chicago in a day

 

our trip to chicago treated us mighty fine last week, even if we were only in town for a day! 

max has seen all different parts of the city but we had never taken him to the navy pier to eat sweets and watch sail boats and ooh and ahh at the skyline behind us. and so that's what we did!

 

oh how he loved it...with all the people watching and "beach birds" and tallest tall buildings all around. we rode up in the ferris wheel and squealed at how lucky we were to have such beautiful weather and such a fantastic view. we walked and walked and legoland-ed and ate way too much mcdonalds. it was a true vacation.

 

and such a treat to get to pack up the car and be with my guys on a quick adventure...seeing sights and smelling different air. it was just what i needed.

baseball

we're in full-swing baseball season around here...and i have the huge mama picture button to prove it!

 this has been max's first year to play on a team and he is in love!

me and matt and max's dad and his gal couldn't be prouder of our little slugger.  he certainly has a faithful cheering section at his practices and games.

(regardless if his team has yet to win)

now if only i could perfect that loud finger whistle trick...

three cheers for baseball max...

huzzah! huzzah! huzzah!

carnival

max and i went to a little pop up carnival saturday...the first of the summer season for us!

bub is finally tall enough this year to ride big kid rides...which made my heart skip and ache all at the same time. 

and despite him almost fainting and falling out of the orbiter ride and me getting denied the ferris wheel because my belly was too big...we had a real time! cotton candy and nostalgic smells and as many prizes as our arms could carry.

it has my fingers itching for more good summer things to come...

buckets of berries

 

it's the beginning of strawberry season and there is nothing better this time of year than freshly picked berries straight out of the sun. there is a sweetness that is all but forgotten during the winter that i was reminded of this morning as my sister amy and i stopped for quarts and quarts to take home.

each one is a sweet little reminder that summer is coming not too far...

keeping cool

it has been hot hot hot this week! 

 today's weather is perfect for homemade popsicles and hiding out inside...

yogurt//fruit popsicles

* i made honeydew melon, blueberry lemon, raspberry, and peanut butter

 blend plain yogurt, honey, and a splash of vanilla- set aside 
(*note- i don't use measurements...everything is added to taste. 
make sure to dip your finger in and sample a bit before moving on!)

separately, blend the flavor of popsicle fruit you want with a bit of milk 
( i use vanilla almond milk) and a sprinkle of sugar or honey. 
(for the peanut butter i used a couple of spoonfuls mixed with the almond milk and blended)

pour yogurt and fruit blends into popsicle molds (a little of each at a time) 
and swirl around with a skewer to mix. 
add popsicle stick and freeze overnight or for a few hours...

(to make the striped popsicle, pour a layer of fruit in the mold then let it freeze for about 30-45 min. 
then pour a layer of yogurt blend and add your popsicle stick. refreeze. 
repeat layering/freeze step until you fill the mold. continue freezing normally from there)

 3 cheers for something cool on a hot day!

 now lets see if i can not eat them all before bub gets home from school...

xoxo

how does your garden grow

i'm daydreaming over my garden today...itching to get my bare hands in the dirt and seeing what pops up!

i've found a sweet kind of therapy in sowing seeds and pulling weeds. this year's garden will be a good soulful place for me to find some peace while we wait for our own little sweet pea sis to pop up come july!

 

we're hoping for lettuce and radish and squash and cucumber this year...and i'm already looking forward to being barefoot and pregnant and filthy.

there's just something about garden soil under the nails that can take a gal to the heavens!

indian summer

"these are the days when birds come back, a very few, a bird or two, to take a backward look.

these are the days when skies put on the old, old sophistries of June, --

a blue and gold mistake." - emily dickinson

oh goodness has it been hot here! i think september is all sorts of mixed up. today has been shade and water with dreams of pumpkin pie. 

i hope everyone has a happy weekend!

xoxo

county fair

it's county fair time in ohio! our favorite is in darke county...and it always pleasantly is going on just as school is starting...a happy trinket to remind us that there's still a tad bit of summer left. i love the county fair with its stalks of corn and giant pumpkins decked out in ribbons...funny animals promenading around... deep-fried sweets and colors and people watching as far as the eye can see. my fingers itch all year round for it. the boys the took me last night! we pretended we didn't just come from work and school and embraced the smell and feel of summer night in the air...staying out 20 minutes past bedtime and having pizza for the 2nd night in a row. who say's summer is over?

blossom dearie- doop-doo-de-doop (a doodlin' song)

isn't she the most beautiful cotton candy lady you've ever seen? i melted right along with the sugar when i saw her.

it was a wonderful time...max won a fish and named him mr. goldberg. mr. goldberg is currently swimming around in a mason jar by max's bed. and every year i end up leaving the fair wanting a pet rabbit and wishing i knew how to grow giant pumpkins.

a girl can dream, can't she?

happy happy weekend, everyone! 

xoxo