Weekend Fun

We had a nice, quiet weekend at home. The kids enjoyed painting pumpkins on Saturday. Grandma Sue even stopped by and was able to help. 

It takes a lot of concentration to paint a pumpkin!

We took a walk through the community garden.  There is one plot with the most beautiful Dahlia's I've ever seen- they are huge!

Here are some pretty yellow ones. 

It's difficult to get them to look at the camera- at least they are looking in the same direction.

Lucia sitting on top of one of the big cement tube things at the playground- so proud!

Mamma's Motorcycle Ride!

I was able to go on a motorcycle ride with my father-in-law last night- it was awesome!  Ethan had a great time trying out the helmet and sitting on the bike before we left. 

He's pretty cute sitting on that bike!

Here we go!  Grandpa Dave took me on the highway- that was thrilling!  It was hard not to think about how little there is between you and the road and other cars- I felt very exposed without the protection of a car surrounding me.  Despite that- it was still very fun!  Thanks for the fun ride Dave- hopefully I can go again before it get too cold!

Saturday Evening

It was a great weekend here in GR- Jim and I took the kids downtown on Saturday to check out some of the Art Prize entries that have gone up.  The kids enjoyed the penguins in the fountain at the Ford Museum. 

Ethan was pretty brave and stood next to the dragon for me!

Enjoying some ice cream near Rosa Park circle. 

Lucia shared my chocolate covered banana (it was my first, and also my last- I didn't think it was that good).  She also had some of Ethan's superman ice cream.

Ethan and daddy walking across the bridge by the Devos Place.  It was a nice night, I can't wait to check out more of the Art Prize entries!

Aunt Cecca Plays Softball

Aunt Cecca is playing on a softball league this year.  Last Tuesday evening, Lucia, Ethan, Grandpa, Jarrod, and I went to cheer her (and the team) on.  Our cheers must have worked- they won their first game!

Cecca getting ready to bat

Lucia and Grandpa- it was a beautiful evening to watch a game!

1st Day of Preschool

Ethan started preschool last week.  He is doing 3/days per week this year.  I was a little worried on how he would do b/c at the end of last year he had some separation issues and would cry and not want to go when we would drop him off.  This year he is doing great! (let's hope it continues!). 

Smores!

We had a fire in the backyard last weekend and enjoyed some smores.  Lucia was a sticky mess!

Pie Party 2012

Nick and Sunny held the 2nd Annual Great Pie Debate over Labor Day Weekend this year.  The entries were limited to fruit pies with homemade crusts this year.  I made a Plum and Mascarpone Pie.  It took 2nd place!

The kids enjoyed activities like the coloring table- Aunt Sunny is always very prepared with kid games/activities!

Lucia being Lucia, enjoying some watermelon.

Aunt Francesca and Freida

All the pies laid out and ready to be judged.  Someone brought a store bought pie- they must not have gotten the memo :-)

I decided to practice my hula hoop skills.  It's a lot harder than it looks!

Aunt Rina decided to try too.  We could not get the hoops to continue to loop around our bodies as they did when we were kids.  We concluded that these hoops were the kid sized hoops and we would have better luck with adult sized hula hoops!  That's our theory anyway!

Potato sack race- the kids did great!

My little lady is growing up!

Aunt Claire came to Michigan for a visit this year (Grandpa Vinnie's sister).  We had a great time hanging out with you Aunt Claire- come back soon!

Labor Day Weekend- Hoffmaster

Jim and I took the kids to Hoffmaster last Friday.  Grandma and Grandpa were camping, so we got to enjoy the camper beach again.  Here's Lucia running through the little lagoon that the creek cuts into the beach.  They both loved playing in that lagoon/creek- I love the camper beach for that reason!

Pourin' sand in a bucket of water.

Ethan showing off his skills on his boogie board.  We did go out into the big lake to ride some waves- they were actually pretty big on Friday. 

Giving his sister a ride, what a good big brother!

Chi-Town!

Last week, Francesca and I took Ethan and Lucia to Chicago so we could babysit Chiara and James' children while they partied attended a work conference.    

We stayed in a hotel in the Merchandise Mart- it had a great view of the river.  Here is Ethan, Norah, Lucia, and Luca on the night we arrived (Susannah was sleeping).  The cousins were pretty excited to see each other!

Francesca and I decided to take the kids to Navy Pier- it was a bit of a hike from the hotel, but the kids did great (Norah did break down once on the way to Navy Pier stating "I don't like Chicago downtown!")  Promises of swimming in the hotel pool got them through the return walk!

We did not see a "Do Not Touch" sign!  A bunch of canoes stringed together is just too tempting- kids have to bang on them!

Navy Pier! 

End of the Pier with Chicago in the back- what a lovely city!

Ice cream makes everything better!

"I ee oa!" (Luca: I see boats!).  Our hotel rooms had great views of the Chicago River.  Luca would love to stand in the window and watch the boats go by- all the kids did actually! 

Goodnight Chicago!

We had a fun time- it was a bit hectic w/ 5 kids and two adult- but the alcohol helped- just kidding, or not.