Around the House

Before I wrap up our trip to Illinois, I need to mention that I finally had my Father's Day date with my dad at Woodfield. Baskin Robbins ice cream all around! As we ate our ice cream, things like escalators and displays at Rainforest Cafe kept the boys entertained. When Aaron was too full to finish his neon striped sherbet, Braylen finished it. Hmm. I used to get Aaron's leftovers! When Mom and Dad visit us later this month, I hope to have my Mother's Day date with my mom! :)

The best times while I'm at home are spent...well...at home. Grampy and Aaron built a car together. They also made lots of airplanes. We roasted marshmallows over a fire, played Scrabble, and walked Ginger. Kaleb came with Grammy and me on our walks, and I had fun walking to my elementary school and middle school with him. Again, those moments felt like I was walking in the past and in the present simultaneously. I love that.



Grammy and Aaron being silly, while Kaleb sits there and smiles!

I had a hard time getting pictures of Braylen. But here he is, watering one of the gardens.

Mom and I snuck away one afternoon for pedicures and shopping. So fun! Another time, she took Aaron to Michael's for more yarn. He still likes to knit, and frequently asks me to knit with him this summer. When we took him to Toys R Us, I think he could have stayed there all day. I think this was the first time he had ever been to a store that sells only toys. What a deprived son I have, never getting to experience this until 8 years old! :)

Braylen's project this week involved computers. He and my dad had 2 identical laptops, both not working. They managed to put parts together and come up with one working laptop! They literally spent all week building this computer. Braylen LOVED it. Thanks Dad! :)

Finally, Mom and I took Kaleb and Aaron to our pool. I call it our pool, because it is. It's super-duper close to the house. It's where I learned to swim. It's where we spent almost every day of every summer. It's where I swam for the swim team. It's where I worked as a life guard. It was so great to take my boys to my pool! :)

They had a blast at the splash pads, and had them all to themselves!

We stayed until closing time.

I did the math and figured out that the life guards today were probably 1-3 years old when I was a life guard at this pool. Such a crazy thought! Kaleb and Aaron took a while to feel at home here, but once they did, it was fun to watch them play. :)

Thank you Derek, for encouraging me to make this trip with our boys. I would have missed out on so much if I didn't just do it! Mom and Dad...now it's your turn to make the drive and visit us! We can't wait! :)