Chicago trip ~ post 5, two nights at the theater

Beauty and the Beast

at the most amazing Oriental Theater

Peter Pan

at a round stage, 360* seating, tent

Chicago trip ~ post 4, in the Windy City

the five carmonas in the bean at millennium park

and at the buckingham fountain

view of the city from the field museum

gita having a moment with a monkey at the lincoln park zoo

very happy spectators at the zoo

girls crashed out at the hotel

the amazing lobby of our amazing hotel

girls in the fancy hotel lobby

shoulder rides in the city

nim and gramps on the bus to the zoo

girls on the carousel 

Chicago trip ~ post 3

Highlights from our last day with the whole family in the suburbs...

our effort to balance out all the pizza and junk food ~ hotel room smoothie

David and cousin Bryan lounging poolside

my view of a pool full of McDermands

great whiffle ball game ~ the winning team

great whiffle ball game ~ the not-winning team

Nene with husband Randy and her three boys ~ David, Alex, and Micheal

Chicago trip ~ post 2

A wonderful dinner and memorial was planned for Nana in Elmhurst. I heard there were over 100 people there ~ family, friends, neighbors ~ After a delicious dinner, family members and close friends came up front to share their stories. David's uncle prepared a wonderful slideshow of Nana throughout her years. The highlight of the night for me (other than all the photos of David's uncles and their mustaches in the 70's) was a video that showed Nana (and David's late grandpa) laughing, really cracking up, at a video on TV that featured a televangelist praising the lord, with flatulent sounds dubbed into the background. Hilarious! What a contagious laugh she had. 

fancy Gita in the fancy mirror

cousin Lilikoi paying close attention to Nimmy

David and his brothers (along with Noah and NeNe) connecting with his old cross country coach from high shool

Nim and Noah with David's cousins Matthew and Daniel

David at the podium delivering his tear-jerking speech about his Nana. Seriously, not a dry eye.

Chicago trip ~ post 1

Carmona kids all dressed up (snappy casual) for the breakfast

We returned home on Sunday after a week trip to Illinois (Elmhurst  & Chicago). The first half was spent in the suburbs with David's entire family, gathering to honor the life of David's Nana (Grace McDermand) who passed away a few weeks ago. We spent the second half of the week in the hustle and bustle of the big city. I took tons of pictures and many people asked me to post them here. So, as to not overwhelm myself (or others) I will try to post some of the photos every day for the next few days.

These first pics are from a wonderful breakfast held in Nana's honor at the Wilder Mansion, a beautiful old home that was the library when David was a kid. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast while the family shared stories, laughs, and tears.

kazoo rendition of Amazing Grace 

David with cousin Sarah Jane and step dad Randy

Nimmy and cousin Seo

Davids uncle David James on the piano

Nimmy with her grandma, NeNe

David's mama, NeNe, with her McDermand brothers. What a bunch of goofballs.

all the McDermand cousins

Noah with his Uncle Mike and his lovely girl, Jen