"Everybody in the Whole Wide Wold" - SB Pt 2

Normally when we all go to Baboo's, we let the kids swim once or twice a day.  But this time it was HOT.  Like 103 with really high humidity.  So they swam a LOT.  Like 4 times a day.  And they loved it.

We were so excited to see Morgan, Maddie, and Connor!  Everyone grows up so stinkin fast!  

Maddie was pretty unsure of it all at first, but then she warmed up to the idea, or at least figured out she'd be a lot cooler in the water and went for it.  And looked adorable.

Ethan and Morgan were totally independent in the water and loved roughhousing with Uncle Kevin and Brian.  So many laughs and screams!

That afternoon/evening, Lexi and Lucy joined the fun and that called for more swimming!  These kids LOVE their cousin Lexi and she is so patient and kind with them.  Ethan clings to her like none other when she's around!

Happy hour is a tradition in our family that is probably more important than the actual meals.  Who doesn't love appetizers and cool drinks!

The next morning we'd collected the rest of the family members (we were ALL there this year!) and we took the traditional flag shirt photos.

Including the giant group photo - that grows every year!

We spent the afternoon swimming and doing various projects - painting the shirts....

decorating cupcakes......

supervising.....

floating around...

Evening brought a giant happy hour - 26 people and 2 dogs - a delicious dinner of brats and chicken on the grill, and then, of course, fireworks!

Our ice cream cake dessert had a bit of an issue keeping together in the heat, but we made do........

That night Morgan go to bunk with us!  Poor Maddie had to go to the doctor to get checked because her throat was bugging her, and so we had a cousin sleepover.  And they were so tired that they crashed within minutes.
The next morning was the last swim and goodbyes to our Boston family.  We took a picture of the "Broken Arm Club" - all three kids broke their arms this year, not a great family tradition....

As the family slowly trickled out, Ethan and Baboo spent some time looking through the past reunion pictures.  Each year, when we leave, we give Baboo a book of pictures from the weekend, so the memories are kept close.  And it is so much fun for the kids to look back and see how they've all changed.  Technology definitely keeps us closer!

My cousin Max played and sang for us with his guitar, while the boys listened so intently - in awe.  Lucy decided it was her time to perform, and showed us all her tap dancing skills - of which she's never shown anyone before.  The boys got a "drum" and took turns making the beat and break-dancing.

More sad goodbyes, but then we had the next evening with Baboo, Aunt Mary Leigh, Kerry and Kyle.  The boys loved having the extra time with "Those Guys" and especially their dog Teddy.  The dog is old, blind, and a bit senile, and absolutely lovable.

The boys put on quite the dance show for us - and kept trying to extend it by saying it was just the practice.  They loved getting to be the center of attention and were so good it was easy to let them.\
The next day there were tears and tantrums - saying goodbye is so hard, but we made it back safely and all slept very well.  What awesome memories!

South Bend Pt 1 - Before the Crowd

We left the house at 4 in the morning.  Which is painful for anyone, much more so with two excited boys that will not stop jabbering and will not go back to sleep.  

But we made it to the airport, and snuck in a quick birthday celebration for Upa while we waited for our plane.

The plane rides were pretty uneventful - though my foot swelled up to enormous proportions on the second flight, to the point where I had to take off my sock because it was about to burst.
But the boys were excited - sooooo excited to see Baboo and try out their new swim shirts and goggles in the pool.

Which they did.  And all of a sudden, Ethan could swim - from one end of the pool to the other. That pool is magic, I tell you!  We got there a day and a half before everyone else, so we took advantage to do the things we specifically wanted to do before the crowd came.  #1 on Brian's list was Chick Fil A.  And so we did.

Lucas managed to filch a couple of rides on the carousel with other paying kids and was not happy when Brian pulled him off.  We had almost the same exact memory from when Ethan was a couple years old.  Not one we particularly wanted to repeat, however.

We went and visited my grandma's gravesite - something that becomes more and more important to Ethan as he gets older - and I love that.
Notre Dame campus is always a must.  And this year Lucas insisted he needed a jersey - which meant Ethan did too.

We stayed in a hotel nearby and decided to take the boys to dessert at the neighboring hotel (a bit fancier than ours - though ours was perfect for our family!).  The boys were not quite sure what to do with cloth napkins, but enjoyed the fancy desserts greatly.

The next morning we stayed at the hotel while my dad (our ride) went to Chicago to pick up my brother's family.  We decided to make use of the time and go to the pool next door.

This was the first time we ever let the boys go in the hot tub (since it was empty and not really that hot) and they felt very grown up, but they didn't go in much past their ankles.

They did, however, love the feeling of jumping into the cold pool afterward.  And I sat and watched- with a view somewhat obstructed by my swollen ankle, but good all the same.

We were so glad to have a bit of time with Baboo before all the big fun commenced.  

And as Lucas kept reminding us - "There's a big cwowd coming!  A big cwowd!  Evewy one in da whole wide wold is coming to Baboos!"  And they did!

31 and some change....

 It's been a week!  I never figured such a small break would be so painful, but there you go.  My sinus infection has finally cleared up (I think), and I am starting to get some energy back.  Kind of anyway.... 

Luckily Grammy was here to entertain the boys - as I also had meetings and wrapping-up-the-end-of-the-year stuff to do.  

Thursday night the boys and Grammy made do-it-yourself sundaes - which was a big hit.  Yum.

 Friday, after finally getting checked out of my classroom, we went bowling and the boys had a blast.  Ethan has quite the victory jump after every ball he throws.

 Lucas takes it very seriously, and did well - with bumpers!

 Grammy won each game, but we were impressed that Ethan's score on his second game was higher than his first, even though he really didn't use the ball ramp much on the 2nd.  Lucas did it mostly himself on his second game too - hard work for those little arms!

 Afterward, we headed over for some afternoon treats.

 Lucas insisted on bringing his tiger... and thoroughly loved feeding him.  The boy is still very attached to all his "pets".  He was super excited that his new suitcase came with an airplane "pet" to take with him.

 Saturday brought the arrival of our nephews and family.  We didn't do much - I was trying to rest as much as possible, but we did make it out for an early birthday dinner.  Turning 31 is not a super-exciting thing, but I do love birthdays....
We came home and celebrated further with a cake and a few presents.

 The boys got me a super big, fluffy towel and slippers...  Of course, I really only need one slipper for the next month, but the other can wait patiently for another 4 weeks....

 The best part was watching Ethan help take care of his youngest cousin.  He sooooo loves Cooper.

 Ethan also enjoyed taking pictures around the house - here are two of my favorites......

 Everyone left during naptime and then the boys and I headed out to the Pumas game - a local professional development soccer league.  It was great fun!  One of my friends from school has a son on the team (though he was sitting out due to multiple yellow cards).

 The boys were transfixed by the action - loving every second of it...

Yesterday was truly relaxing... My parents came and picked up the boys in the morning and came back about dinner time.  A whole day to myself to sit around and read.  It was fabulous.  And now we're off to the orthopedics doc to confirm my fracture - 2 weeks later....
So, happy birthday to me...  And I hope the next year is a little less eventful, but just as fun.  I hope for no broken bones and a few less doctor bills, but all the adventures and excitement.  Just not of the medical kind....

Oh Summer.....

We haven't disappeared, but it has been a very interesting week or two....

 A week and a half ago, we went to see our cute friend Nadia perform in a dance recital.  She was adorable and it was great to catch up with her family over pizza at our much-missed Central Market....

So then it was the last week of school - a lot of chaos for this mama!  And then I did something very dumb....  It was the staff number for the talent show - the flash mob to "We're all in this Together" - and as I started it off, I leaped off the stage... and fell.  My ankle hurt, but I just kept dancing and kept teaching the rest of the day.  I had a special visitor in my room for the afternoon (it was a short day) and the adrenaline was flowing...  And then all the kids left and I slowly realized I was in a lot of pain.  I went to the doc and sure enough, I'd broken my ankle.  My mom rescues me at the doctor - I couldn't drive home, and they fitted me with what we now refer to as "the storm-twooper boot".  

 It's pretty impressive, though I can't walk real well in it.  I was thankful for two days left of school as it was really hard to keep up with my kids!  Soon enough Friday came.  I was a youtube sensation (VR Talent Show Flash Mob) - you can watch the fall and it is hilarious!  The dance turned out awesome - I just wish I hadn't been so stupid!  Ethan's comment was, "I don't understand why you had to jump off.  Why didn't you just use the stairs?"
Saturday came and we prepared to have Grammy arrive.  The boys and I made a lego city and had fun just hanging out.  It's hard for me to sit around and take it easy. but I suppose I have no choice.

And then 6 o'clock came....

And there was a knock at the door,

The neighbor had come over to tell us that our front yard was gushing water...  Brian and Grammy were on the ferry, so my dad jumped in the car to head over and after deciding there was nothing any of us could do, I called 911.  (Which is what the water/utilities company's recording said to do).  I felt kind of ridiculous and pathetic sitting out waiting for the fire truck - broken ankle, two little kids in mismatched jammies....  But, maybe that helped, to have them feel sorry for me.  The firemen turned off the water and called the city guy that was on-call to check it out.  

 They really were nice.  Even let the boys crawl up into the truck.

 Dad arrived to help, and the city guy arrived to declare this our landlord's problem, as opposed to being his.  And then we realized we had no water for the night (at least).  Grammy and Brian arrived and we headed out to my parents' for an impromptu sleepover - dogs and all!
Sunday was busy - lunch at the Boat Shed in the sun....

 And our friend Kaili's birthday party at the Bowling Alley.

 Where Lucas bowled 100....  Beating out all the little ones....

 It was fun to chat with friends and the boys had a blast bowling.  Such a neat family to be friends with!

We had a great dinner with my parents - used them for showers, and headed home to a house with no water...  The dogs thoroughly enjoyed getting bottled water for the night...
Monday was Grammy's day with Ethan, Lucas' last day at his school, and my day to clean up my classroom.  E and Grammy had a great time - coffee date with Uno, mini golf, McD's, and a shopping trip to Walmart.  Lucas had fun with his friends.  And I realized that my sinus infection was back and that I can't be on my feet for more than about an hour without being in a lot of pain.  Which makes cleaning up a classroom really tough.  I went back to the doc for more meds and then curled up on the couch for the afternoon/night.
Tuesday's big hit was going to Madagascar 3 with my friend Nancy and her boys (who are older and therefore increase our cool factor).  Lots of laughs and giggles out of the boys (and us).
Wednesday was Lucas' day with Grammy and he (of course) almost perfectly reenacted Ethan's day (except he swapped Blueberry Park to play catch for the coffee date).  He had a blast and even got a hole in one!  I headed back to school to work some more on my room and Ethan got to go on his first ever field trip!  Every one he's been supposed to go on this year got rained out, so this was finally the day!  They went hiking in a park somewhere and (the most exciting part) got to ride the city bus!
It's so hard being in this boot!  I'm used to going going going and I just can't.  It is making me so frustrated and the sinus infection certainly doesn't help.
But today the sun came out, the boys played baseball in the yard, the dogs played catch, and all was okay for awhile.

Until the meds wore off... but for a little while I was reminded that it was summer.  All will be well - I'll get through...  And I may even get a bit of summer there at the end.
And that's our life the last little bit.  Here's hoping the next little bit is a little less eventful!