going to chicago with an earplug in each ear...

chad may be 'going to california with an achin' in his heart' (he's leaving his pregnant wife after all...for his conference in ca), but i'm 'headed to chicago with an earplug in each ear.' (think led zeplin for the tune that goes along).

anyway, this is our annual 'beaver dam reunion' in which the girls get together. it's mostly girls from college, and jolene who is an 'honary' beaver. we've been doing it in some capacity since 1999, and although we don't all make it every year, we do our best to get together somewhere. none of us have quite struck it rich yet, so we still try to do it on a tight budget, with the goal of getting together for the sake of being together regardless of what we do. this year we're going to emily's place in chicago.

1 bedroom apt

6 grownups (well...i don't know if we can call ourselves that yet)

2 babies + 2 pack and plays

and a dog (though poor lil' norman will go to grandmas and grandpas)

...the good thing is that we don't really care. we've all been used to packing it in and making it work & we actually have fun this way. as long as we have plenty of air mattresses, snack food, red wine (though i'll be out this yr) and toilet paper...we're good to go. this year, i decided that i'd bring everyone ear plugs as well.