Nice cool autumn day

The weather today is a bit cool for September, but it seems more like end of Octber. Whatcha doin" today?

Suzia tried helping me remove a virus from my computer... but all she removed was my internet explorer. Now we have to put it back!

Hi Steve S. Happy Birthday 9-30-09

Steve S. in Island Lake, Happy Birthday and Sto Lat to you.

Hey Jill and Jason Sept 29, 2009

Have a Happy 2nd Anniversary to you both. Soon there will be a new family member joining you two. Congrats on that also.

Mikki, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you 9-29-09

Happy 22nd Birthday to you. STO LAT. Hope that your birthday celebration was fun with the people at the restaurant that joined you for your party.

Happy 34th to you Basia & Maciek 2009

Wishing a very Happy Anniversary and hoping that you celebrate this special occasion. STO LAT to you both.

PICTURES Patio work is DONE Sun 2009

Work on Stef & Karen's patio was started some time ago. At least the plans were started. The work started Saturday morning when the gravel was delivered in the backyard. Then we had all kinds of helpers doing the digging and putting it in the wheelbarrels.
Stef, Karen, Maddie, Stevie, Lily, Suzia, Koy, Ela, Julia, Stevie, Daniel, Stefan, Daniella, all worked on this project on Saturday and Sunday.
We had 2 loads of gravel delivered and a big load of sand. We ran out of sand, so trips were made to Home Depot for more. Also rented was the machine that tampens the gravel and the sand. Also a brick cuting machine. Many shovels of gravel, sand and plenty of bricks later,......the PATIO was done. The weather co-operated beautifully both days. I did my part of trying to keep all 6 grandkids entertained and out of the way..(most of the time).
Between all those minds working on the design and the lay-out it came out perfect. P.S the pictures are in reverse order, Sorry about that. The bottom starts with the start of the day.


Sweeping the sand into the cracks.

Finished product.
Marking the bricks that need to be cut to fit on the edges.
A quick pose from some of the workers, Koy, Stef and Suzia.
Do we need anything else to be picked up???
Lay that line straight, or else it will go crooked.
Going stir crazy, or should I say spot crazy.
No they do NOT have the chickenpox, just spots.
It's getting dark on saturday evening, let's wrap this up for the day.
Okay I am going to start to first line of bricks.

The sketches made for the project.

Daniel takes a rest in between loads of sand and gravel.
One more load of this sand and that should do it.

Notice the tongue is in action also.
First layer of gravel.
This is what the backyard looked like before anything was put down.
Muddy backyard.
Hey is this board level?
Stevie gets a chance to work the tamper machine.
Dumping a layer of gravel.
So Steve, will this sketch work for you guys??
Okay, let's all help and put some gravel into this wheelbarrow.
Take it from anywhere on this hill.
Dig deep, now.
Suzia and Daniel loading up the wheelbarrels.

P.S. Karen started out the morning on Saturday by going for a walk a thon 3 miles from Loyola. Then she came home and helped out on her patio project.

Krystyna -Sister in Law in Arizona STO LAT 9-26-09

A cool (weather wise) birthday is wished for you. Hope that this year will be great fun . STO LAT to you.

Krystyna is Stefan's sister.
SO tell us how was the French Restaurant that you went to???? Did you have us on speakerphone at the Restaurant?? Did we embarass you at all?

Eva B. Happy Birthday to you 9-26-09

A very Happy Birthday to you in Colorado, Eva.
STO LAT to you.

Kenosha has a Birthday guy, 9-26-09

Dennis M. in Kenosha Sto Lat to you. Hi Regina, say Happy Birthday to Dennis from us all.

Hope that the weather will co-operate on 9-26-09

We will be helping out Stef & Karen with them building a brick patio in their backyard. I will be watching the 6 grandkids and try to keep them out of the hair of the people THAT are working on this project. Suzia & Koy and EJS will arrive at 8am as will Stefan and myself. My brother Daniel will probably come along for a few hours to help out also. Stef has been preparing the outside for the work that will be done on Saturday. The gravel for underneath all of this will be delivered around 8-9am. on Saturday . Then comes the part of trucking and moving all this gravel to the backyard. Then compacting it with a "tamper machine". Then comes the sand, bricks and etc. A backbreaking project to be done as quickly as weather allows it to finished. Will keep you posted with pictures of before and after.
Say a little prayer for sunshine or at least NO Rain.

Karen is doing a Heart Walkathon from her work, Loyola in the morning from 7:30am till 11:00am. So I will try to keep Maddie, Stevie and Lily entertained as well as Ela, Julia & Stevie.

Happy 2nd Birthday to Tyler V.in Wauconda

September 25, 2009, Sto Lat to you Tyler in Wauconda.

Pani Stella S. in Wood Dale STO LAT 9-25-09

Sto Lat w dniu urodzin dzisiejszego dnia zyczymy duzo zdrowia i usmiechow w zyciu codziennego.

