Fourth of July at the Lake House

This is the 3rd year in a row that Makai has spent Fourth of July at the Lake House (8 mos old, 1.5 yrs and some change)!

img_6312.jpgThis year Damian and Vanessa joined us with their boys Dylan, Derek and Davin. Makai LOVED IT! And Miles, their dog! Makai loved him too.

img_6330.jpgimg_6355.jpgimg_6335.jpgimg_6366.jpgWe swam in the lake, played in the garage, ran around the big yard, played in the kiddie pool, played ping pong. For some reason all the kids wanted to sweep!

img_6375-1.jpgDavin needs to get on his selfie game.

img_6414.jpgimg_6308.jpgimg_6321.jpgThen we ate like kings! Steak and lobster. Damien demolished a potato masher while making his specialty potatoes! For dessert was some patriotic cake that Makai and I assembled. Makai kept asking me whose birthday it was!

img_6424.jpgimg_6426.jpgAt night there was the most incredible sunset! Makai saw a few small firecrackers to off but then said he was tired and wanted to go to bed. Of course the big show began about 10 minutes after he fell asleep and he never woke up! All the boys slept in the same room and it totally was not an issue since they all crashed as soon as their heads hit the pillows. Some even before that!

img_6430.jpgStarted out the next day with this delicious concoction.

img_6307.jpgimg_6432.jpgThis day was very relaxing. Makai was so tired out from playing the day before that he took a 3 hour nap! And so did I. Part of it was outside looking up at these trees.

img_6395.jpgimg_6436.jpgWe spent some time outside and by the lake. Makai was not totally into it like he was the day before. I think he was just exhausted!

 

img_6439.jpgFor dinner we had hotdogs and corn and more patriotic cake!

Roundarch Isobar Summer Social Event

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Heidi playing giant Jenga.

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Shannon and Adam

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Adam

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Pretty West Loop sunset.

Last week Roundarch Isobar booked the private rooftop over at Market so we could all get together for a little bit of summer fun. There was giant jenga, bags, sliders and tons of drinks. The weather wasn’t exactly hot, so when the sun went down and the Blackhawks game came on, no one complained about moving inside! Fun times!

Brian and Sara’s Wedding Reception


Mariachi played during the cocktail hour.


Cocktail hour aperitivo: Chips, salsa, and guacamole.


Adam and Andy


Brett and Kelly with coconut drinks.


Brett and her coconut!


Even Dallas had one.


I noticed that the wedding photographer was taking shots of the wedding party on the pier at sunset. Beautiful!


Trevor and all his friends! Just kidding! He stepped away to smoke and take in the sunset.


Soon, everyone joined to watch the sun set.


The dinner setting was gorgeous during the sunset.


Table #5, Couple #1: Kate and Trevor


Table #5, Couple #2: Mitch and Emily


Table #5, Couple #3: Dallas and Rachelle


Table #5, Couple #4: Damian and Vanessa


The photo slideshow that friends put together. The photo showing is of ziplining in Hawaii on our wedding trip!


Surprise! Guy on stilts with a live marionette puppet!


We followed them down to the beach.


Fire dance!


Brian and Sara’s first dance as a married couple.


Everyone rushing the dancefloor!


Brian busting out some Michael Jackson moves. He also did his signature move, the worm.


“…. now I had…. the time of my life… ” (Josh and Kelly)


“…. I put my hands up, they’re playing my song….. “


It’s a Party in the USA Mexico


Mike and Todd


Josh and Dallas (and their horrible dance moves).


Mike, Todd, Josh, Dallas


Kelly and Vanessa

After Brian and Sara’s wedding ceremony, we all went back up to the palapa where a mariachi band was playing. On the boat I said something like I’d hoped there would be mariachi, so I was extra excited about this! The band played for the cocktail hour, where we chowed on salsa, guacamole, chips, and many, many fruity drinks. On this trip the Miami Vice had been the most favorited fruity drink, but during the cocktail hour the favorite was definitely the drink in the freshly chopped coconut!

For dinner we headed up to the upper palapa. Dallas and I were at Table #5 with Damian, Vanessa, Trevor, Kate, Mitch and Emily. We had been hanging around with all these guys for the whole vacation, so it was a fun table to sit at. Adam gave a really nice (and funny) speech during dinner and Brian’s brother Mike poignantly stood up to say that he wished their mother could be there with them that day.

Next, some friends put together a surprise slide show with photos of Brian and Sara throughout the years. At first everyone paused dinner just to watch the show and take a trip down memory lane with Brian and Sara, but it soon became apparant that this thing would go on forever, so dinner resumed. (I helped edit a lot of the photos, so I know there were over 500, which would auto-play for something like 40 minutes.)

At the end of dinner everyone was surprised when an elaborately dressed guy on stilts came in and was controlling a life-sized, real-live-person marionette puppet. This grand entrance was punctuated by the two guys following, who were playing a slide trombone and a drum! They moved all around the dinner space and then all the guests followed them to the beach where they performed a fire dancing show. Extra impressive, since it was a very windy day!

Next up, Sara and Brian had their first dance. After that everyone basically rushed the dance floor and it was nonstop til the end of the night! People danced their butts off! Especially to Brian’s favorite Miley Cyrus song! 🙂 What a fun wedding! Thanks to Brian and Sara for inviting us to be a part of it!

Brian and Sara’s Welcome Party at the Beach


Palapa at ixhel Beach Hotel


Josh & Lynda


Christine & Adam


Spontaneous dance?


Dallas doing his Angelina Jolie leg.


Brett & Trevor


The Girls


The Guys


Lifting Brian?


Brian’s Sermon?


Brothers: Adam, Todd, Mike


Larry & Dallas


Larry & Brett


Rachelle & Brett


Dallas, Mike & Brian


Rachelle & Mike


Chow time!


Brian thanked everyone for coming to Mexico for the wedding.


Adam said a few words.


Drunken sing-a-long to Chicago’s song “You’re the Inspiration”.

On Friday night, Brian and Sara had a welcome party on the beach under the palapa at the Ixchel Beach Hotel, where they and all their wedding guests were staying. Even though we’d been on Isla Mujeres for a few days and had seen a lot of friends and met some new ones, it was nice to get everyone all in one place for an informal party. Also, a lot of people were still flying in on Thursday and Friday so we finally got to see everyone that was there for the wedding.

We took many photos in front of the spectacular sunset and enjoyed some excellent authentic Mexican food. I don’t know where Sara and Brian found these ladies, but the food was like very homemade and delicious. We had tacos, tamales (cooked local-style in banana leaves), beans, and rice. Oh, and there was a huge container of margaritas and a lady passing out the best mini churros ever. I wish I could have seconds or thirds of those, but I guess everyone beat me to it!