Summer’s End 😢

And just like that, summer is done and school has been in session for 2.5 weeks already! I’m always sad when summer ends.... back to school, warm weather will be leaving soon, boo. BUT, it is nice to get back into a regular routine and back into church and school activities. 

We still enjoyed summer all the way until school started! On Aug 4, Jeremiah’s Enviro-Kids program met at the Rock Creek Marina on the Mississippi River. Adam got home from Texas the day before, so we all went along and enjoyed the activities as a family. There was pond studying, paddle boating, s’mores, and a pontoon boat ride!

Pond studying! Found lots of tadpoles! 🐸

And the boat ride- perfect way to cool off on a HOT day. ☀️

The next week (on the 9th) someone in our family had a big birthday (It may have been me. I might have turned 39+1). Adam had the 10th off of work, so we took that opportunity to head to my parents in Wisconsin for a long weekend!

We arrived Thursday evening, and my mom had yummy bundlets from “Nothing Bundt Cakes” to celebrate my birthday! Yum!

On Friday, Abby and Duncan came up from Chicago and we had a lady’s day (+Duncan) in Cedarburg. Lunch at Cream & Crepe, a little shopping, and Carmel apples from Amy’s. Perfect day!

I dream about this food sometimes.

Friday night Adam and I got to have a night away! A whole entire night! First time we’ve ever been away from the kids overnight besides the nights in the hospital when we were having our other kids! So obviously those don’t count. 🤣 After Norah’s terrible TERRIBLE sleeping over the summer, it was SO nice to not have to worry about getting up with her multiple times. (Turns out she wasn’t even that bad for Grandma, because that little stinker is playing me! But Hope was a bigger problem! 🤷🏼‍♀️). Anyway, best birthday present ever right there.

Saturday we hung out and went to Brookfield’s Farmer’s Market. Had to get a picture of the 2 cutest babies before Abby and Duncan headed back to Chicago!

Friday night Grandma and Grandpa watched the kiddos so Adam and I could go out for a nice dinner. So nice! Seriously, who needs presents?! It was so wonderful and we cannot thank my parents (and Abby, too) enough for doing all this for us! It was a great bday weekend. 🤗

A few other summer activities!

Enviro-Kids at the Bicklehaupt Arboretum 🌳🌸🦋

Clinton’s Back to School Bash!

It was shut down early for a tornado warning 🌪

We also went to the Whiteside (IL) County Fair for an evening, and these were the only pics I took. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Jeremiah stayed late and watched the demolition derby with his friends- he had a blast!

Quality time with big brother before he leaves us for school!

Aug 22, first day of school!

3rd Grade!!! How is this possible?!

Another year at home with mommy. 💕

14 months old and a brand new walker! Woohoo!

3rd grade has been a big transition for J, but after a couple weeks I think he is getting into the swing of things and getting used to how things are done in his new class. He loves his new teacher! And he’s already come home excited about reading new books! 📚❤️

So the girls and I are left to entertain ourselves.

Aldi trip! 🛒

Mac and cheese for lunch! Oh yes! 🧀

I went through Hope’s hand-me-downs to get Norah set on clothes for fall and winter. Found this perfect Halloween costume! 🐧😂

Hope got a set of hair dresser supplies from Dollar General last week. She is ALL about being a hair cutter girl! 💇🏼‍♀️ And don’t be jealous, but I get my hair professionally done EVERY day! 💁🏼‍♀️

Back in my day, I was an expert at hiding food I didn’t want to eat.

Spit broccoli in napkin and throw away in the bathroom? ✅

Slide piece of liver onto the floor and cover with my foot? ✅

This girl THOUGHT she had me fooled. 🤣

My parents came for a visit for the day today! Norah was so excited, she knew right away to go wait by the gate! 💕

Grandpa! Drive faster!

And today was the big Iowa/Iowa State football game! 🏈

We didn’t watch (but Adam caught the second half all the way over there in Canada), but Yay Hawkeyes! They won! 🖤💛

Good bye, July!

I feel like I start every blogpost by saying “I can’t believe it’s ______ already!” Or “Time continues to fly by”, or “How can it be ______ already?!” But seriously, people. Summer is flying and July is just about done! Soon we’ll be looking at school supplies and talking about the first day of school. 😢 Summer always goes too fast!

July has been fun and busy for our family! 

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

On the 4th we went to Clinton’s 4th of July parade. We went down there a bit early and had Holly’s Dog’s for lunch on the river front (Yum! 🌭 They even had red, white, and blue hotdog buns for the occasion). Then we found a spot on the parade route and waited in the 1 million degree heat for it to start. It was SO HOT!! ☀️ There was hardly any shade on the route, so the kids made do by sitting in Adam’s shade. 😬 (Can I just say here how nice it is that Adam works somewhere where he gets these kinds of holidays off of work?! It’s very nice.)

