Barrington – Toadfrogs & Elephants

21 Oct

Through The Years

After my last post, I thought it might be fun to look back at all the pumpkin carving parties through the years. It turns out that the locations, people, photography, and camera quality have changed drastically over the years.

I’m not going to list the people, but here are the locations and years. 2008 was a slim “party” (no offense Judy and Jerry) but we are still going to call it one!). 2009 I have tons of pictures from during the party but didn’t manage to get everyone outside for a picture before many people went home. I have learned a lot and now try to take a picture early in the evening. Now I’m really regretting not having one in 2017!

2004 – Atlanta, GA
2005 – Atlanta, GA
2006 – Anderson, SC
2007 – Anderson, SC
2008 – Milwaukee, WI
2009 – Milwaukee, WI
2010 – Milwaukee, WI
2011 – Milwaukee, WI
2012 – Milwaukee, WI
2013 – Milwaukee, WI
2014 – Platte City, MO
2015 – Barrington, IL
2016 – Barrington, IL
2017 – No party
2018 – Grafton, MA

26 Sep

7 Years

We’ve had 7 years with Teague and we celebrate every day of it!

07 Aug

The Lake – Take Two

The boys spent the night with Leah and AJ so I only had the youngest in the hotel with me. They were up at a decent hour so we decided to head to the beach and play. I set Ben’s pack and play up and he took a morning nap in the shade. All of our friends from yesterday were able to come today and before too long we had a party at the beach. We played and swam and talked and ate. The clouds eventually rolled in but they timed it perfectly with when we needed to head back to Milwaukee. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day!

06 Aug

Barrington – The Lake

The kids and I drove back to Timberlake Estates today. We were hoping for sunny weather but had a dreary arrival. We cancelled our plans for the beach and hung out with our old neighbors and their new bunny. Then the sun seemed to want to come out and we quickly threw on our swim suits and headed for the lake.

26 Sep

5 Years!

We are thankful every year on this day that Teague came into our lives.

Past Korea Day Pictures.

21 Jun

The Sweetest

Several of my friends gave me small presents before we left, but I didn’t get a chance to fully appreciate them until I got to Paducah and could sit down with them today.

I am forever grateful that Teague made a friend in Jake because his mom, Mary, is one of my favorite Chicago people. We are fairly similar in parenting and life philosophies and always have a good time together. She and her crew stopped by the beach one last time yesterday and left us with a goody bag for the trip. There was something for everyone and a letter for me that truly made me tear up. (If you know me, you know this is highly unusual.) She also suggested a quick picture and I think it’s the only one I have of the two of us.

As we were literally walking out the door for the final time, Maria brought over two books for the kids. These are two of my favorite gifts ever! I don’t think she could have picked two more appropriate ones that summed up some of our favorite neighbor activities.

Then I opened them and saw the pictures and signatures. She also made bookmarks out of pictures of AJ and Leah with their favorite neighbor memories on the back. We will treasure these always.

20 Jun

Final Good-Bye

It’s a little hard to believe but today was our last day in Barrington. I had the kids packed for a trip to their grandparents and then I got us all ready for a last day at the beach. Our Milwaukee friends arrived and we spent the morning and afternoon playing. We had a solid 15 minute rain shower but we just huddled under umbrellas and waited it out. I completely forgot about Kaitlyn’s nap and she took care of that herself. We had a few extra visitors stop by and then it was back to the house for a final change of clothes and loading of the car. I think this leaving might have even been a little more emotional for me than our initial move from Milwaukee.

19 Jun

Last Official Beach Playdate

Today is our last full day in Barrington. We invited everyone we could think of for one last playdate at the beach (except our Milwaukee friends – they are coming tomorrow). The weather wasn’t ideal but we were thankful so many people came to play and say good-bye.

18 Jun

First Good-bye

We said our first good-bye today. Our neighbor, Johnny, is leaving for camp and will be gone the entire week. (Our last day is Tuesday.) These kids have loved being neighbors and will be impossible to replace.

