June 2016 - School ends, summer begins!

We've had a really fun few weeks!  We wrapped up a great school year and began summer break.  I always look so forward to a slower summertime pace and loads of time outside in the warm sunshine.  Here are some photos of how we've been spending our days!

We took in a Cubs game on a hot summer day.  We watched Jake Arrieta pitch and sat in the (crazy) bleachers!

Such a beautiful day at Wrigley Field.

We met my sister and her family for the Cubs game - so fun!

A family photo in front of Ronny's statue.  Erik and I used to listen to Ron Santo and Pat Hughes call the games on WGN Radio back in our earliest married days.

Jake was so kind to stop for autographs.  Almost all the other players breezed right by to get on the bus for a road trip (it was a really hot day and they had just suffered a tough loss), but he walked right over and happily signed for all the little kids.  He signed Cassidy's hat!

This one's a keeper...

Every year, my friend Lori and I (friends since we were 8 years old!) meet up for a concert.  Our favorite band from grade school (NKOTB) is still on tour and we love the nostalgia!  Always great fun!

Tyler finished his school year in the Turning 3s!  He loved his teachers, Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Clohisy.

Gavin's first grade class with their teacher, Mrs. O'Keefe.  He had a fun year!

A great season ended for Gavin's grade 1 baseball team, the Blue Jays.

Tyler and one of his great buds - our next-door neighbor, Jort.  They ride up and down the street on these bikes!

Grandpa Brown came over to play some tennis with Gavin.

Gavin went to a summertime soccer camp at Northwestern University, which is just 10 minutes from our house and situated on Lake Michigan.

What a gorgeous place to play soccer!  They just completed these new fields with a pretty view of downtown Chicago, looking south.

Little bro loves to play, too.

Enjoying a tree fort in the neighbor's front yard

Girls' Night out at Ravinia

At the Morton Arboretum for the day with Grammy & Grandpa Brown

We love this picture with Grandpa Brown!

Cooling off...

We celebrated Cassidy's 9th birthday with Grammy & Grandpa Brown

Happy Father's Day, Erik!  We surprised him with these customized Cubs "bags" boards.

9 YEARS OLD!  We celebrated Cassidy's birthday at home a few days early, as we'll be in FL for he actual birthday.

She was so excited about this "Fawkes" character from Harry Potter! 

Dinner at Depot Nuevo, one of our favorite local spots during the warmer summer months.  Our next-door neighbors were leaving for Holland for 5 weeks (their homeland), and we were headed to Florida for a couple weeks ourselves, so we grabbed dinner together before the long time away.

Time for dessert! Celebrating Cassidy' 9th birthday with our great neighbors - who have become great friends.

Lovely Month of May

I'm trying to catch up on blog posts, and posting a monthly update seems to be the easiest way for now.  So, here we are with the month of May behind us!  It was a fun month full of activities that kept us busy!  Here are some snapshots and tidbits of how we spent our time over the past several weeks...

Tyler's "Turning 3s" class held a circus-themed party!

Danny, Rhys, Tyler and Sam - preschool buds

A warm, beautiful spring evening means a pizza picnic with the next-door neighbors

A family snapshot on Mother's Day

Aww, my sweet Gavin.

Mom, attempting to capture a sibling photo, always an interesting challenge

The little pianist at her first recital

Cassie's piano recital program; she had 2 songs, and Erik was able to accompany her on the second.  Very sweet.

Daddy/Daughter duo!

Wouldn't be spring without Gavin in a baseball uniform

Tyler was the cutest bat boy around!

Very busy...

Gavin and his buddy, Danny

Our sweet neighbor, Moritz, joined us to watch Gavin's game and cheer on the team.

A trip to Lexington to visit family; it was Ellie's 8th grade graduation!  The cousins played a round of one of Grandpa Reder's favorites, "Sorry"

Congratulations to Ellie, the 8th grade graduate

Ellie taught Cassidy the basics of using a sewing machine

She made a soft bookmark!

We all went out for a pizza dinner with extended family from Cincinnati (my Uncle Robb and his family).

Reunion photo!

Sisters photo (we had no idea Gavin was photo-bombing in the back, it was hilarious when we saw it a while later)

On the porch swing with Grandma and Grandpa Reder

Cassie took part in "Girls on the Run" - we completed a 5K together along with her group of friends and their moms/dads.

Hooray, the finish line!

Strong girls!

We celebrated with ice cream cones afterwards...

Warm spring days bring out the lemonade stand!  We usually drink more than we serve to customers.

That lemonade stand turned into a fun sleepover with friends, complete with Harry Potter robes and movie night.

Tyler and I have been attending "Moms & Tots" music classes on Fridays for a few years.  However, the chapter is closing!  Next year he'll be in preschool on Fridays so this is our final class.

Being silly with his buddies...

Late May evening dinner on the picnic table, my favorite

My baby, I can't resist peeking in at him as he sleeps...and oh, how he loves blue bunny and nini (paci).

A trip to the DQ after a day at the beach

Tooth Fairy, we have something for you!

Reading buddies!

Our little lovable bookworm.