2016 Review: July-September

March addition:

I completely forgot about one of the biggest changes in March:  Anna got a guinea pig.  She wanted one for her birthday but we were going to take our time and find one from a rescue.  While the boys were at their camp retreat, Rob and I took Anna to Janesville to shop for an Easter dress.  We popped into a pet store and she fell in love with a little piggie that had just been put up for sale that day.  We bought all of the supplies and came home with Princess.  She's very different from Matt's guinea pig Rocky, as she is far more active and squeaky, but we all enjoy having her around. 

July:

We started off the month having Rob home for a week.  We had planned activities each day, but the week kind of fell apart as it progressed.  On the 4th we decided to skip the parade and head to Harnischfeger Park to hike, play mini golf, have a picnic, and paddle on the river.  We did hike until the mosquitoes drove us batty, our picnic was delicious, mini golf was a hoot (and cheap--$5 for the entire family!) but the paddle boats were beached due to low water level in the river.  On Tuesday of that week Anna got her cast off, so we kept things low key.  Wednesday we watched Ben play a baseball game.  He was supposed to play a double-header, but one of the games was moved.  We also drove to Theresa, Wisconsin to visit a cheese making factory and a candy shop.  The candy shop was AMAZING and we gave each kid $5 to spend.  They came home with piles of candy!  On Thursday Rob and Anna went out for a little date:  dinner and dress shopping.  The boys and I were going to head to Little Amerrika, a local amusement park, but I was sick in the night.  Plus Matt had compressed his back at the park on Monday.  We kicked around different ideas but ended up playing video games at home so two of us could heal. 

The kids and I went to see The Secret Life of Pets the following week and had a ball.  We were joined by two friends of ours and enjoyed the movie together. 

We made a trip to Illinois mid-month to celebrate Kenzie Hawker's birthday.  She had a sleepover for her girl cousins that were around her age and my sister and I had a ball taking the little princesses all over town.  The next day I helped with party prep and we spent most of the day celebrating.  It was pretty tiring, but a ton of fun.

Part of the fun at Kenzie's party was Anna getting her ears pierced.  It didn't go quite according to plan, as the gun was stuck on part of her ear.  That ear ended up getting infected three weeks later, necessitating a trip to the ER and antibiotics.  It's doing better now, thankfully!  She loves feeling all grown up.

Ben's baseball team ended their season on Matt's birthday by winning their division, putting them in the top seat going into the tournament the following day.  They won their first tournament game, but lost the final game.  Ben was the last kid to bat, bases loaded, two outs and he struck out.  He was disappointed in himself, but I told him the game wasn't lost in that final moment--it was lost when his team played terribly two innings prior.  He did have a great team and fantastic coaches this year, so the season still ended on a high note.

Matt turned 12 this month and had a nice day building Lego sets and eating treats.  I can't believe he'll be a teenager next year!!

On the 21st, a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she had two tickets to a Cubs vs Brewers game that she couldn't use and did anyone want them?  I quickly checked my schedule and went for the tickets!  It was am amazing experience to take Ben to his very first major league game, especially with his favorite team playing.  There were more Cubs fans than Brewers fans that night so we were in good company.  He was in awe the entire time!  It was free t-shirt night and he got free baseball cards so we didn't even spend money on momentos.  (In fact, the only things had to pay for was parking!)  The Cubs won, making it an even sweeter memory. 

Ben and Anna attended VBS at another church in town during the last week of July and enjoyed themselves.  Matt and I enjoyed spending time together. 

On the 30th, my side of the family had our annual picnic.  This year it was at a park in the Chicago area.  The kids had fun running around in a splash park and playing with cousins for several hours.

The next day was Rob's company picnic.  This year they decided to hold it at a hunting club.  There was a salon there for massages, facials, and manicures, which Anna and I did.  The guys went shooting and had fun.  Overall, however, it was just hot and not really a whole lot of fun.  We were pretty happy to leave and get home.

August:

We started the month with VBS at our church.  It was a sports camp theme for the second year in a row.  Ben was in the basketball group and Anna learned to play volleyball.  They both enjoyed it.  I helped with cookies this year.  The  youth group usually does a week in August called Teen Epic Battle and this year they ran it at the same time as VBS.  Matt enjoyed all of it, especially water night. 

In August every year I attend a weekly scrapbook class.  This year was even easier than normal because Matt was able to babysit.  Having a babysitter at home has been very freeing for Rob and I and it helps that Matt does a great job. 

We made a final trip to Illinois during our anniversary weekend.  It was a quick trip, but we wanted to get there one more time before soccer season started again.

We had our first day of school on the 22nd.  We usually start school right after the pool closes for the summer.  The kids weren't too terribly thrilled, but they soon settled into their routine.

September: 

Matt started a new "gig" as a worker in the nursery for our monthly mom's group.  He is trying to get his name out there as a babysitter and we thought being in the nursery would be a good experience for him.  He really enjoys working with the little kids each month (but not so much on the same day he cares for the puppy--it's a little exhausting!)

Anna started soccer again, this year playing on a larger field.  She plays goalie and LOVES it.  She's very aggressive and keeps begging for goalie gloves.

We had a chance to visit with some foster puppies a few times this month.  They were so tiny and like watching walking tummies :)  And we managed to leave them all there and not bring any home.

Ben and Anna started piano lessons again and this year joined group lessons on top of private lessons and theory class.  It's all included in tuition, so why not?  They really enjoy making music.

Matt went to Farmtastic in the middle of the month and enjoyed romping around playing games all day.

I attempted to take a yoga class but my second session left me in pain for several days.  The change to fall weather was not kind to my body and my health began taking a turn for the worse.

We had a visit from Rob's parents this month for one special reason:  Intense sewing lessons for Anna!  Grandma gave her a sewing machine for an early Christmas present and lessons on how to use it.  Anna is a natural at sewing and has been busy all fall making loads of projects.