Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago

We enjoyed a long weekend in the Windy City with Aunt Sandy...here are the highlights

We drove in on a rainy night. I love the city lights at night. "Some Gave All" was illuminated on one of the buildings.

A cafe au lait Aunt Sandy style that inspired us purchase a milk frother...and coffee will never be the same!

Sunglasses...our newest summer accessory!

Maggie Daley playground - so much fun!

This is the nest swing...the one where the dad's push the kids and the mom's stand back and yell "that's high enough!" 

Break by the bean (but we know it is really "cloud gate!")

Waiting for the Memorial Day parade to start 

The girls were able to tour a traveling exhibit of "Dressing Downton" that had costumes from Downton Abbey.  It was so awesome!   

Does anyone do flowers better than Chicago? Seriously, so beautiful!

The new ferris wheel at Navy Pier - you get to go around 3 times! 

Cafe au lait for the adults, pancakes with sprinkles and M&M's for the kids! 

Brandon manages to find the smaller animal on the carousel to ride! 

Traveler Tip: Skip the train ride at the Lincoln Park Zoo! 

Awesome zoo and the perfect place for a scavenger hunt!

Keeping with the animal theme for the day we had lunch at Rain Forest Cafe and received large balloon creations!  

Architectural boat tour.  Poor Brandon was suffering badly with his allergies

The kids got to meet some CFD fire fighters and got to sit in the truck! As did Elizabeth's three palace pets.  

It was a fantastic weekend and a perfect get away! We love Chicago!

Jump!

1,2, 3...jump....any guesses on who didn't jump?!

School's Out for Summer!

 We kicked off the first night of summer with a firefly party - yes that is a party where the kids catch creepy flying bug that have butts that light up - only in the midwest!

Oh it is just the beginning! I have already started to set ground rules.  First we have the checklist.  Get your checklist done before we do anything for the day!  Next, I bought new totes and as I collect their items that get spread out around the house they go into the totes, and guess what is #1 on the checklist...EMPTY YOUR TOTE! It is day 2 of summer break and I have only been called a meanie once!

Grant's End of School Picnic

In a way it is hard to believe the preschool years are over, but on the other hand I have had someone in preschool for 5 years - so maybe it is time?! Well ready or not, it is time.  I am so proud of his success and accomplishments.  We had a family picnic and the kids sang a few songs.  They then gave a us book of projects and pictures from throughout the year.  Thank goodness for sunglasses! The teacher had to send a note home to say everything she wanted to because she was so emotional too!  Closing chapters is hard, but there is a new one just around the corner!

Cuddles with Daddy

You know it has been a long day when the boys fall asleep on the couch at 7:30 and when I try to take  Grant to bed and Brandon whispers, "no, let him stay with me a little longer".  Melt my heart.

Basketball Fever

Shooting hoops before school - book bag is on that means he is supposed to be getting in the car!

Is it all about the b-ball at our house.  You can't walk through the garage without them grabbing a ball and hurrying outside to make a shot.  Although Grant says "Watch me shot!" and "Out of Balance!" (instead of "watch me shoot" and "out of bounds").  We are instructed to watch until they make a basket.  I know need to build in an extra 10 minutes before departing the house! This all reminds me of my brother! 

Even in heels as we are trying to get in the car to go out for dinner!

Playing

One beautiful spring morning before soccer the kids took the basket of Barbies outside and played.  It  was so cute.  That's all!

Elizabeth's Spring Music Concert

The 1st grade music concert was a garden theme.  Elizabeth went as a flower.  The songs were cute and the kids had worked really hard on a great program.

Give your sister a kiss!

Nobody expected him to plant it on her lips!!

Oh hey, look someone is sitting on that bench again!

He broke my thumb!

During a game of sharks and minnows in the front yard Elizabeth got injured.  She came running in the house crying like she had lost a limb.  Apparently her brother tagged her a little too hard and hit her just right in the thumb.  We listened to her boo-hoo all night and she was still complaining of it the next morning.  She was having difficulty holding a pencil so I made her an appointment.  The appointment led us to x-rays which led us the diagnosis that it was just sprained - no fracture! Grant received explicit instructions on how we tag a person.  The thumb still bothers her from time to time. Honey, when you have arthritis in your thumb someday this is probably why! 

A Family Bike Ride

This is the post where I put in writing and admit that I set the bar too high.  We had a beautiful spring day and I thought we should load the bikes up and take a family bike ride on the local trail.  It is a 10 miles round trip trail.  The first 5 miles, up hill - last 5 miles, just coast and use your brake! So it is a gradual incline up and I actually thought all four of us on our own bikes could make it.  The bike trailer is officially collecting dust.  I kept it because I was sure Auggie would not want to miss cycling with the Paulis, but as it turns out she really doesn't care the buggy ride.  Well we made it 2 miles and the whining and complaining started.  Apparently, I stated many times "just say when you have had enough and we can turn around" and then would promptly turn around and say "we are going to the next corner, come on kids, you can do it!" Brandon finally put the kibosh on it and gave it the round it up motion and we headed back down the hill.  I was a little defeated, but we have all summer to conquer the bike trail!

This is the train at the playground at the bottom - they are all smiles now!

The Fairy Garden and Bench

Our neighbor got Elizabeth started on a fairy garden for her birthday a few years ago.  It has since grown as has their interest.  They love to play and rearrange the figurines.  Grant and I were out shopping one day and saw a gnome so I thought why not a gnome garden for him! They each had their own pots, but really like to play together.   Luckily (well unlucky really) our fountain had just  broken and I had forgotten to drag it to the curb for trash so I up-cycled! You are welcome mother earth :) And thus the birth of the fairy/gnome garden! The kids spend so much time standing by the garden playing.  It is adorable and reminds me that they are still little and imaginary play is so important! (Even if you don't have pants on! Grant might start a colony one day called "Pants are overrated!")

Before the moss

After the moss - sorry my camera lens needed cleaning!

I searched for a fountain replacement but came up empty.  Then I had the idea to put a bench in the area.  Some place I could sit while the kids play in the front yard.  I was told "Alison, no one will sit there!"  Just thought I would post some proof that people do sit there! And I have had friends come over and say "What a great idea!"  Bench success!

Daily Dose of Doodle

Our beloved Auggie continues to fill our family with smiles and laughs.  Here are a few pictures of her!

Action shot at the farm! 

Found some shade - it finally got hot!

Kisses for Grant

Look at his long legs! Yes, that is Grant!

After a long walk she got comfy in her kennel. I mean I guess she is comfortable - she choose to contort herself that way!

And we walked her up to the muddy paws dog wash last night. That was a treat! The blow dryer experience that Grant insisted she needed may have traumatized her forever! And the dead, decomposing nutria in the gutter scared us all! Never heard of a nutria - member of the rodent family and it was large! Gross.  Elizabeth later said "Seeing that thing made me feel dirty" In her defense all that was left was some gnarly fang teeth and ribs - the rest was covered in flies.  I couldn't even stomach an evening snack!