memory lane {little cousin getting married}

This weekend we are headed to Kansas to celebrate my little cousin's wedding! 

These photos are from my wedding... she is the little girl in the red dress!

So excited to celebrate with her this weekend!!

a long drive home

Leaving Jake at school was hard for me. As we began heading home and started putting the miles between us- my mama heart was breaking just a little. But what makes it all just a little easier is knowing he is going to love it there and is so ready to start this next chapter of his life.

Our car ride home was a long one. 10 hours long, with an hour and a half just getting through the city of Chicago. Stop and go traffic on a Sunday afternoon. Yuck.

{Taking pictures to pass the time.}

We took a dinner break at our favorite hot dog spot, Gene and Jude's in River Grove, IL.

Saw my favorite water tower. {Yes, boredom was setting in.}

And a DeLorian- a car from the movie'Back to the Future'.

We have been home for a few days now and our house is a little too quiet. 

But we will settle into this new rhythm and are already anticipating seeing Jake in several weeks and taking in a ND football game!

another college move in

We moved Tyler to college on Wednesday and on Thursday morning we packed up the car again to move Jake in for his freshman year at Notre Dame.

After saying his good-byes to Bella, we left for the 10 hour trip with the car jam packed.

We arrived at our South Bend hotel very late that evening and had a bright and early move in time scheduled for Friday morning. They lined all the cars up according to dorms in your designated time slot. And then you waited in line for them to let you through to head to the dorms.

Unloading outside Jake's dorm.

Freshmen move in is so great because all you do is unload your car onto the curb and guys (the Movers and Shakers) are there ready to move everything up to the room for you. So awesome!!

Jake and Drew checking out the great view out the window!

We unloaded some of Jake's things and then decided we would make our run to Target and the to Best Buy to pick up his pre-ordered fridge. (Because we only took one car for the weekend we needed to purchase a lot of Jake's things that he needed once we got to campus.)

Back at the room the beds got lofted quickly, which gave them a lot more room.

The entire weekend they kept us very busy.  Next we headed out to get Jake's student ID, set up some accounts, check on his food plan

and pick up his laundry bag. :) Yes, my boy still has someone doing his laundry. :)

The freshmen had things scheduled for the evening and so we said our good-byes for the day. 

And headed over to our friends house which is right outside of campus. 

Drew and their son playing a little X-Box. 

And some Bags.

The Irish Guard. :)

A couple of pictures of Jake on the wall, when he was here years ago with Riley. 

Saturday morning we met up with Jake and headed over to the parent and student orientation. 

Then there was open house opportunities at all of the colleges. We headed over to the business school because Jake had some questions that he wanted answered about Finance and Economics.

That evening we took Jake out to dinner at O'Rourkes and then he left for his Frosh-O evening. We headed back to our friends house for a get together.

Drew had previously scoped out a Krispy Kreme that was near our hotel and decided that that would make a good breakfast. :) So Sunday morning, Pete ran out and got Drew a box of donuts. (There are none of these around our house anymore.)

He looks happy! :)

Drew was such a trooper this weekend! I know it was a long weekend for him- but it was so nice having him part of the weekend!

We met up with Jake for Mass at the Joyce Center. 

Followed by a box lunch 

that included the Spirit of Notre Dame with a few speakers and the ND marching band, which concluded the weekend. It was such a nice weekend that really included the whole family.

I am going to miss this guy!

college move-in

Last Wednesday afternoon we loaded 2 of our cars and headed to SJU to move Tyler in for his senior year! It seems so crazy to me that this is his last year already! He is in an apartment this year with 5 of his friends, which he is very excited about! The apartment is even complete with a ping-pong table in their living room! (Oh, to be in college again. :)

It is a 4 level apartment, with a lot of stairs! They each have their own bedroom and bathroom, which is so nice!

We set to work getting his things unpacked and organized.

It was so nice having him home for the summer but I know he is anxious to be back to school and looking forward to being with all of his friends again.

I am going to miss this guy!

cabin snapshots

This past week we were at our 8th annual family cabin trip to 

Peters Sunset Beach Resort in Glenwood, MN.

It is always great to get away with our family, my parents and my sister's family. We spent our time doing the usual things that are always much anticipated....

fishing

playing games

golfing

playing toys :)

ice cream sundae night which is the "kids" favorite!

pontooning

Tyler finding some quiet time to study for a big test that he is taking this fall

bonfire time

and of course... sunsets!!!