My Spooky Little Skeleton...

Well...It's the MOST wonderful time of the year (for the Whelan family)! Yes, to a Whelan, Halloween is ranked right up there and may even surpass the tradition and excitement of Christmas. I fit right in...I love Halloween and I love Fall in Chicago!

Although this past month was the 9th rainiest October of all time for Chicago, it didn't slow us down from enjoying every minute. We prepared for Halloween with thrill just like any other year, except finally this year Bill retired his Dee Snider costume (I'll post some pictures of that as well).

Last Halloween Anna was only three weeks old and we weren't able to fully observe the holiday because it was my sister's wedding. This year was great because I was finally able to dress Anna up in a fabulous costume and enjoy the Whelan family Halloween party. My Bear was a little pink skeleton...she was SO cute. The best part? The costume was glow-in-the-dark!

In addition, the three of us headed up to Lake Geneva the weekend before Halloween to take part in all the great fall festivities. We went to the Elkhorn Apple Farm and picked out pumpkins, apples, wine and more.

I've posted some pictures for all to enjoy!

Happy 5-Year Anniversary, Billy!

I'm posting this blog a little late due to "technical problems," but I just had to have a post dedicated to my husband and Anna's Dad, Billy Whelan.

Ten years ago (just about exact), Billy and I officially met at a bar (Flanagan's) at UD. Our mutual friend, Liz Haas introduced us and as far as I can remember (we both were a few drinks deep) we both knew this was different. We clicked. We got eachother. Right away we made eachother laugh like no one else we'd met. I'll never forget that night or the weekend or the many weeks, months and years we spent building this incredible love for eachother.

Five years ago, Billy and I sealed the deal and got married. We made our love, best-friendship and complete respect and adoration official. It was a spectacular weekend and night. There is no other time in your life when everyone you care about in your entire life comes together from around the country to celebrate you. It was magical and I'll never forget it.

Billy and I have been through quite a lot in our 10 years of knowing and loving eachother. Two-years living apart, births, deaths, cancer, travels, pregnancy, a recession and so much more. However, we've never waivered, never doubted and always loved. We are best friends. We're our biggest fans and even bigger competitors. We're eachother's support system and we call eachother home. And still to this day, no one (and I truly mean no one) makes me laugh like Bill Whelan.

I love you so much, Billy. I always knew you were special and I always knew that you would turn into the man you are today...an incredibe husband and father. With all the surprises life can throw your way, I know that what we've built together is unbreakable. I'm truly excited to discover what the next five, ten years will bring. Whatever it is, we'll thrive and our love will grow.