Oak Brook Half Marathon

My brother flew out from North Carolina to attend the race. Thanks David!




Right before the finish line!

Nadia and Eliana started Kindergarten today!

Time flies, it was only yesterday that we were bringing them home from the NICU.

Karina's Simple Pleasures

“Come with me. Daddy. Let’s water the flowers.”
The Sky is bluish gray as the day draws to a close. Birds chirp in the distance. Cicadas buzz softly in the trees. Then there’s silence. A quiet, summer silence. The air is hot, sticky, but thankfully a soft breeze moves through the yard. Just enough to blow a wisp of hair from her face. Little feet pad on the soft grass. Swish, swish. She walks slowly from pot to pot pouring fresh water from a small watering can. A little drip here. A gush waterfall there. Oops, I'll need to change those PJ's. “You’ve already watered those sweetie,” I say.
“It needs more,” she says back. “The pink ones need water Daddy!” I smile and chuckle.
“I need more water Daddy.”
“Do you want to stay in the backyard while I get some?”
“No Daddy, I come with you!” she says firmy.
“Ok.”
We make a trip to the faucet inside, filling the water pot generously.
“It’s heavy, should I carry it?”
“No Daddy. I do it!”
“Ok, you do it,” I smile.
We make the trip to the backyard two times, three times, four times. I tell her the flowers don’t need anymore water. That they’ve had enough; that we might hurt them if they get too much.
“Ok Daddy,” she says. “Come with me,” and she leads me to a pot we’ve forgotten. It’s hanging from a metal hook attached to a pure white deck railing. Wilted purple flowers rise from the dirt. Thirtsty. I reach to pull the pot down and set it on the ground. Her face glows as she waters it.
“Watch Daddy,” she says again. “I water it!”
“You did sweetheart,” I say again softly. “You did.”

A Day at the Beach

Aah, resting on the beach!

We were invited by friends to Lake Geneva yesterday, 7/15. Even though they were predicting thunderstorms, it turned out to be a beautiful day. We found out Kai would rather live by the water; he kept trying to leap out of our hands in order to get in! We're all crispy sunburned today even though we practically bathed in sunscreen, but we had such a nice time! Enjoy the pics!

Locks of Love Donation

Joy and the three oldest decided to donate their hair to Locks of Love. About now, 10-12inches of each of their hair is headed to Florida. Enjoy the before and after pics.

Let it snow.....

Kai enjoyed his first sledding experience, albeit down a very dinky hill in front of our house. The snow keeps falling. It's beautiful:)

How Time Flies

I'm not sure if you can it make out the pine tree in the back of the picture. My parents have a picture of just me in front of this same tree from when we moved into our house in Portage 22 years ago. At the time, the tree was my height or smaller (keeping in mind I was in like sixth grade at the time and I was a short sixth grader no less). Obviously you can't see the entire tree here, but it towers above the yard. I thought it'd be cool to get a picture of my family in front too. I wish I could post the older picture too, but alas it's buried deep within the recesses of my parent's house somwhere:) Who could have imagined at the time, I know I couldn't, that 22 years later, I'd stand in front of the same tree with four daughters! Wow, how time truly does fly by!