Moments 06 21 :: Week 04

Pretty little vases from Yvonne. Brian hates my clutter on the window ledge, but I like looking at my little trinkets there.

On Saturday, I went to my parent's for an early Father's Day visit. 

Van Duke came too! He did great at their house and with the dogs. He did get car sick on the way out though. That's a new thing he does. Not good.

C was in Indiana this weekend playing on the Wisconsin ODP State team! He's been in the practice pool for three years now. Originally, he was an alternate, but the week before, a spot opened up and they contacted him. Brian cancelled his annual motorcycle trip to take him. The team came out 1-1-1, and he had such a great time. So glad he got this experience - it ends at U17!

Some of his friends. From his team, and from others. 

The day Brian and C came home, it was Father's Day! Since Brian was gone in the morning, and has been talking about breakfast for dinner for awhile, we made Chicken & Waffles. 

And we had a Strawberries & Cream cake for dessert. I've been watching a lot of The Great British Baking Show lately, and was inspired to make this sponge cake. It was great!

The boys all went to St. Louis to tour SLU. H is considering transferring there so it was really his visit. However, C is college tour age, so we encouraged him to go with. I'll count this as his first official college tour! Brian & he even checked out the amazing soccer facilities there. 

Meanwhile, I was home with these two. Such cuties.

Moments 06 21 :: Week 03

Last weekend started with Brian and I doing a partner workout together on our porch. 

That afternoon, we went to Oak Park and got to see our friends all together for the first time in a year. Oh my gosh, have I missed them.

The reason? Sophie's high school graduation. She's headed to Tulane in the fall. Too exciting.

These kids are the best. 

On Monday, C joined the workforce. He worked 4 days last week from 7am - 1pm, and is on the maintenance crew at the tennis club down the street (where H also works as a lifeguard). C really likes the work, but the best part to him? Getting to use the soda machine. It's going to be a hard, but fun summer. 

On Tuesday, Yvonne came! She's ultimately in Chicago for a birthday party weekend extravaganza, but she came a few days early to visit us and I couldn't have been more excited about that. 

Oh, finished this book! I really enjoyed it. 

While Yvonne was here, we got our nails done, ate a lot, drank some fantastic wines, took walks, and went to the Audubon Center down the street. This California girl's one request? Visit the trees. This was on the overlook tower.

The lily pads were insane. 

Saw some tadpoles and snails. So beautiful. 

Also walked along the beach, which was gorgeous. She left Friday to continue her travels. It was such a great few days. 

---

Meanwhile, Brian & C also left (yesterday). C is in Indiana for ODP. He was an alternate for the ODP State Team, and after three years, they called him last minute to play. Such an exciting opportunity for him, so Brian cancelled his annual motorcycle trip to take him. Sadly, they did lose their first game today, but he had a blast playing. So happy for him. What a great week.

Moments 06 21 :: Week 02

It has been SO hot outside. These two have even been a little lazy.

It's still a couple weeks away, but to me, it's already officially summer.

Last day of his sophomore year. 

Oh, and this is happening. The boys are such late growers (like their parents). But C took over me AND Brian this year.

Turns out, we have a chickadee nest. We found out about it only after we found five baby birds on the ground. The dogs found three of them, which didn't make it. Two seemed to be ok. We put them in a box and took them to the Wildlife Rehabilitation at the Humane Society. Ideally, they would have been put back in the nest, but I texted the photos and situation to a volunteer there and they decided it was best to keep them and try their best to take care of them. Fingers crossed. Not sure what happened, but I'm guessing some sort of critter went after them. There was also a dead one stuck near the nest. The mama chickadee is NOT happy. Over 24 hours later, and she's still screeching. So sad. 

We also have a robin's nest. Cute little babies hatched yesterday.

Moments 06 21 :: Week 01

We found a nest! Or should I say, Gretel found a nest! So far the eggs are still there, but she sure is enjoying harassing the mama bird.

State Cup was last weekend. I feel like I'm finally recovering. Not how we were hoping it would turn out. Lots of disappointment on many levels. It ended, however, with a goal from C against the team that won the bracket. The only goal his team scored that game. It was a beautiful one too. 

We found out friends from Austria were in town, so after a long weekend, drove down to Gurnee to see them. It's been YEARS since I've seen Kim and it felt so great.

The boys. My gosh I wish they lived closer.

Van Doofie, as I like to call him this week, at 20 weeks old. Still a couple accidents, especially when he's excited. He's like a toddler who's having too much fun playing and forgets his has to pee. He's losing his baby teeth. I keep finding them on the floor. He's also a huge snuggle bug. I guess we'll keep him.

Brian built a fire pit! I foresee many an evening spent out here this summer.

What it really looks like having two dogs. They are always wrestling. Poor Gretel just wants to sleep sometimes. But don't be fooled, she is the instigator many times.