17 Jun

Pink Cake And Presents

Kaitlyn has been talking about her birthday since the boys had theirs in February. Her biggest requests were a party, pink cake, and presents. We decided to celebrate a few weeks early so that she could have a “real” party with her Chicago and Milwaukee friends. Hoping to make my life a little easier, I planned a beach birthday party and prayed for sun. We pulled up to the parking lot 15 minutes before her party and sat and watched it pour.

Miraculously the sun came out 5 minutes before her party was supposed to start and stayed out till just after her party ended. Nobody was scared off by the rain and everyone showed up to help us celebrate.

10 Jun

Milwaukee Comes To The Beach

Knowing our time is short, we are spending every last minute with friends. Today the Strouds and Kubickis joined us at the beach. (And it was marginally warmer so I gritted my teeth and got a dock picture.)

09 Jun

Beach Monsters

Alex and Ruby thought it was hilarious to get wet and then roll in the sand…

You’ll note they all got wet but I still haven’t wanted to venture out into that freezing water for a real dock picture. Hopefully soon.

06 Jun

Organizing

We got home last night and there were a few Amazon boxes waiting for us. Teague and Kaitlyn were nice enough to sort and store all the fruit pouches while I cooked breakfast.

31 May

School’s Out

We have been waiting and waiting and today Alex is finally out of school for the summer! We have loved our last-day-of-school tradition of silly string and ice cream. I hate that it won’t be with the same awesome friends next year.

And just to be clear what happened today. Here’s an AM picture and a PM picture.

29 May

Memorial Day With Friends

Knowing our last holiday in this house is Memorial Day, we decided to invite our Milwaukee friends and hope for warm weather. (This year has been slow to warm up.) Thankfully the day was pretty – even if the water was too cold for me! Our friends spent the afternoon at the beach and the evening at our house. We were having so much fun I completely forgot about Kaitlyn’s nap, but she went ahead and took one on her own. Then she was back up and playing with her friends.

27 May

Backyard View

I looked out my kitchen window this morning and just stood in awe.

26 May

Beach Day

I had planned a beach morning for all of Teague’s best buddies from school. It should have been perfect – no big siblings, schools out. Instead it was overcast and cool – very cool. We made the best of it anyway and those crazy boys even ended up in the water.

21 May

Full Circle

When I was a little girl (maybe around 6 years old), I vividly remember spending an afternoon trying to throw rocks from our patio area to the roof. Unfortunately there happened to be a wall of windows beneath the roof and I inevitably missed the roof and hit the window. I knew I was in trouble and my parents made me pay $6 to have it fixed (of course it took me years to realize the actual cost was more like several hundred).

Today Alex was outside playing and evidently trying to throw rocks onto the roof. I heard the sound of glass breaking and came running. I couldn’t even be mad. (We also made him pay and a little more than the $6 I had to pay.)

18 May

Afternoon Beach Play

Knowing this is our last summer at this beach (sniff, sniff) we are trying to make the most of it.

16 May

Beach Play Date

We had an usually warm day when the girls weren’t in school. I arranged a beach playdate and the girls had a blast.

15 May

Wacky Sock Day

Teague’s class has been having an ABC countdown to the last day of school. Today was Wacky Sock Day.

14 May

Mother’s Day

Our church had the cutest photo booth set up for Mother’s Day.

13 May

Following Directions

I was very clear before we left the house that we were going to play in the sand. No one was supposed to go in the water…

11 May

MOPS

I have been in a MOPS group the last several years but always in a different city or church. This year I am doing MOPS through Heritage Church (our church) and loving it! It’s one of the most involved groups I have been in and also the largest. I agreed to be a table leader for the year and this is my group!

10 May

Here We Go

Our house is officially on the market. I’m hoping it sells quickly mostly because I can’t maintain a “show ready” house for long.

08 May

Pink Please

Kaitlyn orders her ice cream by color – not flavor. Lately it’s always, “pink please.”

