More August fun before school starts

As usual, we've been going non-stop since our return from California.  One of our favorite things about  this August is having more Bamma time!  After 30 plus years of having to prepare for the school year, she gets this one (and the next 30!) off!  So the boys have been enjoying spending more time with her.

 The weekend of Aug 10th, we had some out of town visitors.  Andrea and Nic were in from Des Moines with Ayla, Kyndal, and Lydia.  We pulled off a big zoo trip with our usual crowd, the Worsts and the Schwantzs.  The kids all got along great!

 After the zoo trip, we came back to our house were the boys showed off the new Captain America costume Bamma and Bampa found.  Sam hates all headwear, except for the tight fitting Captain America mask, go figure!

 How better to end the day than popsicles on the deck?!

 The next day we drove out to where the Richmond/Krogmeier clan was staying and Grandma Becky got tied up by the savages (mostly lead by Ayla and Noah).

 We went to Donley's Wild West town in Union, which is TOTALLY worth the drive out west if your are ever considering.  The kids had a blast!

 Noah tried out the handcrank train.

 Then we took a ride on the real train that's in the park.

 Noah tried his hand and lassoing while Sam was happy just to pet the pretend cow.

 There was a little canoe ride too.

 And panning for gold.  It was a busy, but super fun weekend and it was so nice to spend some time with our buds from our of town.

 Also that weekend was Evelyn's big 2nd birthday party!  Here she is sporting the tutu/minnie shirt that Philie made for her.

 The boys certainly enjoyed the cute minnie-ear cupcakes.

 Then we took a fun train ride downtown the following week to see Bampa at work.  

 Sam took a little snooze on Bamma while we rode.

 Then last weekend we hosted the Schwantz and Worst crew at the lake house.  Of course with a mob of children there I took nearly no pictures.  But it was awesome.  And I got to spend plenty of time watching Leo smile :)

 And Uncle Josh braved the ankle biters and even made us all Monster Cookies, a great weekend!

 And so all the days off lead to the inevitable return to school.  I went back on Monday, working 3 days per week in Hinsdale again.  Noah started at a new preschool.  This year he's at St. Peter's Lutheran school in Schaumburg.  The preschool is actually housed in their newly renovated 100 year old red school house.  It's cute and the teacher is very nice.  Noah was a bit nervous his first day but I think he'll do just fine.  

So, whew, that's what we've been up to the last 2 weeks.  Hope everyone is well and we'll update again soon with more fun and excitement!