Sweet Friends

We spent much of 2011-2012 with the Kubacz family. We traveled to Morgantown, West Virginia and shared a small apartment with them for the summer while Dean and Marc took a tropical medicine class. Then, we crossed the ocean with them while we served together in Niger, West Africa. We love this friendship and are thankful God brought them into our lives. We even share the same wedding day and year with them. How crazy to think we were all saying "I Do" on July 30, 2005 in two different states! They are setting off soon to study French for a year before they transition to Africa once again to serve for a longer term. We were really hoping to see them one last time before they leave and it worked out!

The K family dropped in to Peoria for a few days as they traveled from Wichita up to Chicago where they had some meetings and events. I'm not sure the kids completely remembered each other, but they were fast friends again by the end of their stay.

Here is a progression of pictures of the three musketeers...

January 2012-first day in Africa

 June 2012- last day in Africa

 July 2013- Kubacz visit to Peoria

It is fun to see how the kids have changed in just a year and a half. We got Isaac in a few pictures this time, too! Gracie was very excited to love on our baby. She will be a great big sis soon.

We filled up the swimming pool outside to keep the kids entertained so we could catch up with Dean and Dianna. We had a great visit and are so excited for what God has in store for their family in this next year. They will travel to France in a month and welcome a little boy into their family in November! We will miss them dearly but are thankful for the technology that will still keep us in touch. :)

July Fourth Fun

July 4th is such a great holiday. Not only does it embody so much for us as citizens in a free and democratic nation, but it also revolves around some of my favorite things of summer like time outside and BBQ food. We had so much fun last July 4th that I was hoping this year would be just as great!

We started the day off with some family time. Marc's grandfather has been pretty sick off and on over the past month and is currently recovering in a nursing home until he is well enough to return home. He was able to get out for a few hours on July 4th which was a treat for him. I think the sunshine, real food, and watching our energetic kids play in the yard provided him lots of therapy for the day.

Eli loves soccer these days.

We headed home after lunch to let the kids rest up for our evening fun.They were in a great mood when they woke up so I took advantage and grabbed some quick photos!

The hospital where Marc works puts on the firework show at the river each year. They have a pre-show meal for some of their staff in a building down on the river. We were able to get really close parking and were served some yummy food (though the kids preferred the popcorn and cookies to the brisket). Then, we got special seating for the fireworks! We felt pretty pampered. ;)

After dinner, we decided to walk the trail along the river until it was time for the show. Lots of people anchor their boats near the bridge to watch the fireworks.

Hailey didn't seem to remember fireworks from last year so I loved capturing her expressions with the reverse camera on my phone. The show was really long so about half-way through the kids were ready to go home. We pushed through to the end and finally arrived home at 10:45! Definitely the latest night they are up all year.

Maybe next year lil buddy. :)

 The finale was spectacular! So worth the wait.

Happy July 4th, America!

Swim Little Fishies!

This was our first year to give swim lessons a try with the kids. Eli and Hailey can both swim independently with their swim vest on which has been super great now that we have Isaac. However, the swim vest is obviously not the real deal so I decided to enroll for swim lessons through our park district. We signed up for June and August (July was full before I could snag two spots!), and then we will re-evaluate and see how the kids have done. Swim lessons are offered throughout the year at the indoor pools so we might just keep going until next summer. I hope Eli will be swimming on his own by then.

The lessons are really inexpensive so I was expecting bigger sized classes. Eli seems to be making progress though and Hailey is stuck with an adult until she turns three so it doesn't matter as much for her.

Eli wasn't always focused on what was going on. I'm glad Marc sat with him most weeks because he was probably much more relaxed about his inattentiveness than I was. :)

He did get his back float down without assistance and even put a few kicks in there once or twice to get some movement going! He did great and I think he had a blast.

Hailey's class had a wide range of ages (18 mos.-3 yrs.) so it was a little slower pace than what she likes. One week I decided to let her do jumps to me off the side while we were waiting forever for our next turn (there were 12 in her class!). The instructor then scolded me since we were not sticking with the class routine. Oops! I let Marc swim with Hailey the next week to change it up for her a little. :)

Lessons were during Isaac's morning nap so we just kept him in the stroller and he took a little snooze.

Eli received a report card at the end that says he only lacks three skills until he can advance to the next class. Hailey's class just got suckers which seemed to pacify her just fine!

A Birthday Bash

My sweet little niece turned one a few weeks ago and we weren't going to miss it! Unfortunately, Marc had some big conflicts with work the weekend of the party which meant if we were going to make it to the celebrations, I was going to be flying solo. I knew it was possible. I knew it would be challenging. I love a good challenge. :)

Our last trip to Arkansas was for Christmas so this was Isaac's first visit to Nana and Papa D's house! It is always fun to go home and visit but even better when it is summer and we all get to enjoy the pool. The kids had a ball.

Enjoying lunch outside in between swim time!

Nana found Hailey this hat when she went with some friends to Florida. Hailey was IN LOVE and could hardly part with it to go to sleep each night.

 Isaac really loves the water

It is tons of fun to get Bailey in this already crazy mix of kids!

Papa D snuck home from work over his lunch hour on Friday to swim with the kids.

Then it was time for the big party! Stacey did a great job decorating for Bailey's big day and we enjoyed lots of great food and some yummy sweets.

 Brandon made Bailey the cutest play house for her birthday!

Eli made a new buddy

 Isaac getting some love from his Nana

I loved getting to see my Memaw, Poppy, and Aunt Cindy. Memaw really loves her great grand babies, particularly the cute fat rolls they have when they are little. ;)

 Me and my sis

 The great-grands with the great-babes

 And the birthday girl in her sweet tutu. Happy birthday Bailey! You are a treasure.