Grand Summit II

Few have conquered it, but many have tried, it is the GRAND SUMMIT II!!!  Otherwise known as our new backyard play set.  Wahoo!  We hope that Lukers and friends will have many, many hundreds of hours playing on this set in the days and years to come.  Matt and Emil did the installation and it was quite the job.  After 11 hours of working on it I'd say it was about 75% completed.  Almost there guys!  While they did that, Donna helped me sew a pad cover for our new hall bench.  It turned our pretty good, but I'm not quitting my day job.

Swinging on my swing set in a big boy swing!

Luke was super helpful during the sewing process....not

Finished product!

Last weekend I also went to my soon-to-be cousin Kristin's bridal shower.  Kristin is cousin Brian's longtime girlfriend and has basically already been part of the family for years.  We're excited that they're making it official at the end of June.  She had a lovely shower in Crown Point, IN.  

Bride to be!

Cousin Lisa with baby Nikki

Grandma and Lukers

Then this past weekend we had the good fortune to host our cousins, the Eichinger's, for a couple days.  They came up from Springfield and we had a blast!  Their three kids are adorable and fun.  It was non-stop action.  

A visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo

All the kids swinging!

Saturday was my 32nd birthday.  Not only did I get to celebrate with the Eichinger clan at the zoo, but Donna and Emil came up and brought an awesome dinner too.  The best part was the atomic cake!!  Thanks Donna and Emil.  And thanks to Matt and Luke for making my birthday special too.  

Puzzles are still Luke's fave

Sunday was Mother's Day.  After a gorgeous morning at the Lake Forest beach park before we bid the Eichinger's goodbye, we headed up to Wisconsin for the birthday/Mother's Day party at Mom and Dad's house.  The perfect weather stuck, and the day was just wonderful.  It was such a fun day all around and I was glad to spend Mother's Day with my mother and grandmother:)

PJ giving Mom fish for her backyard pond for Mother's Day

Releasing the fish

Watching the action

Luke giving Grandma Mary our card

It was cousin Sean's birthday May 7th, so we shared the delish Baskin Robbins ice cream cake:)

Thanks to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday and Happy Mother's Day.  

Finally, here are some other cute Luke shots from the last couple weeks.  

Weeeeeeee!

make a wish!

sleepyhead

Laying on the luxurious new bench pad!