Summer Adventure #7- Swimming at Green Lake

Sheridan Family Vacation 2013

Ok.... Kidney Infections are no joke.  SERIOUSLY!!!  I was super bummed that we had to postpone our trip by a week, but it was the right decision.  (I couldn't even get off the couch last week at this time!)  The hotel was very understanding and thankfully Grandma and Grandpa Sheridan could change their schedules as well.... What a difference a week makes!  I am about 98% back to normal and we ended up having a great vacation and made lots of memories!

The Jelly Belly Factory Tour was a hit!!!!

 Ava and Ryan loved being able to go visit Grandma and Grandpas room right across the hall.  Ava especially loved being able to call their room (or our room when she was with them) 

Lots of fun in the water.  Thank goodness for the indoor and outdoor pools!!  It was SUPER hot!!!!

Relaxing while we waited for our infamous boat ride. 

 Neat fountain in Lake Geneva!

 And the boat ride.  Very peaceful until 100+ middle school day campers came aboard.  Needless to say not what Michael signed up for.  He demanded his money back when we got back to shore and they gave it to him!!!! 

 

We look forward to this vacation every year!  And thanks to Groupon we always get a great deal and venture off to a location that is new and exciting!!  Always a fun time and a chance to make so many memories!  Can't wait to find out where we will be off to in 2014.... there is talk of an RV road trip adventure!!!  OH BOY!

We love you Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

What a Week!

On the Forth, we invited family and friends for a fun swim/yard games cook out.  We had an awesome turnout!  Unfortunately mom woke up with some pain that ended up being pretty debilitating for the past 7 days.  We think we are getting to the bottom of it and are treating it like a kidney infection.  I am praying to have some relief soon and able to get back to our regular summer fun routine!  In the meantime we have big news!!!

Ava is now riding her bike without training wheels!  Grandma Sheridan came up to visit/help out and basically taught her how to ride in one afternoon!  She is so proud of herself!!!

Another big day today.... it is Grandpa Sheridans 71st birthday.  We only wish we were celebrating differently but are thankful that he came up to help stain the deck.  We will make it up to him next week on vacation! 

Still a work in progress.  Kyle has been working very hard on it and today Grandpa added some man power.  Can't wait for this project to be done (and to not have to do it again for another 7-10 years!) 

 

Summer Adventure #5-Camping in the Backyard

This happens every summer and the outcome is always the same.  Back inside before midnight.  I will keep you posted on tonight's results.  (Although Ava has mentioned multiple times that "it is the perfect night")  Hopefully that is a good sign!  (I should mention... Ryan is exempt from camping this year.  He fell asleep before they were ready to head outside.... which might be best for all involved!)

UPDATE!!!!-She made it the entire night!!!  AND even slept past 7am!!!  AMAZING!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a wonderful 4th of July this year.  We hosted the 1st Annual (hopefully?) 4th of July Party at our house.  Looking back we think we had over 40 people here through out the day and into the night.  And LOTS of kids!  It made it fun for Ava and Ryan to have so many playmates!

  Swimming, Yard Games, Food and Smores! 

 Can't beat summer fun!

 

Fun on Vacation!

We went away for a couple of days to Minnesota to check out the Mall of America and other sites.  We had a great time and the kids loved every minute of it... ok... not every minute.  The only time they were a little "off" was when we went to the Rainforest Café.  (I thought they would have LOVED it, but instead, Ava was terrified of the rainstorms and animatronic gorillas and Ryan was complaining of a foot/leg cramp.  I was afraid our luck may have run out but as soon as we left the restaurant, they were as good as new again... Go Figure!)

(Our Before Shot-Ready for the LONG drive!)

(This was before we actually went inside the restaurant...she wasn't this smiley once we got in!)

 

Although our main destination was the Mall, we actually went into very few stores!  (Maybe 5 total) There was so many other things to do and see that we ran out of time.  (And shopping wasn't big on our list)  We had a great time Bowling (on our summer bucket list), getting our Build-A-Bear buddies, checking out the rides at Nickelodeon Universe, eating (at other places besides Rainforest Café :) and taking the shuttle bus to and from the hotel (Ryan's favorite!)

 

 

Later mom convinced us to go check out a waterfall she had read about called Minnehaha Falls that was only a short car ride from our hotel.  Not only was the view amazing, but we discovered bike rentals that would allow us to bike all over the park.  This was another highlight of the trip for Ava and Ryan although they didn't have to do any of the peddeling... Mom and Dad got quite the work out though!  (Mom thought she might have the baby right then and there!)  Overall an awesome trip filled with lots of great family memories!

A Great Season!

The Mets finished out their season tonight and I must say... our Ava is turning into a little ball player!  She has gained so much confidence this season and is hitting the ball like a pro!  The highlight came tonight when she FINALLY got her chance to play "catcher".  (She has been waiting ALL SEASON to play catcher and you should have seen the smile on her face when the coach told her she could!!)  She really has become one of the stars of the team... and that's not just the "mom" in me talking!  SO PROUD OF HER!

Happy (EARLY) 60th Birthday Martha and Monica!

For their 60th birthday next month (JULY 26th) we got mom and Monica a Hot Air Balloon ride!  We decided to give it to them last night at the Hawks game so that they can take their trip closer to their birthday (if they choose).  Can't wait to post pictures of their high flying adventure!!! Stay Tuned!

A Boy and His Trains!

Ryan is LOVING the fact that Ava is in summer school.  He gets to spend LOTS of quality time with mom and dad and has a chance to be the only child for a few hours.  He is truly in his element!  But... tomorrow is Ava's last day of summer school and then all bets are off! :)

Summer Adventure #4-Monster's University

A great way to spend a rainy day. 

Ryan was there too....

 he just wasn't a huge fan of getting his picture taken! :)