31 July 2011

July 31, 2011

Elliott gets his turn scooter jumping.

30 July 2011

July 30, 2011

Uncle J's morning catch.
A "big mouth" bass.

29 July 2011

July 29, 2011

The boys had their first corn husking experience.
Wondering why I didn't think of it sooner?

28 July 2011

July 28, 2011

Why did it take us so long to see the Holland Street Performers?

27 July 2011

July 27, 2011

It's hard to believe that he can now swim across the pool.

26 July 2011

July 26, 2011

Swimming lesson fun.

25 July 2011

July 25, 2011


To the normal eye, this appears to be a tulip sticky note.
To Elliott, it is a police badge.

24 July 2011

July 24, 2011

Do I have to come in for dinner? I just got everything ready for scooter jumping.

23 July 2011

July 23, 2011

Not from today, but I couldn't let this picture slip away.
On this vacation I realized just how much Gibson is growing up.

22 July 2011

July 22, 2011

Still smiling after spending a week with each other during a heat wave, with little sleep, and sharing every moment of their lives together.  I think it's a sign of a great vacation.

21 July 2011

July 21, 2011

After reading over the menu and encouraging Gibson to order on his own,
Gibson did just that. He read every word all on his own, {even telling the waitress he needed another minute because he was still reading} found the one and only item I skipped
and ordered himself a healthy plate of chips and cheese.

20 July 2011

July 20, 2011

Finding respite from the heat wave of 2011.


19 July 2011

July 19, 2011

Most bittersweet {Mom of boys} lesson to date:
The heart of a boy needs room to explore and be courageous, 
and my only job is to give him freedom and let him go.

18 July 2011

17 July 2011

July 17, 2011

Give a kid some water and an upside down kayak, and the vacation fun can begin.

16 July 2011

July 16, 2011


 As things were getting a bit crazy during our vacation packing,
Gibson declared a family cuddle and thought it
it would be the perfect picture of the day.
I was just what we needed.  Thanks, Gibbers.

15 July 2011

July 15, 2011

It's that time of year...
Our California friends are back in town.


14 July 2011

July 14, 2011

The boys got an all access pass at Bumpa's passing camp,
including all you can drink water straight from the nozzles
all the big guys put their mouths on.

13 July 2011

July 13, 2011

Taking in one of the best views of Chicago.

12 July 2011

July 12, 2011

While Dad is busy working, we get to enjoy the beach.

11 July 2011

July 11, 2011

Still hanging in there after a visit to the aquarium and the planetarium.

10 July 2011

July 10, 2011

Exploring one of Chicago's many treasures.

09 July 2011

July 9, 2011

Love this picture and how it captures the true essence of a campfire...
Friends gathered around a campfire engaging in so many conversations and so much laughter.

08 July 2011

July 8, 2011

Date Night.
Peace, quiet and uninterupted conversation.

07 July 2011

July 7, 2011

After weeks of waiting, our resident robin eggs have hatched,
 reminding us all of one of our favorite books.

06 July 2011

July 6, 2011

I am a firm believer that sometimes you need to make a
huge mess before you can make a masterpiece.
Tonight, we did just that as we created our recipe binders.

05 July 2011

July 5, 2011

Who knew that kid's eyes stay dialated for 24 hours?
After our eye appointment, we now know and didn't leave the house without our sunglasses.

04 July 2011

July 4, 2011

Now that's a s'more!

03 July 2011

July 3, 2011

Does life get much better than this?
Driving a boat at the age of plain  4, with your Bumpa, on a beautiful summer night.

02 July 2011

01 July 2011

July 1, 2011

Let the shoe sorting begin.

30 June 2011

June 30, 2011

Gibson reminded us that we missed his half birthday, so today we
celebrated with cake at Steve's office.

29 June 2011

June 29, 2011

Welcome Delaney Grace!

28 June 2011

June 28, 2011

Taking 31 days to Clean to the next level and tackling my hotspots.

27 June 2011

June 27, 2011

Elliott proudly showed me that he made his bed.

26 June 2011

June 26, 2011

U2....Check!
I finally got the chance to experience Steve's all time favorite.
Cross another one off the bucket list.

25 June 2011

June 25, 2011

10k....Check!
If you would have asked us six months ago if we would ever run
a 5k, let alone a 10k, we would have laughed.
Today, we did it!

24 June 2011

June 24, 2011

All this time I've been looking for the perfect mantle piece. 
Who knew it was an Austin Jackson bobble head?

23 June 2011

June 23, 2011

Steve snapped the tree while pulling on it.
Elliott said: Dad you're strong!
Gibson said: The tree was dead.

22 June 2011

June 22, 2011

Ready or not, here goes nothing...

21 June 2011

June 21, 2011

I love my daisies in my aqua vases!

20 June 2011

June 20, 2011

Looks like I won't be sitting on my couch for a couple of days.

19 June 2011

June 19, 2011

I love it that Gibson decided to sit by Grandma and Grandpa for dinner.

18 June 2011

June 18, 2011

Happy Birthday Jackson!

17 June 2011

June 17, 2011

Dinner tastes so much better when it's on the porch and Steve's the chef.

16 June 2011

June 16, 2011

The war wounds of summer have begun.

15 June 2011

June 15, 2011

While our friends are in Punta Cana, Steve and I are trying to
 create a tropical paradise in our living room.

14 June 2011

June 14, 2011

I love how this picture shows the pure joy found within Elliott.

13 June 2011

June 13, 2011

Hooray for tennis...and snacks.

12 June 2011

June 12, 2011

The last time the Kleins were at a tigers game together the year was 1992.
Almost 20 years later, we left the kids with Bumpa and Yia Yia,
 and relived our childhood.