Packed

I'll start with Jason's creation from last night...

Teeny raviolis with grilled zucchini, peppers, broccoli, spinach, basil and sun-dried tomatoes and the essential sidekicks a baguette, olive oil and chilled white - it's HOT this week.

Summer...wanted to make a little post before we go on an up north rendezvous tour.

We met the blonde Hoffes at Kids Night at the Zoo and Graham and I did their new climbing deal - really cool.  And of course the goats - Estelle's first time and she's a brave little soul!

Camping at Kohler Andrae Park along Lake Michigan - the gals joined for camp dinner but just the boys stayed overnight along with biking, swimming, fishing and hiking!

And we had some family time with my Mom at Wood Lake and Madison and with my Dad and Aunt Kathy

More summer.

Graham has 'Eco-kids' camp at the Urban Ecology Center a couple blocks away this week.  He loves it, what a great program.  Estelle is adding to her vocabulary and her frequency of crying.  She kind of says 'jet' when we see one or when Graham gets her going G: "Nunu, say 'jet'", E: 'deh', G: 'nunu', E: 'deh', she anticipates him asking her to say jet.  So funny.  Probably one of those things that we think is so cute and hilarious but sounds stupid when I write it out.  Oh well.

We got a night away in the big city with the Schicaago Schuurmans last Saturday.  Grandparents are amazing.  Amazing.  I feel so indebted!  We shopped briefly with Mary and her Aunt and Mom followed by the architectural tour along the Chicago (right?) River (BREATHTAKING), had a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres on Rush (BLISS), took inventory back at the condo (HOLY VIEW, THANK YOU BESTS) and headed to dinner at Perennial (FANTASTIC) for some fare and to the Kingston Mines (INCREDIBLE) for a bit of true Chicago blues by the 'Big James and the Chicago Playboys' (THE REAL DEAL).  The last set was at 3:15 a.m., I believe...we were gone by then but not by too much, yikes.  That Chicago bar time is too late for a bunch of parents.  Nevertheless, we managed to have a ball and made it to an awesome brunch at a biker bar.  Bloody Mary?  No thank you.  OJ and eggs will do for mommy.

On the tour - but the best building, not pictured, was an award winning one - a woman architect with 'undulating' balconies (yes, it was 'balconized' - that was a buzz word for the docent) and also designed to be bird-friendly.  Neato.

Perennial - wow, what a restaurant.

Jason looked like a waiter, couldn't resist taking a picture...

AAaaaannnnnnddd nothing about food again.  Other than Perennial - sourced from a farm in IL - beautiful and creative and really delicious.  Very unique and awesome dining experience.

I'll get back on track with Jason's creations - there hasn't been a shortage.  His prepping and planting toil, and patience and dedication is paying off on the early garden harvesting.

Holiday-ee Celebray-eet

Summah summah summah tah-ime...sing writing.  The weather has been just so sweet.  Today was too much.  So fantastic.  Upper seventies (by us at least), sunny and slightly breezy.  We hit the bikes twice today - once west to Riverside Park and the bike trail behind it to the Lake and then east in the evening to Lake Park where we were delighted to see a kids' 'band' starting right as we were cruising by!

So yes, holiday - the fourth of July!  So fun.  Graham had a solo visit with Nana and Papa starting Wednesday and we headed up to EC Friday to retrieve him and hang out for a couple days.  We swam in Jones' pool - Happy Birthday Karen, swam and boated lakeside, went to the Stone Barn - an eden about an hour from EC where they make pizzas and serve them in...the Stone Barn.  Succulent place.  We celebrated Mary (Nana's) birthday there!  Yahooooo!

Drove back w/o a hitch on Sunday and bbq'd with the Schuurmans - fantastic, did the 4th of July parade up Newberry into Lake Park for ice cream and games, went to the Blanchard's extravaganza of a party.  Ann.  I'm in awe - the attendance, fare, kids' games, decor, beverages, participation, the waterslide, I mean - hard to believe.  Talented woman.

Jason was back to the grind at 4:30am Tuesday to catch a flight for two nights in SLC.  My Mom came to hang out for a night.  Graham and Nanny are two peas in a pod.  Nanny needed a little rest after playing with Graham 110% for hours and I tried to keep the kiddos subdued but Graham insisted first on bringing a fan in and positioned just right by the bed for Nanny, then he brought her some water, then brought some ice for it, then brought her an extra blanket followed by a hand picked petite bouquet of flowers.  True love.  What a love bug. A little gentleman - chivalry is not dead.

Estelle is full-on walking now.  She eats like a sumo-wrestler and somehow remains a peanut so far.  She (and Graham) loves a bike ride, checking out the backyard and park and has little conversations now full of inflection.  What a blessing.  I still call her my baby even though she's been a toddler for a while now - I suppose I will forever maybe!  Graham's still my baby, too.  Two angels from heaven.  Thank you Jesus.

And whoa, now this is outdated...7/12/11 today...and there's nothing about food - here - a lot of grilling and a lot of lettuce and pea pods from the garden!