223.365 Back to School

 What do you want to be when you grow up?

Isabelle: "a children's nurse, you know help them in the clinic"

Allie: "a kindergarten teacher"

Juliette: "a baby"

217.365-222.365 IowA

 The days you made a lot of new friends.  You would sit and then gather random straw and grass to pass through the fence.  You watched them so closely and gave them names.  My little girl in her pink dress and white sandals by the pig pen that loves the farm.

 The night we went to eat at Sutliff.  Grandma and Grandpa graciously took us for a great dinner and then an evening stroll on the historic bridge over Cedar River.  

 Isabelle and Grandpa.  I can't tell you how much this warms my heart to see this picture.  I am so glad that even though we live such a distance that you and your sisters can spend these bursts of time with your grandparents.  So much of our life we need to be purposeful and intentional with relationships.  

 After a few days on the farm you all beg for a dog of your own.

 These cornfields suffocated me when I grew up and I often couldn't wait to be free...now I find myself wandering back to the life I once lived to show you girls glimpses of my childhood...that cornfields and farms can so interesting and beautiful in their own way.  

 I think when Grandpa brings the piglets out to play, this is definitely one of your favorite moments of our visit.  You "ooooo" and "aaaah" and make the babies as comfortable as possible.  You cuddle and pet them and wish that we could take them home...that is until I show you the boar that they become.

Indiana Dunes State Park, West Beach

This year instead of going to the lake in Michigan we went to the Indiana Dunes instead.  It was a very warm and sunny day and the sand was very HOT and the beach was overwhelmingly CROWDED!  The girls are such beach bums and love to swim and play.  

Chicago Children's Museum

We took a quick weekend to the beautiful city of Chicago.  We parked, had lunch at Navy Pier and enjoyed the walk around the city in the sunshine.  Lollapalooza was happening while we were there and added to the already crazy summer crowds in the city.  

The day you enjoyed seeing the Chicago Children's Museum and spent the afternoon playing.  You all had a great time in the "circus" area and also enjoyed molding with clay in the lower level.  

After the museum, we walked to Water Tower Place on Michigan to visit the American girl store where they picked out one thing and then to the Lego store and got a new "Friends" set.  We ate out by the Palmer House and spent the evening swimming and got room service ice cream which is always a fun and special treat!