End of Summer

Well we finally made it back from Chicago on August 19th, just three days before Audrey's school started. We had planned to come home earlier, but that never really worked out.

We ended up flying with Southwest. Our car was still in Boise, but we had a 3 hour layover in Salt Lake. I didn't really want to drive home from Boise with the three kids at night by myself, so I dropped them off with Colby in Salt Lake and then continued to Boise by myself to get the car. I'm sure the drive ended up being much, much faster without them. It was a great summer indeed. I really need to hurry and finish all my posts about last summer since Audrey only has 4 more days of school. I'm sure this summer (just like last) we will end up playing outside a lot and eating a lot of popsicles. Have I ever mentioned how much Alivia likes popsicles? It is an obsession really. She would probably eat a dozen a day if I would let her. Not only that, but she eats them really fast too. She could probably eat three in the time it takes Audrey and Evan just to eat one.

To Milwaukee We Did Go

We of course couldn't just go to one baseball game during our visit to the windy city. We headed north to catch a Brewers game. We took Evan with us this time and left the other two kiddos in Grandma's care. During the game Evan kept chanting go Utes. It really made me proud. It was really a fun stadium to go to and definitely worth the drive.

 

Now if only we had gone to a White Sox game as well, then our baseball tour would have been complete. Colby has already been to that stadium though back in 2005 when they were playing the Astros in the World Series. Sad, sad times.

To Rockford We Did Go

While we were in Chicago, we took a day to go to the children's museum in Rockford. It was very fun, but it seemed to take forever to get there. Even though it is only like 50 miles away, you are only on the freeway for like 5 miles.

 

Chicago (Part 2)

The trip to Chicago just wouldn't have been complete without a visit to the Shedd Aquarium. We had never been before and of course it was crowded. The kids loved it and as luck would have it my camera battery had very little life left in it so I was only able to get a few pictures.


We didn't have a lot of time to spend at the aquarium because we had tickets that afternoon to see Peter Pan in a tent. It was very enjoyable. We even took Evan with us and he really liked it. You would never know it though by this picture that he went with us; he refused to get in the picture because he couldn't be Peter Pan.
Also while we were in Chicago, Audrey caught a big butterfly, the biggest (and probably only) one she has ever caught. We even had to find a place in our suitcase for this thing and we had to pack it in this container so it wouldn't get smashed. In case you are wondering, we no longer have the butterfly.
Last but not least, the kids also enjoyed the very bubbly bubble baths that grandma gives.

To Chicago We Did Go (Part 1)

We are so glad we went to Chicago last summer. It was quite the ordeal to get there. It kept getting put off. First we were going to drive, then we were going to fly, then we weren't going to go at all. In the end we (me and the kids) ended up driving to Boise and then we flew to Chicago from there with my siser-in-law Heidi and her three kids. Yep the two of us with six kids age six and under. CRAZY when you think about it, but it really didn't seem too bad at the time. The kids had a great time playing in Grandma's backyard.Unfortunately they couldn't be outside too long though because it led to this.Apparently we arrived in Chicago just in time for the mosquito invasion. Me and mosquitos are NOT a good combination. You couldn't step outside for more than 2 minutes without being attacked. Bug spray didn't really do you any good either. The mosquitos weren't too bad at the splash pad.
Alivia not only had to worry about the mosquitos biting her, but also her cousin. He got her real good right on the end of her nose.

Luckily Colby was able to join us in Chicago for a few days as well. He made it just in time for a Cubs game. Fortunately the game was postponed a day due to rain otherwise we wouldn't have been able to cross a game at Wrigley off of our bucket list. First things first though, we had to stop at Grandpa's office for some sugar. Audrey still tells everybody that her Grandpa works at the best place ever because there is SO much candy. After stocking up, we went to the airport to pick up Colby and then we went straight to the game. See what I mean about how he made it just in time. We all had a lot of fun and amazingly the Cubs won.

 

Despite all the candy and excitement, somehow Audrey and her cousin still managed to fall asleep during the game (look at the bottom right picture in the collage). More to come from Chicago.

To Dad's Softball Games We Did Go

Last summer we went to several of Colby's softball games.
The kiddos really enjoy it, but they don't really watch the game.This kid was just happy as long as she had her snacks and juice. Can you tell she was saying juice when I took her picture?

A Fishing We Did Go

Every August we go fishing at Mirror Lake. Somehow we always put off getting ready until the last minute and we stay up way too late and then we get up way too early so we can be there when the sun comes up. The early worm catches the fish I guess. While Colby and I were getting everything ready, Evan was wandering around because he wasn't very good at sleeping in his own room at the time. Come 11:00 we couldn't find Evan and so the search began. At least we knew he was still in the house. We finally found him asleep in the coat closet. See for yourself.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this boy can fall asleep anywhere. The bad part about writing about this 7 months after the fact is that I don't really remember all the details. I know we caught some fish and later we ate the fish. That is about it. So here are some pictures.

 

I think my mother had the best job of all, snuggling and sleeping with Alivia.