Ahhhhh Vacation

Ok friends. I'm finally parking it and wrapping up our vaca before it becomes ancient history. There's a lengthy video at the bottom of this post, but if you want a condensed version, read on. I'll do a bullet point highlight of our week of rest and relaxation.

*Wed & Thurs were spent in Chicago(land) area. Out for breakfast, trip to awesome children's museum, visit to the Warps house in the midst of a tornado, visiting with the Riegers and their two dudes, romping around Nanna and Pappa's house, downtown to Millennium Park fountains, lunch with my entire fam, minus Kyle, meeting Ky's better half, Becky, hangin' at Ross and Kira's house, including a fabulous home made meal from my sweet sis-in-law, bonding with our darling nephews.

Emmers and the dude got along just fine.

Psycho lifelong best buds decide outdoors is the best place to be in the midst of a tornado.

The fountain park is THE place to be on a hot Chicago day.

May I introduce Becky. Kyle's favorite person on earth.

Heaven for Nanna and Pappa. Their favorite 3 little men.

Sweet sweet Hudson.

Who gave that kid a squirt gun?

*Friday-Sunday were spent at Mom V's cottage in Holland. Vacation takes on a whole new level at the cottage. Pure relaxation. Dude adored the sandy beach, the uncharacteristically big waves, digging holes, playing with all Grandma's toys, looking at the big boats in Saugatuck, driving Uncle Bruce's pontoon boat, riding in the neighbor's golf cart, etc. etc. etc. It was a wonderful 3 days with Grandma and Great Grandma Jabaay.

This is taken at our favorite rest stop. Dude decided we should look for tigers. Didn't find any.

My two dudes with the famous lighthouse in the backdrop.

This is where we spent 90% of our beach time. Dude wouldn't have it any other way.

We made dude a mermaid. Watching Mommy do it intrigued him enough to cover himself in sand. We were pleasantly shocked.

How cute is this shot?

Dude found a big stick. An awesome source of fun.

Dude sure does love his grandma and great grandma.

*Back to Chicago on Monday morning for one more day of fun at Nanna and Pappa's house. We picnicked at their super cool park, I went to see my friend Missy's new baby girl with childhood friend, Erin, dude swam on the deck in Nanna's little plastic pool, Kyle joined us as we dined on my fave, steak and mushrooms, hiked around Lake Katherine and treated ourselves to Plush Horse ice cream (a childhood hot spot for me). It was one of my favorite vaca days.

Missy with Jasper and baby Elliot.

Scenic Lake Katherine.

What are they doing? They're all spitting and watching the fish eat what they think is food. Yup. That's what they're doing. Each and every one of them.

Plush Horse ice cream. Dude got his own, but walked down the row and licked from every one's cones. Little bugger.

Video below. Enjoy.