Well, summer is here!
Officially!
Given what a lame/cold/rainy/windy spring we had, that is hugely exciting!
1. Breaking in our new grill
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| I may have left the peppers on a touch too long.... |
We felt so lucky to get our new (to us) grill this winter from my uncle & aunt who were moving. They were planning to junk it, so gave it to us for free. It is giant & wonderful & we feel really lucky (REALLY) lucky we didn't need to invest in a new one this year. Now that the weather seems to be on the upswing, we've been spending time in the backyard & on the patio enjoying delicious grilled food.
2. 1st Birthday Party
It is so fun to see Lulu's baby friends growing up alongside her! We had a blast at her bud Theo's 1st birthday party, the weather cooperated & we got to enjoy our friends' backyard while Theo enjoyed his first taste of cake!
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| Lulu enjoyed double fisting cheese..... |
3. More time with our newest niece
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| Proud & capable big brother! |
You can see more photos of our sweetest little lady Mary here, but we had a great family dinner Sunday night & loved to be with her!
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| Smitten Bump with his newest grandchild |
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| Mama, big sister & big brother with Mary |
4. The funniest bug
She was cracking me up this week!
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| Just plain happy |
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| Relaxing in the laundry basket |
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| Dare devil Lulu |
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| Who needs a water table when there is a dog water bowl?? |
5. The Edible Garden
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| This doesn't do justice to the size of the main garden! Its giant & full of organic produce! |
I took all of the 2017 season off from the Edible Garden at the Farm in the Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo because it was right on the heels of Lulu's arrival. I guess it was my volunteering maternity leave :)
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| The strawberries are coming! The strawberries are coming! |
It was so nice to be back there visiting with curious guests, digging in the dirt, sweating in the sunshine & generally loving every minute of it.
I don't give much thought to volunteering being my "me" time away from Lulu, it just happens to be a hobby I value quite highly, so I spend money on a babysitter to do it. It was interesting to chat with another mom while I was in the garden this week. Her toddler daughters were helping us move compost around & exploring the earthworms that had made their way into the compost piles. The mom seemed shocked that what I was doing was my "me" time. Its not really so shocking, is it? A few hours in the sun helping other people learn about where their food comes from, organic gardening, &composting? I guess its because I pay someone to watch Lulu while I don't get paid? Maybe. The thing is, as I mention above, volunteering & gardening are both hobbies.....so you commit to finding time to pursue your hobbies, right? I have & I am convinced I am a better person because of it.
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| This view on my walk to & from Hondapants isn't too shabby |
There are SO SO SO many veggies, fruits, herbs & flowers planted! As things mature & ripen, they are available to sample which is always a bonus. You can expect to help spread compost, water plants, dig in the dirt, harvest & hopefully learn something new! It is worth a visit if you are ever in Lincoln Park on a Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday morning.
6. Swinging with friends
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| Kalil is enjoying this swing session more than the Bug! |
I love that the warm weather encourages evening park dates with our friends who live on our block. When the weather is nice I want to squeeze every single solitary last drop of fun out of our days! Lulu is starting to want to get out of the swings and be on the move; but I can usually get her to stay put for a few minutes.
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