After a long travel day on August 1st, we spent a slow, relaxing morning at Lola's house. Here are Logan and Jake (who are six months apart) hanging out by the back door in the kitchen after breakfast.
We headed out on the afternoon of August 2nd to spend a few hours at Johnny's neighborhood pool. Everyone had such a good time cooling down. Here are Lia and Addison playing at the pool's edge.
Lia, Regan, Robbie, Addison, Austin, Logan, and Ron stopping for a group photo.
Logan enjoying papa's company in the pool.
The Hartland Fam doing what we do best in the summer--swimming!
After the pool, the three girls ventured out into Lola's backyard for some fun throwing rocks in the river that flows through her neighborhood.
Such cute girls!
Getting ready to throw some rocks!
Since there is a large population of Polish people in the Chicago area, the entire group spent a fun evening eating at the Warsaw Inn--a polish restaurant. Here are Lia, Regan, and Sarah eating their food.
We finished off the evening with Logan and Jake taking a bath together. I just love this picture as I have almost an exact one of Lia, Addison, and Regan together back in 2008.
The entire family spent most of Saturday, August 3rd, at the Deep River Water park in the near by town of Crown Point. Ron and I spent most of our time in the kiddie areas with Logan and Lia, but we still had a great time. Logan LOVED going down the little, turtle water slide!
Having fun with one of the many shooting water spouts.
The kids exploring the large, play structure!
We enjoyed going around the two lazy rivers several times.
Lia and Addison hanging out in one of the toddler pools.
Water + sun = one happy boy.
Lia going down a slide...
And swimming away.
The two brothers, Derek and Ron, with their baby boys. How precious.
Lia and I running through one of the water mushrooms.
We finished off the day by stopping by a large, Asian buffet on our way home for dinner. Since this was baby Jake's actual first birthday, we sang to him at the restaurant.
Addison, Regan, and Lia all buckled up and ready to head back home from the restaurant after a long day of play!
Sunday, August 4th, was the big birthday bash that Lola had been planning for months at a nearby park. She decided to host a birthday party for 100 of her friends to celebrate Jake's first birthday and Logan's half birthday (which is just a few days later). It was amazing to see all of the people who turned out for the celebration to support our boys who they didn't even know! Here are Sarah, Addison, and Lia getting ready for the festivities.
Jake, Regan, Lia, and Logan starting to eat their lunch.
Big-boy Logie eating away.
The amazing, Pixar Car's cake that Lola provided for the party.
Lia, Regan, Evan, and Sarah posing with the cake before it was attacked by the masses.
The mother's posing with their birthday boys next to the banner that Lola ordered. She really thought of everything for this party!
Papa helping Evan light the candles on the cake before blowing them out.
The Hartland fam after eating some cake.
The park where the party was held had a fabulous play area complete with a giant sandbox. Lia and Regan spent quite a bit of time digging around in it.
And Logan spent quite a bit of time going down the slides. I swear, this boy has NO fear!
Getting ready to go!
Finishing up a "run."
Cute Robbie and Austin--a year and a half later, they are still newly weds at heart!
The kids just hanging around.
The gang enjoying the teeter totter.
After returning home from the birthday party, we all changed into our finest travel duds to post for some family pictures in Lola's and Papa John's front yard. Here are the girls dressed up in pink and ready to go!
Lola and her posterity.
Lola and her three boys--Derek, Ron, and Robbie.
Our little family.
Austin and Robbie.
Derek, Renee, and their three children.
A very proud Lola with her grandchildren.
After the pictures, we went into the family room for the opening of all of the presents we received from the party. It was amazing to be the recipient of so much love and generosity. It reminded me of the day after Ron's and my wedding when we opened up all of our gifts!
Posing with some of Logan's new loot (please notice that he couldn't be bothered with looking at the camera thanks to his new, play phone).
Reading one of many cards with Logan and Lia at my side.
Monday, August 5th, was hand's down Lia's and my favorite day! We got to go into the city to visit the American Girl Doll Store! Although Lia got her American Girl doll at Christmas, we have never driven up to the one in our state (there are only 16 in the county). So this was a first for the both of us and we loved it! The American Girl Doll Store in Chicago is downtown, right on Michigan Avenue, and it is AMAZING and huge! Here is Lia taking the trolley from Navy Pier to Michigan Avenue with Mirabella on her lap.
The girls and their dolls all lined up and ready to go outside of the restaurant where we had 12:30 reservations for lunch.
Regan, Sarah, and Lia awaiting the arrival of our lunch with their dolls sitting in their own, little chairs that attached to the table. It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen!
The entire group of girls! I absolutely loved this restaurant and all of the details that were included down to a little cup and saucer brought out by the waiters who we all wearing pink aprons!
Lia pretending to feed Mirabella a carrot stick from our appetizer plate.
The three of us having a grand, old time!
Lia eating the adorable dessert that included a chocolate mousse that was served in a miniature, flowerpot with a daisy "growing" out of it!
After lunch, the groups of girls spent a good hour or two shopping around the incredible, two-story store! Lia and I were in American Girl Doll heaven! Lola bought each girl one clothing item of their choice--so Lia was finally able to get the beautiful, Caroline Abbott nightgown and matching slippers that she has been drooling over for months from the catalogues that we get in the mail. In addition, I treated her to one other thing she wanted....so we went and had Mirabella's ears pierced at the piercing station! So fun!
Our day in Chicago was the perfect way to finish up our family reunion before everyone flew home on August 6th. Thanks, Lola and Papa John, for the wonderful weekend!
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