Summertime in Chicago is the Best

Hailey has fallen in love with the city of Chicago. She wants to go every chance she gets. I think it's because she's secretly hoping she'll run into Connor Bedard - her longtime Chicago Blackhawks crush. But, I'm not kidding when I say that every weekend she's asking us to go to Chicago. 

Sox game with city views

I loved Chicago...and I lived there for 17 years. Until I did not. I can't say I miss it with three kids. Definitely not the life I wanted my kids to have - growing up in the city. So I was glad we moved when we did. Maybe at one point we talked about going back and living there as empty nesters but I think that was very short-lived. I never want to go back and live there. 

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to visit for a bit and reminisce. All the bars and restaurants we used to go to. The parks we used to play all of our coed sports at. The places by my work I used to frequent. My doctor. My dentist. The places we used to live. The church we got married in and the place we had our reception. Our apartments and then condos. Our neighborhood. Our kids' school. Where their friends lived. The sidewalks where we walked a thousand times with our kids and Adler. The benches Adler would jump over. So many memories in Chicago for us but I don't want to go back. 

Hailey does though so we indulge her every once in a while. We went to a restaurant a few weeks ago in our old neighborhood and took just Hailey (the other two were working). We saw an old neighbor whose family lived and owned all the houses on the opposite side of the block from us. They've been there for 50 plus years. We got to catch up. It was nice. But I still don't wish we stayed. 

There's another restaurant right on the river that's a hot spot for teens so I stalked Open Table to get a reservation one Monday night for dinner so we all could go to Pizzeria Portofino. It was every bit as good as everyone said and the views were amazing (although we didn't get to sit outside). 

We also have gotten to attend a few Sox games this summer. There's nothing like a baseball game in the city in the summer. In fact, recently a friend said to me, I thought you were a Cubs fan, you always went to Cubs games. We did both in our 20s. My friends and I would frequent both parks. Oh to be young and in your 20s in the city again. There's nothing quite like it - especially when it's summertime in the city. 

Peyton was working

River view

Pizzeria Portofino

Brassero in West Town w/ just Hailey

It's a Pickleball Summer

On the courts in Michigan

We've been playing a lot of pickleball with friends and family this summer both in Michigan and at home. We have courts at our club but they don't have lights so we've also found some nearby parks if we choose to play after dusk. In Michigan, there are really nice courts (and a lot of them) about 15-20 minutes from our house there so that's where we usually play or take friends. 

The girls have really improved from playing all summer. I guess they've actually been playing since spring because we started playing with them when we were in Palm Springs for Spring Break. Hailey is getting better faster because she's signed up for a racquets camp so she's learning paddle, pickle and tennis. She also plays a mean game of ping pong so that really helps her in pickle. Austen has gone out this summer to play with friends and Illinois just built some amazing pickleball courts so he'll likely be bringing his racquet back to school.

I've been playing in a ladies league most of the summer on Fridays so that's really helped me learn the game too. Plus, I've gotten to meet some other members at the club that don't necessarily play paddle or who I knew a bit through paddle but have gotten to know better through pickleball so that's been really nice too. I even signed up for the member-guest pickleball tournament my club hosted and invited one of my longtime friends to play with me. That was super fun and we got to get together to play a few times before then too. I like this pickleball craze. It gets people out and socializing while being active. 

Hopefully it's a sport that I'll be able to play when I'm much older too! But for now it's a good time being active with friends and family. Next up - our club sponsored Mahjong and pickleball night. What could be better?!!

Cathy and me at the member-guest event

White Sox Games

Papa and Me

We haven't been to the Sox game in a few years now. Mainly, because they were so bad. But this year, they've had a turnaround and we've been watching them on TV so we decided to hit a game or two.

Austen kicked off the White Sox watching by purchasing tickets with his friends to the Sox vs. Cubs crosstown match up. Sox almost swept the Cubs except the game he went to, they lost. Still exciting though. 

