Lots of random summer fun here for you!!
Annabel and I took a lot of bike rides this summer. One time we passed this giant rock in the field near our house and she wanted to climb it. I remember when she was too little...now she's so big!
Summer means car show fun...
and the car show means free sno cones!
Food truck fun! Yum!
S'mores nachos!
Sleepovers at Grandma's! Here's Daniel's list of things to bring, with Annabel's contributions. Too cute! Grandma Mary Kay always feels like the kids are moving in when they go because they bring so much stuff with them.
The kitties have fallen in love with sleeping in our sinks. I think it was just so hot for them and this is the coolest place in the house. Adorable, I think.
I love watching Annabel find fun places to read.
The kitties loved the fresh air whenever our doors were open!
Ziggy curled up with Annabel in her tent while she read one day.
Umbrella party & huddle with the two neighbor kids one rainy afternoon. Yes- I believe there are four umbrellas in this huddle. Too cute! (The striped and watermelon umbrellas are my kids.)
Cosmo just has to sit in the middle of whatever we are doing. Annabel made this little "map" for us to use while playing Polly Pockets. (We love these things- they were Aunt Christina's and now Annabel's!)
Ziggy is always nearby when we are playing, too.
Another fun reading spot for Annabel. Plus, the piggies on those feet- gah, too cute!
Another food truck outing!
Annabel went to a Harry Potter themed gymnastics party. These glasses were party favors- love them on her- too cute!
More cute kitties! On the Legos. Always on the Legos!
Head to head. Awwww.
Foot bath fun! The kids love this thing. We don't use it enough to suit them, but it's such a treat when we do! Cosmo was very curious about this thing-
very curious. He is the epitome of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" because he is always nearby the things he doesn't like, say this foot bath and always always the vacuum- he does not run away, but cautiously watches the thing. It's too funny to watch him.
Cosmo was attacking Annabel's slip-on shoes. Because...well, they're gonna get him if he doesn't, right?! We were cracking up watching Cosmo!
Cute kitty. Hi Ziggy!
Summer is also for visits to Centennial Beach. Annabel still loves it here, but then, she loves water and slides. Daniel played in the sand during this visit and not ever much again- I think he's outgrown the sand here and he really doesn't ever swim here. We may be finding a different option (or none at all) next summer...
The water at Centennial Beach was always freezing this summer. Annabel is huddled up!
Annabel and Daddy having fun in the sand!
Hide and Seek in the sand? Sure! It's like a treasure hunt! The kids had fun hiding things for each other to dig up.
Sunny spots for kitties!
Daniel practiced his trombone in the library at one point this summer, which I just think is the best spot. Such a fun sunny spot to do so. One time, Cosmo came right in and curled up IN the trombone case. It's got a nice soft fuzzy lining- perfect little nest. He didn't leave.
Okay fine, Cosmo- you win! You can stay.
Target gave away these Woody and Bo Peep hats during an event for Toy Story 4 (we also got free Toy Story 4 themed goldfish crackers)- Annabel and I posed for a selfie! We'd just seen the movie so this was particularly fun.
This is the beginning of Annabel's very own stuffed bunny sewed all by herself with Grandma Mary Kay!
Coming along!
The kids had a moment one day when they were playing with play doh- it was so cute and so fun. These moments are bittersweet for me because gosh we used to spend hours in the basement playing with play doh, painting, stamping, and more. So many memories! But oh my goodness Daniel's grown up- now he's just stabbing the play doh man and cracking up! Boys.
Another fun trip down memory lane- we played this scavenger hunt game the kids used to love when they were younger. (We also got out our Twister circles this day, too...the kids just really went through a phase where they were finding long lost treasures and games for a few days there!) This time, they were really silly about the scavenger hunt. Daniel declared himself "stretchy" and was quite tickled by this. Silly kid!
Daniel declared the cats smooth.
And he said Annabel was pretty. Aww! Compliment via scavenger hunt card- I'll take it!
For shorts, he tucked the card into his shorts waistband. For round, he covered his face.
Really, the whole game was too funny!
Like I said, long lost activities. Here's another one- Duplo blocks!
Love this picture of our cats looking out the window on our screened porch during dinner. Adorable!
