Right Now..Ten on whatever day this is published

I have sat down to write this post for awhile now and I just can't finish it.  At night I am tired, worn out and ready for a hot shower after my nice smelling days (see #3) that finishing a blog post just doesn't happen, as much as I try.  I give in to relaxing with a few pages of a book or editing a few photos or doing some nonproductive Internet searching and then calling it a night.  But alas, you are reading this so I must have finally put it together. :)

1. Right now we are in the thick of these horrible hot temperatures making our days spent more indoors than outside, even though it is summer.  I think I heard the stat that we have over 33 days of 90+ degree days so far, and the number continues to climb. It has been on hot and humid summer with very little rain making us all yearn for milder days come fall.

2. Right now little miss Abby is growing fast. Seven pounds, 9 pounds, almost 12 pounds and now I am sure she is about 14 pounds.  And she has only been in our lives for a bit over a month.  Wowsers.

But her cuteness can't even be justified in words.

3. Right now we are working on potty training x2.  Rylan has said good bye to diapers a bit quicker than Abby  has gotten the idea of how to ask to go outside.  I'll give her a break though, being only 3 months old and all.  (Woot Woot Rylan!!!!!)

4. Right now I am thinking how in the world can this little boy of mine going to celebrate 3 next month and start preschool in the same week?

5.  Last week we enjoyed a staycation and made trips to the city of Chicago via train and a weekend visit to Milwaukee.  It's always such a great time when the four of us can be together with little interruptions.  Yea for vacation time.  We need more of it, please.

6. Right now Makenna Claire is changing right before our eyes. Interested in things like music, singing songs like "call me maybe", dancing all over the place and finding her with a face of make up is all the usual.  Oh and also...." OK Mom," in a whatever, teenage tone.  And "seriously..that is just so ridiculous!"  Gasp...I think I will home school her after all. ;)

7. Right now I am starting to dive head deep in school project readiness. Rylan picked out his school shoes that are also his running shoes (as he calls it). Cool white tennies with none other Thomas the Train on them.  He is thrilled with his choice and will happily show you just how cool they really are.

8. Makenna's preparations for all day Kindergarten is a bit more involved.  I am waiting for PBK back packs to go on sale, although this impatient mommy is just about done with waiting.  Lunch bag, cooler packs, thermoses, name labels and the ubiquitous school supply lists.  Oy yea..and I still need to make that eye doctor appointment. Eeks. #mustgetittogethermommy

9.  Right now I am trying to get ready for our first ever garage sale.  Yikes..I'm not sure I'm ready for this!

10.  And I guess my kids aren't the only ones singing this song!  Go Olympians.  Looking forward to opening ceremonies tonight.

a celebratory day

A few weeks ago I celebrated my birthday.  We didn't really make any concrete plans and awoke up to possibility of thunderstorms questioning whether we should go anywhere outside.  And then we thought..why should that stop us?  So we packed up the kids and headed downtown Chicago with an initial stop at our favorite Native Foods for lunch.  YUM!

Although rain showers did indeed fall, immediately after lunch the clouds passed and the sun shined brightly on a glorious warm, but not too hot, beautiful afternoon.  After a walk to the bakery we headed to the Chicago River and boarded the Wedella Boat for a two hour cruise along the rive and Lake Michigan. And it was wonderful.  Great to be a tourist in your own town.

Our afternoon in photographs.

Chicago River

Sears  Willis Tower

Barge, going from the river to the lake height

Navy Pier

 Such a fantastic day.  Thank you to all of you who reached out to me to wish me a happy day-I felt the love. And here's a quick collage I did for our books.  Have a great weekend and try and stay cool.