Hey Friends, hey!

You may have caught this on Instagram, but a few days ago, a one-day plumbing job turned into a four-day plumbing job, during which our kitchen ceiling needed to be ripped open. (Fun. 😆) Mitch and I weren’t comfortable staying in a hotel, so we drove down to his family’s lake house/farm. (Hence my silence!)

We were thankful, though, that Chicago and the state of Illinois were both in Stage 3, that it’s a no-stops drive, and that my in-laws had been quarantining as well. And I must say: it was so nice to see them again. (And hug them!) On our first night, we stayed up until 2 a.m. just talking. The girls were in heaven, too–totally giddy to be with their grandparents again.

Anyway, I didn’t take my camera along for the little excursion, but I thought I’d share what I found on my phone on the drive back. :)

Lake House Trip

Essential T-Shirt / Shorts / Newer Sunglasses / Emma’s Bathing Suit

One of my favorite parts of our days were the boat rides. Pontoon boats are the BEST. I’d never been on one before meeting Mitch, but I’m a total convert now. :) They’re spacious, which is great for kids, and they’re very shaded due to the overhead canopy. Huge fan. :) My in-laws’ boat was in the shop this past week but their neighbors graciously offered up theirs. Thank you, Beverages!

Lake House Trip

Guys, I don’t know what’s up with Noodle, but she’s a NEW DOG. She’s about to turn six, so I guess she’s slowing down? Not sure… but she listens. No more accidents. And she doesn’t do bad things anymore. Heck, I didn’t have to put her on a leash while at the lake. Like what?!

Lake House Trip

I LOVE my in-laws’ lake house. They built it as a grandkid-friendly retirement home, and they moved in full-time a few years ago. It’s such a phenomenal place for the family to gather; we have so much fun together there. And they knocked it out of the park with the design! (The interior is just as stunning.) My mother-in-law also rearranges the furnitures and decor on the reg, so every time we come, the place seems brand new! Really fun.

Lake House Trip

Mitch accidentally fell in the lake twice while we were there. I… don’t know what to say about this. 😆

Lake House Trip

Lucy’s favorite activity is eating. She lives for it, haha. This was spaghetti night, and Lucy was FEELIN’ it.

Lake House Trip

Emma’s Nightgown

We brought down a lady bug cupcake kit, and the final result was absolutely hysterical. (Any other moms out there with kids who are obsessed with the Miraculous Ladybug show?! Very strange, haha!)

Ladybug Cupcake Kit

See? They remind me of minions. Just creepier.

Ladybug Cupcake Kit

My best work.

farmer

J.Crew T-Shirt Dress (Longer here) + J.Crew Factory T-Shirt Dress / Waterproof Birkenstocks / MZ Wallace Backpack (At Nordstrom here. Smaller here.) / Old Gingham Romper but LOVE this gingham set!

In case you’re new here, Mitch’s grandfather, father and brother are all farmers! Charlie, my brother-in-law, renovated my father-in-law’s childhood farmhouse last year, and it’s stunning. There, he runs Above Normal Eggs (named after the town, called “Normal”), and he’s been slowly adding more and more animals. My favorites are the bunnies!

This is Flopsy. (Lucy and I named her.) IS SHE NOT THE CUTEST THING?!

farm bunny

She will not be coming back to Chicago with us; she’s definitely a farm bunny. But I adore her and plan on visiting her very soon! So sweet!

farm bunny

Can’t stop won’t stop. (Mom, are you dying?)

Lake House Trip

Emma’s Heart Bathing Suit

See? Lucy is happiest in this chair, eating. Cracks me up. This was a snack break.

Lake House Trip

Temps reached the 90s on a couple of days! Swimming in the lake was a great way to ring in the summer. :)

Lake House Trip

This is exactly what it looks like.

Lake House Trip

Lucy at the farm. I just love her Pebbles-style hair.

Lake House Trip

Moana Costume

My mother-in-law’s dress-up game is STRONG. Our favorite costume, though, was this Moana one. And Emma as a brunette? Adorable. :)

Lake House Trip

Terrible photo, but we took the pontoon out to a little swimming cove and had the best afternoon. Emma may have lost her swimsuit but that’s a story for another day.

MITCH AND I TOOK A WALK… ALONE! It seriously was our first time alone since February. I reintroduced myself, he reintroduced himself. And we talked. It was grand.

Lake House Trip

Essential T-Shirt / Shorts / Newer Sunglasses / Waterproof Birkenstocks

This is my first pair of shorts in many, many years. They’re amazingly soft and stretchy… but I’m very much undecided on the whole shorts thing. 😆 I just feel weird in them! For the record, I’m sure that YOU GUYS look fantastic in shorts. But when I wore them, I felt like I was an old lady pretending to be a teenager. Maybe it’ll feel more normal as I wear them more. Or maybe I just need longer shorts. (That’s probably it, haha.) Are you a shorts girl? Am I the only girl out there who hates them?!

Lake House Trip

Please note that Mitch is only wearing one shoe. (The other one is being used as a makeshift tripod.) DATE DAY!

Emma's Heart Bathing Suit

Emma’s Heart Bathing Suit

Dog days of summer.

glass of wine every night out on the patio

Mitch and I made a point to have a glass of wine every night out on the patio after we put the girls to bed. It was amazing. So good for the soul!

trees were silhouettes against a multi-color backdrop

We also took Noodle on a long walk every night once the sun went down. The air was thick with humidity, and fireflies and stars lit up the sky. The trees were silhouettes against a multi-color backdrop, and everything was warm and comforting, Noodle’s paws pattering on the pavement as we strolled down the deserted street. Oh, summer. How happy I am that you’re here!