Peek-a-boo Daddy! (That's the kitchen window and the cats were watching Daddy, who was standing at the sink washing dishes.)
Sunny, fuzzy, soft, comfy spot for Cosmo! He LOVES this chair. (Annabel does, too. She loves it so much, it moves around the house- up in her room, down in the family room, wherever she desires it!)
Tender moment...Daniel and Cosmo.
Target dollar section for the win- workbooks for Annabel! She was delighted!! This is a French words workbook, too- super exciting!
Daniel just loves his kitties so much.
My friend, Heather, whom I met in my yoga classes, convinced me to sign up for a Sunrise Yoga session on a Saturday in July. Now, if you know me, this is very surprising I bet! I don't do sunrise anything- I like to sleep in. But that's what friends are for- to get you to try new and different things! So we did this Sunrise Yoga on the Hill in downtown Naperville- this was our view! Sunrise Yoga was AMAZING- so refreshing and invigorating and energizing and I just loved being outdoors doing yoga! I was
so pumped the rest of the day. Heather and I also enjoyed breakfast and a Starbucks treat on a picnic blanket under those two trees yonder just to the left of the bell tower. Gorgeous morning and a
great way to start our day!! The weather couldn't have been more perfect.
Must be a good book...reading and eating at the same time!
Daniel went to a survival camp at Naper Settlement one week this summer. He made this tent one day. Cute. The camp was actually terribly disappointing and we won't be back in the future, but it was something we'd been wanting to try for a couple years...meh, been there done that now. Oh well. They can't all be winners. This kid sure is, though!! Love him bunches.
While Annabel and I were off having fun at a water park one day, Ben got dinner started...and Daniel helped!! So sweet!
Whenever Daniel and I play Legos back here, Cosmo is ALWAYS right there in the middle of our playing field. It's adorable. He just
really wants to be near us. Always. We love it. Daniel let Lion snuggle Cosmo and wanted a picture. So cute!
After our Michigan trip, we came home and soaked up our last summer days. It was so hard to believe summer was winding down by this point. One outing was a movie trip to see the live action Aladdin movie (which I loved) with Grandma Cheryl, Josie, and Kaleb (so fun! Josie snuggled with me- adorable!). Another outing, just my kids and me, was mini golfing! Always so fun. I LOVE mini golfing!
I also practiced my french braiding. This one was my best- I think it looks pretty great!
It only took me 45 minutes and like 5 attempts to get to this point. Annabel was incredibly patient.
I might need more practice...because it can't always take that long. It just can't.
Well, that's quite a spot, Cosmo! If only you could just actually unload the dishes for me...
Cosmo...waiting for his chance to dash into the garage. Daddy had just gone out and Cosmo knew he'd be back and that'd be his chance. Darn cat. We literally have to enter the house with our hands down to catch him. And when we leave, we'd better be fast because the very second he hears that door crack open he RUNS from wherever he is to get out and man he's FAST. Darn cat, I say again.
Grandma Mary Kay and Grandpa Larry tore up their carpeting upstairs in their bedrooms, and as per tradition, before the new hardwood flooring went in, the kids got to draw on the floors. Daniel traced his hand, signed and dated it and marked his age. The cutest.
Annabel drew a rainbow.
I wished I gotten the pictures Ben and his siblings drew when they were younger the last time the carpet was installed, before it was all covered up this time too, but alas. Still, fun memories and tradition. (Ben and I have done this in our old houses, too, whenever new carpeting was put in; same with any new dry walls- our
mud nook is one example!)
As the beginning of our school year approached (sadly), we began to get ready for school. My family participated in giving tours to new families one afternoon. I got this school-themed joke book and Annabel found and wrote down the perfect ones to tell as we went around the school. So fun!
Fire truck themed car show! That's one TALL ladder!
And just like that, summer was over.
It was really good summer. The best, I still say.
I want another one now!! Could we skip ahead? Please?!
I just really love my children home with me.
I want them back. I always feel this way when school starts. Every day I look forward to bringing them home with me at the end of the day. Even after all these years, I still feel this way. It's good to be a mom, in all seasons (of a year and of life) of course, but summers just have a special spot in my heart- my kids are all mine then and we can recharge and reconnect more fully.
This summer was an especially good one. A much needed one. I'll take it, and cherish it forever.