After the parade, we were all so stinkin’ hot, we didn’t stick around for any of the other activities. We did go down and got free snow cones, though. 😃 Then home to the AC!

I took Hope to get her hair trimmed before our vacation (I thought a hair cut might help with brushing out her long locks after swimming, etc.)

I think we need to cut off a little bit more in order to make a difference or be easier to brush out! 💇🏼‍♀️

July 8 was the beginning of our week at the lake house in McHenry, IL with my family. Unfortunately Adam could not join us because he had to work, and then left mid-week for his first work trip (to Texas).

But, he did drive over for the day on Sunday to hang out and see the fam!

The cousins were SO happy to see each other! They wasted no time getting into swim suits and into the water and sand that evening.

Monday was our first full day there, and we spent lots of time out in the water, playing in the sand, kayak rides, jet ski rides, and ice cream!

Don’t worry, Uncle Matt was on the other side of Hope’s kayak 😬

Tuesday Day 2!

More playing in the lake!

Hope and Josie decided to have matching hair-do’s

Norah spent some time outside, too. She actually pretty much hated the water (She was also under the weather most of the week....). ☹️ But she did have fun sitting in the grass with cousin Duncan!

Don’t even think about touching my toys.

A beautiful sunset that night! 🌅

Wednesday Day 3!

More playing in the lake, Josie (and Uncle Matt) made a scavenger hunt for the kids, and in the evening we did s’mores!

Grandpa, the baby entertainer!

Thursday Day 4!

Our “day away” to the Lego Discovery Center in Schaumburg! We also considered for a few seconds going to the Build-a-Bear madness 🤣, but after seeing the lines wrapping around the mall we turned ourselves right around and said NO WAY. The kids had a great time at the Lego place!

Friday Day 5!

Playing in the lake, crabby Norah read books with Grandpa, and an evening boat ride!

I love boats.

Saturday Day 6!

More playing in the lake, and another boat ride!

AAAANND trying to get a pic of Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids! Fun times.

And Sunday Day 7. Clean up and say good bye.

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

The kids and I headed home to Iowa for about a week and a half. Jeremiah did another VBS (this one was a science camp, so J loved it!).

We spent lots of time FaceTiming with Adam out in TX. And thanks to J, I have photo evidence of this!

Sorry, Adam 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

And yes there are more where these came from. 🤣

With N still under the weather, things were a bit tough for me with the kids by myself. One time-saver I discovered? Throw both girls in the bath together! (Don’t even ask why it took me so long to do this.... in my mind, N is like a newborn so obviously MUCH too young!)

Turns out, she’s actually not too young. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Norah actually turned 13 months on July 21! What?!?!

She’s not walking. But she’s an expert at pushing stuff around.

On July 25, I took the kids to my parents in Wisconsin for a few days. Matt, Josie, and Evan were there before heading back to CA so we overlapped for 1 day. The cousins were so happy to see each other again! And Grandpa, Matt, Josie, Evan, and Jeremiah went to a Milwaukee Brewer’s game in the afternoon. That evening the CA people had to head home. 😢 J and H were so sad!!

On Thursday we checked out a cool park near my parents house, and the kids had so much fun there!

Friday morning we (along with Grandma and Grandpa), made the trip around the lake to Grand Haven, MI for a gathering of the Waanders family. It was a long drive, but a stop at Sherman’s made things better! 😬

And once we arrived in GH, dinner that evening was at Fricano’s! Yum 🍕

The kids LOVED staying at Uncle Tony and Aunt Jeane’s house on Lake Michigan!

On Saturday morning, my mom and I took the kids in to GR to see the Sinke’s and they just so happened to get the train out for some train rides. Best day ever, for both J and H (they both got to drive, too!!!!). 🚂

N loved the train ride, too. She probably would have fallen asleep!

Saturday afternoon, back in GH, we headed down to the beach. J and H had SO much fun!! 

J went out to the sand bar!

Half-way up the stairs, we all needed a break.

Saturday afternoon and evening was the Waanders gathering, and it was so nice seeing everyone again! Wouldn’t you know it, I got 0 pictures. 😢 Probably because guess who was either STILL under the weather, or under the weather AGAIN. 🤒

Duncan was happy though.

Oh, I do have 1 pic! Me, Abby, and our short sister Melissa 🤣

There was a beautiful sunset that night! 🌅

Sunday we packed up and made the trek back to Iowa. Another long drive! If anyone wants to take Norah on a road trip please let me know. It’s SO SO fun!!! 😫

So now we are home and eagerly awaiting Adam’s arrival home this week. And saying good bye to July! We had so much fun, it will be hard to top this month!