Engagement Photo Session

Kirby and I had the honor of doing our engagement photo session in November before the weather turned cold. Our wedding photographer Jen Badalementi - JK Photography was willing to come to Chicago to do our photo session outside in Lincoln Park. We had a great time!! We love our photos and love what Jen did. Here is a small sampling of the images from our session.

Jack Robert Rozema

On September 28, 2009 the Melchi family had a new member added to their family. My sister Erika had a son Jack Robert Rozema. Robert is a family name on both sides: my grandfather's name was Robert, my brother-in-law's name is Robert and my brother-in-law's father's name is Robert. That is a whole lot of Roberts. As you know if you ever look at this blog I already have a niece name Sydney now I have a nephew. All went well with Jack's arrival into the world and we are loving having him in our family.

Sydney (my niece and Jack's big sister, Jack, Auntie E, and Erika (my sister and mother of Jack & Sydney)

Kirby and I checking out Jack

Kirby (Uncle K) holding Jack

Monkeys and Baseball

Back when the weather was warmer and there was no snow on the ground, Kirby and I took his nephew Andrew and my niece Sydney to a White Caps Baseball game in Grand Rapids. It was a sunny, warm July day..oh to have those days back. We had a great day and can't wait to do it again hopefully this summer and maybe we can take them to a Cubs game this year.

Sydney, Kirby and Andrew waiting for the game to start.

Sydney and Andrew having a good time at the game (maybe because we bought them junk food).

The Monkeys doing the YMCA

Sydney and Andrew were able to run the bases after the game. Here they are waiting in line for their turn.

Visiting Hogwarts

When I heard that the Harry Potter's Exhibit was coming to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago I knew Kirby and I would want to go see it. I also thought it would be fun to take Kirby's nephew Andrew and my niece Sydney. So we headed out on a fun filled day to explore the Museum of Science and Industry!!!

When we first entered the exhibit, we were greeted by the Hogwarts Sorting Hat. A select few volunteers from the crowd were chosen to wear the Sorting Hat, and both Sydney and Andrew were chosen. Sydney went first and was placed into the House of Hufflepuff. Andrew was next up and the Sorting Hat decided he was best suited for the House of Ravenclaw! Unfortunately as Kirby found out, photos were not allowed in the exhibit, so no pictures of the kids being sorted.

Andrew & Sydney with their magic wands in front of the Magic Flying Car from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Sydney & Andrew performing a little magic of their own

While we were at the Harry Potter Exhibit we also explored the rest of the Museum. Here Sydney and Andrew are pretending they are a Fireman and an Engineer from 1893.

Andrew & Sydney riding on an old style train, don't they look like they are having fun?!

Cubs, Pirates, Oh My......

Yes, we know it has been a long, long, long time since our last blog update so this has been a long time coming. Back in August Kirby and I spent a weekend taking in some fun sites in Chicago.

First we went to the Field Museum and saw an exhibit on Pirates, AAARGH. It was very interesting, insightful, and not at all like Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Along with seeing the Pirates Exhibit we also took in the rest of the Field Museum. It is one of the most interesting museums around and I'm thankful it is my own back yard.

The front of the Field Museum with the Pirates Banners.

Here I am with my new pirate boyfriend, he is such a stud. Shhhhhh don't tell Kirby.

Kirby also found a new girlfriend while he was there, Sue the dinosaur. She looks mean I don't think I will mess with her.

After going to the Field Museum we walked around the great city of Chicago and end up at The Bean in Millennium Park.

The lovely city of Chicago.

Kirby in front of Buckingham Fountain.

The Bean.

The day after we went to the Field Museum and walked around the city of Chicago we did something I have wanted to do since I moved to Chicago 12 years ago. We took the behind the scenes tour of Wrigley Field where the Chicago Cubs play. I have been a Cubs fan since I moved to Chicago and currently live 10 blocks away from Wrigley Field. I have to say the behind the scenes tour of Wrigley Field is one of the neatest things I have done. During the tour we saw a short video about Wrigley Field and the Cubs, learned the history of how both Wrigley Field and the Cubs came to be. We also got a tour of visiting teams locker room, the Cubs locker room, the Press Box, the Club Boxes, the Cubs and visiting team dug outs and the most exciting part of the tour is we got to go out on the field!!!!! I have to say if you are ever in Chicago and can get tickets to this tour do it, it is well worth it!!!

Wrigley Field "The Home of the Chicago Cubs"

The Scoreboard in the Outfield at Wrigley Field, which is 73 years old.

The Cubs Locker Room

Here I am sitting in the Press Box

Kirby and I on the field at Wrigley Field

Wedding planning is moving along...

Call us uber-organized! We've got our wedding ceremony and reception sites picked, ministers scheduled, photographer booked, and Erin has already found her dress and bridesmaid's dresses! I've been assured I will like the dress, and that it does not resemble this picture in any way! Let's hope so! But even if Erin wore a burlap bag, I know she would look stunning in it!!! :)

Its hard to believe that we're already less than 11 months away from the BIG DAY! Time is really starting to fly by, it seems like just yesterday I was asking Erin to marry me, and here we are 2 months later already!

So to all of you reading, here's a little audience participation segment!!! Please recommend some good places to go for a honeymoon. We're thinking Caribbean, Florida Keys, Mexican coast, or someplace similar. Little thatch roofed bungalows on the beach would be awesome! Leave your comments below on good places to go for a week or two, so we can search them out! Thanks for your help and comments!

Wedding registery fun!!

Today Erin and I spent part of the afternoon (several hours actually) registering at Crate & Barrel! It was actually a lot of fun, and I guess part of that is because I got to control the scanner gizmo! So that's one store registry (almost) done, and one or two more to go. Another reason it was nice, besides the obvious part of spending time with my fabulous fiancee, was that we got a free gift from Crate & Barrel! Not made in China either!

Oh and I have no idea how that bottle of Oberon got in the photo either! But hey, whats better than a nice cold Oberon on a warm summer day? Makes composing blog entries much more fun!

To all those who read this and don't comment (and we DO know who you are), LEAVE A COMMENT! :)