Happy Birthday Lucy!

In July we celebrated Lucy's 4th birthday.  As part of this we had a celebration with Kim's family in Wisconsin which included another trip to Beach Bay amusement park, trips to the beach, and of course another one of Kim's beautiful cake creations.  This year Lucy said she wanted a "Hello Kitty" cake and that she wanted to "smash it".  In contrast to earlier birthdays, "smashing" really meant just taking a little bit directly out of the cake without using a fork.  So apparently at four you grow out of the whole mess-making phase and now become concerned with being clean. 

Last week we had a joint celebration in Chicago with our friends where we celebrated Lucy and Lila's birthday with their friends.  We did this a Cosley Zoo in Wheaton and had a great turnout from our friends and family.  We all had a great time and the girls had so much fun with their friends and the animals. 

Catching Up....

Well, my apologies for neglecting the blog since Easter.  It certainly isn't for lack of photographic moments.  Most of our days are full of fun, family, and friends.  Here's a quick rundown and a smattering of pictures to go along with it:
1. Mother's Day - a great church service and a picnic in the park by the tulips. 
2. Lila bird growing into her own as a goofball and fearless explorer.  I think at least once a day we refer to her as a "nut".
3. Family excursions to botanical gardens among many, many other places
4. Two trips to the cottage in Kewaunee with Milo and company.  Included trips to Beach Bay kiddie amusement park in Green Bay.  As a Bears fan I don't like much about Green Bay, but rides for 25-cents is amazing.
5. Kewaunee also included a trip to a dairy farm, making S'Mores on the grill, trips to the beach, and Grammy's fun painting art projects. 
6. Kim and I celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary at a spa in Kohler, WI. 
7. BBQs with friends and concerts at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. 
8. A wonderful father's day with paintings from my girls and a princess dance party at a Oak Park concert.
9. Lucy continues to grow up too fast and is a kind and loving sister and daughter.  Her zest and zeal for life is contagious, and I love her curiosity of the world around her.

Next up - Lucy's birthday celebrations (yes, there were more than one...).