Pani Stella is Diane's mom.

5 years already in this home Stef & Karen

Can you believe it has been already five years since the papers were signed and Stef & Karen moved into their home. WOW time does fly.

9-24-09

Halina & Andy THANK YOU 2009

We thank you for a wonderful BBQ dinner. Even though it rained you still grilled out and it was a wonderful evening. It was nice to get together with friends for an evening. I finally got to meet Johnny's wife, Christine.

THANKS again.

Happy Anniversary to Ewa & Mike C. 9-21-09

Sto Lat to you both. A very Happy 2nd year to you.

7 YEARS Already?? Kasia & Mile 9-21-09

Happy 7th Anniversary to you both. Have a wonderful day celebrating this special day for you both.

ELENI Concert 9-19-09

There were 10 of us that went to see her in Concert. Eleni sang at the Pickwick Theater. This lady was born in Poland and then her family moved to Greece. Her singing is very understandable, and her songs are wonderful. They do happen to have a Greek beat to them.
But all in all we had a great time. Diane & Bruno and my mother in law, Halina & Andy and Halina's mom, then Kazik & Krystyna (Kazik is Basia's (my neighbor) brother). Got home by 11:00pm.

Renee Y. Sto Lat to you 9-20-09

Happy Birthday to you Renee. How is the moving into your new house been? All settled in yet? Does it feel like your home NOW?

Happy 16th Birthday Kamil L. 9-18-09

Happy Birthday and Sto Lat to you also.

Happy Anniversary to Cindy & Peter H. in Chicago 2009

Have a terrific day and celebrate with family together. Sto Lat to you both.

Double Celebrations for...Carly & Richie 9-18-09

A very Happy Day today in celebrations for the 2 families in Lake in The Hills and Lake Zurich. Carly & Richie are having a great day together and they will celebrate their special day with a big party on Saturday. YEAHHH way to go. STO LAT to you both.

Donna W. in Palatine STO LAT 9-16-09

Very Happy Birthday wishes go to you on your Birthday today, Donna. Hope that the family is well. How are the grandchildren?

Are you enjoying the beautiful weather we've been having? What have you been doing outside lately???

Babcia Hela's 9 great grandchildren

Well, we all got together at Diane and Bruno's again, so the opportunity came up to take a picture of all 9 great grandchildren.


Payton was visiting from Florida, so Diane invited us all over to spend some time with the little cutie! We had a great time - great food, great weather, and great company.


Enjoy the pictures - I'm sure Daniella will post some more from her camera!

Here's Bruno and Diane with their three grandchildren: Alex, Payton and Lauren.

This are also the three great grandchildren of Mieciu and Stella.

Left to right, as you see their heads: Alex, Stevie K, Lauren, Maddie, Ela, Payton, Babcia Hela, Stevie M, Julia, and Lily. All 9 little ducks in a row!

Same cuties, just without Babcia Hela in this shot.

Birthday Wishes to you Mish M. G. 9-11- 2009

Happy 31st Birthday to you. We plan on being able to spend time and see you on Sunday at Diane's, your mom's house. Sto Lat to you.

Corinne, Sto Lat 9-11-2009

Corinne in Detroit, we wish you a very Happy Birthday and Sto Lat also. Hope that your day will be celebrated and have a great time. Say HI to Adam and Maegan from us all.

Christopher G. Happy Birthday to you 9-11- 2009

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and Sto Lat.

Bridget Mc C. in Florida Happy Birthday to you

A very Happy Birthday as you celebrate that 39 (again). Sto Lat to you.

Labor Day- Cruising on the Harley & Park Fun 2009

Before we left the house.

At the park with Maddie.

Stefan giving directions/information as to "how to do this or that" to Stef.

Mmmmmm delicious ice cream.

Good to the last lick.

Okay mommy I made it to the top also.

Babcia look I am on the chains.

Making "sand angels".

The finished castle in the park.

Stevie is getting pretty good at swinging the bat at the ball.

Castle in progress.

At the stop light, I clicked this one.

Stefan even gave Stef a quick ride around the neighborhood on his Harley.

Getting ready to leave Stef's house.

One quick pose before we took off for the way home.

Stefan finally got me to get on his Harley and we drove around town all day today. We were invited for lunch to Stef and Karen's house.

While Stefan and Stef talked about yard work, Karen and myself took the kids to the park for about an hour and a half. Stopped to get some ice-cream and then played in the yard for awhile.

Afterwards we drove around town and stopped at Diane's parents house in WoodDale before heading for home.

Enjoyed a wonderful Labor Day Weekend.

As I post this, Suzia tells me that they are near Milwaukee, Wisc on their way home. They spent the weekend up north at their Lakehouse.

Hope YOU ALL also had a great weekend.