BEST! SUMMER! EVER!

We didn't really mean for it to happen, but the kids and I had the best summer ever.  At the very beginning of summer the kids and I sat down and wrote what we quickly called our "Sandbucket List"- our bucket list for the summer.  We packed it full of all kinds of fun stuff that we wanted to do this summer.  And we did them!  We had fun every single day!  If I like one thing, it's a list.  Totally kept out summer on track, never had a "boring" day, filled our time together with adventures, and had a memory of all that we did at the end.  When we completed each item, the kids colored in the little box next to the item on our list.  Marin colored and decorated the picture I drew our list on.  Fun, fun, fun.  

And what a perfect summer for it to be- the one right before Marin starts Kindergarten.  I am certain that many years from now we will all look back on this summer with great fondness.  The summer that we just hung out all day every together or with friends, making memories.  Nothing too complicated.  Just good old fashioned togetherness and fun!  

Here's what we did: We went to Heritage Prairie Farm for pizza night with our friends and neighbors, we did 5 parks in 5 days, we went to the Cougars game, we had movie nights outside, Marin hosted a sleepover with Finn, Parker and Violet, Emilie had a playdate with Lola, we rode the waves, built a sandcastle, went to Blackberry Farm, had a movie night with out neighbors, had a picnic in the park, went to the concerts in the park, saw free movies in the park, went to the flick n' float, did the slip n' slide, we played mini golf, had a playdate with Joy at Wheeler Park, visited GG and OG, picked fresh strawberries, got out our sidewalk paint, had family game nights, we swam and swam and swam and swam, we went to the zoo, Marin practiced her reading, all the kids completed the summer reading program at the library,  Marin finished her Jolly Phonics books, we went to the Arboretum, we went to the zoo, we caught fireflies, we had a lemonade stand during Swedish Days- and raised $700.00 for our friend Will who has a rare genetic disorder, we went on family bike rides, we saw fireworks, we visited the Butterfly House, we made homemade blizzards, we went to the French Marker and the Farmers Market, we went to Hawk's Hallow and we rented Swiss Family Robinson.  

This we know for sure...

We might be torturing ourselves by not finding out the baby's gender, and we might be making you crazy by not telling you the names we have picked out. We might not know if the baby will be born with the same Illini orange and blue blood that Jason and I and the rest of our families were born with, and we may not solve the debate about whether it will be a Cubs fan (woo-hoo!!) or a Cardinals fan (boo-hoo) until the baby is old enough to tell us itself; but one thing we do know for sure... the baby is a Bears Fan! :)

Last night, Jason and I watched the Bears win a great game! The whole time, the baby was flipping around and doing what I can only imagine were cheers in there; flailing it's little arms and legs around to encourage its one clear choice of sports team to victory! In fact, the movement became so big, that even Jason could feel him/her move for the first time! I could see the stars in Jason's eyes... dreaming of one day taking his son or daughter to the game, tossing an arm around him/her and saying, "You know, the first time I ever felt you move, was during a game much like this..."

Who are we kidding, Jason's not that sentimental. Unless being a dad really brings it out in him, it will probably be more like me smothering my children, much to their embarrassment, spilling their ball park hot dog in the process, telling them between tears how their dad felt them kicking for the first time during the Bears vs. Eagles game of '08. Then they'll wiggle out from under my arm, Jason will pass me a tissue for my tears and tell me that he loves me but to watch the game, just as this little miracle growing inside me now, asks me for $10 to buy a pretzel.

But still, I'm sure I'll tell the story. And I'll love it. We're already making memories. :)
Bear Down!