More Chicago Fun

After a sound nap we all headed down to the Navy Pier again for a night of fun and mishaps.

We kicked off with a scenic boat ride.

Our Group.

Everyone enjoyed the boat ride and

viewing the City Scape from the water. 

We didn't form the same type of friendships with

the families from Clara Rose's adoption group, so I was

thrilled to see her hit it off with the kids from Josie's travel group. 

We were fortunate that a Chinese Acrobat show was playing

at the Navy Pier while we were in Chicago that we were able to see.

It was an amazing show and the girls were able to pose for pictures with

some of the Acrobats after the show! 

My Dad lives relatively close to Chicago and was able

to come up and visit with us also during our trip.

Note Clara Rose's Blue Bandage.

She took a tumble rough-housing with some of the

big brothers and was treated by an EMT.

Never a dull moment! 

Fly Me to Chicago!

The girls and I recently spent a long weekend in the Windy City!

We met with several families from Josie's Adoption trip and

it was a great reunion filled with lots of fun!

The girls and I were psyched to have a room on the 17th Floor!

We spent most of the late afternoon and evening of our arrival unpacking, snacking,

and enjoying the city view! 

The next day we met with one of the other families and caught the

Trolley down to Navy Pier. 

Josie is actually big enough to go on the flying swings!

That is me and her on the double swings. 

It was a lovely day for sight-seeing! 

Later in the afternoon we met with more families from our

adoption group and walked down to Millennium Park. 

We visited the "Bean" and then came

across this fun splash park.

Josie was soaked with fun and water! 

The next day we all headed out to Shedd Aquarium. 

Josie with her friend Lily and her big brother. 

Clara Rose and Dylan making their best fish faces. 

Two of cutest Penguins ever! 

Watery Weekend Fun!

It was an action packed weekend of water fun for the girls following

the 4th of July Fireworks and Clam Bake.

Wim took all the kids to the beach on Friday, while I worked.

He met his sister and her kids at the beach.

All the younger kids had had a fun time hanging out and playing for second day.

Saturday we went to another beach for more

ocean fun.

 The beach we went to is known to have more gentle waves and there tend to be mostly families with younger children at the beach.

The girls were surprised and thrilled to find one of their

friends from school popping out of wave in the ocean!

Josie in front of our Mermaid Sand Garden. 

After so much running around, we took it a little easy on Sunday.

We hit our local spray park in late morning.

It was already quite hot outside! 

Me and the girls had a blast running around,

taking turns being the line leader. 

We took a break for a picnic lunch and then went right

back for some more splash run fun. 

It was great way to wind down from

the fun weekend! 

4th of July Clam Bake

We had a wonderful day at the family 4th of July Clam Bake!

Dousing the fire and getting ready to pull out the hot rocks to cook the clams.

It was a hot day and many of the kids

spalshed around in the kiddie pool

while waiting for the food. 

Soon enough it was time for clams! 

YUM!!!!

After chowing down on the delicious

bi-valves--

All the kiddie-pies were up and back in

the water fun.

This time with a home-made slip-n-slide. 

More food-- desserts and of course watermelon! 

It was another fun-filled day--

Clara Rose about 2-seconds into the

drive back home. 

Next up-- beaching it for the weekend!

First Camping Trip

Time to gear up for an action packed summer that is sure

fly by with all the fun events we have coming up.

To kick it off in summer fashion, I took the girls on

their first tent camping trip the first

weekend of summer!

They did great and we had an awesome weekend!

Josie and Clara Rose helped me pitch the tent, inflate the mattresses, set-up our sleeping bags, and entire campsite!

First night campfire and hot dogs!

Raise your stick if you LOOOOVE CAMPING! 

Yummy smores for dessert! 

There was a fun playground! 

Of course, we met our favorite camping hosts

the next morning!

Cindy and Yogi Bear! 

Clara Rose amazed me with her strength by

carrying two 5-lbs bags of ice from the camp store to our site!

We cooled off at the pond beach and

enjoyed a fun game of toss the water balloon. 

A fun ride on an old fire truck with Boo-boo and Cindy Bear. 

Pedal cars! 

They were really zipping on these rides! 

Next up, cruising all around the pond and campgrounds on bikes! 

Night two . . .

More campfire fun! 

Followed by a Beach Dance Party complete with

a DJ later that night! 

What a way to kick-off summer fun!