Swag.

The hubster is going to be doing a 'scouting' job for an All-American baseball team which is sponsored by Under Armor. He'll be working with other professional ball players and he gets to wear all his free swag!! How awesome!! We even get to watch the game AT WRIGLEY FIELD on Saturday!! I can't wait to wander with the boys and take some pictures around the field!!

Way to go, B!!

3 shirts, 2 shorts, socks, shoes, hat, and a backpack!!

Finally.

Look at what I finally saw in the garden!! It's about darn time!!

We ate these three tonight for dinner with some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh mozzarella! YUM!!

Here it starts...

Well. After battling a cough for almost 4 months, the doctor FINALLY decided to give Ethan something that would give his lungs a break. We still aren't 100% sure what is causing this, but for now, it seems to be working! He only coughs in the morning when he wakes up...after he hasn't had any medication for an extended period of time.

I am hopeful that we have finally turned a corner. There may be some allergy testing in his future, but at least we will have some answers. The doctor he saw said that the dark circles under his eyes, a red throat, and some post nasal drip are all symptoms from an allergy to something. We shall see...

Is this how this crazy thing works??

Wild West Town -- YEE HAW!

Wild West Town in Union, IL is our 'must do' almost every summer. Ethan was the PERFECT age to believe it was really real. Matthew has been playing 'cowboy' since we left and totally enjoyed the blacksmith. We had PERFECT weather and the boys were not only well-behaved...they actually really LOVED each other!!

Thank you, Nonny!! I hope you had as much fun as we did!

See what I mean?? Ethan was LOVING his 'protective' brother!

Train Rides

Look at them holding hands. Can it get any better than that??!!

Mining for gold with Nonny...she's a pro when it comes to gold!

Sodas in the saloon!!

Raising a few ropers! :)

Look at that blue mustache!!

What an AWESOME DAY!!

Uh Oh. What have I done??

First, I need to apologize to my husband who left home when it looked like this...

Poor guy! He had no idea what we were working on. I even got the boys involved!

Even my Uncle John helped out. He was there to help with some plumbing issues. In typical male fashion, he and Matthew did lots of the demo work!!

So for now...it looks like this. In the meantime, I need to figure out what to do with this new found gap in the carpet. UGH! What have I done!!??

Packing Up.

One last tuck into bed for the boys...

...makes for some sad sad faces.
LoLo looks pretty happy with all her 'loot' she scored on some serious shopping trips!

A-hem. No. You can't take Ethan with you. :)

Portillos...YUM!

Since the Jersey folks wanted Chicago dogs...Chicago dogs it was! My favorite hot dogs come from Portillos. It's actually the same exact place where Bryan and I had our first 'date' 12 years ago.

Matthew and LoLo's hot dogs! YUM!
LoLo LOVED HER DOG! I loved the hanging baskets...aren't they gorgeous!?

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

I haven't been to the museum for almost 14 years. I had a feeling the boys would LOVE what this museum had to offer...I was right! Matthew soaked up all the interactive exhibits!! I have some science nerds on my hands and I love it!

Thank you Poppy and LoLo for taking us to the museum. The boys still talk about it. We had lots of fun!! Ethan heard the weather alarms...EEKS! It was loud!The picture that Lorraine had printed is HILARIOUS! I'll have to get it from my other computer...that one is worth sharing!!Matthew and Ethan got to make their own toy and watch it being made on an assembly line.

As you can see, the reflection thing was a hit, too. For both of them!

The flight simulator... Training with Poppy before the big flight...

Hmmm...Doesn't that look odd. Oh, yes. That's because he is INSIDE the museum exhibit!

That was until the MALL COP made him get out. Well, why would he have listened to me?? I don't have handcuffs and a walkie-talkie.