissa & Shelley)
Country Thunder (Sarah, Gina, Michelle, Shelley & Katherine)

July was a GREAT month, full of great times spending with friends and family. On July 3rd we attended a Rockford Riverhawks game with Jim (Shelley's Dad) and Tyler (Shelley's Brother), along with several friends. It was a really fun time (especially since it was $1 beer night) ... then on the 4th of July our friends Bob & Melissa had a cook-out at their house where we spent the day. It was a really nice time; playing bags, a bonfire, hot tub...always a fun day! Then, the day after that Shelley attended a Bachelorette Party for her friend Sarah..."Tickeled Pink: Last Fling Before the Ring." It was downtown Chicago and everyone ate dinner at Park Grill, then went out to several bars downtown... and beat a bachelor party at Flip Cup...quite impressive! Dave helped out Bob that day by putting up a shed, but if you ask Melissa, that wasn't their main objective of the day :) ! We also were able to spend time with Dave's friend Chad and his girlfriend Kayla on the 6th for, yet another, cook-out. It was a nice low-key event though. Shelley attempted to take golf lessons, but that was simply a comedy of errors...and instead went out for ice cream. Shelley's friend, Gina, held a purse party that Shelley attended with a group of friends. Dave's family held their family reunion up in Toamah Wisconsin. Dave and Shelley picked up Dave's mom, Cookie, and his step-dad, Doug, from the airport then made it to the reunion. The reunion consisted of a Euchre Tournament (which Shelley LOST at), a picnic, Banquet and several other "events." (ask Dave or Doug about the Ketchup incident.) We were able to spend a lot of time in Rockford this month with Dave's dad and our friends out there. We spent one evening with Jonica & Nate playing Guitar Hero, and another night Dave & his friend Scott hung out watching the All-Stat game, while Shelley was at his girlfriend, Kelly's, Lia Sophia Party. We also attended a Comedy Night at LT's and a "Bar Garage Sale." Shelley attended Country Thunder with the "regular" girls...saw Taylor Swift & Carrie Underwood. Shelley also saw a "Little Big Town" concert with Jonice. We attended a Bandit's Softball game with Gina (at Shelley & Gina's college). We spent an evening at Bandito's with Shelley's friend Katie, and her boyfriend Dan, and had dinner with Shelley's Fmaily at Randall Road House. The Kane County Fair was yet another evening out, again with Gina, her boyfriend, Vince, Sarah & John Slater. Shelley had a Hen Party to prep for Wedding Plans, and attended her cousin Samantha's Baby Shower with her mom (Debbie). We also were able to go to Lake Delavan with Bob, Melissa and their neice MacKenna. They have a boat that we were able to tube on. It was a beautiful day and such a good time! We met with the pastor who will be performing the ceremony (the pastor that Shelley grew up with) and we are SO excited for the day to come! Pastor Greg had some amazing suggestions and great ideas to personalize the ceremony. We think this is going to be the most perfect day ever :) Shelley took a vacation down to Florida with her friends Melissa & Sarah Slater. We visited a friend of Shelley's from college who now lives in Orlando, and were able to stay with her and her family (they had an airstream trailer, especially for us!). We beach hopped the whole time going to West Palm Beach, Cocoa Beach, Daytona, Clearwater, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Key West, Key Largo, Miami, & South Beach. It was an AMAZING time...so many great memories...and we drove a Mustang Convertible...does it get any better?! While Shelley was away, Dave spent a lot of time helping his dad, Roger, get some house improvements compeleted and spent time with his friends. We are still looking for a florist, but other than that we are doing really well planning...still LOTS to do, but it's all under control!