Fourth of July Weekend - Part III

Saturday was a lousy weather day. I had wanted to go to the Monee 4th of July Parade, but apparently I was mixed up on what time it was at and we missed it (oops!). Then it proceeded to rain basically all day so we just took it easy at home. While Lucas napped, Wally and I got a little crazy and played some Scrabble - yep, we're WILD!! The rain moved out by early evening, and we weren't sure about heading to some fireworks or not. We were going to play it by ear and see how Lucas was doing, but first we thought that we would head to Balmoral Race Track (horse (harness) racing), which is 15 minutes from our house. This would be Lucas' first time at "the track" (it's never too early to introduce Lucas to gambling right, I mean we are originally from the Illinois Valley - just kidding). We placed a few $2 bets, lost a lot of races, but had a good time. Lucas zonked out after awhile so we just headed home and decided to skip the fireworks for this year.

Back from the parade that we missed...


I told you we played Scrabble! This was as far as we got and then gave up :)


Harness racing


Daddy showing Lucas the horses!




Lucas "yelling" for Horse #4 to win!!

Fourth of July Weekend - Part II

Friday we spent the day just doing some stuff around the house and getting ready for a cookout that night with some great friends! Unfortunately, we had to head inside once the mosquitoes got out of hand, but it was a good time. This was our first cookout since our deck was refinished so we were excited to spend some time out there. (On a side note: the pool is now open, so come on over!).





Blake and TJ playing some bags!


Lucas looking like he wishes he was playing bags too!


Blake and Lucas

Fourth of July Weekend - Part I

We kicked off our 4th of July weekend by introducing Lucas to one of mine and Wally's favorite past times - minor/independent league baseball. One summer in particular when we were both in college, Wally and I would go to 2 sometimes 3 games a week. We would travel all over Illinois (a lot of teams are within an hour or two of L-P). So we thought it was time to bring Lucas to one. We headed to the Windy City Thunderbolts (independent league) baseball game. This was Lucas' first "real" baseball game and he seemed to enjoy it - well at least the people watching part of it. He really could have cared less about what was going on on the field. The best part though - $1 beers, $1 hot dogs, $1 popcorn, $1 soda...are you serious?!?! We knew minor league baseball was cheap fun, but this was crazy!!! We will be heading to more Thunderbolts games in the future!!

That Just Isn't Right....

those are my dad's words when seeing Lucas zoom around in his "zoom zoom" (aka his walker). He has been moving like this for about 2 months - you should see him when Nala is around...he is a little Speedy Gonzalez!

June...

what a busy month! We had a lot going on and did lots of traveling (mostly back to LP). Here is a summary of the month.

June 5th-7th
This was our only "open" weekend of the month and honestly I had a really hard time remembering what we did. It seems so long ago now! I believe it all came back to me though..I had Friday off so I used the Mario Triccoci spa gift certificate Wally got me for Mother's Day and had myself pampered that morning. I was going to do some shopping, but when I was leaving the spa, it was such a beautiful day that I decided just to head home to hang out with the boys. On Saturday Lucas and I headed to Wally's school where the TBolts were hosting and playing in the sectional championship baseball game. Wally was the announcer for the game so he wasn't able to sit with us, but I brought a blanket and Lucas and I enjoyed the game. I remember Lucas seeing a "huge" dog on the other side of the fence and he was kicking his legs and squealing like crazy because he wanted to pet it...he LOVES dogs!! (Oh, and the Bolts lost 4-1). Sunday we went to church, had some lunch at Panera Bread, and headed to Toys-R-Us...I previously posted on this shopping trip below ("I Know, I Know)...that was it for that weekend...


Just some pics of Lucas in his duck tub!

June 10th

All three of us met up with Punky and the crew (Lucas' sitter and friends) for a day at the Brookfield Zoo...the weather turned out to be quite nice that day (we were worried about it raining). It was nice to meet some of the other parents and just to see the kids out of the house. We ate lunch in the picnic area and had a great time seeing all the animals. This was Lucas' 2nd trip to the zoo in a month (we had gone on Mother's Day). We love the zoo so much that we decided to become members (it helped that Wally got an educator's discount too). So it looks like Lucas has many more trips to the zoo to come!

June 12th-14th

This was trip #1 back to the I-Valley. This one was for Wally's Grandma Z.'s 80th birthday celebration. All of Wally's aunts, uncles, and cousins were in town (coming from WI, TX, Grayslake, and Chicago). Friday night we all got together in the Community Center at Wally's grandparents place. We ordered some LaGrotto's (yum!) and had some ice cream cake to celebrate 4 of the cousins graduations (yay Emmy, Danielle, Anna, and Ryan!). Saturday the guys all went golfing, I got my hair cut, and Lucas hung out with Grandma Z. That evening we all went to church and then headed to Verucchi's for some dinner. We had the back room which was very nice since when all the Zuk's are together it can make for a fairly large group. After dinner everyone headed over to Wally's parents for awhile and then we called it a night! Lucas was a champ through all of this...we have a little trouble when he falls asleep when we are out and about and then moving him from the stroller, to the car, and finally to the pack-n-play, but he does pretty good! Sunday we spent the day over at my parents and then headed home. This car ride home was not good! Lucas was overtired; therefore, not happy! We always try to time the car ride to be around naptime for Lucas. He slept for about 45 minutes and then he woke up and was mad and we hit construction - not a good combination! We had to pull off the highway, give him a bottle and hope that would satisfy him and he would fall asleep the rest of the way home...it worked for a bit, but it was a long ride home and he was a very, very tired boy!!!