07 May

A Car Wash – On A Chilly Day

These kids are so ready for warm weather that they are making it happen. It was definitely too cold for a car wash but who was I to say no? They washed two cars and then tried to “sunbathe” but ended up wrapped in their towels instead.

06 May

All Sibling Fort Fun

The new favorite thing in our house is building forts which usually turns into jumping on the couch and throwing pillows. Today all three joined in on the fun.

05 May

Ballet Rehearsal – 2 Year Old Style

This perfectly sums up how I anticipate the 2-4 year old dance routine will go.

04 May

My List

I’m not a great meal planner. I tend to buy staples every week in a big grocery run and then the day of focus on dinner for that night. This almost always requires an additional quick trip to the grocery or having Wade pick up something on his way home from work. The exception is when we have guests to visit. Then I actually plan out meals and try to have everything in the house. (Things go so much smoother you think I would adopt this for all time, but nope.) Today I was working on my grocery list for the weekend and Kaitlyn wanted to help. Maybe she’ll end up being better at this someday than I am.

03 May

Hopscotch

I’m not sure my children have ever played hopscotch. There was a game set up outside of school today and all the boys loved jumping and hopping.

01 May

Sneaky Nap

Sneaky nap strikes again.

30 Apr

Bakers

These guys were so excited about their new aprons from the party yesterday that they wanted to bake today. I of course agreed and then left them alone to make cookies.

29 Apr

Ballet Costumes

Kaitlyn had her official pictures taken today for her ballet recital. Several of her preschool friends are in her dance class so they love to get together. We spent a rainy afternoon waiting our turn but the girls had a blast and I can’t wait to see the official pictures.

27 Apr

Family Pictures

I have been admiring Amy Tripple‘s photographs for quite a while. When we first realized we would most likely be moving, I booked a family photo session. I got the pictures and love them!

26 Apr

Smallest Baker

Teague loves to bake and does so often. He’s great about letting Kaitlyn help when she asks. Today Kaitlyn wanted to bake and could not be convinced to let Teague help. He took it well and we all ended up with bran muffins.

25 Apr

The Sweetest

Little girl playdates are so different from little boy ones. These girls are in preschool together and have had an awesome year. Today we got together and they colored, played dolls, and are now blowing bubbles.

23 Apr

Girls’ Night

At the Masquerade a few weeks ago, I won a sign making party during the silent auction. Amber, Nicki, and Maria joined me and tonight we made signs!

22 Apr

Birthday Time

Let’s celebrate my birthday!!

21 Apr

Entertainment

Kaitlyn is so easy to entertain. Today she wanted to play in the water. Done!

20 Apr

Happy Birthday To Me

Wade is out of town so I wasn’t planning to really celebrate my birthday till this weekend. Amber and I had arranged a playdate this afternoon and that included dinner. I figured that would be a great way to celebrate. Imagine my surprise when she also showed up with a cake – made by one of my favorite people. Yum! Happy Birthday to me.

18 Apr

Errands

Kaitlyn is a wonderful napper – in her own bed. I have never been able to transfer her from car to bed or vice versa. She also doesn’t sleep in the car more than 30 minutes (compared to a 3 hour nap in her crib). Teague has long ago given up naps, but can always be counted on for a snooze if we are in the car after about 3 pm. Imagine my surprise when we to to Alex’s appointment and I went to get the two youngest out of the car. Kaitlyn had already had a 2 hour nap, but apparently wasn’t quite done and Teague joined her.

17 Apr

Mommy And Me

When a local photographer, Emily Hernandez, offered “Mommy and Me” pictures I gladly signed up. It’s hard to be in pictures and I rarely have fun ones with just Kaitlyn. Included in this session was someone to do my hair and makeup – even better!

16 Apr

Easter

Today is Easter. The kids patiently waited at the top of the stairs for me to take a picture before diving into their Easter Baskets. Then we dressed up and headed to Church. I demanded a picture afterwards and then we had a wonderful family meal afterwards. Happy day.

14 Apr