Summertime!!

We have quite a shortened summer this year as school went til mid June and starts back up mid August - and boy has it been busy!!

We have taken 3 weekend road trips, starting with traveling to MN for Kasey's high school graduation. I was very nervous about the long car ride with a 2 year old, but that TV in the car was well worth the expense! Still, we stopped about every 2 hours and the 5 hour trip took about 7 hours. And Parker had so much pent up energy that he was awake until almost midnight when we arrived a the hotel! We played at the Mall of America, visited with "sissy" and then traveled the 7 hour drive back home.

We spent another weekend at the Wilderness and, as always, had a great time. It was nice to have warm weather and enjoy the outdoor water parks as well. We also went on the Dells Army Ducks and I was surprised how much Parker enjoyed it! For a few weeks after the trip, if we passed an army vehicle, he would re-tell the story about how the car goes in the water and kids sit on the seats!

We also left on an adults only rafting trip on the Wolf River. Parker stayed with Nana and Papa for his first sleepover and he did amazing! Slept well and never cried. I put together a calendar for him and got some library books on sleepovers. The calendar worked so well for him that I bought a calendar for him to use for our daily activities.

Speaking of daily activities, this boy sure is busy! Mondays we try to go to the story time at the library. A few times a week we try to visit dad at work, and I think one of Parker's favorite activities is to go to Starbucks for iced coffees and chocolate milk! Daddy's work is one of the best playgrounds around! We also spend many of our Wednesdays at the Chicago Botanic Gardens (free admission to the exhibits).

We did music class again this year, and Parker enjoys playing the instruments the most. He doesn't sing much in class, but he sings frequently at home! He also seems to enjoy some of the dancing and marching, but doesn't do too many of the actions with the songs. We also started sports this summer, as he is finally old enough. Jelly Bean sports begin at age 2 or 2 1/2 so we have tried t-ball and a sports shorts class, practicing soccer, baseball and basketball. He says that they are all his favorites!

Fourth of July traditions have remained the same over the past few years. It's funny how traditions change! We used to host quite the party on our boat and with the neighbors watching the fireworks. Now we go to the Antioch parade with the cousins and then the Navy Base for the spectacular fireworks. It's nice that the kids are big enough to enjoy some rides, and that those rides have no lines at all!