Catch Up Time!

Is it just me or is time speeding up exponentially?  I can't believe that the last time we caught up on this blog, Michael had just turned 1.  What a difference a few months makes in such a small person's life.  He is now walking running everywhere!  He has complete conversations with us in his own special language and is getting to be so curious about the world around him.  It is amazing to watch and see him grow and learn.  He has enjoyed the cabin a few weekends and is learning the art of relaxation on Schafhauser Shores.  He loves to dig in the sand and dip his cute little toes in the water.  He has even managed to take a boat ride, jump off the dock and nibble on a pinecone.  Next up- taking a ride around the lake in a tube.  Bring. It. On.

 Tasting the sand.  It wasn't his favorite.

 Playing in his pool.

 Taking his first speedboat ride.

 Look out, world!  Mikey is at the wheel!

Tom and I also took a weekend trip to Chicago to check on the house and fix up the landscaping where the new sewer line was put in.  We were less than thrilled at what we saw, and choked back a few tears while looking at all of our hard work and dedication being disrespected in such a way by our renters.  We managed to only address the major issues at hand and remember that, in the end, they are paying their rent.  The rest we can deal with when the time comes, but we can't change the way that people live their lives.  We have learned a lot from this experience, and are now very ready for this chapter to be done with.  We are optimistically hoping that we are able to sell our house this fall and be done with our lives in Chicago once and for all. 

 Both the front and back storm doors are ruined.  Not to mention that they changed the lock without asking/telling us.

 Somewhere in there is the garden that Tom and I built.  If you can see through the foot-long grass...

There are multiple screen-frames that have been ruined.  Keep in mind that our house is old, and most windows were not a standard size.  That means that we have a lot of custom screens to order in our future...

 The new blinds that I put in?  Destroyed.

 Somewhere in that disaster are the Lilac bushes that I planted the summer before we moved.

 We took pictures of the yard as we left it, so that we have proof of how it looked for when they move out.

Oh, hello Lilac bushes!  I bet they will grow better now that they aren't being strangled by weeds!

On a happier note, Tom and I have been keeping extremely busy with our friends as of late.  We play on a co-ed softball team on Wednesday nights which has been a great way to get out and get some exercise.  There are many laughs shared at the games and it is nice to remember that you can have a life outside of your children, even if it is for just a few hours a week.  We have also had the pleasure of watching some of our closest friends marry the loves of their lives and find the happiness that they have always deserved.  We have so many great people in our lives, and the new additions through marriage are such blessings.  

Tom and I are headed off to Wisconsin this weekend without our little Dude for some fun in the sun with friends.  It will be nice to escape our busy lives and enjoy the company of some of the people that we treasure most.  While we will miss our little boy immensely, we know that he will love being with Grandma and Grandpa at their big sand box.  

We hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying their summer!  

Happy Birthday!

I can't even believe that it has been a whole year since our little man entered this world.  He is such a joy to Tom and I, and I can't even imagine our lives without him.  He has taught us so much about love, patience, humility, ourselves, and what really matters in this world.  I am so grateful to this little boy for teaching me so many lessons in just one year.

We had a wonderful birthday party for him, surrounded by family and friends.  It was the best 1st birthday I could have imagined for him, and Tom and I felt so incredibly loved.  We ate food, drank wine, reflected on the previous 365 days, and spoiled Michael rotten.  Just as it should be.  

Our lives seem to be speeding up exponentially, and with summer right around the corner, I'm sure the weeks are going to fly by.  We are heading to North Carolina on Friday to kick off the wedding season, with Tom's sister, Danielle and her new Husband Jeff.  Cheers to all the happy new couples out there!

Friends

First of all, Happy 27th Birthday to my amazing Husband.  He is one of a kind and I am SO lucky to have him all for myself. 

Now on to the purpose of this post: Friends.  Aren't they incredible?  As I think about the friends that I have made throughout my life, I feel so blessed.  Some friendships have faded, others have formed, and some have made it through the tests of time.  While some friends are no longer in my life, I feel that they were in my life for some reason.  Maybe it was to get me through a heartache of a first love, the transition to college, the start of my marriage, or now the journey of motherhood.  Either way, they had an impact on my life and helped to shape me into the person that I am today. 

One friend in particular has been stupendously awesome and is getting her very own post (let's ignore the fact that she has been harping on me to get this done for quite some time...).  That person would be Jen. 

What an amazing woman she is.  Her sense of calm in stressful situations, her belly-laugh that could make the angriest person smile and her compassion for everyone around her makes me so honored to call her my friend.  She has carried me through the situations that I never thought I could tackle, been my strongest supporter when I took a chance and has never let me forget that no matter what, she is there to catch me if I fall.  She is the friend that I wish everyone could have.  And she is the type of person that everyone should strive to be.  She is fantastic. 

So, thank you, Jen.  For sitting at my lunch table way back when, and being my friend (even if you had no other choice at the time).  For being the best Godmother Michael could ever have, and for being a constant reminder that there are great people in this world.  You are so special to me and my family and we love you more than you will ever fully comprehend.