August 2018 - A Month of Firsts

110 Months. Wow! 

 I had a new crew member on my boat today.

 While it was fun, with you sitting there was kind of like driving a rear wheel car up a hill in the snow.

That "rock island" behind us is all shells in the DuPage River! 

 For your birthday, Aunt Lisa took you to IFly! You loved it!

Kevin loves his bands. Swimming lessons, day camp group, Sheboygan, and Lifetime. 

Celebrating Grandma Bowmans birthday at KiKu Hibachi. 

You learned that you are going to have Mrs. Carlisle for 4th grade. You were SOOO excited, with a great big YESSS knee to the floor and a fist of total happiness.  Kevin was also excited when he learned he too will be having Mrs. Aducci, Nicks 1st grade teacher. 

 Traditional first day of school breakfast. 

So goes the day of firsts. 

Nick starts 4th grade and Kevin starts 4th. 

Another first, we sold our first home on August 16th. Since 2003, so many memories were made there. You can see the beginning on this blong.  We've been renting it out since 2013.

Block Party

Battling.  

 Kevin got his face painted. Nick, you spent your time on a water inflatable. 

Just because Mom and Dad share a birthday doesn't mean someone doesn't have miss out on breakfast in bed.  

Also on our Birthday Mom and I hung out in downtown Naperville then had a fun filled night at a friend/coworkers wedding in Rosemont.

 Visiting the Polzins.  You guys spent the night there while we went to the wedding. 

Having Grace open up a present is priceless!!!

Mom likes to take pictures of when Dad falls asleep napping on the couch. Well I had just woke up but look who feel asleep next to me. 

Today I introduced the kids to Scouting. Mr Freeze was there.  

Grandma Polzin holding my hand ever so lovingly after I visited her, Grandpa Polzin and Aunt Tammy. 

July 2018 - Festivals, Parades, Reunions, Boys Weekend, and our Bowman Vacation

109th Monthly Photo

 Mega Something! We went to the Arlington Heights Frontier Days and bought you guys a bunch of tickets. Nick you begged us to let you ride this sky high drop. And you did, we were concerned, you loved it. Then you both asked to go on the Gravitron. A classic Dad favorite, we hesitated but let you. I hadn't been back to the festival since about 2002.  Dad grew up going here every single year Grandpa and Grandma Polzin would volunteer all 5 days. And so would us kids. The funniest part this night was that the rides were playing the EXACT same rock music that they played when I was a kid!

The strangest part was that out of the thousands of people, I ran into Mr. Broznowski's sister...who lost her husband and needed to borrow my phone. The kindest part was that Aunt Lisa and Uncle Leigh walked around with us while you guys went on rides.  

This is as I recall, one of the first times Kevin has been on a ride like this. 

 The next morning, yeah we spent the night at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Leigh's, us boys went down to the Parade. Yes thats you guys in the center with your hats off for the veterans. 

Fourth of July. We changed it up this year and laid low at the Bowmans home. A little swimming, fishing and screens? 

For your birthday, Aunt Lisa took you indoor skydiving! From what we heard, you loved it!

While Nick was out having fun, you and I went to the Naperville Ribfest! We ate too much. 

Later you both met up and went on the jumpy jumps, and had really cool balloons made. 

 A little backyard baseball. Safety first. 

Building with Brady at Home Depot. 

Outside Move- Karate Kid. The original. 

 A SigEp Babypalooza reunion.

 And us guys...I mean Dads.

Some of my friends and I time warped back to the 90s! 

We saw Young MC, Tone Loc, All-4-One, Montell Jordan, Coolio, Rob Base, and Salt N Pepper!

  SigEps Last Call 

My fraternity house is going dry this upcoming semester. So yesterday we gathered for "one" last beer.

BOOOOOYYYYYS WEEEEKEEEENDDDD

Mommy was out with friends for the weekend.

 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, we went to Hollywood Blvd.

BOOOOOYYYYYS WEEEEKEEEENDDDD

I told you Kevin, not to climb that tree because you had flip flops on and that it wasn't safe. You came back out in shoes, shit guards and a helmet. I allowed it.  

 BOOOOOYYYYYS WEEEEKEEEENDDDD

This is how we do it! Eating like men!

Annual Bowman Vacation - Sheboygan 

Courtyard baseball

 I rented a pontoon boat and drove it around Elkhart Lake.

While it was a bit chilly on this summer day, 

we saw peaks of sun and a giant smile on my face when drove. 

Aunt Lisa and Declan set up -

SHEBOYGAN SHENANIGANS. 

A water balloon fight, silly string, karaoke and much more, all had fun!

 SHEBOYGAN SHENANIGANS. 

 SHEBOYGAN SHENANIGANS.

Nick's first time playing on a golf course.

Kevin's first time playing on a golf course. 

A family Dinner with a family photo. Taken at The Black Pig. 

Aunt Jen took a very cute photo of her boys the prior day. So now was my chance, this is how mine turned out. 

This was a very busy month, we all had a lot of enjoyment!

June 2018 - Cruise, Concussion, Boats, Baseball, and Soccer

108th Monthly Photo

Ok so we actually left in May, this trip rolled into June.  Off the the Caribbean we go. 

Face painting AND Fun Balloons...how could we say no?

St. Maarten, our public but secret spot. There was just one other family on the entire beach. 

 

 

I forgot any dark socks to go with my suit. I asked Nick and he had a stinky pair socks that I was able to squeeze my foot into. 

The family returned late last June 3rd from a fun filled 8 day cruise in the Eastern Caribbean. Aboard the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, we visited, San Juan, Labadee, Hati and St. Maarten (our favorite island).

Back at home meant back to Baseball.  

Built in hours. 

Built over night...when you were suppose to be sleeping.  

 More hard work you were excited about. 

Dad finally himself a boat. And took a cruise upriver on the DuPage River.

#40 on deck 

Later that day, YOU PITCHED a whole inning!

Kevins Soccer season ends...where I did most of the coaching during the games since we had two teams.  

Celebrating Fathers Day with my family.  

How about some ice cream! 

And just like that the season is over. You cannot wait to play again. As we practice what seems like every day in the backyard.  

The Climber decide climb to get a bowl, fell backwards off the counter and hit your head. Initially doc declared you had a concussion. That was later retracted. 

How about some bowling, with the Karate Kid in the background.

Some morning Chess. 

Then some frisbee

Then I took the boys to the local Cub Scout pack. Looking to join. We shot off rocket and you guys chased nearly every one down.