downtown get away...

Last weekend we spent the weekend downtown.

We picked Greg up from work and headed out for some fun.

We headed to Navy Pier the next morning to go to the Children's Museum. The girls really enjoyed themselves. It is fun to watch them each time we go because they like different things each time. They LOVED the firetruck this time, and have really not paid attention to it before!

They had a really cool "Chicago summer festival" area that they loved too. Here they are fighting over who was going to give Daddy a hot dog and fries.

Grace playing the guitar like Grandpa!

Grace playing in the water.

and this picture, well it CRACKS me up!! Each time I see it I laugh so hard, and I don't know why. Grace in with the dinosaurs. She is running from something!!!! :)

After the rain, we headed back out and took a boat ride on the lake. The girls were a little unsure of this, but really liked it!

Isabel sees the boat coming!!!!

And Grace...not quite as excited!!

on the boat and ready to go!!!

On Sunday morning we headed to the zoo.

The girls were SO excited to show their daddy all the things they love at the zoo!!!

The train...

and the merry go round!!!

oh, and the animals too! :)
It was a perfect day!! And such a fun family weekend for us!!!

Brownies with daddy.

This is what I walked out to after these three made some brownies...

and Greg said...this isn't how they look after they cook with you???

Michigan

the girls and i were lucky enough to spend the day in Michigan on one of my days off last week. some old friends were visiting my parents, and it was SO fun to see them, and their boys who i hadn't seen since they were my girls age!!! we spent all afternoon on the beach, and though it looked like it was going to storm, it ended up being a perfect beach day!

the girls played and played and played some more in the sand. my mom took both of them in the water for a while, which they loved every minute of. SO much fun, and so fun for me to watch them doing things that i remember doing when i was little...on the same beach.

the girls LOVED playing with the big boys, and had so much fun ruining their sand castles!
needless to say, after a few hours on the beach we were all COVERED in sand.
in the hair.
everywhere else.
a PERFECT summer day...
always wonderful to see my parents
so good to see friends and pick up where we left off
fun with the girls in the sand
sunshine
so much to be thankful for.

Laura

Laura was in town last weekend for a shower and her bachelorette party. We had a GREAT time having her around for the weekend. I did a BAD job taking pictures that evening. I was so excited to have an afternoon/night out without my girls I forgot to take pictures I guess!!!

One from the shower...

my mom and almost all of her kids...

just another michigan morning...

and another fun weekend.

thanks dad and mom!!

5 days of fun - Michigan

We had another very busy, but fun weekend last weekend. We went to Michigan for a few days and had lots of fun. We spent lots of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather!!

If one gets a turn...the other is right behind asking for her turn...

Grace having fun!!

at the farmer's market...Isabel holding her flowers

We celebrated my dad's birthday, which of course the girls LOVED!!! Any chance to sing happy birthday makes them happy!!

out for breakfast...sweet Isabel and her daddy

Doug and Britt

having some fun playing the piano and playing a game with papa

BBQ

The girls had lots of fun playing in the Albu sprinkler.

LOVE her excitement!!
sweet Brooke

Fireworks #1

We stayed downtown on Sunday night to enjoy the Chicago fireworks. It could not have worked any better...we walked out, found a spot on the ground, had a little time for some pictures, watched the great show (which the girls LOVED!), and walked back. All in less than an hour. SO, SO fun!!! Their sweet little faces were worth it all. Isabel named the color of every one (when she wasn't trying to get her baby situated so she could see!!), Grace just said "I like that one, I like that one"...for EVERY one!!! Could not have been cuter!!

Here are a few pictures before the show started...

LOVE their faces.

And FINALLY...all smiles.

Swimming

Monday we spent the whole day in Glenview. It was SO hot, we decided to head to the pool. The girls LOVED every minute of it!!!

Proof that not only was I IN the pool, but I got my hair wet!!!

(this picture is for my family :)
Isabel

Grace

(and me telling Isabel not to run for the thousandth time!)

snuggling with Grandma to get warm!

The girls told us over and over again how much fun they had swimming. They were so sweet, and so fun in the pool. Even I had a GREAT time splashing around!!

fireworks #2

After a fun day with Grandpa and Grandma, we headed to watch the fireworks in Glenview. The show was longer and better than the one downtown the night before. The girls enjoyed the show again and kept asking if they were going to Sleeping Buty's castle to see them. Sweet little things.

We had a little time before the fireworks...

Grace picked some flowers

they hugged/attacked Greg
did some laughing (LOVE this one!!!)

and then the show started...

I was the annoying person taking pictures of my kids during the show,

but their faces were so sweet

SO MUCH FUN!