The End of Summer

 I can't believe summer is coming to an end.  I'm so sad.  Our weather this summer has been fabulous!  We've been able to do lots of playing outside.  It's even been too cool to swim some of the time, but we still went as often as possible.  Preschool will be starting in less than two weeks.  We are winding down and ready to get back on our schedule.

We went to the Bentonville Square for their First Friday celebration.  Eli was in heaven riding this pony.  It was so cute to watch him!

Afterwards we walked to the crepe stand and ate crepes.  While sitting and eating the crepes we noticed a beautiful rainbow.

We've been trying to do away with naps this summer.  Sometimes he just can't make it any longer.

We have made many trips to the Bentonville Splash park this summer.  This is definitely one of Eli's favorite places to go!

We've had PJ days where we stayed in PJ's until the afternoon.  Who doesn't love those days?

We've spent a lot time at the Springdale Aquatic Center.  Eli swims so well here.  The pool is shallow enough for him to touch so he's not scared to go under and swim.  He's doing so well swimming and I'm so proud of him!

Eli found his fireman costume in his closet.  Chad walked by him room and Eli is sitting on his bed dressed in his costume and smiling.  This boy loves being a fireman!  If you ask him what he wants to be for Halloween this year he will say a fireman... AGAIN!

More goofing off and playing at home.  Eli likes to pretend he's a magician.

10 Days Away

The day after we got back from Chicago Chad had to go BACK to Chicago for work.  For 10 days!  We had had our trip to Chicago planned for about 6 months and he didn't find out about his work trip until 2 weeks before he had to leave.  He (and I) dreaded his 10 days away.  He had never been away from Eli for that long, and I had never had to take care of Eli by myself (along with working full time) for that long.  Remember I work 12 hour shifts, so it makes for a really long day for everyone when I have to take Eli to the babysitter at 6am and can't pick him up until 7:30pm.  We were all a bit nervous!

The ten days Chad would be gone were going to be jam packed for Eli and me.  I was supposed to work 5 of the 10 days and we were going to Eastern Arkansas for 4 days.  Of course it didn't all go down how I had planned.  It never does.

I came down with a high fever and sore throat the day after Chad left town.  I immediately went to the doctor.  Eli had had the same virus the previous week.  Adults don't usually get the fever viruses from kids so I was afraid it was strep instead.  Strep test was negative.  Turns out the fever virus was Hand, Foot, Mouth!!!  Fun.  Thank God for our wonderful babysitter that week.  She kept Eli for me during the day while I laid around feeling terrible.  I don't know what I would have done without her.  We find ourselves saying that often.  God love her!

Here are a few pictures of Eli during the first week Chad was gone.  I have to brag on Eli for a minute.  He was perfect during this time!  He knew Mommy was sick and kept saying "I'm sorry you're sick mommy.  I hope you feel better".

He is starting to be nicer to the dogs.  He really does love them.

We made brownies one day.

 

I started feeling better just in time for our trip to Eastern AR.  A group of my college friends were getting together for a weekend in Memphis.  Eli was staying with Mimi and Grandy.  It was so fun to see all of my friends!  It had been 6 years since we had all gotten together.  There was lots of catching up to do!

We headed back home after our weekend in Eastern AR.  Eli is a good travel partner!

Chad had one free day while he was in Chicago to go do what he wanted.  This is him at the top of the Willis Tower.  You can walk out on a glass floor at the top!

Eli missed his Daddy SOOOOO MUCH while he was gone!  We made him a sign that morning for the airport.  We were both happy to have him back home!

That was the longest 10 days of my life!

Chicago

 A few weeks ago Chad and I took a trip to Chicago to see our beloved Pearl Jam play at Wrigley Field.  We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to go on these trips thanks to grandparents who come to keep Eli and the dogs.  Thanks, Mom!

We went with some of our closest friends (and fellow PJ followers) Robert and Mandy.  The four of us have been on some great trips to see Pearl Jam.

On Thursday, we hopped on the plane and were Chicago bound.  We've discovered this awesome direct flight from Branson to Chicago.  I have a feeling we will be visiting Chicago again thanks to this easy, cheap  flight!

We got into Chi-town late on Thursday so we weren't able to do anything that day.  The next morning we woke up, grabbed coffee and took the train to Wrigley Field.  We like to get a poster from the shows we attend and of course shirts too.  We went to Wrigley that morning to get these things.  The lines were ridiculously long and it was hot.  We waited for an hour and half and got nowhere.  Chad and I decided to get out of line and say forget it.  Friday was our only day to see Chicago and we had the concert that night.  Plus we were starving and wanted some Chicago style pizza!

