The Shedd Aquarium

At the beginning of summer, all of the major Chicago museums host "community days" aka free days. If you can handle the crowds, this is a great deal. The Shedd is always the most popular. For once, we were lucky to have a stroller so that our wait to get INTO the building was only 20 minutes. By the time we left, it was a 2 hour wait. Plus, to see the dolphins, penguins, whales, and the rest of the cool stuff, you have to pay $20/person. Unbelievable! We saw what was offered in about 2 hours, and then enjoyed a picnic lunch at the edge of Lake Michigan. It was a beautiful view!

Waiting to get inside...



I'm realizing that my children are changing and growing--even when I don't want them to. I have had their pictures taken for Father's Day for the last few years, but decided to do it myself this year.

EVAN

CARTER

EMMA

LIZZIE

BRAXTON

I do have to mention that Braxton is growing so fast that he makes the other kids look small in comparison. His voice is trying to figure out where it's going to end up. I had to buy him size 12 shoes last week, and he's about 5'7"!!!

On our way to the parking garage, we found this cute little park and had to explore it for a bit until the rain started and we had to go home.

This hill was going un-used. Carter decided to put an end to that and the rest followed.

Madison 100

On June 11th, we had the opportunity to drive up to Madison, Wisconsin and enjoy all her beauty once again. I love this city. It has such a great zoo--and it's free! It was a perfect day to visit being overcast with a little sprinkling. All of the animals were out. I just added 5 more.

Simba did not roar this afternoon, but posed for us. He's gorgeous!

This is a cebu. It actually came up to the kids and let them pet him. What an experience!!

If you haven't read Hooway for Wodney Wat, then you should. It's one of my favorite children's books. It also features a capybara named "Camilla." This capybara slid into the water, stood on its hind legs and watched us in her know-it-all fashion just like Camilla Capybara in our beloved book. We got a kick out of her. ;)

The polar bear would only let us see his rear end. In noticing this, Evan said, "Talk to the booty 'cause the hand is off duty." He then had everyone pose in the "talk to the booty" pose. Nice. I could barely take a clear photo as I struggled controlling my laughing. :)

The kids have to get a picture on the giant tortoise statue every time we come. Tears were involved because of placement and "I called it" type of statements. Oh, well. We got the picture, saw the real tortoise slowly meandering about, and can call it good. Another tradition fulfilled.

Emma LOVES pink. She's giving a thumbs up to the flamingos for being so fashion savvy.

I was a softy and let them ride the carousel. How can I deny a smile like that?

My cute kids!

This next one is my favorite. I learned a new trick on Picasa, too. :)

Lizzie is so fun to watch play and explore.

The boys had a great time on these really long swings. In the end, though, they were both complaining that they're getting too big for them because their tushies hurt.

My baby!

The real reason we came to Madison was for the Madison 100, a bike race. As of Friday night, Steve didn't know if he was going to ride the 100K or the 100 miler--it depended on the weather. It turned out that he did the full 100 miles!! I'm so proud of him! What an accomplishment~especially for someone who just got a bike at Christmas! I love how official he looks in all of his gear!

What a great moment! We are ALL impressed and proud of our dad!

It was fun to share this event with friends. Steve gets to ride with a pack of spectacular men. These men happen to have great wives and really fun kids, too! :)

I had to post this picture of Braxton with Lizzie. She wanted him more than she wanted me on this day. I guess it is because he gives in to her every whine and even carries her on his shoulders. I think I've convinced her that I'm too old for that. Thank heavens Braxton is such a good sport and an even better brother.

I had to capture this road sign! It's a shame when I passed BRAXTON AVE in downtown Madison, I was too worried about being lost and didn't get a picture. How lucky are we that we have streets named after us!

We got some of the riding crew and their families to head over to Ella's Deli to refuel before driving home. This is the most unique restaurant I've been to. It is chock-full of games, moving toys, and eclectic gadgets all over the walls, the ceiling, and even in the tables. You've got to see it to understand what I'm saying--even though there isn't much rhyme or reason to the decor. It's just a kid's paradise.

Plus, there's ice cream. GOOD ice cream. Emma got the superman ice cream, which is also known as Playdough Ice cream in other parts of the country.

I was trying to persuade Lizzie towards a chocolate cookie dough or mint chip or something else, since she usually needs a little help, but no. If it's what Emma wants, it's what Lizzie wants. Daddy did more helping than I.

The Saturday AM bikers.

Emotional attachments

I have realized that I have some (probably unhealthy) emotional attachments to objects. I have many wedding and baby gifts that I have had to keep because of the person who gave it to me. I wish I could toss things, but it is really hard. My mother, bless her heart, has given me a few things since I've been married. One of which is this table. This table was hers when she was a little girl. It has 4 matching chairs. This set has been involved in numerous craft projects, games, creative play scenarios, etc. I loved this table growing up and loved seeing my kids use it. Well, the table has officially been retired due to a worn-out hinge. Emma and Lizzie are now in a pink room with a new pink IKEA table and 2 pink chairs. I'm sure the table and chairs will not last as long as my "star" table, but it's what the girls wanted and it matched.

