Dogs Love...

 Cheerios.

Thank goodness,

 'cause Lucy dumped an entire box out on the floor for Otis to enjoy!

In Case You Were Wondering...

Yes, ink is fun to play with.

No, ink is not toxic, even if you lick the ink pad.

(Called poison control to get that answer.)

Yes, it is difficult to SCRUB ink off your child's face.

No, even if you scrub you will not be able to get it all off.

I (Heart) Long Weekends

Don't you just love those long holiday weekends where you cram so much fun and excitement into every minute you feel like you could sit at home for the next year and still enjoy the highs of those perfect few days? Me too!

Friday Turbo & I got a call from his BFF to go out on their pontoon boat with a couple of friends to see the sights of the Chain (Aww sh*t...). We went out at dusk (...on a boat...), spent the next few hours bar hopping (...on a boat...) and dancing (...everybody look at me...), and finally made it home just before 3 am (...cause we're sailing on a boat...). Our only disappointment was we stayed out too late to make it to Taco Bell.

Saturday we headed to Wisconsin for a grad party for a friend of Turbo's family. We had a blast swimming and hanging out all afternoon. Of course, seeing the grad made me all sad in a sentimental mommy sort of way...I met Melissa when she was a sweet little 6 year old, to see her as a beautiful high school grad talking about college in the fall made me want to freeze my own kids in time.

Sunday we spent the way we've spent the 4th for the last several years, grilling and playing with our friends. Lucy and I were up early making awesome smiley face cookies and cheesecake for the evening BBQ. Then, while she stayed home to nap, Rex & I went to a big parade with all of our friends (Turbo & Nate opted to stay with Lucy and take in the Nathan's hot dog eating contest on tv). Later in the afternoon we headed to the party and played and ate until everyone was brimming with excitement over the upcoming fireworks. We took in all of the booms and sparkles with tons of 'ooohhs' and 'aaahhs' and a whole lot of Lucy saying 'LOOK!' (she was really diggin' her first trip to see fireworks!). It was truly a spectacular day!

Monday we took it easy. Turbo & the kids stayed home and relaxed all afternoon, while I snuck out to do some relaxing of my own...shopping and lunch with a friend.

Really, could the weekend have been any better?
 (Um, no...the answer is definitely no.) 

Have you heard...

Yum-O!

In our neck of the woods it is customary for all of the summer's coolest festivals to be crammed into the two weeks before the 4th of July. (You know, that lazy time in the middle of summer when no sane person makes any plans...) Since I am a glutton for punishment, I force my kids to participate in all of the festivals as well as the weekend full of BBQs we already have planned for the big holiday. (As if they don't LOVE me for it.)

So, yesterday we took the train to the city for the Taste of Chicago. I started to realize I am pretty much nuts when the kids were whining and taunting each other with a good 20 minutes left to Union Station. Ah, the joys of parenting. Fighting because 'his foot touched my seat' and 'he's staring at me' and just because Lucy feels like it. (I'm sure the sight made my aunt, who got to enjoy this lovely display of my well behaved children first hand, miss the days when her own girls were young!)

Thankfully, the TOC did not disappoint. Booth after booth of delicious food, Nate and I alone could put our family in the poor house in a matter of hours. We consumed samplings of hot dogs, cheesecake, potstickers, meatball subs, pizza, sweet potato fries, veggie tacos, fried ravioli, hot links, ice cream, cheese filled breadsticks, tater tots, chicken fingers, hush puppies, and watermelon in about 2 hours. (That doesn't even count the things our co-conspirators, Patti & Linda, had!)

For a group of foodies like us, this is by far the best fest Chicago offers!

Free trolley from the train to the taste...AWESOME!

Front row seat, of course.

E kids takin' a break...I enjoyed all 30 seconds of it!

Need I say more.

Watermelon, again.

My hard work paid off!

Summerfest!

One of my favorite summer festivals is Summerfest in Milwaukee.

Always great music, always a fantastic time, always worth every penny. 

This year Turbo & I took the kids to see one of his current fave bands, the Aggrolites. Of course, the fest did not disappoint!

Tres Chic..my kids and their DIY outfits and accessories.

 

Officially too cool for a high five from the sausage guy.

At least Lucy isn't.

FYI - 'Crazy Hair' on an uber blonde like Rex gets LOTS of compliments.

Daaaddeee.

LOVE LOVE LOVE live music!

Top Ten

It's official, the excitement of another summer has hit me hard. I'm already feeling happier, healthier, prettier, all of the joys of the sun and fun that we are expecting to relish in this season and into the fall when we journey to Florida for the beach wedding of two great friends. Not that I don't love all four seasons we experience here in the Midwest, but there is something about summer that makes me want to scream out loud how wonderful and fortunate I feel to be living my life the way I do.

Here is my list of simple luxuries I make a point to savor every summer. Of course, it is one I personally think everyone should, without question, enjoy to their fullest potential in the warm and inviting days that we are about experience...

10. T's & Capri's: I love the day when it officially becomes Capri season and even more when it becomes warm enough that I can pack away all my clothing with sleeves.

9. Bare Feet: If you know me well you know more than ditching the excess threads, I LOVE saying sayonara socks & shoes.

8. The Lakefront: I can't say enough how privileged I feel to be able to enjoy the sights and happenings of the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago and Milwaukee whenever I want.

7. Drive In Theaters: I prefer to skip the megaplex, pack the kids and a cooler and enjoy a double feature at this summer staple.

6. Lazy Days: They mean so much more in the summer when you spend them in your bikini with good friends, a case of (beer), and your feet up.

5. Sun Kissed Skin: Face it, we all look better with a golden tan.

4. Picnics & Festivals: Summerfest, the Taste, German Fest, 4th of July, city fests & parades, backyard get-togethers. Oh, how I love them.

3. Music: I stick by a solid 3 R's rule for summer...Rock & Roll, Rap, and Reggae, all influenced by Turbo's expansive musical knowledge (of course) and played very VERY loudly.

2. Food: BBQ whatever you can, cover half of my plate in homemade salads, and fill the rest with fresh picks from the garden. Oh, and don't you dare skip on the ice cream desserts!

1. Friends & Family: There is nothing better than surrounding yourself with family and great friends that feel like family.