Cousins Camp

 Last summer, the boys got to vacation and have their pool time in Florida at the beach house we rented.  It was an awfully long drive for two short days at the beach versus how much fun they had playing in the pool.   So this year we were glad to have the pool and just have Jake come stay with us!  Plus then the grandparents could come visit and catch two grandsons for a two-fer.

Pool, fire pit, eating outside, and video games were on tap for the two of them.  Once Grandpa Ed arrived, he schooled all of us in some pool basketball!

The boys and I also did a day trip to Chicago to the Museum of Science and Industry including the Lego bricks exhibit which was really cool.  I fed them well, as well.  Before we left we had brunch at a new Brookdale diner.   And on our way back home we stopped in Oak Brook at The Cheesecake Factory for a massive lunch.   I was then subjected to 20 minutes of toilet humor on the rest of the ride home. 

 

The boys wanted to do the VR which was fine.  I was most excited about the U-Boat tour.  We've done it before but the subject fascinates me and I learn something new every time!

Boy Scout Camp

William's Boy Scout troop did their week of summer camp this year at Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan in Wisconsin.   He got to debut a new mosquito net and backpack - and of course the next size up hiking boots!   He was in between sizes on the uniform pants and chose to go with the shorter pair since the looked "okay" with the hiking boots on - or so I'm telling myself!

While he was away, our big excitement was...nothing.  Just two old people and a dog lounging in the sunroom wondering what their boy is doing!   Although we did FINALLY get our stove delivered!  John ended up having to install it himself because while we could get a delivery window, the installer window was still weeks out.   Since I did groceries that week and was missing my boy tremendously, I bought him all sorts of chocolate chips hoping his debut bake would be cookies when he got home!

I like that his troop goes to a different camp each year and gets to try out different places and different activities.   He was excited about some of the merit badges he was working on, and the chance to finish some of the shooting sports and archery from the summer prior.   With the way this camp was spread out he didn't get to do the prior year clean-up but he did get several of this year's done.  And clearly he had a lot of fun based on what those toes looked like when he returned.   Because he assures me he did shower at least once.   I don't recall what was confirmed for teeth brushing.   Just that I told him to leave the retainer at home for the week because I didn't want to lost.

After a shower, we was very excited to examine that supply of chocolate chips and then to hit the pool!

We had gotten a call on day two that he had didn't feel well / had a fever and was being isolated as a COVID precaution, but he didn't ever test positive and didn't want to leave.  He felt fine after a day and a half and resumed his activities.   I think the real takeaway was that he ended up getting his own tent for the rest of the week but that he got to participate in all the activities of camp.  There did end up being several kids who tested positive for COVID after camp - as with any large group event - so he may have had it and brought it home.  I ended up with it about 2 1/2 week after he got home  (and John a few days later from me) so not sure if it was camp carryover or from my commuting to the city or any other part of daily life.

Little League Wrap-up

William's Little League team was a lot of fun to watch this year.   We were nervous going into the year since it was a new-to-us coach and team.   There were a few boys from his class so that ended up being great.   And the coach was old school - which was awesome from a coaching perspective and annoying from a parent communication about practices perspective (hello, Hotmail!).   But the coaching and mentoring the young guys was the more important part and I was really pleased with the season.   William had a solid season and although his bat wasn't as hot as last year, he was a better fielder than in years past.   The boys finished one point out of the championship game.   Super tough loss.  And William was the last out of the last game - tagged out stealing 3rd base.   Really hard to tell under the lights and across the field but none of us thought he was out.   But that wasn't at all the point.  They had battled back to be within the 1 score, so the fact that he was within position to tie was what it was.   I wished he'd had the opportunity for the championship game because he didn't get to play when his Brookdale team won it last year, as we were in Florida on vacation.   And this is likely his last year of Little League.   But, good experiences across the board with Little League.   And although I missed my Brookdale mom friends, it was nice to meet some new people.  

And, since we didn't have a championship game to play that weekend, we had the team and families over for a pool party!   Pizza and swimming helped everyone forget there wasn't a baseball game being played!

Cinquo de Junio

 May wasn't very warm.   We were overly optimistic with the pool opening date.    And then post-Disney, I got pneumonia so certainly wasn't ready to swim or host any parties around Cinco de Mayo.    Therefore, we finally had a housewarming/kitchen debut/pool party for the 5th of June!   We had a combination of former Brookdale neighbors as well as my friends from the office who were able to join.   I made my famous margaritas as well as the Surly Sarlaac from Disney (masquerading as "Raspberry Mango Lemonade" for the uninitiated).    Food was anchored by Chipotle build your own bowl catering and a massive amount of chips and guacamole.   I ended up eating chips and salsa and guac for three more days, but otherwise think the right amount of food was ordered!  I didn't even get a picture of the food since it came out without much fanfare when the kids were hungry and the adults wanted to have adult swim!

I took a picture of our herbs that are doing so well.  The combination of rain and heat has really made them take off.  We have parsley, oregano, basil, chives here, and then lettuce and tomato plants on the other side of the deck.   The lettuce is also doing well.  The tomatoes are tall, but I'm not optimistic about the fruit since I don't see any buds.

William's 13th Birthday

My baby boy is now a teenager!  His birthday was the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, so we were able to have family in town for several days.   They got to partake in a Little League game and we ate out for hibachi, which is his favorite food!  Other highlights were that I made an Oreo flavored cake, and we were dog sitting Rosie, so she got in on the weekend of fun, too!

On his actual birthday, William hosted a pool party for his school friends.   His three best friends couldn't make it (one boy was out recovering from COVID; one was hiding from COVID before their much delayed and finally rescheduled family vacation to Italy the next weeks; and one was at their lake house for the holiday weekend), but frankly with the 4 boys that were able to make it, we had a great entre into hosting pool parties!    

For his birthday gift, the week before he had chosen a trip to Target to pick out Lego and Halo sets, as well as powdered sugar and chocolate plastic glazed mini donuts!  He was in heaven!   Mom and Dad thought that was pretty easy, too!

It's crazy to watch him growing up, but wow, do we love this kid!

Ryan and Tarek were staying with us and so we had another pool party on Monday - ok, maybe you just call it a pool day when it's the people who live here....