This next one is seriously like a portal from Harry Potter transporting me back in time. When I look at Cookie's big googly eyes, I feel like I'm a small child again, sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar. I guess I had a thing for Cookie Monster. I love the song, "C is for Cookie." I love how he says "yum, yum, yum" as he eats his cookies. I love his zest for sweets. He's so cute. For Christmas, my parents got me this cookie jar when I was about 3 years old. He's been superglued before, but this time, the fall was too much. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Cookie together again. Believe me. I tried for 3 days. I am giving up. So long, Cookie Monster.

Raingutter Regatta

Our last big pack meeting before the summer break was the RAINGUTTER REGATTA! What a blast. I do have to give a shout-out to my terrific husband, who cut 2 boats to make them into more stable catamarans and helped the boys build them. I'm so glad it wasn't ME working on them between 10pm and 1am. Thank you very much!

Evan was bound and determined to make his last showing, one of consequence. He'd talked about a technique that he was sure was going to impress.

Carter just wanted to compete.

And when it came time to race his brother,

the whole room could feel the tension and anticipation.

Evan won!

Look how cute they are giving high fives.

I was proud of both of them and their good sportsmanship.

They were living what they'd been learning.

Not only did Evan beat Carter, but he won the whole tournament!
HE was pretty proud of himself--

attributes it all to his superior lung capacity due to swimming.

Carter had a "rockin" good time!

But Just a li'l bit

A picture can speak a thousand words, but the story makes this picture speak even more...
The other day, as I was walking down the hall to change the laundry, this is what I passed. Of course, this being out of the ordinary, I stopped and asked Lizzie what she was doing. "I'm giving my babies a bath." Noticing a little haziness to the water, I stated that they must have needed it because the water was a little dirty. "Well, that's because I went a little bit of pee-pee in it....But just a little bit!" "Oh, yuck!" For some reason, when I call the kids for dinner, they never hear. When it's time to go to church, they can't hear me; however, when Lizzie said this in her teeny two-year old voice, the entire house heard it and reacted with lots of exclamations like, "Gross, Lizzie!", "That's disgusting!", "I can't believe you did that!" It was a reaction, nonetheless, and so Lizzie giggled, smiled her mischievous smile, and let me take a picture of her. She kindly allowed me to get her out so that I could clean her up, finish giving the dolls another bath, along with disinfecting everything else she touched in that bathroom.
*Note to self. Always check on the girls when they've been quiet for more than 10 minutes during wakeful hours.

Emma & t-ball!

Emma is on the San Francisco Giants team and loving her t-ball experience. The coach is placing her way too close to the "T", which is also too short for her (according to her father), but she's still having fun. She loves to be engaged and tries to get every ball hit. Steve is very encouraged after seeing a few games that she may be the one child who continues with his beloved sport. No matter what, she looks cute in her brother's old pants and looks forward to every game.

Her coach and his wife are marvelous. They got the kids cubbies with their names on them to hold their hats, gloves, and water bottles. How ingenious!!! They also supply gum, which is also a fun reward. I love that Emma is meeting a group of kids that she'll be in class with in a few months. It'll make that first week not so scary.

I love the lack of stress in t-ball. I also love being outside watching cute kids have fun on a summer night! I love parents who are willing to coach. I would be no good, according to Carter, because I "totally throw like a girl." Have I mentioned that I love Carter's honesty? No? Hmm.

What a cute team!

Memorial Day Weekend

School ended May 28th, and the summer fun began. After playing & relaxing, we shipped Dad off with the boys for their annual Father's and Sons campout at Blackwell Forest Preserve. The girls then had me call up some friends to go to downtown Naperville and enjoy our beautiful weather. It was a challenge, but I did make Lizzie change out of her tutu. She is the moodiest, cutest, most stubborn, and most adorable princess/ballerina I know. :)

Emma has missed her friend Hailey, who had all-day kindergarten this year. It was fun seeing them play together again.This is Alyssa. She's so cute, I can't stand it!

We found this butterfly on the bridge. Hailey was bound and determined to get it to land on her. I'm so glad we allowed the time because...

Lo and behold, it did! SWEET SUCCESS!

Dinner at Noodles & Company with a nice long walk and the promise of dessert when we got home kept the smiles on all of our faces. :)

The girls slept in the boys' bunkbeds and stayed in them the entire night (a feat for Lizzie). They chose cold cereal for breakfast and got to watch Super Why, their favorite show. Nothing like girls' night out with my 2 wild and crazy ladies!

The boys had a great time, as always when they're surrounded by nature. Monday started with blue skies, but quickly turned gray.
The rain seems to be more of an invitation than a deterrent to playing outside for my kids. They had a blast! Slippin' and slidin' and showing off are what they do best!

The afternoon storm got our minor-league baseball game cancelled, so to make sure we did something fun with the kids, we saw the latest Shrek movie and came away grateful to be a part of our family.