Playing it By Ear: Summer Highlights

I'm not giving up on this blog just yet! The summer is coming to a close and the kids continue to grow, change, and cause serious frustration and serious joy each day.

Leila is two weeks into the school year as a FIRST grader and turned six a month ago! She has become so independent, not a tear this year as she's left for school, and loves getting together with friends. It was a great summer enjoying her and watching her relationships with Nathan and Zoe grow. It was a loud couple of months with them all home, but I tried to savor it (at least half the time.). She has a great sense of humor, loves going to restaurants, stuffed animals, playing dolls in her room (alone), and continues to have a fierce determination to master new skills (whatever that may be!) Nathan starts preschool next week, and Zoe and I will continue with our usual schedule (grocery shopping with one kid!) Natey has finally turned a corner as he approaches his fourth birthday and his "threenager" year is almost over. Man was that a tough one! He is a real joy these days, loves learning about new things, has a crazy good memory, loves playing games (especially War), and is speaking with a British accident often (?)! Zoe is now a full fledged toddler; her vocabulary has really taken off, "I do" is her favorite phrase, she adores L and N and tries to do everything they do, she is the comedian of the family and puts on a show for us every night at dinner, and she is constantly making noise whether it be singing, screaming, whining, or just chattering.

Summer Highlights

School is out!

Someone is excited!

Off to his last day

Kindergarten Night

Chilly start to the summer!

My boys

First bike ride for Zo

Visit with Lisa and family!
Such a fun weekend even though we were rained in most of the time!

June was very rainy

Last playgroup of the year

Field Day!

Poor girl had a fever and missed her last day of school!

First of many picnics

Swinging

She mastered her bike after 3 days of practice

End of another Soccer Stars season

Ice cream man!!

So proud.

Beginning of sprinkler and pool season!

Hilton Head!

Next up, was our fantastic trip to South Carolina. It was a looooong drive to get there, but we made it and had the best time.

Up and out at 5:30 a.m.to start the journey!

Rest stop in North Carolina

We made it!

Beach to house walk

Favorite part of everyday...sunset walks on the beach

"This water is too salty." -Leila

It was over 100 almost everyday! Soooo hot and sweaty!

Hanging out in Harbor Town

Fair and Fireworks!

Princess Tiger Lily and Naughty Nathan about to board the Black Dagger

Family Fun

More sunset walks

Great times

Last leg...almost back home

Backyard Shenanigans

Obsessed with goggles

Attempt at fishing (unsuccessful)

Soup Factory

Fourth of July!

Annual Oakbrook Fireworks with the Cisowskis. Quickly becoming one of our favorite traditions!

Neighborhood Parade

Hanging with our new friend James

Summer essential: Lemonade stand!

Six Flags

Such fun memories made with our big kids!

Random Summer Fun

Lots of ice cream cones in the backyard

Lots of rainstorms, and watching them from our porch

Lots of pool/sprinkler/water guns in the backyard

As a special treat to celebrate her birthday, Leila got to spend a day with Gigi and Ama making bread, shopping, and eating. The girl was in heaven!

Oma and Papa Chuck visit!

Epic water gun battle

Good times at Bass Pro Shop getting our fishing gear!

Attempt #2 of the year with an expert. Still no luck though!

Love the Zoe laugh

Showing Oma the school playground

The biggest event of the summer and year (if you ask Leila)....Leila Frances turns six! For nearly a year Leila was set on having a Build A Bear Workshop party and finally it happened! Her obsession with stuffed animals has reached an all time high and this party was the perfect way to celebrate.