July 2018

So we decided to go to Chicago this year for our vacation. It was fun, but we did not enjoy the traffic in Chicago or the toll roads or the lack of parking. On the way to Chicago, we stopped in Springfield and visited some of the Abe Lincoln attractions. In Chicago, we saw many of the main attractions, including Shedd's Aquarium, Navy Pier, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Technology, the Willis Tower, and a Cub's game at Wrigley Field. We also enjoyed Chicago pizza and a fun BBQ joint called Pork and Mindy's. We also traveled north to Milwaukee to Miller Park to see where the Brewers play, and stopped at Mar's Cheese Castle in Wisconsin. One of our favorite places was Illinois Beach State Park off Lake Michigan.

The boys and Abe

More beautiful sunsets at our place- "God's painting"

Jordon hangin' with Pops in the backyard

July 4th at Uncle Jon's

Kids ready to shoot some fireworks

Jordon and Mason

Royals game for Dad's b-day

My favorite- 2 hit Whit

Fireworks after the Royals game

A boy and his dog

Dad on rides with Tristan at Cass County fair

Rainbow at our place-noticed it while mowing

Lincoln's office building in Springfield, IL

Lincoln's burial site

Too much rubbing the nose for luck!

Lincoln's first burial site

Fun at Navy Pier!

Up in the 196 ft. Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier

Boys loved this ride- they are flying on the right!

A lighthouse in Chicago off Lake Michigan

Riding in the Sea Dog- got a little wet but not much!

Chicago skyline

Hanging with the mummies and dinosaurs at Field Museum

Rock climbing at Maggie Daly Park

Illinois Beach State Park

So calm and relaxing here- we all loved it

Tristan loved the sand and water and wanted to stay!

Fun place and good food in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Miller Park in Milwaukee- where the Brewers play

Adler Planetarium in Chicago

Shedd's Aquarium

Tristan and his stingrays- he said one of them "loves him"

Pork and Mindy's- good but unique BBQ

We made it to a Cub's game at Wrigley Field- check it off Don's bucket list

Fun to see the fans sitting on top of the buildings behind the stadium

Chicago view from Willis tower

We waited in line to get on the Skydeck at Willis Tower, and when we finally made it there, it was full of clouds so you really couldn't see anything, but we were there!

Museum of Science and Technology- wish we had visited this place first so we could have spent more time there- it was really cool

Ready to get on the Sea Dog

Jordon's first concert- Journey and Def Leppard at the Sprint Center

the one-armed drummer

Mom's favorite- the guitarist with the killer abs

Slip and slide at VBS

June 2018

Lots more baseball!

Karli at bat

Karli catching like her cousins do

Uncle Tim, put me up there so I can make a basket.

Kyndal's birthday- turned 4

This was one of those silly FB things but I thought it was funny but somewhat accurate!

More beautiful sunsets from home

Lovin' the 4-wheeler

A cool moth we saw on the shed

Got some good close seats, courtesy of a friend from Don's work

Boys got some signed baseballs! Too bad Jordon lost his- left the stadium without it!

It was so hot, like much of June, around 100 degrees.

Salvy at bat

Jose Altuve

first zucchini grown from our garden

beautiful view from our pond

the walking trail with Raleigh

We saw 2 baby deer on the trail that day.

Mama duck had a couple ducklings, but they didn't last long. We think an owl got them.

Korbin's 1st b-day party

Always fun on the haybales

M & D at Gary Allen concert

May 2018

May brought more soccer and baseball!

Tristan ready at 1st!

Tristan-the south-paw catcher

Ready to run!

Don's 100th anniversary 2003 Harley- we were planning to sell it but it got stolen from our yard on Father's Day while we were at church. All we got back was the personalized plate.

Jordon doing his thing on the pitching mound. Don did more coaching with his team this year and really enjoyed it.