We ended up buying Papa a Sox ticket to head to another game with us too for his Father's Day present. It was just after they moved into first place over the Guardians. The Sox were indeed playing the Guardians that game so it was a fun one and a quick one too. They won! 

Then in July, we headed back to Rate Field for another game in Tom's brother's amazing seats he gave us for the Red Sox vs. White Sox game right behind home plate. The Sox didn't perform the same as the game we saw before and ending up losing but the beautiful evening coupled with the great seats right behind home plate made it a great night. 

Our only complaint about Rate Field is the crazy long lines for food. After waiting in line during the Guardians game, I knew how bad it was and ate before the Red Sox game. No one else wanted to so they had to go get their food. I swear Tom spent 45 minute in line and was about to lose it before he got out of line and Hailey didn't get her pizza for dinner! Eat before you go! Plus, who wants that gross concessions food anyway?!! That's my tip. 

Sox gear

Sox night with the family

Starbucks Girls

The Ocean Drink

I've had to limit my kids' Starbucks orders! Ever since last August when they raised the prices of all their drinks, I've said that we will be ordering less. I was a big spender on Starbucks - probably ordering 6 out of 7 days a week. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I'm one of those with an asterisk by their name on mobile orders as a highly clouted "Reserve" member. Which just means I order(ed) from them way too much. 

Anyway, over the past year, I've really limited myself and my kids to what drinks they order and how often they get them. Austen is not so bad as the boys aren't really into Starbucks and he would never even order this for himself at school. But, the girls! Peyton and Hailey like these fancy drinks that cost at least $7 or $8. Love their texts too where they "politely" ask if I can mobile for them when they are out with friends. Never mind, that they have gift cards that we've given them or other people have as gifts. They don't want to use those. They'd rather use our money to buy their expensive drinks. 

So now they have to be strategic as to when they ask me for a Starbucks. Have they had one already this week and is it too much to ask for the iced blue coconut drink with cold foam or can I get a matcha with almond milk and cold foam. Seriously, these girls are expensive! 

Butterfly Drink

I think I like the Ocean Drink the best

Blue Coconut Lemonade Refresher

Not sure about this one

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

3rd of July Festivities

The 4th of July this year was a big one with the USA celebrating its 250th year of existence! We kicked off the weekend by heading up to Michigan on Thursday evening (after the USA vs. Bosnia World Cup game since Fox was blocked in the Grand Rapids area because of disputes). I should say all of us except for Austen went up Thursday night because he had to work until Friday night. So on Thursday, we got the house put together and food bought and prepped for our usual 4th of July guests. We did get some beach time in though which was nice since it turned out to be a great day. That evening, the storms blew in and with it, 70 mph winds and rain that shattered some of our hanging outside lights and drenched our outside furniture/deck. It may have taken all weekend to dry out from those torrential rains. It was really bad. 

Friday was overcast in the morning and by the time our friends had arrived it was now raining. No problem, we pivoted and watched some World Cup games (in Spanish), played some card games and Mahjong! For dinner, Tom set us up with make your own pizzas. The rain subsided a bit so that South Haven had its fireworks show. We watched from our bluff but you could see the lightning in the distance and hear the thunder rolling in. Luckily, it was a quick walk home for us before the skies opened up again. 

We woke up on Saturday to everything starting to dry out from the overnight rain. We had a great breakfast prepared by our friends and then it was off to the beach to play games and catch up. Luckily, we had a great beach day that day up in Michigan. I heard back home it rained and firework shows were canceled. We left the beach to prepare for more guests coming to dinner at our house that evening. We ate and drank a lot, played games and caught up, watched more fireworks and then the rain came down again late night. 

On Sunday, we woke up to another overcast day but enjoyed a great breakfast before some of our guests left and we ventured on to the pickleball courts for a round of pickleball. We got a few games in before the rains came once again. We all headed home. Our guests left and we cleaned up a little before heading to a dinner reservation we had for the five of us at Clearbrook Grill in Saugatuck. 

