Cub Scouts and Rainbow Cones and Birthdays!

Long but fun day! Hiking and fishing with the Cub Scouts —> lunch at Buona Beef and our first Original Rainbow Cone —> Davin’s 7th birthday party —> more birthday fun at Davin’s house. Whew!

Buona Beef – Mt Prospect

The Zone – Mt Prospect

Celebrating July 4 at an Overnight in Mt Prospect

On July 3-4 we stayed overnight at Damian and Vanessa’s house. They had a barbecue and I knew it would get late so we just decided to bring KC and stay overnight.

I heard of this guy Knuckles and I finally met him. The sword-bearing tie dye guy is his fiance’s son.

KC and Miles

Isaac

Sparklers!

Derek

Dylan

Davin

Warming my feet by the fire!

Kelly and Todd showed up in the morning with a ton of Krispy Kreme donuts!

We were getting ready to go to the Mount Prospect parade and actually Dylan and Derek were IN the parade, but then it was called off for safety reasons.. the Highland Park parade shooting happened that morning!

So we ended up bbqing and hanging out at the house a bit longer.

Johanna, Leo and Luca also came over. Davin gave Luca a belated birthday gift.

This was the first time we met Georgie, a baby brother for Chapo!

Santa Brunch at The Perch

Makai + Santa

Family photo with Santa.

I heard there was a lot of bribery to get Isaac and Arthur over by Santa!

Konrad was saying “I made antennas” and Makai was like “Hold my beer… ”

The only girl! Lillian

Adam + Arthur

Isaac

Vanessa and I each had a flight of beer.

Lillian, Konrad, Dylan, Santa, Davin, Arthur, Derek, Makai, Isaac

Makai, Dylan, Arthur, Konrad, Lillian, Santa, Davin, Arthur, Derek, Isaac

Todd and Santa having a serious discussion.

Isaac, Adam, Dallas, Santa, Josh, Damian, Todd

Vanessa, Derek, Santa, Davin, Damian, Dylan

Damian and Vanessa with Santa

Arthur graduated up to the big boy table! Konrad, Makai, Derek, Arthur.

Arthur, Dylan

Davin

Isaac playing with Damian and Vanessa.

Liz, Kelly, Vanessa, Christine, Kristy

When we got up to leave, Santa was like “hold on! Switch!”

Josh and Liz put together another great Santa Brunch. Usually we go to Remington’s, but this time we went to The Perch. It was nice to not have to go downtown and I’d never been to The Perch yet, so nice to check it out. Makai told Santa he wanted Legos. I guess he came to terms with not getting a Playstation 5

EIGHT

For Makai’s 8th birthday we went all out, since we couldn’t do much for his 7th birthday because of covid. All of his friends were invited to a party at Altitude Trampoline Park in Skokie and then a smaller group of family and friends came back to our house to celebrate. We did a Minecraft theme for everything!

Happy Birthday, Makai!

Makai in the pit, Everett up above.

Makai in the pit, Arden, Everett and Everett up above.

Isaac, Derek, Sawyer’s sister Francesca, Arden, Everett, Dylan

Arden

Makai picked his cupcake – a chocolate chocolate chip muffin!

Lighting the DYNAMITE candles.

Blowing out the candles with Everett!

Time for cupcakes. Sawyer picking which he wants.

Picking out cupcakes: Everett, Dylan, Otis, Everett, Rachel, Mom, Makai

For cake, I made a vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting and by special request, a chocolate banana chocolate chip muffin! Makai is obsessed with them!

At home we had skewered appetizers – fruit, which the kids actually LOVED. And caprese skewers. Dallas made both gumbo and pulled pork with Korean slaw.

Makai’s gifts from Uncle Richard + Jill. That’s the SIU mascot.

Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa B

Stephanie got Makai the next – 4th – Harry Potter book. I think she has gotten him every one!

Daddy trying to steal Makai’s present!

More horsing around!

Otis drew the wrapping paper on Makai’s gift! I think it’s Minecraft.

Dylan, Derek, Davin, Makai, Isaac and Arthur

Neighbors Arden and Everett had to go home after the party, but stopped by quick to give Makai a gift!

We also had a Minecraft pinata for the kids!

Konrad taking a swing.

Derek gets a turn.

Derek getting his blindfold on.

Makai making the candy fall!

Makai’s class has a tradition where when it’s one kid’s birthday, every kid in the class makes them a birthday card! Imagine getting 28 cards for your birthday!

Grandma and Grandpa C got Makai a claw machine!