Happy August

Vacation was fun but it is always great to come home. Especially since the weather really changed the last few days. We began at almost 100 degrees and almost saw the high 40s this past weekend. We had to hit up a Goodwill store to buy some long pants for the kids.

We began our vacation with an ER trip for Nick. The day we were leaving, we had a playdate with my old girlfriends, Dena and Laura (and her younger girls). We had lunch in Evanston and walked around and then went to the Exploritorium to let the kids play as we continued to catch up. Nick was running to catch up with the girls and he tripped and fell into a train table. He came to me crying and jumped on my lap before I could access the damages. When he finally lifted his head, I was alerted to the blood that was flowing from his ear. Laura is a nurse and after she looked at his ear said it probably would need stitches to seal it closed. I called our doctor and the nurse said to head to the ER. Nick was pretty much out of it. After a couple people looked at it and heard that we were headed for a beach vacation they decided to do the tissue glue instead of real stitches that way it was 7 days out of water instead of 14.

We got up to the cottage on Monday evening and took Nana up with us. The kids had an awesome time at the clubhouse for 2 weeks. Games, movies, crafts and the carnival. They each won ribbons for participating int he talent show - 3rd place tie. They also won for capture the flag. We were able to get to the beach almost everyday until the rain came in on Thursday.

Favorite summer things to do - bowling, mini-golf, go-cart racing and the blueberry fest parade were all done. We got some nice visits in with our friend Travis and Cindy and her kids. Dean and Lauren and the girls came up for the first weekend to meet Uncle Edwin. The clubhouse carnival was on the Friday night and all the kids ran a game and then got to play for the second half.

Unfortunately, the fruit crops have really suffered this summer and blueberries are sour and our favorite orchard isn't offering u-pick this year. Can't think of anything else - we had a nice vacation.

We came home and what better way to end a vacation than to do it similarly to the beginning. Nick was playing at our neighbors and came home crying and all tears. He finally got out that he tripped over their dog and fell - cheekbone and eye first - onto the edge on their furniture. Big black eye forming and bigger bump. We had family Sunday at Mom and Dad's house. Mom made a Mexican inspired menu - good eats and so nice not to have to cook. It was nice to visit with the GGs and see how Tony and Matteo have grown in 2 weeks - TeTe is crawling! Mom and Dad offered to keep the kids for an overnight, too. Rob and I came home and watched the closing ceremony which was like a dance party of my youth. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree