Hello, Summer.

Summer has arrived since our last blog post. The kids' last day of school was this past week, and we're all ready for a break from remote learning for a while. Last month, we spent two weeks in Austin, Texas, with Aunt Abby, Uncle Brian, Maya, Lucy, and Nora. We drove the 15.5 hours through the night with only stops for gas and roadside potty breaks. It was wonderful to enjoy the company, weather, and open outdoor space. While the weather has since improved in Chicago, we're still longing for the great outdoors. As you'll see below, we're using our alley and decks as much as possible, and riding bikes, hiking, and exploring around our city and beyond.

Nora meeting Uncle Jeritt.

Maeve "masking" (basking) in the sun.

Popsicle crew.

Maya and Maeve are quite the buddies.

We finally got to meet sweet Nora Jane!

New roller blades for Ella

A "camping" trip.

Jack being silly with his kitties.

My buddy, Lucy.

Back home, playing in the alley.

This is how Jack eats a taco. He holds it like a baseball.

Bath time is beach time during quarantine.

The three amigos.

Hiking (she applied her own sunscreen).

Before Jeritt shaved his quarantine mustache, we needed a photo shoot.

Maeve joined the photo shoot. Please don't judge her quarantine hair cut - I did my best.

Making rafts for the pool.

Ella made "egg" swings with sheets.

Jack reading to Maeve.

Fudgesicles.

We've been hitting this BMX-style bike trail a lot.

Ella was desperate for her own room, so we compromised and gave them each a side of their own.

Maeve's side.

Tired after hiking at the Indiana Dunes.

Simon has been putting up with a lot lately.

Play dates with friends now include outings on scooters to the cemetary.

Maeve told us she is a "pb-ontologist." She means paleontologist. 

Between a teacher strike and a pandemic, it was a weird year of school.

Not a fan of school these days.

Jack's creation.

Even a room divider can't keep these sisters apart.

Jeritt and Maeve play a memory matching game every morning. She often wins, and loves to rub it in his face. Think they're related?

S'mores on the deck.

I don't even know.

Ella has been doing a lot of baking. These were her chocolate chip cookie cups.

Maeve falling down the dunes (she was fine).