In the lovely month of August we....

...wore sweaters more than bathing suits.
{it's been chilly..and I'm okay with that! cue the wood stove..alright..maybe not yet}

....made a four layer strawberry shortcake cake for our thirteen year old's birthday.
{I had to take shelves out of the fridge to fit that thing in...}

..celebrated birthdays for Granny and Allison.

....watched the eclipse with cousins and friends.

..finally!!!! felt better this month after four and a half months of "miscarrying".
{another post for another time}

....ate doughnuts from the Doughnut Vault, but for the most part stayed away from sugar.
{which is huge for me. Huge!}

.....took the train to the city with my sister Stephanie .
{and in true Liz fashion..we made it back on the train home with about one minute to spare...
and of course out of breath because we ran walked really fast one point four miles.
hey, there is nothing wrong with maximizing your time...
..and yes children, one day we will sit in seats for the first twenty five minutes of our ride home
and you will not have to sit on the stairs by the door...Ha!}

Goodbye August. Goodbye Summer...{for the most part}
Hello September and the start of our school year and apples and cider and bonfires
and....Fall! in just a few short weeks. I am a little excited..just a little.


HaPpY Labor Day weekend!!!
XxOo

p.s. There is a Balloon Festival in Harvard Illinois this weekend...
...we'll be making pizzas in the brick oven. Come out and see us!

Say cheese...Ahh....

..ahh...ahhhhh....

...choo!!!

I uploaded photos from the other day and couldn't stop laughing.
I remember her sneezing...I don't remember catching it though.
XxOo

Down the road...

It's the most requested walk....go visit Jasper.

It's funny....I grew up with sidewalks and back alleys and three parks within walking distance
and airplanes from O'hare flying so low we would try to wave to the people in the windows!

Then we moved to a further suburb when I was in high school.
After high school my parents moved out to the country.

I always envisioned myself living in a cute Chicago neighborhood...
...and here we are, in a small town surrounded by corn fields. Ha!

My kids love it and tell me there is no way they could live in the busy city.
They ask all the time if we can move farther out!

Anyway...all this to say...both have my heart now!

Move me to Lincoln Park and I'd be happy as a clam.
Move me to 40 acres and I'd be happy there too.

I'm such a content person... *cough*

XxOo

Dear kids, We're fragile right now, please go easy on us.

Dear Kids,
    Your father and I have just returned from a weekend together in the city.
Just the two of us. It was so very wonderful.

Because of the weekend alone...we are very fragile and very sensitive right now.

I am not in the right frame of mind to be thrust into motherhood
as I am just coming out of a state of bliss.

I need to be eased gently into my usual role.
I have written about the "re-entry"  in the past, and today we are feeling it big time.

.....my missing creamer pot for my morning coffee at 6:30am? Where'd that go?
...my missing face moisturizer? It was here Friday morning when I washed my face.
.....why does my bath towel smell like cologne and why is it on the wrong hook?
You know what, I don't even want to know.
...my winter symphony schedule used as a fly swatter? It's covered in squished bugs and guts.
What was wrong with the fly swatter in the basement?

These things are the things I cannot handle.

Our minds are processing...switching gears.
We are adjusting from a world of interrupt-less conversation, two party decision making,
incredible food choices, no fear of walk-ins and covers are optional....
...into a morning of a new work week and a household to be run.

The transition can be tough when you've had an alone weekend as husband and wife.

One day, when you meet that right person, marry and have children,
you will see exactly what I'm talking about. {smile}

We love you guys with all our hearts! We wouldn't change our lives for anything in the world.
I love being a mom and taking care of my family...I just need a little time.

....it's kind of like waking up from surgery.
You need a few hours to come out of the anesthesia fog.
We're coming out of the fog.

We ask that you please go easy on us.

Happy Monday world.
XxOo

Wrapping up the week...Don't mind us while we summer a little longer.

{Sophia}

Most of the kids in this country went back to school this week.
Not us. As I've written here, here and here ....I don't like early school starts.
I know not everyone had a choice...I'm thankful we do!
....and we will start in September.

{Allison}

{Allison}

{Sophia}

Jeff and I are leaving our kids behind for the weekend.
I have work to do in the city and we're getting together with some friends.

I have been sooo excited to have time alone with my favorite person on the planet!!!
{that would be Jeff...wink}

....but now that it's the day of, I get all nervous about leaving my kids.
Even though they'll be in good hands...I turn into worry queen of America.
So now I'm all stressed.

However...come Monday I'll want this weekend back! and my husband here.
Ha! Funny how we let ourselves torture ourselves.

Have a fabulous weekend.
XxOo

p.s. I put the girls names under the photos that they took and edited.
They are very into photography and using my camera. Ha!

Hello little blog, ten days later.after the fair.after the birthdays.

Savino's Brick Oven spent last week at the county fair.
The guys made pizzas all week long.
The wives (and nana and grandpa and grandma) made dough during the day and
then walked kids around the fair until way, way, waaaaaaay past their bedtime.
The papa made all the Italian sausage.

The kids thought it was the greatest week ever!

The girls entered a bunch of projects...
Allison won...
First Place for muffins.
Second Place for brownies
Third place for a crotchet project.

Sophia won...
Second Place for a still life drawing {her cousin won first!}
Third Place for black and white drawing.

The tractor tires were one of the highlights..Ha!

The cousins...they are all so blessed to be part of a big family.
It's funny how to them, everyone all the time is part of life.

We went to pick up our fair projects and more than half my family was there picking up their things.
I love it! It's nice to have so many people in my life.

His brothers took him to the truck shoot out one evening...he thinks he's big stuff.

What fair is complete without cotton candy and snow cones?
They are a must....for the kids. ;)

I could eat our pizza everyday and never, EVER tire of it!
It's my favorite...you guys have to try it.

XxOo

Wrapping up the week....with no mom guilt, some really good songs! and God needs our wisdom...oh wait, He actually doesn't.

How was your week? I can't believe it's August already, can you?

Our garden is {almost} in full force. We are watching those heirloom tomatoes closely!
I can't wait to make my summer soups and tomato pie! Soon..Soon!

I wrote THIS a couple of years ago on my blog...I forgot all about it!
....I was reminded this Monday when I read THIS article.
Thought you moms could use a little encouragement as you head into the weekend.
You are loved.


God needs our wisdom ...oh wait, He actually doesn't.
{don't read if you don't understand satire...wink}



Jeff and I are always, always on the hunt for new music.
We have spent many a high school dates scouring Tower Records {remember that store?!}
searching high and low for new artists.

{Is it embarrassing that we had a collection of over 1,000 cd's
on or shelf at one point?}

Anyway...we now have kids that do some finding for us...it's great!
..they know what we like....and I can't get enough of these guys!

I downloaded the album after Alex had me listen. I've been playing it all week.
They are seven siblings ...and they are amazing together!

Song#1
Song#2

...and I think this is my favorite at the moment.
You know what...their whole album great! Haha.

Have a Fabulous weekend!!!
XxOo