Independence Day in the Big City

The Yantes Family decided to take on Chicago! We spent the 4th of July weekend with Uncle Glenn, Auntie Monica and Nathaniel, and we packed a ton of fun into a few short days. Glenn kept us well fed (mmmmm, steak....) and they both graciously welcomed our hurricane of a family into their home. We arrived late Wednesday night, and the boys were thrilled to discover that they would get to sleep on an air mattress in the guest room!  I'm actually quite shocked that it was still in one piece when we left... they definitely enjoyed it.

Thursday morning we spent at the beach, only blocks from the house. Max couldn't get enough of digging in the sand, and Lucian went for a dip in deeper water with Uncle Glenn. The ladies mostly chilled with the babies on beach towels, trying in vain to keep Audrey from swallowing fistfuls of sand. Later, we had fun blowing bubbles and, after dark, lighting sparklers. Props to Monica for putting aside her major aversion to sparklers for the sake of our children. (Fun before safety, I always say!)

Friday was our big day out exploring downtown Chicago. But the excitement started before we saw a single skyscraper; getting there was half the fun! The kids LOVED the train, and Lucian remembers it as one of his favorite parts of the trip. Sadly, no one got a picture... we must have all been too concerned with making sure we had all bodies accounted for. Let me tell you, it was quite helpful having one adult per child on public transportation!

The first thing we did in downtown was an architectural boat tour. We took a boat down the river and through the lock into Lake Michigan (sounds a little like a song! "Down the river and through the lock to Lake Michigan we go...um, I apologize.) It was a hot day, but the breeze on the water was beautiful, and there was an air-conditioned seating area when the babies (ahem, mommies) got too warm. We got an awesome view of downtown from the lake, and I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful historic buildings along the river.

After lunch, we continued on to Millennium Park to see the Bean. Last time Max was in Chicago was two years ago, but since his first visit he talked about the Bean like he had been there yesterday. We had no choice but to return. I don't know if it was as exciting as he remembered, but he spent plenty of time staring at himself in the crazy reflections! Lucian was...well...pretty stoic.

We let the boys splash in Millennium Fountain for a bit, and I think we all enjoyed the cool off after all of the walking. Then it was time to make our way back home for brats and hot dogs. The train ride back was relaxing, and we had a nice evening in.

Saturday was a low-key park day. We had a slow start with breakfast, followed by more bubbles and sidewalk chalk. We checked out two neighborhood parks before lunch (I won't tell you that it was because of my awful sense of direction that we ended up at the wrong park first, waiting for Monica and Glenn who were waiting for us at the right park. No, I won't tell you about that.)

Cute baby distraction!

After lunch and rest time, Auntie Monica brought out kite-making supplies, which the boys dove into and created their own functional kites! We brought them down to the beach... only to find that the air was completely still. The boys managed to get their kites in the air using some good old-fashioned leg power, and they flew surprisingly well!

It was such a blast to get the cousins together. Nathaniel was a little ham, and it was so fun to see his personality starting to show! The kids all adored him (and who wouldn't?!), and I loved getting to love on my little nephew. I didn't manage to get a picture of everyone together, but I did manage some super cute individual snapshots, so I'll leave you with a moment of oooohs and aaahhhs:

So stinkin' cute!

Miss Attitude

Look at those eyes!

Always the artistic one

Thanks again, Monica and Glenn, for opening your home! We hope to return the favor very soon!

One-der-ful

Look out world, here she comes! Our baby girl just had a birthday, and she's taking the world by storm. Believe it or not, this little pistol is unlike anything I have yet  experienced in the realm of motherhood; she hasn't stayed still for more than ten consecutive seconds in her life thus far. But her personality is already leaving us in stitches... she imitates actions and facial expressions like a pro. 

She is definitely her mother's daughter. On her birthday she dove into her cake like her life depended on it! Where her brothers showed some hesitation before enjoying their birthday desserts, Audrey devoured her cake in what seemed like a single bite! Could it have anything to do with the fact that, unlike her brothers, she was already well acquainted with the wonder that is sugar long before her birthday? I'll leave that to someone else to judge.

So far, Audrey's vocabulary consists of a few words, most of which only her parents recognize: Mama, Dada, Maaa (Max), baba (bottle), Haaa... (Hi),  ning-ning (good morning), and ba (bye) - always accompanied with a wave.

