Savoring Time with Friends and Fall

This is Kelley Larsen, me, and Kristen Wood.  The worst thing that could have ever happened to our wonderful group of Chicago friends was Kelley leaving us.  I don't think I can put it into words, but Kelley is one of the most incredible people you'll ever meet.  She lights up every room she enters and makes everyone feel loved.  When I heard the Larsens were moving to Guam, I was pretty devastated.  And I determined to spend as much time with Kelley as possible before she left!

 This was a girls' night at Mindy's Hot Chocolate with many of the ladies who are huge fans of Kelley's (and who happen to love Chicago, rich dessert, and hot chocolate).

 Another group picture that is pretty much horrible of all of us except for Kelley - glowing right there in the middle.  :)

We also had a family going-away party for the Larsens at Gillson Park/Beach.  It was a really fun night.  My favorite was that Will (Kelley's husband) and his fellow musicians brought their gig to the park and entertained us with the most hip music ever that set the mood perfectly and made everyone else at the park jealous that they aren't as cool as us.

 The day after that party began another few days of savoring time with amazing friends.  Shug, Brittany, and Jacob (our lifelong friends, as you probably know) were all able to swing it and be here in Chicago for a handful of days.  Shug was expecting her third child...so we all wanted to get a visit in before her life would change drastically! I felt badly that I couldn't meet them at a more unique destination, but I had already been indulgent enough with the Newport trip, and for our family's sanity, I couldn't go anywhere.  So these amazingly flexible friends were able to come to me!

 Brittany was the instigator, and I love her for it, because time together is exactly what we all needed!

 These pics were taken on our Chicago River architectural boat tour.  I was just so happy that the weather was good enough to do something so lovely and outdoors.  I believe we even got hot on this ride.

 Of course, I didn't take nearly enough pictures of this trip because we were so busy having a good  time that I didn't even think about pictures.  Actually, we spent a lot of time (as we always do) having very good and important conversations.  One poignant topic was "What on earth will happen if Donald Trump actually becomes president of the United States?" Some of us were pretty worried about that.  I wasn't that worried, because obviously, there is NO WAY that could possible happen.  Right?!?

Okay, it's really lame that I don't have any more pictures.  But I was SO grateful that Brittany and Shug were willing to fly out, and that Jacob drove out to visit as well.  It's amazing how good friends have a way of staying connected no matter what.

Friends All Around

 Man, these boys have a lot of fun friends!  Which is exactly what I have prayed for, so it fills my heart with happiness.

This is Ryder and Jake, two of Ellis' best friends from school.  I think these are the two friends whose hair Ellis was trying to emulate.  

And Ellis' Recess League soccer team.  This is the group that he was "The Ref" for this year for so many games, spent countless nights making yellow/red cards, lineups, and game plans for, etc.  Ellis also planned play dates with almost every kid in this group.  He is lucky to have such a fun group of friends at school!

Here are Henry and Ellis with a few of their Cub Scout/church friends.   

 And Sam with his preschool friends on the last day.

 This is Henry's soccer team and his amazing coach who had such a great mix of yelling and giving sincere, positive feedback.  At first I wasn't excited about the yelling, but I actually think the boys really responded to it. I don't really understand boys, but I think yelling motivates them somehow?  :)  He gave Henry the "most improved" and "hardest worker" awards, because Henry really got in there and worked this year!

 Good game, good game!

 Ellis' soccer team buddies.  Orange CRUSH!!!  Missing in this pic is Harry, the kid who scored like a million goals.  These guys had a great season and pretty much dominated every team they played.  Ellis really got into it and developed a few versions of his signature victory dance for any of his goals.

And I had to add this picture of Henry and the friends he made during the week at Apps & Coding camp.  I never heard anything about these kids during the week, but on the last day, they were all super friendly with Henry.  They were all saying they can't wait to see him again and hang out other times and in other classes (which I doubt will happen, but you never know!).  I think they had all bonded over their computer-geekiness. :)

Family Night in the City

This is my friend Kelley Larsen.  I really love her for many reasons.  She is happy, inspiring, and energetic.  She makes me want to be a better person every time I'm around her.  And she comes up with great ideas for fun things to do on the spur of the moment.

On this particular summer night, Kelley wanted to take the kids downtown and have family home evening (family away evening?) in the Chicago Riverwalk area.  It was a gorgeous night and a magical location.

We found a little patch of grass where we were in the middle of the city, yet all to ourselves.  Penelope shared the spiritual thought.

Then we had a little talent show!

There were jokes,

hand jives,

and music.

And a soccer game on our long, skinny strip of grass in this exclusive spot! Sam was in heaven!

All of this, supported by milkshakes from Shake Shack. (Can I tell you how much all of my boys admire Eli? He's the coolest.  And apparently he and Henry have similar feelings about getting their picture taken).

