Summer 2025 - Gone Too Fast!

I find it hard to believe that the summer has come and gone already! Thanks to the Midwest Indian Summers, Sept still feels like summer...but the leaves are falling and the nights are chilled. Fall is knocking at the door as summer is being ushered out.

Our summer was pretty quiet. With the kids all working, we didn't do much as a family. It is sad, but the new norm. 

I did some yard work (I never, in all my life, thought I'd enjoy yard work!)...

Weeded and dug up cement pieces from behind the garage one afternoon. I then filled in the large holes with dirt (looks like we buried bodies there, ha).

These aren't bruises, thankfully! Lots and lots of dirt with even more sweat!

Found a friend hanging around.

I don't have many flowers in the yard - but the Surprise Lilies always take over the ravine area.

The occasional game night was held and I worked on a few puzzles. 

Maddie and I stopped at Culvers one afternoon while Will was working and it just so happened that he was going on break as we walked in. A nice surprise to be able to enjoy our dinner together.

Kaitee & I enjoyed an evening out for dinner and "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"

The kids enjoyed the evenings (very rare!) when they were all home - Dinners out, movie nights, game nights and just hanging out (literally!).

Matt & I were able to get away a few afternoons for day trips. If given a choice, we try to take the "road less traveled". 

Matt showed me the Jump Rope Tree, in Preston, IA - similar to the Hula Hoop Tree that we visited in 2020. The jump ropes are a bit harder to see, but they are there, hanging from the branches.

Paxton's Corner Coop - Annawan, IL

Matt fell in love with these Fraggles!

Matt has gotten lost in the world of Find-a-Grave (online website) and has been working hard at connecting deceased family members on the website. It is amazing what's out there on the world wide web! We have visited half a dozen (give or take) family cemeteries in the past few months - taking new pictures and documenting as much information as possible. 

Father's Day - the Barman family  got together to celebrate all of the Dads.

A few nights later, us girls headed out for a enjoyable dinner together (Doesn't happen enough!!)

While Teri was home, we visited Clover Chapel Cemetery in Woodhull. Many of Dad's family is buried here.

Matt continues to enjoy letterboxing and was able to attend a local boxing event and was surprised by some boxing friends that we haven't seen in years. Made his day!! We have also been knocking out some local boxes that have been planted recently.

Happy June/July Birthdays! We celebrated Dad, Aunt Fran, Emma and Kayla at Happy Joe's one evening. Even Happy the Dog came out to sing!

While Matt and I were in North Dakota, Kaitee & Maddie drove to Princeton to catch the Amtrak to Chicago. They enjoyed their time downtown and then attended the musical, Beauty & the Beast.

In June Mom & Dad celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary!!! We're all so blessed by the example they've been to us and others of life long commitment to each other and God. We're thankful for time spent with them; even a low key dinner at Spinner's to celebrate.

I try to walk a few miles each day - some days are easier than others. I love turning on the Cubs game and listening to Pat & Ron call the game while I walk. This particular day, I snapped a picture as I hurried around the block...trying to get home before the skies opened up! 

Happy Birthday Matt! We literally had a 10 minute window where everyone was home, so we quickly sang and opened presents!

The kids gave him a few books and I found a McDonald's kids toy that looks like a retro McDonald's building. Attached a hook to it to hang on our Christmas tree every year (this represents the 4-5 years that he worked at McDonalds during his high school years). I also gave him a Taylor Swift word search, which got a good laugh.

This past May, Maddie started dating Micah, a wonderful young man from Edgewood (where she attends church & works). They enjoyed their summer - day trips, VBS, and quality time spent together. 

August came in quick - Matt & I drove Kaitee to Princeton to catch the train into Chicago for another musical (Parade). He & I made a day of it and ended our day back in Princeton, to pick her up. There was rolling thunder/lightning in the distance the whole evening. It was wonderful!

August 23rd was a big day for the Hart family!!! I drove Kaitee to Peoria so she could see Wicked! (She was pretty excited!). While she attended the musical, I hit a couple of consignment shops. 

While we were in Peoria, the boys were in Ottawa...SKY-DIVING!!!! A few years ago, the kids and I gave Matt a "coupon" for a free skydive experience for his birthday. While he has always wanted to skydive, it's easy to put it aside and wait to do it another year. Matt was talking with a friend, Dave, one night about the gift. Dave's reaction - "Let's do it!". That was all the encouragement that Matt needed! Matt also invited Will to join them (which Will quickly agreed to) and the date was set!

Labor Day Weekend was a busy one for us. Friday evening, Maddie & Micah drove to Princeton to attend a friend's wedding. Maddie & Asriella (the bride) met in Guatemala (both had worked with Impact Ministry). Maddie's Guatemalan sister, Kathe, flew in for the wedding as well. Maddie was thrilled to see both girls for the evening. 

Saturday morning, we loaded up the van and headed to Chicago - we had tickets to tour Wrigley Field! This is something that I've wanted to do for years. Much like Matt's skydiving, it is too easy to say "we will do it this summer" and then put it off. Years go by before it actually gets done (if at all). 

We arrived in Wrigleyville around 12:00 - early for our 2:00 tour. We found our parking garage spot and went in search of lunch. We kept lunch simple (and fairly cheap) - Culvers, just across the street from Wrigley.

Selfies By Matt...

More Selfies By Matt...

We still had a bit of time, so we walked around Wrigley...taking in the statues and enjoying the neighborhood without 40,000 fans surrounding us! One downfall of going to Wrigley during away Games - Gallagher Way (the green space next to the park) is often utilized for other events. This day, there was a BBQ event happening with lots of tents and really loud music. We weren't able to see the statues of Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks & Ryne Sandberg. With Ryno dying just a few weeks ago, we were looking forward to seeing the statue and paying our respects to him. The walk of fame would have to do it for us.

Such an amazing ball player - but an even better person!

We also had fun checking out the Cubs Store at Gallagher Way.

Once inside Wrigley, we sat in the seats along the 3rd base side then walked out to the bleachers. 

One of my 3 favorite stops - THE IVY!!!!

From the Left Field Ivy, we walked through the park to the get to the Press Box (#2 Favorite!). The view from these seats - AMAZING!!

My favorite stop - the Cubs Dugout! 

The Wrigley tour was wonderful! Our tour guide was great and we loved seeing different areas of the park! Definitely recommend to all baseball fans!

From Wrigley, we drove north towards our hotel, making stops along the way for a few letterboxes and dinner at The Silo. We lost a few of the kids on the drive, ha!

Sunday morning, we dropped the kids at the Bristol Renaissance Faire while we went hunting for a few letterboxes in the area.

One of the first pictures that the kids sent us was in front of this archway and fence. Maddie then sent us a picture of the 4 kids when we last visited in 2013. So glad that they thought of getting that picture again. Wonderful memories!

Matt and I were successful in finding a handful of letterboxes and grabbed lunch before heading back to pick up the kids.

We arrived home early Sunday evening with not much else planned for the rest of the holiday weekend. I did drive out to the airport to see the Air Force Thunderbirds, who were in town for the QC Airshow. It's always fun to watch them (hear them!) as they fly around town.

We officially say goodbye to summer in a few weeks, but the long holiday weekend was the beginning of Fall in our minds. School is back in session, football has started, the days are shorter & the promise of cooler weather is here.