2010 summer family vacation

After spending a few days in Chicago we headed up to the Wisconsin Dells.

We've stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in past years and always enjoyed it. This year was a little different, going with a 15 and 17 year old is not the same as a 5 and 7 year old. The kids had fun, we went down watersides with them but the wonder and excitement was not quite the same as in past years.

we made the best of it....


While I enjoyed a pedicure, dear hubby went to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Aldo is one of our country's early conservationist and his shack is close to the dells.

There was also a really great outlet mall close to our resort. It was a north woods decor and had a roof.

As you can see, dear son was delighted to be there.

dear hubby and I enjoyed embarrassing our teens like only those of us with teens know how to do!

We had a great time playing miniature golf. I was impressed with the number of gardens but not with my score!

Eat. Pray. Love.

Eat. We ate our way through Chicago. Deep dish pizza, TGIF's and Chicago hot dogs.

Pray. We prayed our vehicle would not be towed while we were at the game. We took the Wrigley bus from Schaumburg and parked, at first, in a lot adjacent to the bus parking lot. It looked like overflow parking. Luckily dear hubby heard someone talking about that parking lot being off limits and cars would be towed. He quickly walked over to move our vehicle into another parking lot. Within 10 minutes the car parked next to ours was towed and orange cones put in place. No signs of no parking were there. "Welcome to the big city folks from Iowa and thank you for your $150 donation!". I worried while we were at the Cubs game that the place were we finally parked would also be a "non parking" spot but alas it was there after the game so our prayers were answered! The bus ride was 1 1/2 hours back to Schaumburg! 1 1/2 hours on a city bus! gag!

Love.... we love it when the Cubby's win in extra innings..... they did not.............we have not yet been to a game when the Cubs have won.. I told dear husband and son we need to find a winning team with better access to the field!

I can't wait for the movie Eat.Pray.Love. especially since Julia Roberts is in it, I just love her. I read the book and really enjoy the part where she is in Italy, the rest was good, kinda weird but good.

Sock Monkey Quilt

Oh-Em-GEEEE this sock monkey quilt turned out so darn cute!

I made it for the little miracle man, my great-nephew. His momma is my beautiful niece who underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer while she was pregnant with him. He was born premature a few months ago and is a healthy beautiful boy. They are both miracles!

Look at the adorable tattoo on the sock monkey, can you read it? It says Mom in a heart. awww, how darn cute is that? And I am not usually a tatto lover! The sock monkey will be delivered with the quilt.

I backed it with soft and snugly minky and used lime green thread for the quilting. It is about 36"x 36" so a size to bring along in the car, in the stroller or just to throw in a bag. I hope he loves it and wears it out!

pets

Dear hubby took this picture of Wrigley. I had just left to meet my IC friend for coffee and Wrigley laid by the door waiting for me to come home. I love the way he lays with his legs stretched out behind him.



Yes our spoiled dogs get on the furniture in one room of the house. The rest of the rooms they aren't allowed on the furniture.

Kodi was getting very comfy.

UFO's

Before I get started on my UFO's (Unfinished objects), I want to show you the super cute travel mug my good Iowa City friend brought back to me from Loopy Ewe. She went with another IC friend, she blogged about it here. Sounds like a lot of fun!

I love Loopy Ewe!

This shawl is getting the best of me, the edging is complicated and I keep having to take it out and re-do it. I am worried I may run out of yarn. I may just bind off and call it good. I like the pattern, just need to make sure I have more yarn next time I work it.

I am working on a baby quilt for miracle momma and her miracle boy in DSM. Hopefully I can complete it in the next couple weeks. I will post it on my blog when done.

I love this colorful merino roving. Have you heard for Tour De Fleece? It is a group on Ravelry that spin every day the Tour De France rides, I am participating this year. I love to spin on my deck outside.

Cupcakes

I am experimenting with cupcake recipes. I plan to serve cupcakes when sweet daughter graduates from high school next Spring and want to find 2 perfect recipes. One Chocolate and one TBD.

This is my first try. It is Strawberry Lemonade Cupcake.

Dear Hubby gave it a 9, dear son gave it a 6 and sweet daughter would not even try it!

I tweaked the recipe a little bit. I like the way they looked but need to keep the quest for the perfect cupcake. Please let me know if you have a good recipe for me to try.

Summer so far 2010

Summer for me is............


Baseball









Spinning on the deck















farmer's market on Saturday mornings












homemade potato salad

















gardens blooming

and maybe a nap or two.....