Fun at Independence Grove

We went on a family outing to Independence Grove last weekend. We rented a row boat and rowed around the lake. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and everyone had a really good time.

A few summer videos...

Clayton eating a popsicle and trying to get every last drop...


Austin trying to sing Happy Birthday

Brad Paisley!

Kevin and I got to go to the Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker concert at Tinley Park. It was a great concert. Of course, we are total concert virgins...the tickets said that the doors opened at 4:00. So we showed up with plenty of time to spare at 3:30. After a LOT of waiting in the hot sun, surrounded by wasted teenagers, we learned that the doors open at 4 so people can grab good lawn seats surrounding the pavillion. The concert didn't start until later. Much later. 9:15 to be exact! We felt like such idiots. We could have dined in the city first and still made it in plenty of time. Instead, we sat around for a LONG time and ate very expensive, quite disgusting stadium food that made Soldier Field fare look like Emerill Lagasse's. Once we got over our mistake, we had a good time talking and spending quality time, just the two of us. Darius Rucker was really, really good; and Brad was AMAZING!

Caroline at camp and on her "date"

Caroline with her counselors at day camp.


Caroline on her "Daddy-Daughter" date to the Ice cream parlor and an outside concert in the rose garden in downtown Libertyville. (Yes - she insisted on wearing her fairy wings. She's four and will only be asking these things for such a short time, so, why not. Wear the wings!)

Growing with Mr. Bear

Growing with Mr. Bear - Austin at 16 months

Lake Trip #2

The second week of July, we traveled to Indiana with Kevin's extended family.

The kids had a great time~

They loved watching all the guys waterski (especially Daddy and Josh!)

Josh taught them how to play baseball

(Of course, Clayton still preferred the vacuum.)

After lots of swimming, sand play, and boat rides, the kids were READY for their naps.

It was a great bonding time for everyone.

Happy Independence Day!

Our Independence Day festivities included the Taste of Lake Bluff Block Party with friends, a BBQ at our neighbors, an Independence Day parade (in 95 degree heat), star-shaped pancakes, Caroline's first fireworks, and Clayton randomly breaking out into song singing "God Bless America"...

Trying to get a picture of the three...

View the "filmstrip" of me trying to get a picture of the three of them. As you can see, Clayton was more into being squirrely.