We stayed until Monday, so we prepped the house to leave and then headed to play a round of mini golf before heading back to Illinois so we could watch the USA play Belgium that evening. We just barely made it home before the start due to some bad traffic but we made it. Can't say the same about the USA team but it was a fun ride and they showed some promise. They just need a little more depth to the team. 

So glad we got to spend another 4th of July together. It's getting harder with the kids work schedules to find some time to spend up there but at least it's a bit more time than last year! 

Mahjong!

Happy 4th!

Yes, to 250!

Mini Golfers!

 

Grad Parties!

We got to partake in a few extra grad parties this year even though we didn't have a graduate this year. Our nephew, Luke, graduated from high school as well as a few of Austen's former club soccer teammates. 

Grad Party Reunion!

It was so nice celebrating all of them and getting the low down on where they will be attending school next year. It was extra special to be reunited too with our Galaxy (club soccer) family. I really missed those ladies (and their husbands and sons). It was great to see all of them and catch up. The majority of those kids are playing college soccer and all had a great year playing for their teams and saw a lot of playing time as freshman (even our D1 players!). A few, like Austen, went to school for school and are also enjoying their college life without the rigors of soccer training. 

A few of these boys commented on how good it was to be together again and they didn't realize how much they really missed each other. I think they'll be forever bonded by this game and the amount of time spent together - us parents too. In fact, we already have plans for a summer get together in a few weeks. 

I'm now heading into my second year without soccer and I may miss it more this year than last year. Summer is certainly quieter without state cup, regionals and nationals. I love a busy summer! And so does Austen. He's recently commented to us that he likes to be busy and doing something all the time and he certainly is this summer from planning baseball outings, concerts and many golf dates in between his work schedule, he's a kid that grew up on being being busy.  And, I still think he has too much time at college so really hoping he chooses to spend that extra time on the soccer field next year playing club soccer than in the bars or at parties!

Galaxy Moms Reunited

Father's Day 2026

We spent this year's Father's Day in Michigan per usual. Austen, Peyton and I went up early on Friday before the USA's World Cup game which we promptly watched once we arrived and got settled. My brothers and their families met us up there while Tom and Hailey joined us much later that evening after Hailey's hockey practice. 

Friday, we hung out after the game. While the guys played games in the yard, Peyton and I taught my sister in law and niece how to play Mahjong. My brother and sister in law made flank steak on the grill for dinner with homemade chimichurri sauce. After cleaning up dinner, we hung out and caught up before building a fire outside and waiting from Tom and Hailey to arrive.

The Pickleballers @ Root Beer Barrel

On Saturday, it was an early morning of golf for Tom, Austen, Papa and Mike. Others did a run and a walk while the rest of us lounged around and made breakfast (Peyton made her avocado toast and I made the pancakes). After that a few of us headed to Bundes for coffee and then walked into town for shopping at my favorite store, Vintage Charm, and to peruse the Farmer's Market. 

We arrived back home about the same time as the golfers and my other brother and sister in law made some lunch. We then decided it was time to play some pickleball so we drove about 15 minutes to Douglas where they had 8 dedicated courts. We did a few round robins of play for almost 90 minutes before declaring it was time to head to the Root Beer Barrel for some root beer floats. 

After that it was home to hang out before dinner and play some more Mahjong before most of us retired prior to midnight from the long and very full day. 

On Sunday, we woke up to cloudy skies but no rain. Breakfast was made for the Dads and gifts were open. (Tom got a wooden grill cleaner with an old school Sox logo that Austen and I found at his U of I Mom's Weekend. Papa got golf and tickets to a Sox game with us.)  Everyone headed out around noon/1pm and then we decided to play some yard games ourselves before the rain that was coming. We got about two hours in (and Tom did a quick mow of the lawn) before it started coming down. We ate leftovers for dinner and left about 6pm to drive home in the rain. 

I think it was a good Father's Day for all but especially Tom because he got to spend it in his favorite place - Michigan!

Mahjong!

Captain Lou's!

Golf!

Papa and Mike