michigan

colorado

illinois

One weekend, three different states, three siblings all enjoying nature.  Its apparent nature is well loved in this family.  

Boys love the river tubes.  So glad I got them.  They will be put to really good use here this summer and future summers.  

Getting the tubes to the lake was quite comical.  I inflated them in the garage and tried to put them in the car.  No such luck.  I'll attach them to the roof I thought.  So I head to Ace Hardware and walk in for a 100-foot rope and two bungee cords.  The Ace Hardware expert said no, deflate and then inflate again at the lake.  He sends me home with the 100-ft rope and batteries for the air pump.  I am sure he had a good laugh.  I had a good laugh. 

But his plan worked!  Inflated the tubes with no problems and the boys were on the water in minutes.  

I couldnt get them out of the water to go home.  Nor would they listen to me about going too far out when not in the tube.  Man do we miss swimming this summer. 

Wednesday night I took us to a river front park for a picnic.  I brought the boys bathing suits, towels and our beach blanket.  I figured what else do we have to lose on this hot and steamy and humid and sticky night?  It was exactly what we needed.  

They jumped right in the water, rocky bottom and all.  They swam for a good hour and a half straight.  I worry about the virus and what is in the water.  We came home, took showers and I ordered river tubes and water shoes for the boys.  I am super excited for the next time we can go....and use our big boy toys.  Ha.  

Today I saw on the front page of the Naperville Sun just how popular this little get away is.  Bummer.  I hate when things I love get over-populated, it causes anxiety in me because these are nature's grounds and with the popularity comes erosion and disrespect.  Not everyone loves nature like we do.  Not everyone will pick up after themselves to protect the wildlife.  

We are planning to go again tonight, fingers crossed its just us!  

Happy Independence Day!  

We had a GREAT day!  We headed over to Andrew's for a family BBQ.  It was such a good time.  The boys were in/out of the house, playing on electronics, roaming the neighborhood, having fun wasting all the dish soap on the slip-n-slide that they didnt need showers!  Weather was perfect, not too hot, enough shade from their big backyard tree.  

We had sparklers, glow bracelets and Andrew picked up a variety pack of fireworks.  Nothing huge, but definitely worth the money.  We put on some tunes and had our own backyard fireworks show.  

This day is exactly the memory I want to have and I, with my whole being, want the boys to have.  

I am so glad I linked to Ginny's Yarn Along, because it held me accountable for both finishing a book and a knitting project.  It forced me to google how-to videos for steps that I needed to learn about.  You know, doing hard things.  

This month, I learned my cousin is having a baby girl in November.  I found some super soft gray yarn in the stash and making my go-to hat.  Easiest pattern ever, mindless knitting, something I need right now with all the current events.  

This is another book given to me by my sister-in-law.  I havent started it yet, but will soon.  

This past weekend, the first full weekend in June, the boys and I went camping with Dawn and Mason.  This was a 'hey, what are you doing this weekend...nothing...want to go camping...where...etc...' and next you know the cars are packed and we headed ninety minutes west to Mendota Campground.  

We had a site where it was wide open, no one around us (or closely that is), it was quiet from humans.  Cant say it was quiet from nature.  Between the frogs, the birds and the cicadas, it was quite loud.  

Most of the amenities were closed due to Covid-19, but the bathrooms were open and clean (uber important!), and the beach ... you were allowed to play but no swimming.  

Friday night after we got settled, and dark came upon us for only a few minutes because when the moon made its appearance it was bright as a streetlight.  Simply amazing.  Max found the big dipper right away.  Makes my heart sing a little when he mentions things like that, shows what his brain was thinking.  

We were able to fish and you know catch frogs, if one likes to do that, ahem Max.  Then we found some water balloons at the store and used those to keep cool.  I am so grateful the boys love camping and being outside.  I hope they will remember these times fondly, some day.  

One weekend in May, I took a walk-a-bout in my yard.  I think I do it every day to watch the progress of all the work I have put into this yard, to see the flowers bloom.  I was surprised to find the oh-so-petite pink geraniums.  Those are brand new this year, and I did not plant those, so my guess is that they were once planted by a previous owner and with all the trees and weeds taking over they went dormant.  Now that I am clearing things out, they have a chance to bloom.  Oh so pretty.  

My wildflowers are coming back this year.  So happy about that.  I keep watching each and every day to see what will appear, so far its only these pretty orange ones.  I am happy. 

My neighbor next door is who I call, Old Man.  He is never outside, and when we do see him he grunts at us.  I noticed last summer his peony shrubs.  I also noticed he is NEVER in his backyard.  So this one particular walk-a-bout, I launched Max over the fence with clippers and voila! A beautiful bouquet for me.  

Right after we committed the crime, we had to line up for a birthday parade.  So fun!  Wish I did something like this for the boys.  Next year.  We put out our sign, drove slowly past Owen's house, Theo was hanging out the window, I was beeping the horn and yelling Happy Birthday! 

And Max kept saying, I hope I dont get recognized.  Oh the joys of a pre-pubescent pre-pre-teen.