Labor Day Weekend

Nichelle, Mike and Tennyson came to visit us for the long weekend.  On Friday night we had a wonderful roast dinner.  It was Shaylin’s last night before returning to BYU I so she picked out her last meal.  We played her favorite family game, Killer Bunnies.  She left for the airport early on Saturday morning.  I took Nichelle and Mike to our favorite small town restaurant, Egg Harbor Cafe.It is one of our favorites for special occasions like having visitors in town. They have all kinds of special breakfast and lunch items that you will not find anywhere else. 

That afternoon we went to Naperville’s Last Fling.  We walked around some stupid little booths, ate some junky food (Yum) and walked around the Naperville Settlement.

The kids got to paint on a car.  They thought that was pretty cool.

At the petting zoo this hen decided she liked me.  Every time I moved she would find my foot and curl up by it.  I think the animals were coming to me for protection from all the little fingers poking them.

 

We had fun walking in the pioneer type houses.

 

Mike went crazy with his camera and took over 200 pictures that morning!!!

He was very artistic!!!

That night we ate Chicago style Pizza.  Our stomach’s were very full after all of the days activities.  On Sunday we went to church.  I got to show off Tennyson.  We had a steak dinner and Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes with the Saunders Hot Fudge that they bought me for my birthday.  We spent a lot of hours over the weekend playing with Tennyson and trying to make him laugh.

It was a great weekend and we were sad to see it end. Here are some family shots from Mike’s camera frenzy.

He did a great job!!!

Perspective on another Birthday

Time puts things in proper perspective.
~Cameron Crowe

  I went to downtown Chicago and saw the city from a variety of views.

Sometimes we have our feet planted firmly on  the ground.

Keep your feet on the ground and your thoughts at lofty heights. - Peace Pilgrim

 

Sometimes our heads are in the clouds.

 

Never solve a problem from its original perspective.
~Charles Thompson

Sometimes we see things distorted.

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

And sometimes we just want to jump.

So during this 47th year of life I will try to keep things in perspective. 

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. - Mary Engelbreit

You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” Friedrich Nietzsche

Laughter can bring a new perspective.
~Christopher Durang

The Field Museum

We took Meghan and Joe to the Field Museum. 

We had a great day.   We learned all about ants.

We went to Egypt.

We shrunk ourselves and went underground.

We learned the difference between Mammoths and Mastodons.

We saw a 3D movie honoring the 10th anniversary of Sue.

We followed up this great day with Chicago Style Pizza.  Yum, Yummy Day!!!!

The Cubs Win One!!!!!

We took Meghan and Joe to a Cubs game.  The Cubs have not had a very good year, but it is still fun to go.  They played the Atlanta Braves.

It was actually an exciting game to watch.  There were balls hit and balls dropped.  Of course in between all those   flying balls we did the most important thing at a baseball game…EAT!!!

Notice the steal when she is not looking.

 

Of course I had a ballpark hotdog, but I inhaled it so quickly it was impossible to get a picture!!

The Cubs were in the lead 5-1.  It was the top of the ninth bases were loaded.  Great hit.  The lead was cut to 5-4.  Not again!!!  2 outs bases loaded again.  Slam….ball was……..caught!!!!!!!  Cubs finally win 5-4.

Bike Ride

Shaylin has started a get in shape program.  She is calling it Makitso Biggest Loser. We are really focusing on getting in shape.  This week we went for a few bike rides together as a family. 

This is Eddie.  He really likes to push his stomach out and make himself look even fatter than he is.

Go, Cawleys, Go!!!!!!!

Parent’s 50th

A few weekends ago we went to Utah to celebrate my parent’s 50th anniversary.  It was a lot of fun.  We all stayed at Carol’s house and participated in a variety of activities.

On Friday night everyone arrived and we had a BBQ.  We did hamburgers on the grill and I brought Joe Morley’s baked beans.  Um Um!!! 

The whole family was there.  Annie and McKayla dressed in matching clothes the entire weekend.

We never got enough of Tennyson!!!

We all made family flags.

After our big 5K run on Saturday we played games based off the TV show Minute to Win It.

We had to carry M&M’s across the yard using straws.

Had to get Oreos in our foreheads from our mouths with no hands.

We had to see who could bobble their heads the fastest.

This was the most challenging one.  They had to trade 3 empty cans in one hand with the 3 full cans in the other without putting them down.

We had to dress like an elephant and knock water bottles down.

And stack Ding Dongs.

We even had a magician come.

That night we went to Goodwood BBQ.  “Mommy” and “Daddy” got to ride in style.  Of course all the grandkids had to go along for the ride.

Karen hand stitched a gorgeous present for them. 

On Sunday we all went to church and had a roast dinner.  In all of our spare time we went swimming, played Killer Bunnies, watched old Little Rascal Movies, and had a wonderful time together.