QT in MI

mmmmm.........s'mores

Quality time is an understatement in this case when we are talking 7 days, 1 house, 27 people plus 1 exchange student, and 3 dogs, but quality time it was.

When my brother and his family were "in town" we ALL high tailed it up to Michigan for the 4th of July week for some much desired TOGETHERNESS. Although the pictures don't capture all the laughter, food, crowdedness, tubing, swimming, skiing, drinks, and laughter, memories were definitely created for all and the time spent together was well worth it.

Luca was surrounded by many nature loving cousins who fit right up his alley...
Here's my boy treating a butterfly with such tenderness (if only he treated his brother the same way)

The ride of their lives! Nonnie's crazy idea turned into a great one...Anna is pedaling the bike as fast as she could down a hill with the wagon attached filled with as many kids as her legs can handle. It was thrilling for all (even as a spectator) and remarkably no one got hurt (can't say the same about the soccer game that took place in the exact same field later that week)

2011 ~ Same place same time?

Buds

My brother, Carrie and the kids were in town not too long ago. It was so fun seeing Nico and Elsa side by side! These cousins are only 4 weeks apart, and the last time they saw each other was last summer when they were just infants!
These 2 spent lots of quality time together during their visit, and thanks to Elsa, Nico is now a walker!

Feeling Hot Hot Hot!

Have you been outside lately? It's been a little toasty! Good thing we have a baby pool, plenty of babies and plenty of water to cool us off.

Yes Nico, Vinny has nipples too.

Vinny, Nico and Luca had a blast in the pool. Annie actually had to get in the pool to keep these 2 newish walkers above the water...I don't think she minded on this hot day. (Ava stayed cool snoozing inside in the AC).

Hey ladies ~ check me out!

Rockin' Out

The boys now have matching rocking chairs, thanks to special 1st birthday gifts from Nonnie and Papa. Nico thinks he's so big to crawl on and off by himself, and Luca has found a new love for his now that Nico has one too. Doesn't he look like such a big boy?!?

Dad's Day

As usual, Father's Day was spent running around, but this father couldn't have asked for anything more special than spending time with his boys. Happy Father's Day to the greatest daddy ever!

Cool Baby!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Luca and Daddy were lucky boys back in June (I know, it's been awhile...). They were invited by Luca's friend Finn (and Mike's co-worker Peter) to attend a father/son event at Wrigley Field. Finn (bottom row, on left in the blue and red jersey) even got to throw out the first pitch! The boys enjoyed some time on the field before the game, watched batting practicing, and enjoyed the game from a skybox. Jealous?

This wasn't Luca's first ball game (that was Papa's for his birthday at the Sox game)...but the first one that counted (it was the CUBS!)...and the most important!

Uh Luca? I think the game is the other way!

Sitting in a box comes with benefits...including all the food and drink any boy (and dad) can ask for. From what I was told, Luca ate his way through the entire game.

Ice cream,

cotton candy,


and no baseball game is complete without peanuts.

As reported, he also washed it all down with a soda or two (good thing mom wasn't around!)
Poor kid is going to think every ball game is like this!

Not only did he get to eat til his heart was content, he saw a great win, sang "Go Cubs Go", AND got to slide down the fireman's pole at the Waveland Fire Station. Sounds like any boy's dream day.

And from the looks of it, his dream day tired him out for the long drive home (job well done, dad!)

Do you think he's dreaming of being a baseball player or a firefighter when he grows up?

Big Brother/Little Brother...for the day

My nephew Cade spent the day with us not too long ago...both Luca and Cade enjoyed the time equally...Luca finally had a big brother, and Cade finally WAS the big brother!

Happy Birthday Boy

I can't even believe it's been 1 year (and 1 month now) since this angel baby has been in our lives! On June 13th, we celebrated a very happy 1st birthday. Surrounded by 85 of our closest friends and family (and honestly, it was close!) we could not have asked for anything more...

A juggler/magician/balloon artist kept the adults and kids alike VERY entertained...and good thing too, considering our outside party turned inside about 15 minutes before the guests arrived due to a thunderstorm.

But all was good, thanks to live entertainment (and a finished basement).

Nico was one of the happiest birthday boys, which really wasn't much of a surprise, but a treat none the less. He even allowed a special design to be painted on his face - just like the big kids!

Nonnie and I worked long and hard on this special cake. The combination of humidity and sheer weight of the layers made it slouch a little...but hey, it fits with the whimsical carnival theme our party was going for!

Despite weeks of successful blowing, Nico failed to blow out his birthday candle (it seems he freezes under pressure...). Thankfully there were plenty of breaths waiting in the wings to assist this b-day boy.

He may not have blown out his candles, but he did not disappoint when it came to eating his cake.

All it took was 1 taste...

...and the rest was...

...history!

I literally had to cut him off, but as you can tell by the look on his face, he *blissfully* had enough.

What a blessing this little boy is to our lives. Happy birthday lovebug!