Going back in time a bit still... At the end of June we joined my cousin Annie and family to celebrate her 16th birthday at a forest preserve in Rockford, IL.

On our way we drove through a bit of weather. (But what beautiful clouds!!)



Have Flarp will travel. If you're not familiar, Flarp is a slimy version of playdough that makes a "toot" noise when it catches a bubble of air. Delightful, the kids will tell you.

Giant bouncy horses were an exciting novelty, to be enjoyed all over the wide-open space of the forest preserve.

Annie's dad, my uncle Jim, manned the grill. We noshed on a feast of summertime cookout classics, all done just right. So yum. And I walked away with a new cheesy potato casserole recipe that's out of this world. Thanks Sherry!

Even with an arsenal of toys scattered about, the kids found fun in nature.

Ben thought long and hard about his dandelion wish.

Maybe he wished to be back in the Keys?? We're all having a blast but there are moments where we miss home and Steve a lot. Lots of phone calls and texts chase the homesick blues right away.

No time for the blues - look at that cake! Happy 16th birthday Annie! Don't text and drive!

And always, more baseball.

After the party we visited with my grama Lois. The kids loved exploring her home that's filled with nooks, crannies and knickknacks. I loved just sharing some time with her. 

Zoom in - Sidney's holding the Flarp!

Ben had a swing on the set that swayed me and my mom and her brother and sister. A lovely way to spend a day.