We got our tickets and headed back downtown to eat lunch.

I had been researching pizza places and asking friends for over a week!  Since we really only had one time to eat a decent meal I wanted it to be good!  So we chose this place...

There was a wait when we got there but it really wasn't too bad.  We were able to grab a seat so we didn't have to stand.  They have it figured out at Giordano's too.  When you put your name on the list you place your pizza order too.  That way when your table is ready your pizza is ready or at least close to being ready.  It takes 45 minutes for them to bake a pizza!

  But I have to say it's worth the 45 minute wait!  The pizza was delicious!  I've always heard  Chicago's deep dish pizza is like none other.  But I have to give some credit to our local Chicago style pizza joint, Gusano's.  We like Gusano's better!  Gasp!  Maybe it's because that's what we are used to?  I don't know.  But both are tasty.

 It's concert time!

When the doors opened we decided to go on in the stadium and hang out.  After all the waiting in lines and coming away with no merchandise earlier that day, there was a merchandise booth on the field.  We had heard rumors it would be there but we weren't positive.  You could only get on the field if you had field tickets so that cut down the lines.  After 15 minutes we had our posters, t shirts, etc and were happy, happy, happy :)

 

Evidently this wall is a big deal... The Ivy Wall.  I had no clue what it was and had definitely never heard anything about it. But Chad wanted his picture in front of it.

We settled in our seats for a historical show from Pearl Jam.  You see, Eddie Vedder is from Chicago.  He's a huge Cubs fan.  He and the band have always wanted to play at Wrigley, so we knew when they finally did it would be one for the books.  We just weren't expecting it to happen this way...

There had been bad weather forecasted for the area.  The show started at 8:15.  After about 30 minutes into the show they announced severe weather was headed straight for us.  They were evacuating all the people on the field to under the bleachers.  Can you see how many people are on that field (and that's not even the entire field)?????  And we are in the sea of people.  They said it would only last for 30 minutes and then the show would resume.  2 1/2 hours later we were allowed back on the field.  Pearl Jam played until 2:00am!

We got back to our hotel at 3:30am.  We woke up the next morning and went to eat breakfast.  The heat had moved out and the weather was perfect!

Our trip was short but we loved Chicago!

We will definitely be back when we can stay longer!

Weekend in Branson

 A few weeks ago we decided to make an overnight trip to Branson.  I booked the hotel and we were off!  Eli was trying to act cool but he was so excited to be going to Branson and staying in a hotel.  This child loves hotels.

 The day we arrived we went straight to White Water

Our friends Kristin and Lee and their kiddos met us at White Water.  Eli was so excited his best friend, Tyler, was there to play with him!

After a long day at the water park we went to the Branson Landing to eat dinner.  We love going there and walking around, eat dinner and grab dessert!

Eli was exhausted from a long day in the sun and water.  Dinner was a little interesting but we all made it through!

After a good night's sleep at the hotel we grabbed breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  We can't go there without a game of checkers.

After breakfast we headed to Silver Dollar City.  We've never stopped at the cow but I talked Eli into checking it out.  You can milk the fake cow.  I even tried it!

We spent the majority of our time at the ball pit of course!  Eli loves this part!

Chad took Eli on the log ride for the first time.  Eli LOVED it!  I have a feeling there will be many more log rides!  If only you didn't get so wet...

The weather was absolutely perfect and the parks weren't overcrowded.

It made for perfect Branson weekend!

4th of July

 This was the first year that Eli has really enjoyed fireworks.  He couldn't get enough!

 We started the day off by going swimming at the Springdale Aquatic Center.  Eli was trying to pretend he was sleeping in the car.

The weather was absolutely perfect!  No humidity and the temp was in the low 80's!  Not normal for Arkansas in July!

We ended the day with having friends over for dinner and more fireworks.

 

Then we went to watch a local firework display... my favorite thing to do on the 4th of July!

Picnics

The weather has been wonderful this summer.  Very mild and not too humid.  Not our norm for the south, but I'll gladly take it over the 100 degree heat!  The weather was perfect one day so Eli and I were playing outside.  We decided to have an impromptu picnic in the yard.  We both had a fun time! 

 What was on the menu?  Leftover pizza and yogurt of course!

And some chocolate graham crackers for dessert

I'm going to miss these days when summer is gone :)