Home!

So last week, I went home. It was of course fantastic. Here's the week in pictures.

We had plans all week to go boating. Unfortunately, the lovely Chicago weather had different plans. It was cloudy and cold pretty much every day I was home. We're talking in the high 60s low 70s. For any of you who know how hot it usually is at this time of year in the midwest realize that those temperatures are basically unheard of. Anyway, we were struggling with knowing what to do all day when our neighbors called and asked if we wanted to go strawberry picking. None of us had done it before so we figured...why not! It was actually really fun.

Notice: We are wearing jackets and long pants. In July.

I like this picture. Just showing off our best sides while picking berries... Also a sidenote: this farm was in Wisconsin. Of course! When bored in Chicago, go to Wisconsin. It will never disappoint.

On our way back into the great state of Illinois, we searched long and hard for this replica of the great pyramid that you can see from the freeway. Unfortunately, it was closed. But can you believe this guy actually lives in the pyramid? Good thing he's got that sphyinx guarding it...

Still looking for ways to fill an otherwise empty day, Mom and Jen and I tried our hands at making deep dish pizza. I'd say it went very well. Until I dropped one on the floor.

Eventually we realized that we were going to have to go boating in terrible weather or not at all. So of course we went boating. It was chilly, but it was still boating and the water wasn't so bad since no one else was insane enough to go boating when the water was warmer than the air temperature. This is us trying to stay warm on the boat. In July.

On our way to the lake, mom and dad decided that a wakeboarding helmet was a worthwhile investment for me. You see, I have this habit of falling and hitting my head really hard on the water... So, mom and dad were kind enough to buy me a concussion-preventing helmet. And since Brian is now throwing things like 360s around (no I'm not jealous...), they decided it wasn't a bad idea for him to have one too.

Our humble "village" of Gurnee has the best fireworks ever. They are always the highlight of the 4th of July. For some absurd reason, Gurnee decided not to do fireworks this year. I know, right? Who are they to just go messing with our traditions like that? So we adapted. We watched fireworks in Wauconda from our boat on the lake. It was actually really great. Who knows, we could have a new 4th of July tradition. This is us just chillin' on the lake waiting for the fireworks to start.

While we puttered around the lake and waited for the show to start, we played games.

The fireworks made sweet reflections on the water.

And that was my week at home. It was so fun to be with my whole family even though the weather didn't cooperate. It was still a great time. Too short, but great.