Christmas-in-the-summer Birthday Party

Clayton's #5 birthday was a christmas theme (because he LOVES Christmas lights, and we just took it from there...)

We had relay races to decorate our human christmas trees...

We decorated wooden star ornaments...

We decorated christmas trees (of course!)

 We ate summery, not-really-so-christmassy food...

 We made paper chains...

 And we sang Happy Birthday and Silent Night (Clayton's favorite Christmas carol) while we brought out red and green velvet cake.

 The happy birthday boy with Christmas lights aglow....

Clayton turns FIVE!

Clayton Matthew turns FIVE!  I can't believe my little boy is five years old! Thank goodness you still love to snuggle and give me great big Clayton-hugs.  Cheers to a great five years!

We celebrated on Clayton's birthday by having a "make-your-own pizza" party with Gamma, Boppy, Kim, Jim, Sarah, and Alyssa.

Because Clayton's party theme this year was a "summer Christmas party", the kids made star ornaments and decorated the Christmas tree.  Yes, my Christmas-light lovin' boy got to play with Christmas lights. He was in HEAVEN!

 I even let Clayton sleep with the tree in his room... well, that is until we determined he was TOO excited about all the Christmas lights to EVER go to sleep and had to unplug it. :)

Clear Lake Trip #4

Loveys in life jackets!

Lake Minear Beach with the Harveys!

Botanic Gardens!

BB took us to the Botanic Gardens last week. Even amidst a drought, the gardens still looked beautiful! We got to explore the new children's butterfly garden as well. It is really cool to have butterflies flying all around you and landing on your shoulders. Austin didn't have the same fascination. "Get me OUTTA here!" he shrieked.

Ravinia Concert

I took the kids to their first Ravinia concert last week. We went to see Laurie Berkner's kid concert with a few friends and their children.

We all had a lot of fun and will have to go back again for another kids' concert!

Kids Kamp

All three kids went to Christ Lutheran's Kids Kamp for 3 weeks this summer (Tuesday and Thursday mornings) and loved it!