This was a good night for Chicago.  We love living here!  And mostly, we love our friends the Larsens!

Latergrams, in which winter finally ends, the boys create, and Robbie ties the knot

 I can't believe this is happening to me.  #retainer #juniorhighthrowback #mylife

 Taking Ninjago to a whole new level with two extra ninjas at our house this week.  I have actually gotten a lot done while they all played (mostly) happily.  #legoninjago #thelatestcraze

 Everyone wants a peek at Sam's new Ninjago book.  At the same time, of course.  How do you think Ben looks with 5 boys?

 Sam has been waiting all winter for this moment!  The snow has literally been un-packable until today.  So grateful for our 43 degrees.  #warmwinterday #doyouwanttobuildasnowman? #olaf #samsdreamcometrue

 Caught Ellis reading some "Morris Goes to School" to Sam.  Sam was a diligent listener.  #readingtogether #makesmehappy

 Looking out our front window at the new snowfall this morning, Sam says, "Mom!  I see a leaf!  That means it's Spring now!"  I'm not sure if he even has any real memories of what Spring looks like.  #hopefulforspring #prettyprettyplease #marchsnow

 Happy St. Paddy's Day!  #greendinner #thatsascoolasitgets #costcoshamrockravioli

 Starting to see the ground!  This is reason for rejoicing.  #herecomesthesun #itsbeenalongcoldlonelywinter

 Risky business, swinging with the icy waters below...but we couldn't resist!  No one fell off, but Sam's boot fell in the water, which made for a chilly walk home.  #starvedforsun

 Light jackets were almost warm enough for a tour of Northwestern on Saturday.  We love having Jacob stop in occasionally as our closest "family."  Fun weekend with him before he flew out of Chicago for a trip.  #weekendgram

 It brought tears to my eyes when I saw that Ellis had finished this huge "challenging work" at preschool while I was in Utah.  He punched out the continents one pinhole at a time, perforating the edges and punching them out.  He also wrote the names of all of the continents in his cute handwriting.  It was not easy, but he worked hard, and his teachers were very patient!  #icandohardthings #montessoripreschool #proudmama

 This boy is proud to be taking a community art class with Ellis and some friends!  He came home yesterday to report what he had learned from the teacher: "She said to don't take a boogie on your finger and put it on your pants."  #lifelessons #education #thingsIlearnedinartclass

 At least when the tree workers turned off our power, they were thoughtful enough to provide the entertainment.  #treechipper #noTVwednesday #screenfreeentertainment #boystuff

 When we took Henry out of school 7 extra days for vacation last fall (and a few more here and there), we were planning on him never getting sick.  #strepthroat #absent3days #hopetheschoolisntcounting

 Using the sick day to tackle Cub Scout requirements.  Otherwise this would never be happening!  #paintparty #scenery #jacksonpollocksintraining

Many months of looking out the windwo longingly culminate in this moment.  #outside #nosnow #43degrees #outsidelover #unlikehisbrothers #samo

These boys have jokes that date back as far as their junior high days.  I think we still have just as much fun together!  All three of us moved to the Midwest within the last 8 months, just in time for Robbie's Nauvoo wedding today!  #sleepover #foreverfriends #healthykidsunite

 #temple #nauvoo #firsttime #beautifulday

 We are so happy to see Robbie looking so absolutely elated.  #gorgeousbride #robbieandlyndee

It was so fulfilling to spend the day with these people, who feel more like brothers than friends.  #foreverfriends #apparentlyiamtheshortone #robbieandlyndee #nauvoowedding

Missing . . .

Looking at these pictures just gave me a really big pit in my stomach.  I hate saying goodbye!  Here are just a few of the people and things we are missing.

Tiff Rinne, Rachel Durazzani, Jen Hubbard, Ashley Schmutz, Jenna Mullen 

 The Evanses: Emmet, Romney . . .

  . . . Emilie and Christy

Amy Kyle (my beloved voice teacher and friend) and Heidi Smith 

 Stephanie and Tabi (and Ryan and Sami too)

 Jenna Mullen, Laura Sprague, and Jamie Cook

 Riley and Amber Lovendale

 Rachel Durazzani and Lacey Christensen

 Keziah Dutchak and her boys, Andrei and Elijah

Best friends: Sammy and Sami

More Best friends!  Bryson and Henry

Henry's best school friend: Jules

The Lowell School - it was awesome.

(end of year picnic)

 Sweet friends and girls' nights (this was a farewell ice cream party hosted by the ever-classy Jamie)

 Man, I could use a girls' night with my girls right now.  I'm missing them so much that it hurts!

I'll have to admit, we are loving our new house so much that we're not really pining for our old space too much.  But it is the home to many beautiful memories for us, and we love this home for that.  What a lovely little place.  Boston chapter, you absolutely ruled.