Reunited...And It Felt So Good!!!!

Labor Day weekend '07 has come and gone, but it certainly will not be forgotten for the Ivanlam clan. Friday night, Tiffany treated the girls to Central's first football game of the year at Brady Street Stadium against the North Wildcats. Gabe had freshman practice before the game, then attended the game with some friends. The outcome was not so nice for the Blue Devils, falling big time to North, 32-12. North got out to a big halftime lead and didn't look back. I was busy working a game on the other side of the River for Mediacom, got home and no one was there. It seems Tiffany met the Pearson's at Cheddar's for some appetizers, half priced no less! I jumped in the car and met them to talk about the games and our long weekend ahead.

Gabe had to be at the stadium by 7:30 Saturday morning for his game at 9, it was a beautiful morning for football! With the sun beating down on the crowd the Central freshman team had no problem dispatching the undermanned North freshman team, 47-7. Starting at tight end, Gabe caught 2 passes during the first drive, including a catch on the game's first play. He totaled 3 catches in all, and played a little linebacker towards the end of the game. His only blemish was a fumble after one of the catches, but it didn't matter. The team looked solid and will be tested this Saturday against Assumption, before a date at Burlington next week. Pictures of the game will come soon.

After the game we drove to the northern suburbs of Chicago for an Ivanic family reunion. After some trouble finding the hotel Aunt Rachel booked (she had trouble finding it too!!) we went to my cousin Rich Tajak and his wife Germaine's house in Libertyville. Rich grew up next door to my dad in Niles, their moms were sisters. Their maiden name was Pancerz, we learned a great deal about the Pancerz family, and how they came to Chicago from Poland over 100 years ago.

Saturday we hung out at Rich and Germaine's house, it is big and beautiful! Grandam Pat was there from Tucson and Uncle JP and Khrista were present. We went back to the hotel around 10pm, where Rachel, Tim and Aunt Britta and Uncle Tom and cousin Morgan had returned from a day in the city of Chicago. We met for a few minutes in our room, all were tired so bed time loomed.


The crew: Gabe, Abbi, Elli and Morgan.


Sunday we swam at the spacious hotel indoor heated pool. Gabe was being difficult, the kids wanted him to swim, he refused. I told Tom to put him in the pool, Tom picked up Gabe out of his chair and plopped him in the pool, t-shirt still on!!

After some lunch we headed back to the house in Libertyville for the actual reunion. My cousin Celeste and her husband Bob were there, as well as my cousin Walter. Then one by one, other relatives started showing up, some coming from Green Bay, others from Madison. The keg of LaBatts was ice cold as people got together to share memories of a family that had not gotten together in decades.


Cousins reunited: Sharon, Anthony, Rachel, Pete, JP, Suzanne and Britta. Our dad and their mom were siblings, offspring of John and Lottie Ivanic.



Walter, Rich, Germaine, Grandma Pat, Celeste and Bob

Food was catered in, numerous bottles of wine were opened. DVD's of home movies from the late 50's to the late 60's were shown including scenes from Mom and Dad's wedding in 1964. The kids played out side, at one point there was about 12 kids in all playing. Then we assembled outside for a pinata and some Polish Polka music and dancing.


Swing hard Gabe, Morgan and Tom look on.

Earlier in the day Tim had shown a ring he had bought for he and Rachel's engagement, but had waited to present her the ring. During the dancing Tim got down on a knee and popped the question in front of everybody, about 40 people. Thankfully for him, Rachel said yes (can you imagine the flight home if she had said no?). Luckily Tim tipped me off before he proposed, which allowed me to get the whole event on video tape!


The proposal, with cousin Anthony looking on.

We ate and we drank and we played games outside trying to avoid being bit by mosquitoes the size of dragon flies! We headed back to the hotel before midnight, but we weren't done yet. Me and Tiff, Rachel and Tim and Tom went next door to a bar and closed it down at 2am, ending a very festive day. Needless to say, the walk back to the room was a little staggered!

We returned home Monday afternoon, after saying goodbye to Grandma in Arizona and everyone else. Thankfully Grandma Marcia hit the grocery store and planned a meal with the E Dover CT crew, ribs and chicken wings on the grille! It was a fun weekend for all!!!!