She blows kisses, gives high-fives, waves at everyone (especially dogs), and dances whenever she hears music playing. She is a handful, but one I wouldn't trade for the world!

She's our Audrey Therese, and she is ONE YEAR OLD.

On Golden Pond

Over Fathers Day weekend, we went with my parents to visit my grandparents in Marshall. It was a fabulous weekend, and we packed in a full vacation's worth of activities in just two days. My grandparents own some land that has, until now, been known as The Pit. I've written about it before, but it is a little paradise that boasts two beautiful ponds that are chock full of fish. We decided to re-christen the spot Golden Pond, because a name like The Pit just didn't do it justice.

 
The day before our arrival, my grandpa finished building the road to the pond, built and painted a little deck with a shade umbrella for the ladies and babies. What a spot! I felt like I was on the set of a Target photo shoot! Check out these ladies:

All the dads got in their fair share of fishing, as did the boys. There isn't a single small fish in the whole pond, so every catch was enormous and exciting! Max and Lucian each got to reel in a couple, with the help of Grandpa and Dad. Audrey was kept happy with a fistful of snacks and a cooler at her disposal, and I spent the majority of the day in the shade watching the boys bounce from the dock to the sandpile and back.

The next day, the kids were in for another treat! Grandpa brought everyone out to his shop to ride a real live loader! Max got to try this a couple years ago, but for Lucian it was a first. He spent the entire ride saying "This is fun! This is fun! This is fun!" 

 

This trip was one that the boys will not soon forget, and neither will I. Happy Fathers' Day to all of the wonderful fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers in my life! It was a joy to spend this Fathers' Day with three generations of fathers.

Messy

I crack myself up sometimes. As I set about cleaning and organizing a counter top in our kitchen that has gone untouched for at least a month, I unearthed this beauty:

In case you can't read it, that's a Real Simple magazine with the headline "Ingenious Organizing Systems to Clear the Clutter for Good". I received this magazine in the mail about a month ago and promptly lost it under a pile of clutter, including but not limited to: a duplo tree, a snack container of raisins and cheerios, an American flag (likely from last 4th of July), an empty tealight candle holder, a tube of sunscreen face lotion, a cardboard treasure chest, and various works of art, bits of paper and electronic cords.

I just had to laugh (to keep from crying...) at the irony. I invest in this beautiful, inspiring magazine that speaks right to everything I want to improve in my life, and it gets devoured by the exact thing it is supposed to help me eradicate. Yeesh. For some people it comes so naturally, keeping a clean house. For me, it is as if there is an invisible teenager leaving a wake of destruction in every room I am not currently occupying. I have intermittent bursts of energy and I whip around in a frenzy trying to keep up with my unwelcome guest, but the moment I turn my back, the paper is stacked to the ceiling again. The countertops are buried. The clothes are heaped in a jumbled mess and I don't know what's clean and what's dirty. 

For my own sanity, I decided that my messiness is slightly out if my control. I am cut from a different cloth than my über-organized peers, and that's ok. I have my strengths elsewhere. But I still need to be careful to not make too many excuses for myself... I have a house to keep up and I don't want to lose Audrey forever in a pile of unfolded laundry. You laugh, but it is ever a real danger for the small people in my house. Left unattended for too long, they may sink into the quicksand of my clutter. 

Graduations and Other Celebrations

Wow, we've already checked off the first of our three trips for the summer! We were looking forward to our week in Rapid City for so long, I can't believe it's already behind us. But we jam-packed the week with everything we planned... and several exciting things that we didn't plan! 

On Friday night, we arrived at Lisa's house- a neighbor and friend of the family who took us in for the weekend so that the graduation party at Grandma and Grandpa's was more manageable. (It's beyond me why Grandma thought she couldn't keep the house clean with five extra adults, four children, and their stuff around... ha ha.) Monica, Glenn, Megan and Nathaniel were back as well, so it was almost a complete family reunion!  Audrey enjoyed seeing her Auntie Megan again, and Megan was relieved to know that Audrey didn't hold a grudge after being abandoned. They picked up right where they left off!

