Timehop Tuesday: Happy Birthday Uncle Craigles + Summer Timehop

Hi all! First up, it’s Uncle Craigles’ birthday today! Here’s a photo of him being Avery’s 1st birthday hype-man-balloon-holder!!! 🤣 We hope you had a great day! 

And then I decided my Timehop this week is only going back the 10 weeks of summer, so here are some of my favorite photos from June…

…and July…

…and August!

I’m officially back at work full time tomorrow, so let’s leave this ridiculous heat wave behind and bring on the fall!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Hello all.  Happy Sunday.  This weekend was busy so it just FLEW by.  Just like August in general.  Holy moly.

Anyway, yesterday morning we headed to Lake Nokomis (with a pit stop at Mel-o-Glaze) for a picnic lunch on the beach with Boom, Auntie Yoda, Uncle Craigles, Lucy and Mila.  It. Was. HOT!

Later that evening, Uncle Dan, Auntie Hanna, Mitchell and Isla ended up coming over for dinner and playtime, which included making a "slide" on our basement steps.

Today was Callie's first ever softball game, after having 2 practices earlier this week.  I am SO proud of her.  The team she joined has been playing together for years and has lots of experience. She had none until her first practice last Tuesday (and time with Chris working on specific skills the past month or so).  But she had never played in a competitive sporting event before, not to mention FAST PITCH softball!  Her team won both games.  She got hit with the ball, got walked, struck out, and got a hit, so her times at bat were varied and good learning opportunities.  She spent time in the outfield and at second base.  Her teammates and coaches were positive and supportive.

As someone who faked an asthma attack at the start of the 7th grade basketball season so I could quit, I have never been one who handles competitive sports well.  Thankfully, Chris THRIVES, and has been a great support and sideline coach for her.  The team had a cute team huddle after the two games.  I think/hope she'll enjoy the rest of the season.  It only goes through September, so it isn't too long if she hates it.  Hopefully she won't want to fake an asthma attack to quit. ;)

Have a good week!

A Picture Update: Summer Week 10!!

Hi all-

The last full week of summer has been a roller coaster.  Basically all of August has been.  I can't believe we are here.  But anyway...

On Monday during our Survivor TV watching, the girls decided to dress up and be goofy.

I had to go to work for a few hours on Tuesday, so I brought Maya with and she entertained herself in my office.

On Wednesday morning we headed to the beach (and nearly had it to ourselves) and then played some softball and ran around outside in the afternoon.

Thursday was Papa's funeral.  There was a morning visitation and a meaningful funeral mass, along with a lunch and then a procession to Fort Snelling for the military honors.  It was a beautiful day and wonderful to see so many family members and reminisce about Papa.

After Papa's service at Fort Snelling, we went to find the gravestone of my grandparents. It capped off an emotional and special day.

Pa dropped off flowers from the funeral last night, so we were able to enjoy those today.  The girls spent the morning outside, and then we spent the afternoon at the pool with the Dahlens.  The pool closes on Sunday, so it was our last hurrah! Maya celebrated by bringing her own money for the snack shack and getting lots of sugar...

Callie started her first ever season of softball practices this week (with mixed feelings and results) but she and Chris have been having fun doing a lot of catching and batting and watching softball clips on YouTube.  They took advantage of the beautiful evening tonight to do some more practice.

Have a lovely weekend.  Stay cool!

Timehop Tuesday

First up, the baby I’m holding in this photo on the left is now holding her baby cousin!

And family summer vacations at family camps.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The Chicago Edition!

Hey all!  This afternoon I got back from a whirlwind girls trip with my friends Jenna and Bethany, and Jenna's sister-in-law Mandi.  Jenna and I left super early on Thursday morning for the long drive.  Once we got to Chicago, we found a lunch spot near Lincoln Park.

Later we met up with Bethany and Mandi and went out to a Mexican restaurant, where their Thursday special was margarita flights.  Yum!

On Friday morning we did the Chicago touristy stuff: Navy Pier, the Bean, Millennium Park, etc.

We ate lunch at a sports bar and got ice cream at the Ghirardelli shop!

For dinner we had a reservation at a DELICIOUS Italian restaurant Volare.  Highly recommend if you are ever in Chicago!

(As I'm writing this, I'm also realizing most of this blog post will be pics of food.  Ha!)

On Saturday morning we headed to Oak Street Beach, where Lake Michigan was in front of us and the Chicago skyline was right behind us.  

We ate lunch at a little cafe by the beach and it was delicious, with a great view.

Then, the reason we were in Chicago in the first place, was the P!NK CONCERT at Wrigley field!

It was awesome!

We headed out of town by 7am this morning, so I got home this afternoon when Chris and the girls were celebrating Auntie Cat's birthday at Circus Juventus. 

It was so good to get home after a couple of busy travel weeks, and I’m grateful to Chris and others for holding down the fort so I could go have fun with my girlfriends. And I’m grateful for technology so that even when I’m gone just a few days, we can FaceTime!

Enjoy your week. The mid-August back-to-school scaries are setting in a bit. But there is excitement too.  Structure and routine will be a welcome change in a couple weeks.  

A Picture Update: Summer Week 9!

Hello all-

It has been a pretty discombobulated week. I realized I missed Timehop Tuesday…we had gotten home the night before and I had a lot of work meetings and then plans with my friend Taylor that night. 

We were busy on Wednesday with getting school supplies at Target and then going to see “Into the Woods” (again for me and Cal, and for the first time for Maya).

The girls hung out with Boom today and went to the Bakken Museum!

I am currently in Chicago with girlfriends for a long weekend, so Chris is holding down the fort with the girls and Luna and also working. He’s the best!

I’ll be back on Sunday night with the weekend wrap-up.

Take care and have a good weekend.

Papa

On Monday morning our family lost Papa, the amazing grandpa and great-grandpa of the Gosselin family. 

I will always remember him as being so kind and welcoming to me (and all the other in-laws) as I joined the family. 

He was active, interested, and involved in his kids’, grandkids’, and great-grandkids’ lives. He gave speeches at all the grandkid weddings, saved golf balls and other handy items to give to  Chris periodically, and even gave everyone in the family calendars with all the birthdays and anniversaries hand written in them for YEARS! And the family is big, so that’s a lot of calendars to hand write! 

He loved all his great-grandchildren (and there are many!) and it was always clear he got such a kick out of  watching them interact and play. And he loved to play with them, too.

I could always tell he was proud of his big, fun, crazy family.  And we all love him and will miss him a lot.