pumpkins...

we went to the pumpkin patch and had lots of fun!



its hard to believe how everyone has grown since last year. and that made our adventure lots of fun.



this guy loves to show us his muscles. in fact he says, "hey mom, take a picture, and i'll show you my muscles". Love. This.



we did a kiddie version of a corn maze... some of us got stuck!



and this sweet baby just followed everyone around.



then we fed the animals at the cute petting zoo part! a far cry from how we spent our summer at Lincoln Park Zoo...



and Tenley insisted on touching all the animals.



and then we tried L.O.T.S. of group pics and the reality is... no one looks at the camera at the same time during this phase of life.



so then we opted for these...



and frankly, they look like they are in pain...



then we did the self-timed-family-portrait... {STFP} and these are the results!



changed the background... and tried again..



and again



and then we gave up and decided a funny picture would be best... only to conclude that we must enjoy sticking our tongues out... that is silly to us.


the.end.

our absence....

For those of you, my avid blog followers, we've been gone. Gone from life in a sort of way. Surviving. You see, I am a routine person. I like some change, but when it gets overwhelming, there are many things that go... blogging is the first! But alas, I am inspired by all the blogs I read. So here is what you've been waiting for!

these special people came to visit!

we love these people so much! {its like family that you just don't have enough time with}

it was filled with a trip to the zoo, a boat ride, cubs game, yummy food, playgrounds and lots of quality time!

we could swap daughters and no one would think any different.... it's the hair!

Brian got his big city trip in, and it will last him at least 10 years ;-).

such a bad idea... boat ride with the kids...

one of the summer highlights! wrigley field

i am a bandwagon fan, Lauren is not!

Justin says he would be a season ticket holder if we lived close... but we are not sports people.

they played their hearts out four days straight!

and I used their SUPER cool stroller... I may have had stroller envy the whole time they were here!

we had so much fun. our summer highlights were spending time with people we love, and we're so glad they belong to our "club".

dad.

it's fathers day. i heart father's day. probably because i have the worlds best dad, and also because my husband is also the best daddy.
these three LOVE their daddy.


she is pretty sure he helped God create the earth {seriously}.


this guy is confidant that when his dad grows up he is going to be a t-rex and eat other people.

and this sweet girl, all full of giggles loves to chase her daddy when he gets home {crawling that is}.
and this lady, i am blessed to have a husband who is devoted to his family, kids and our God. what an amazing man my children get to call father.

life is full of adventure because you are their dad.

Happy Father's Day

fun fridays

we took an adventure {or that just might be our life}. we rode 14 miles along chicago's greatest attractions. and it was fun. we were hot. but still, lots of fun.
we went to Buckingham Fountain.

took a picnic. played hide-and-seek in the bushes. relaxed.

when you aren't actually riding the bike and are a passenger in the trailer, you have lots of energy, when your parents have none!

some of us attempted to walk....

l.o.v.e.

took a venture over to the famous BEAN

you can see how we roll. about 20 feet in length. two and a half peddlers.two riders and a sweet 4-year-old who does gymnastic poses on her tag-a-long {no, not joking.at.all}.

then we went to the fountains. you can see pierce in the corner of the tower. and behind you can see the images of faces that flash up on the fountain walls.
it was super fun. i was just thankful no one broke a bone while we were there. it was slippery and there were a few falls.
/
there were LOTS of people splashing. this is what you do in the city, when there are no swimming pools around.
and super daddy was the one to venture out with the big kids, while little T and i stayed back to climb in and out of the bike trailer.
i let my kids spin bike tires around, go ahead and judge its great entertainment.

laundry.city.one.year.later

There are a lot of random things to this post. Mostly because I find myself reflecting on things I would have not thought would be the current place i find myself and also getting laundry done and of course, life in the city. So I digress.

Almost one year ago today we moved to B-Town for Justin to begin Law School.

In some ways it has been a lot of what I expected and then in others not.

I think I have more questions than answers, but isin't that just life?

I find myself lonely here. much like last summer. both experiences by choice. so, is that what makes it sting more? Places that the Lord has taken our family, you know, those places you would not have chosen for yourself, have always been the most rich. places we've chosen for ourselves {even when the Lord has made it clear, it is where we are to go} always leave me wrestling, wondering, asking. am i abiding?

and then in the midst of all this, there are children. husband. laundry. life.

so i will continue to ask, question, and ponder.
but now for the laundry.


this is the laundry. that must be carried down two flights of stairs. to the car. with 3 little people in tow.

then there is the actual laundromat i might have left my children in the car and its a whole system, with protocol and such. laundromat etiquette.

this kid was super helpful, pushing around the rolling carts, i was just thankful no one put him in a dryer {if you followed the news, some random stranger did this to some kid at the laundromat}.

and then this cute girl, who tried to hold the little kids hands to make sure no one ran away, and of course, posed for the picture.

and then it began to rain. so we went to the car to watch a movie.
I am so THANKFUL for our laundry in our house. I recognize that most people in the world {lets say the 99%} have to do their laundry in a laundromat, or along a river. so be mindful, if you aren't carting your laundry around. you are the 1%. and I am abundantly blessed. its.the.little.things.

chicago visit from the heimer's

our cousins came with grandma and papa to visit! it was so much fun! we visited museums, american girl doll, the beach and more!

we loved our visit to the beach! lake michigan is great during the summer, a little cold, but no salt to get in your mouth, and you still have the little waves that come in to offer a splash as you dig in the sand!


we did cartwheels, and ate lunch


we visited Navy Pier


went to Chicago Children's Museum


went to american girl doll


had a tea party


tenley enjoyed a cookie this never would have happened with the older two


we picked out lots of tags and magazines its the free stuff!


rode the train


watched the dolphin show at the aquarium


and wore papa's hat around!


we also had a dance party, but we'll save that for later, enjoy!