Well, I’m back from my trip, and now I’m going through all the photos I took during those super fun three weeks. I thought I would put a few of them up here, just for fun.

Playing Animal Tracks Memory. We got this, and two other games, from here. They’re simply wonderful, and we loved playing it over and over again!

Off to North Dakota for a week! I love it in this state. Everything’s just so laid-back, and I love the small towns and the people there. And there are so many animals! I had so much fun watching the ducks and the pocket gophers the Canadian geese and the wild turkeys, and hearing all about the moose and deer. It was great.

We drove all the way to Chicago for my little sister’s second bridal shower, which was being thrown by her fiance’s family. It was fun to celebrate her upcoming nuptials (early August). She received lots of cool stuff, and I got to meet her soon-to-be inlaws. It was a good time.

We then went and celebrated the boys’ birthdays at Benihana in Schaumberg. The next day, I headed home with the hubby.

Good times. Good times. Much love to you all!

My apologies for being incognito. Actually, I take that back. I don’t apologize because my absence has meant that I have walked at EMU’s Winter Commencement, spent some quality time around Detroit with my parents, and have spent the last week and a half with my family, including my older and younger sisters, my bro-in-law, and my niece and nephew. It’s been nice to get away from the homework and the editing and the work and just be an aunt, a daughter, and a sister.

Here’s some of the fun we’re having:

Commencement (I’m two rows behind the woman with the peace sign on her hat).

Playdough is one of our favorites.

I taught Andrew how to play soccer.

Emilie had to get in on the action, too!

We even made a goal.

Andrew, Rachel, and I watched the sleeping bunny under the berry shrub behind their house.