Lisa treated us like family, bringing out all of her kids' old toys, making us breakfast and telling us to help ourselves to anything in the house. We really can't thank her enough! I can't imagine being more comfortable and cared-for anywhere else in town.

The main events of our visit were on Saturday and Sunday; for Patrick's high school graduation we celebrated with a party on Saturday and the Mass and ceremony on Sunday. It's pretty amazing to think about how much Patrick has changed since I first met him, and it's a little scary how much he looks like his older brother! Patrick, we are so proud of your accomplishments, and your nephews and niece simply adore you. You will do great in college, we can't wait to see where God leads you next!

Lucian with his Uncle Peej

Patrick played in the State baseball tournament Monday, so he, Paul, and Paul Sr. literally left directly from the grad ceremony to drive to Sioux Falls. That left the rest of us to chillax and have a movie night in watching Les Miserables. We put the kids to bed before the movie started, but poor Max could hear the amazing music coming from the next room and couldn't seem to keep himself in bed! He had to "use the bathroom" at least three times before he dropped all pretense and asked me directly if he could listen to one of the songs. Good timing on his part- I was willing to let him watch On My Own before tucking him in for the final time.

Monday was a quiet, rainy day. The Chicago crew had hit the road at an ungodly early hour, so the rest of us hunkered down and made the best of a sunless day. We built forts with Liam and Grandma, went "fishing" in a blue blanket "lake", read stories and ate snacks. Just as our creativity was about to run out, Lisa showed up with an armful of games! Then things cleared up enough to take a walk to the park; we were all really glad to get some fresh air. Later, I visited with my dear friend Talia and got to catch up on life over a cup of coffee. So awesome to see her. Then I went back and watched an online live broadcast of the Cavs winning the state championship! Patrick pitched the entire semi-final game, and boy did he pitch it. Mad skills, I say, mad skills.

The big boys returned at about 3am Tuesday, but they were troopers and didn't sleep the whole day away. We got a slow start and then spent the rest of the day at Reptile Gardens. I wish we could have stayed longer. Sadly, I only remembered to take one picture the whole day. I call it "Improvisation":

Yes, I forgot to pack her an extra set of clothes. No, I didn't want to go back to the house to change her after she made a mess of her only outfit. So yes, she is wearing my nursing cover as a dress. But hey, she's so cute, she'd look good in a paper bag! (Now that's an idea for next time...)

Max watched the bird show, the alligator show and the snake show, all in succession. He saw poisonous frogs, humongous bugs and (terrifying, disgusting) really cool spiders! He was like a sponge... and I regret to say that his next school unit is unequivocally Snakes and Bugs. Lucian spent most of the day playing on the playground and in the sandbox. He's not quite as interested in creatures as his big brother, but he had a great day nonetheless.

Later in the week, we made our annual trip to Storybook Island, one of the highlights of every Rapid City visit. I gave the camera to Paul, a sure way to actually get the day documented. Max has grown leaps and bounds in his climbing ability since our last visit; he didn't meet a structure he wouldn't climb. He wanted to be on the top of everything! Lucian sure did his share of climbing as well, but his highlight was the real live train that drove them around the park. He asked to ride it the moment we got there, and it's always the first thing he mentions when we ask him about his visit. I'll save the Storybook pictures til the end, since I had trouble paring down the number.

We got to spend an evening out with our good friends the Daniels before they jetted off to CA, and the boys and I spent a windy, cloudy afternoon with Bridget and her kids at a McDonalds play area (perfect: the kids were contained and we could talk.)

The big surprise of the week was that we were able to attend the diaconate ordination of Grant and Jonathan! We didn't know when we scheduled the trip that the ordination would fall smack in the middle of our week in South Dakota. How awesome! And what a blessing to our church these two men are. My heart felt so full during the ordination Mass; with all of the mess in the world, there are still people willing to give up everything for God. Alleluia, praise the Lord.

We also met up with Paul's high school friend Sam and his wife Joan, another couple that we wish lived several hundred miles closer to us. They are expecting their first baby in August, and I even got to crash her baby shower before we left!

We spent the remainder of the week relaxing and enjoying ourselves, but as always, Saturday came before we were ready. It was another wonderful visit to the Black Hills, our home-away-from-home.

Audrey and Grandpa