A day in Chicago

We sure have enjoyed our trips to Chicago! Yesterday was no different. :) Finn said he wants to live in Chicago. 

Settling in on the 2+ hour train ride. 

We made it into the city. Here we're taking a water taxi to the Navy Pier, to take the boys to the Children's Museum. 

The huge Ferris wheel on the Navy Pier. 

Almost at the top of the Ferris wheel. The boys are enjoying themselves. I am not. :/

Dinner at the Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Company. Home of pizza pot pies. Yum!

The bean!  Such a pretty, cool Spring day. And not a cloud in the sky!

Working in the Tinkering Lab at the Children's Museum. 

Give a boy a hammer and he will find that everything he encounters needs pounding! 

Ah hoy, matey!  Our pirates are fearless!

A glimpse into our future? The boys loved this room at the Children's Museum!  They crawled under smoke in a house, went down the fireman's pole, drove the fire truck, talked on the intercom between the HQ and truck, and put out fires in the windows!  It was hilarious listening to Finn on the intercom. "Cullen this is Firefighter Finn, we need your help now, now, now! Go to the fire and make a left. Put it out!" Hahaha!

Notre Dame MBA Grad 2013

Yay!  He did it!  Pictures after the graduation at the Grotto.

All done!

Someone put a flower in the statue's hand. :)

Walking the stage.

Sean's old team sergeant, Sev Dishman made the trip up to help Sean celebrate.

Walking the steps of the Main Building (Golden Dome)

There is a tradition for undergraduates, that they cannot walk down the front steps of the Main Building or else they will never graduate.  :)

The cake for his party!

I cannot begin to say how proud I am of Sean, for going after his goal of attending Notre Dame and succeeding! He never ceases to amaze me, when he puts his mind to something, he does it, and sees it through without giving up. These two years at Notre Dame has been wonderful. It was just the break from the Army that we needed. We will never forget all the wonderful memories made here...  Congratulations, Sean we are so proud of you!!!

Graduation Week Activities

There were several activities lined up the week before graduation. It was fun, I'm glad we joined in!

Roof top Cubs Game at Wrigley Field. 

 

Cubs beat the Rockies. 

Graduation Gala at the South Bend Country Club. 

Fun in the "photo booth". 

Walk around the lake

We found 6 goslings on our walk/bike ride. Luckily we had lots of bread to feed them. :)

My little bike riders by the HUGE trees!

So cute!

Ahhh! The tulips are in full bloom!

The boys playing in their "house" by the Grotto. They loved playing up there and building forts and guns while I did the rosary last year. Every time we go by, they want to stop and play. 

Finn found this old crucifix between the rocks in their "house". I wonder the story on that!?!  Looks old and weathered. 

ND Baseball Game

We had the FLC end of year picnic at the ND Baseball Game Saturday. It was fun! We had a pizza party and then watched the game. Finn was into it and REALLY wanted to catch a foul ball. :)

In Bloom

All the trees are blooming on campus. So beautiful! I especially love the magnolia trees! I noticed the pink tulips along the walk to the Grotto are also blooming... Just haven't gotten a picture.

See the Irish flag in the last picture? I love the determination of the students here. Swimming out into Lake Saint Mary to hand it on that tree. :)

1st Grade Poetry Day

Today, families were invited into the 1st Grade classrooms to hear our student read their poem. They each wrote 4 different kinds- rhyming, circle, haiku, and one more (like Cullen's cloud). Cullen read the rhyming one... About pizza. He did great! He didn't even sound nervous.

Swimming Lessons

The boys finished up their last swimming lessons Wednesday. I've spent many hours there, the last two years.... And it was well worth it. Both boys moved up again- Cullen to Domer Dragonfish and Finn to Blue Barracuda. Finn can now doggie paddle 20 feet in the water with no help. Cullen has learned the backstroke and breaststroke and does a great job!

We will miss the pool at Knute Rockne Memorial and the friends made here.