The Story of Cameron's Ink...

Saturday found us at another Cubbies game with Luke & Nicole. We had a lot of fun and were all able to relax without the kiddos (Luke & Nicole have Reese age 3 and Rocco age 3 months).

After the game we met up with our friend Joe...after an hour together to grab dinner, the 4 of us were planning on heading back home to pick up our kiddos. One look at Joe's face told Nicole and I to head back home without the boys, so Cameron and Luke stayed in the city to hang with Joe for a few more hours.

Which lead to Cameron's tattoo. He's been talking about getting one for a good four years and last night he pulled the trigger. As we all know Cameron loves the town he calls "My town"...Chicago. The Chicago flag is one of the most recognizeable flags of any city...and is regularly discussed as one with lots of symbolism. For those of you who don't know the flag, it has two blue stripes for the 2 bodies of water that are part of Chicago (lake michigan and the chicago river). It also has 4 red stars that symbolize the 4 major events in Chicago history that helped to shape the town (the chicago fire, the columbian expositon, the century of progress exposition, and fort dearborn). SO...with that backdrop, Cameron decided to get one of those red stars to symboloize the event that shaped or lives, the birth little Dane...

So...whenever we're blessed with another child there will be another Chicago star directly under the one between his shoulder blades. Luke added "RAM" to his bicep - it's the initials for both of his kids.

Summer or Fall?

Anyone else notice a weird phenomenon this year?? Take a look at the pictures below...those are leaves! Our trees are confused because this month has been so cool...they think it's fall! Anyway, this made me think of what I had always been taught about the "end times" - that we will no longer be able to tell the difference between the seasons. I looked it up to see exactly what it said and there is actually no biblical basis for this rumor. Genesis 8:22 declares, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Kind of interesting, right? I guess I was always taught wrong...

Pictures from the last few weeks....

Dane, Presley & Uncle Jeff:Andon on the slide with Daddy:And on the train with mommy:Ready for Vernon Hills Summer Celebration:Little Miss wiped out:Dane sitting like a big boy:

Billy Joel / Elton John Concert

Last evening we went to the Billy Joel / Elton John concert at Wrigley. We went with Cameron's coworker, Sean and his wife Mindy. The concert was great...they played all the old classics and closed with Piano Man together.

Wow...has it been over a week?

This is so unlike me to go for more than a week without a new post! We've been busy and I hope to post pictures of what we've been up to very soon...
Last Thursday I had a wonderful evening out with some ladies who started out as my neighbors and have become my friends. Then, on Friday we decided we hadn't caught up enough from our evening out so we got together with all the kiddos and had lunch! Thank you Coventry Woods women! It was fun catching up and we have to do it again soon!

Saturday brought the Zehrings and the Polks for weekend fun! Thank you all for making the trip and taking care of dinner for us! :) Cameron blew out his back (he's getting old) and I was feeding Dane while our guests grilled out the food and got everything set up for us to eat! Cameron was hobbling around if he was up, but for the most part he was sitting or laying trying to find a comfortable spot.

This week will be a busy one for us as well. Cameron and I are going to the Elton John / Billy Joel concert on Tuesday evening while Teresa stays with Dane. We have 3 renters in the condo this week so I will be going back and forth cleaning the place and changing / washing towels & sheets! We've had so many more requests for renting the condo than we ever imagined! We're very happy it's going so well...this is my new full time job along with keeping up our home and taking care of our sweet baby boy! Hope you're all enjoying your summer!

Dane's First Cubs Game

Yesterday we took Dane to his first Cubs game. Although we're probably preparing the little man for years of heartache, we decided it was time for him to experience Wrigley. He did awesome! Fell asleep for a short 30 minute nap, but really didn't make a peep other than to scream with excitement. Thank you Kim & Al for coming to the game with us! Sorry that your precious Cardinals got stomped...next time you shouldn't wear those bad luck shirts! Tons of pictures below to capture this "first" for Dane...

So happy to be at Wrigley:With Mom & Dad:Crazy Cubs Fans:Kim, Jen, Cameron, Dane & Al:First pretzel (don't worry he didn't really chew on it):And Thankfully...

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

We've been rockin' and rollin' since last Thursday and it isn't stopping until Sunday! Last Thursday we packed up and headed south to Pittsfield, IL to visit Teresa's side of the family. It was little miss Molly's 2nd birthday and we celebrated the 4th of July with Cameron's aunts, uncles, cousins and niece.

Molly turns 2!The Happy Traveler
We got home on Sunday and I packed up Dane & I to head to Leesburg for a couple days to see the fam and head to the Kosciusko county fair! Dane did really well at the fair...saw pigs, horses & cows and I had my first fried twinkie (not worth writing home about).

Dane, Presley & Andon:
Dane and I got home on Wednesday and packed up again to head to the lake for Cameron's team outing.

Happy 4th of July!!

Here's wishing you and yours and safe & happy holiday!