Making the most of summer!

This past week we did some fun things around town like have a luncheon picnic with friends at the Botanic Garden and visit a local waterpark.  As I told Matt (self-dubbed the most obvious sentiment in the world),  "I prefer summer over winter."

We had a big milestone this week, our baby boy had his FIRST EVER solo class.  All of his activities to date have been "parent & child" or "caregiver & child" classes, and this is the first time he is in a class all by himself.  It is offered as a transition class for kids transitioning from the parent & child class to the child only class.  We thought it was helpful that he do this class this summer in preparation for preschool this Fall.  It is perfect for him because it is called "Cars, Trucks, Trains & Trikes" and they spend the whole class playing with the aforementioned vehicles, singing songs about those things, doing crafts around those things, you name it.  Luke did awesome, and he loves the class.  The first day he didn't participate in circle time, he just watched, but by the second class he was doing everything with the group.  Isolene and I both got a little choked up when he so easily adjusted to being a big boy, they grow up so fast!  Gulp!  

In his first class, here with teacher Ms. Marta

Here are all of the pics from the week!

Baby Claire is still the happiest child of all time

She can turn herself around 360 degrees on this thing,

New harder puzzles for Luke since he does puzzles like 3 hours per day.  This one he mastered after doing twice, so we think we have to go to an even harder kind.  He really enjoys doing them again and again, though, even if he already does it so easily.

Matt took Emil on a charter fishing excursion for Father's Day.

Emil caught this huge salmon.  We all ate it for dinner the next day, yum.

Now that she is such a mover and a shaker, we have to strap her into all her seats otherwise she'll work her way out of them and fall out (exhibit A above)!

We met my grad school friends Barb and Olga and their families at the Botanic Gardens on Saturday.  Myself, Barb, Olga and a bunch of other students all went on a trip to Turkey & Dubai  while in school.  

Barb and Ross's son Caleb was wearing orange and so was Luke.  They looked like little twinsies all day!

Waving to Thomas the Tank Engine

Evie is a very happy baby.

Ross, Caleb, Barb & Evelyn

Olga, Dan & Sophia 

Look at all those gorgeous roses and gorgeous girls, too!

Playing in the fountain

Luke playing baseball one night in his undies - we're trying to amp up the potty training now that he's spending more time outside, but it still isn't taking.

He does look cute in his "big boy underwear" though.  Back to the baseball, though, he is pretty good!  He can throw the ball in the air and hit it with his bat all by himself.  I think mostly it is accidental when he makes contact, but still!

Selfie of the girls 

Vernon Hills Aquatic Center.  The day was hot and beautiful, perfect for a water park visit.  This place had a lazy river, big slides (Luke was too little for them, though) and fun kid fountain/play areas.  We bought an Amazon Local deal for it to check it out, since it is so close to our house.  

Just like in our pool at home, Luke wanted to "sit on the chair to get warm" and then within a nanosecond  of sitting in the chair he asks for a snack.

New yellow swim suit from Katie & Joe - Isabelle has the same one, we can't wait for them to be twinsies when they're here in a couple weeks.

Hanging in the Bob to try to get in the shade, sleeping was not something she was into

Ice cream on the way back from the waterpark, always a hit.

Kicking her toys to make them rattle, amusing herself

Visit with Grandma & Grandpa - they're trying to spend time with the kids every Wednesday now that they live up this way.

Piano concert time!

Luke still rushes to his piano every time Matt starts playing.

This is the super moon that we'll never see again in our lifetime.  It was really cool.

Muah!  Until next week!