Summer Visitors

Since summer is rapidly drawing to a close, I think I'd better finish up my summer blog posts. And since my bad foot is keeping me from doing all the stuff around the house that I SHOULD be doing, I'll take advantage of the time and do some blogging.

Just the week after our time at the lake, Rachel and the kids came for a few days while Adam had to be out of town for work. We found some fun things to do. The pool at Wirth Park was a big hit with both Jeremiah and Hope!

                                          Jeremiah loved the sand area.

Sand and water--a great combination!

We also went to Mayfair Mall to see a big Lego exhibit that was there at the time. All the major buildings from Washington DC were made out of Legos, and it was pretty impressive to see. 

Miller Park made out of Legos

(not part of the official traveling exhibit)

There was a place where kids could build their own Lego vehicles. We saved this part for last, and Jeremiah couldn't wait to get there!

                                             A test run down the track

Jeremiah also had fun playing in the sprinkler.

                                           Bath time in the pink bath tub

Hope's morning hairdo :)

Getting all prettied up!

Hope's favorite spot--under the coffee table!

Watching Grandpa mow the lawn--this may

have been the highlight for Jeremiah. :)

No summer visit would be complete 

without a stop at Kopps!

Summer 2015---Lake House, Part 6

Our time went by all too fast, and before we knew it, Friday had arrived and it was time to pack up and leave.  A family vacation would not be complete without some of Grandpa's pancakes, so we got that in yet on Friday.

The pancake master...

....and his apprentice

I think we all lingered over breakfast,

hoping to delay the inevitable.

One last pic of G'ma and G'pa with the grandkids.

(I don't know why we always wait until the last day to do this.)

Saying good-bye  :(

Ben left in the morning, Abby and Neil didn't leave because they were going to be there with friends for the week-end.  The rest of us left after lunch and went to a hotel near Midway airport.  So we had some time together at the hotel and dinner at Portillo's.  Matt and Cheryl had an early flight the next morning out of Midway, and after breakfast at the hotel the Wissinks left for Michigan and we headed to Wisconsin.

Watching some TV--we also had popcorn!

A sad good-bye hug  :(  :(

A fist bump for the guys

And to close out my final installment, here are a few pictures of the beautiful place where we were blessed to spend our family vacation. 

It was an absolutely wonderful week!!!  There is nothing better than having the whole family together!!!

Summer 2015---Lake House, Part 5

This post is just going to be a bunch or random pictures---mostly of the kids---of what was going on when we weren't out by the lake or on the boat, etc.  There was lots of game-playing and lots of time spent playing with Hope. (The quality of some of these pictures is not great--sometimes due to the photographer and sometimes due to children who move quickly.)

Evan and I were the early risers of the group. Most days I was the first one up, and Evan would join me quite soon.  But one morning I got up and he was just sitting by himself in the living room. So he had some quality time with Grandma....

...and sometimes with Grandpa.

 Aunt Abby is reading the directions.

Looks like they figured it out.

Hope learned to crawl while we were at the lake house, and she could not have had a more enthusiastic audience for this achievement!!

                                              A little enticement helps,

like a cell phone...

...or a water bottle.

Silly kids with slinkies

I have no idea why all the pictures are centered except for that one. It happened when I was doing some editing, and I could not figure out how to get it back in position.  Oh, well.....