Summer camp

NiNi's first summer camp experience.  4 days, 3 nights in Cincinnati.  She had a blast with her besties and came home to declare, "Mom, I am a changed woman!" 

Chicago - vacation part II

We packed a week's worth of Chicago touristy stuff into 3 days.  Was the most exhausting vacation I can remember, but as Chris likes to remind me, I can't be a homebody all the time!

At the Sears Tower- now Willis tower 

Standing on "the ledge." 

I could only tolerate a few seconds while my stomach was doing flip flops 

Rainforest cafe'

Meagan's favorite part of the trip - the Art Institute.  Dad ended up taking the little kids to the snack bar for an hour and a half while Meagan and I pored over each exhibit. 

Nini getting ready to ride the L train - another of her "dreams come true" as she says. Luckily for us she has pretty low standards 

All the kids had to share 1 bed at the hotel. They thought it was annoying. I thought it was sweet! 

Navy Pier 

Holiday world - vacation part I

For the first part of our vacation we hit holiday world, Marengo cave and (for my history buff hubby) Lincoln's boyhood home.  Did you know Lincoln's mother died of "milk sickness" which was quite a mystery back then but was really caused by the cows eating a poisonous plant? Everyone was so afraid of it that the Lincoln family moved to Illinois and the rest is history. Too bad Indiana had to get such a bad rap- it was the darn cows! Anyway, I was apparently having too much fun to take many pictures. 

More McKenzie

Summer misc.

Strawberry picking 

Made 12 jars of freezer jam!

The next several pictures are out of order but give you an idea of our MAJOR home improvement project this summer .  I have been wanting built in shelves for the wall in the family room ever since we moved in.  Read where another blogger had converted IKEA billy book shelves so that they look "built in" and I had my mind made up. Luckily we have good friends who have nice tools.  And Chris provided the brute strength. Meagan helped me with the endless stenciling on the backs.  They are far from perfect but I love the result and managed to do it all for under $450