The Zuk's with Grandma Z.

Rachel, Lucas, and Clare

Flowers!

Photo shoot at Grammy and Papa's House!

Happy 6 month Birthday Little Man!

June 15th
We walked to our subdivision's park this evening. Lucas is now big enough to swing!! I think he liked it :) We tried to get Nala to go down the slide - didn't go so well. She jumped off the side of the slide, tried to get her feet underneath her, but ended up falling on her back (ouch!). She apparently was fine though, but angry. When Nala is angry she goes on a mad running spree and you better watch your ankles...she was crazy...luckily there was no one else around at that time...haha!!

Check out his hair blowing in the wind...haha!


June 19th-21st
This was trip #2! This time we had a wedding on Saturday (family friend of the Zukowski's). I was off on Friday so we headed back late morning. My dad and Wally golfed that afternoon and Lucas and I hung out with Carly and my mom. We ordered pizza and just relaxed that night. Saturday afternoon was pretty low-key as well. The wedding was at Deer Park at 4 o'clock. If you may (or may not) recall, that weekend was VERY HOT and VERY HUMID and the wedding was outdoors and there was no shade. It was quite eventful - bridesmaid had to sit down and then started puking, a groomsman (bride's brother) passed out, and at the end of the wedding, the groom himself had to walk away to puke...yikes!!! That's a wedding to remember! The reception was under a tent so not so bad. Wally and I headed out after dinner to meet up with some friends...Lucas was with my parents that night so we took advantage of being out and about already and they took advantage of some quality time with the little guy! Sunday was a busy and eventful day (see "6 month pictures..." post). Lucas did wonderfully in the car this weekend and he even popped his second tooth (next to the 1st one)!

On our way out the door to the wedding!

Lucas and Great Grandma Swanson

Lucas and Logan!

Too cute!!

The infamous 6-month pictures "airing out"

The men

An exhausted mommy and baby


June 25th-28th

Trip #3! We headed to Lake Lawn Resort (in Delevan, WI next to Lake Geneva) Thursday afternoon to meet up with Wally's family. The Illinois Bar Association conference is up there every year. The Zuk's went just about every year when the kids were younger. I had been once before with them about 7 or 8 years ago. We stayed in a house right on the lake - it was a sprawling ranch and plenty big for the group of us. Thursday night we drove over to The Abbey Resort (where the conference is held) for Family night. We had some dinner and then took Lucas around to see the fun activities he will be able to do as he gets older. Friday morning we went to a restaurant called Millie's for some breakfast and they have little shops around there too. We headed back to the house so Lucas could nap and as soon as he woke up, we lathered him up, and were off to the pool - Lucas' first time! He seemed to really enjoy it - the water was perfect. We swam around with him a bit and then put him in his racecar float (Lucas says thank you Great Grandma Swanson :) ) He was kicking the ENTIRE time....after awhile, we sent him off to the shade with Grandma Z. and the girls and I swam and layed out for a bit while the guys headed off to play some golf. After that experience with Lucas in the water, I am really excited that we have our own pool. Wally and I haven't gotten as much use as we would like out of it since we moved into our house 2 years ago, but having a little guy that enjoys it so much will make it much more worth it! Anyways...Friday night, Lucas, Wally and I went for a very long walk along the lake and met up with his family for dinner. It was a late one for Lucas especially after all that kicking in the pool so he was pretty wiped out! We sent him back to the house for bed with the grandparents and us "kids" headed to the karaoke bar on the resort. I don't karaoke, but I do love to sing and mostly dance in my chair (LOL). Emmy and Willie Idle did some singing though (along with all the karaoke regulars, haha). Wally was sitting next to me wondering why everyone in his family can sing, but him :) It was a great time! Saturday morning we just hung out at the house and the 3 of us took off to head back to LP around 11 AM. We had to get back for a Kohr party!! My Uncle Jack retired from the City of Peru and my Uncle Tom turned 60 so it was a surprise for each of them...Tom knew, but Jack was clueless (although he won't tell you that). As you may (or may not) know, Kohr parties are always a good time and it always rains on us!! I feel that it is usually because of the rain though that the parties turn in to such a good time. The party was at my Aunt Kathy's in Oglesby - the outdoor party always turns into a garage party because of the rain! It was very exciting to meet my cousin Jay's daughter Brooklyn for the first time. Lucas was a little bit of a crab because of the long weekend and his schedule basically being thrown out the window, but we did manage to get some cute pics of him and Brooklyn, along with my cousin Megan's kids Maddie and Sophie! Lucas went to bed just before 8 o'clock in the house and it was time for mom and dad to have some fun - and we did!! There was some flippy cup, pushups in the rain, neighbors coming over to join our party, 40 oz. bottles of Busch Light (yep, they make those) being dropped, dancing, dogs humping Grammys, killing off 2 half barrels, and of course some margarita ball action! Basically - it was a good time! The weekend ended with a low key Sunday and the drive home.

Thursday Night = Family Night

Getting ready for the pool!!

Taking it all in....

He's in!



Check Out "Willie Idle"!

The guests of honor!

First meeting for Lucas and Brooklyn

Maddie, Lucas, and Sophie

The Foursome!

Carly and Maddie playing my dad in bags!

Lucas intensely watching the bags game!

Have to take a picture on the rock at Kathy's!

The morning after!

Phew! That was a busy, but fun month! Lucas met a lot of new people and did great traveling and being thrown out of his routine. We try our best to stick with the routine even when we were are away from home, but it is not always possible and he is pretty adaptable. I have to admit though that I am very excited to be spending the next 2 weekends at home!