Chicago

We started our summer off with a quick weekend trip up to Chicago to visit friends. We drove up the day after school was out so we could fit the visit in before summer activities started on the following Monday.  A late May trip to Chicago does not guarantee summer weather -- though this year, a late JUNE trip would not have guaranteed summer weather either...  So, it was cool and rainy for the majority of the trip, but we fit in a trip to our favorite bookstore, enjoyed lots of eating out, and savored our short time with friends.  It amazes us every year we go up how well the kids get along.  I know that might get tricky as they get older, and more self-conscious, but I hope not.  Teddy had a new playmate this year as our friends had a new dog since we had seen them last.  Hazel and Teddy were pretty much on the same developmental level and had loads of fun playing fetch together :).  Next time we visit there will be a new baby girl to love on -- I think that is going to warrant another visit before next summer!

Ready to ride -- we've got the 5 hour drive down pretty well now

The rainy weather meant there was lots of time to play inside 

Teddy and Hazel

Extreme Fetch -- Teddy is about to launch 5 balls for Hazel to get

A trip to the Farmer's Market was a favorite activity -- especially since it involved donuts... a rare treat around here

Mexican for luch

A trip to our favorite Chicago bookstore -- somehow we always leave with a LOT of books

like me, Merrill gets a bit overwhelmed with all of the choices

I have to hand it to the guy working, he looked VERY hard to find a book of maps that satisfied Millie's very specific wants (all maps, no words or pictures, but not a road atlas)

A group of happy readers

Oh, if you could only hear the music coming from this scene.  The girls are accompanying Tavi's violin (which he can legitimately play) with the sounds of their new harmonicas (which they can NOT legitimately play).  Tavi was a very good sport.

 A parting group shot before we headed back home Sunday morning.  It's good to have friends like this

School's Out for Summer!!

Nothing like celebrating the official start of summer vacation with a trip for ice cream with cousins and grandparents.  

This guy is excited to be headed to preschool in the fall and will happily tell you all about it!

Our new first grader and second grader -- so proud of the hard work they put in this year!

Then and Now

And another school year is in the books.  Whew.  My little babies have sure grown up a lot this year.  It wasn't always an easy school year, but the girls both made it through and they have learned so much.  They have both matured and continue to become such bright and kind and lovely young ladies (with a touch of silliness, goofiness and adventure mixed in).

 Ready for a summer of fun and then it's first and second grade here we come!

Yesterday, after field day, the girls had 'family picnic' day at school.  So, Teddy and I headed up to the school again and enjoyed lunch with the girls.  Millie was definitely showing a bit of wear after our late night at the ball game and got sad when it was time for us to go.  She cheered up when we figured out that this was also Pie Day, and I could stick around a little longer to watch kids throw pies in the teachers' faces (a fundraiser the school conducted to raise money to bring an artist from Rwanda to the school for two weeks next fall...).  While it was hot sitting on the blacktop amongst all the kids, it was fun to see the kids and teachers enjoying themselves so much.  They all worked so hard this year (no snow days, even!) and deserved to celebrate the end of the year a little bit (or a lot...).

Teddy and his buddy, Adam (whose sister is in Merrill's class)

the superintendent started off the pie throwing by throwing one at the principal

Millie's teacher got a pie in the face too (a very gentle one)

A Night at the Ball Park

Tuesday night we headed down to Busch Stadium to enjoy an evening of baseball with other families from the girls' school.  The honors choir from our school sang the National Anthem and school families were offered discounted tickets to the game.  Despite the fact that it was a night game in the middle of the week, we decided to take advantage of the good ticket deal and just go for it.  We only stayed until the 5th inning, but luckily that's when all of the action in the game took place anyway.  We saw a good game where the Cardinals won, the girls got to hang out with some of their friends, and we all got to enjoy a great night together. The late night didn't seem to faze anyone too badly and since the next day was field day at school (and it's the last week of school), we figured it would be okay for them to be a little tired.  And they were a little tired, but held it together pretty well :).

learning to read the score board

Putting his rally cap on (even though we didn't need a rally...)