Birthdays and Bridal Showers and Easter, oh my!

This last weekend was definitely a weekend to remember. On Friday, Eliza and I took the train to Champaign. Bill picked us up at the train station and we had a yummy dinner at Outback. It was so great to see Bill. I really miss him! My dad's flight in from Georgia got cancelled, so it was sad that he didn't make it in on Friday night. We then went to the nursing home to visit my grandma who is very sick. It was good to be able to see her and to know that there are many family members there to be with her.

Saturday was a big day! First off, it was my birthday! Bill and I headed to St. Patrick's Church to meet with Father Joe for our second of 3 required visits with him before the wedding. Things went well and everything seems to be on track. Then we went to pick up my dad at the airport and once we got home Bill's parents had just pulled up to my house. We all visited for a while. Then we went to my aunt's house for my bridal shower. It was so great to have family and friends together! Seeing some of my closest friends from the span of my life was really fun. There were friends from doing gymnastics growing up, high school, college, and med school. There also were many family members and some close friends of the family. My matron of honor Isabel did such a great job of planning everything - thanks! Next it was off to a birthday dinner at Biaggis. It was really yummy!!!!!! Then we went home and my mom surprised me with a yummy angel food confetti cake! It was so good! Next we went to the I Hotel to check it out since my dad and Bill's dad hadn't seen it yet since it had been completed. There was a guy there that looked totally bored and was more than happy to show us around. It was also fun to show the I Hotel (and other places in Champaign) to Eliza. I think she had fun! A memorable moment was when my dad did his egret dance. I did not know he has an egret dance (or what an egret even was), but lets just say it was a very funny movement along with an even funnier noise! Eliza and I will be laughing about that for years to come!

On Sunday a group of us went to Easter Mass at St. Patricks and then to Starbucks for some coffee. We came home to find the dining room table decorated and a wonderful Easter brunch waiting for us. I was very impressed with this, especially since my mom does not do very much cooking these days. It was very yummy! The rest of the day was spend working on some wedding stuff, going on a crazy run with Bill, my dad, and Eliza and a quick dinner at Atlanta Bread Co. before Eliza and I were back on the train heading back to Carbondale. We attempted to get some studying done on the train. I ended up taking a nap! After the train, we headed straight to a coffee shop to do some studying.

All in all, the weekend was one to remember! I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family, friends, and fiance. Now it is time to get back to studying and trying to fill my brain with all sorts of information on the gastrointestinal system. Yay for med school!