Trips

We once again headed to Wisconsin to celebrate the birth of the nation.

Mary was showing off her how good she is at being 2.

A back-lite picture of Mary and Grandma Jan.

Lake life is rough.

Love to count!

Patrick had fun with the dogs.

Grandpa gave the kids these awesome pewter mugs.  The kids enjoyed doing shots of milk with Mary's mug.

Again, lake life is rough.

We also took a day trip down to Springfield to finish up a merit badge for Patrick.  Here are several pictures from the Illinois State Capitol.

Our tour guide seemed to know a lot but she talked very fast so it was hard to catch everything she said.  The kids were blown away but the detail and artistry of the building.  George was not a fan of the open doom and had to be carried (by me) at times so I could see him.

Okay, that's all the picture on my phone from this summer.  Come back soon and I should have more of our upcoming trip to Iowa.

Summer

Our summer has been busy with swim team, softball, XC practice, summer reading, five kids and a dog.  Our picture was in the Peoria Journal Star as we listened to the Peoria Municipal Band.

Mary and Lia posed for a picture with me as we waited at the sleep lab.

Mike made a trip to Kenosha and brought home a new van, as in 2018!  In the short time we've had it, two kids and the dog have been sick in it.  I guess we'll keep it.

Tilly and Mary hanging out.

Mike and Pat are ready to go to Boy Scout camp.

These girls sold lemonade to raise money for Build Hope in Kids-Uganda.  

George refused to cut his hair for much of the summer but I couldn't take it any more.  This is the before picture.

And the much better after.

Nap time.

Speaking of hair cuts, Lia decide to do it herself.  Her mother was NOT happy.

I found Mary like this the other morning.

Mary shut her hand in the door and decided putting the ice on her head was better than just her hand.

Becca and her friends drew the Heart of Te Feti on the sidewalk.

She also cut out and decorated this cake for AHG.

Mike and I were able to have  night out.

Becca also made a puppet show to tell the story of Noah's Ark for another AHG badge, complete with scene changes.

I didn't get to many softball games or swim meets.  When I did, I didn't bother to take pictures.  Becca did very well and improved a bunch at swimming this summer.  She had decided to join Patrick on the Cross Country team this fall.  Hopefully they'll act like teammates and not siblings.  The bickering has been intense this summer with lots of fun sprinkled on top.  School starts in just over two weeks.

Tilly

This post is sooo long over due.  I took these pictures back in late May/early June.  But let me introduce you to the latest addition to our family: Matilda Louise Hatton or Tilly.  We meet Tilly at the county animal shelter (P.A.W.S.) and she was a bit stand-offish with us that afternoon.  Can you blame her?  

But she slowly made her way around to most of us (Mary was just too much for her) and we fell in love with her.

Mike and Tilly just couldn't get along.

George said Tilly didn't like him.  He still tries to claim that while she's licking his face.

Becca was gentle and still, just what Tilly needed.

A couple of days later, we brought Tilly home to stay.  She was rather quiet and timid for a few days.

We made her a comfy spot in the living room.

Tilly and Mary did become friends.  Now if we can just get Mary to stop hitting her.

It turns out Tilly had a major upper respiratory infection when we brought her home.  It took two rounds of antibiotics to clear it up.  By that time, she was feeling comfortable with us and her true puppy self came out.  Now she is completely nuts for about 20 minutes 2 or 3 times a day.  I have learned that Tilly is not a fan of knitting needles or steam from the iron.  I don't like it when she barks at me.  Fortunately, she is also unbelievably sweet and patient (see Mary's interaction above).  That's it for now.  I'm working on catching up with the summer but it's going fast.