4th of July

A quick, short-on-words, post to share some photos from our annual 4th of July gathering at the Bohannen's. Our weekend was full of good, summer, 4th of July things; fishing, swimming, boating, golf cart driving, frog catching, ghost stories, target practice, fireworks, food, and lots of family!

Enjoying a few Chrismas things in mid-December

Sydney had her first Christmas program yesterday. I was so proud of her. My painfully shy little girl sang every word to every song all with a timid smile that, despite her trying, couldn't be contained.

On the other hand, it was all we could do to keep our second born, throw caution to the wind, fear-nothing, daughter off the stage and out of the spotlight. We did pretty good until they got to "Let it go" from Frozen. Son-of-a-nutcracker! There was no stopping her stealing the spotlight with her (very loud) singing and dancing on that one.

It's been all things Christmas around here lately. This year the candy on our gingerbread houses keeps mysteriously disappearing. One morning, Jon even came out to find Lilly laying on the table gnawing on the house like a dog on a bone. ::Headdesk::

December is absolutely flying by! I found a few pictures from Thanksgiving that I forgot to post on facebook. It seems impossible this time of year, but I'm hoping and praying that everyone gets and stays healthy in time for Christmas so that we can enjoy more moments like this.

Happy Friday everyone!

Bookends

Last week we celebrated Lillian's birthday with a party at home, but that wasn't the only fun we had. Due to some poor planning on my part and a few schedule changes, her party was sandwiched right in between two equally exciting things; a work trip to Chicago and Easter, of course. So much good packed into so little time. Here's to the bookends of our exhausting, fun-filled, week!

I spent most of the week in Chicago at a conference.

The conference was fabulous and I had a great time, but that's not what I really want to talk about here...here I want to mention just one thing... Eataly.

If you are in Chicago (or New York I hear), you must go! This place is Ah-mazing! Part market, part restaurant, entirely awesome. Trust me on this.

A Nutella bar, a Gelato bar, a pastry bar! Grab a glass of wine and do some kick-ass grocery shopping! They make their own beer, they make their own bread, ...pizza, fresh motzerella, fresh pasta, dry aged beef...!!

I got home Thursday night, as did John and the girls, who were visiting family. I worked the rest of the week and prepped for Lilly's party on Saturday, then we slid the final bookend into place by spending a gorgeous Sunday celebrating Easter with family.

Life is woven together with a natural ebb and flow. Ciaos and calm, home and away, gathering and solitude; Both are equally needed to fully appreciate the other.

A quiet, empty calendar stretches ahead this week.