Last week we had a visit from Japo and Aunt Lara for what is becoming a beautiful tradition.

We packed in all kinds of fun, most of which benefited me the most!

First, Japo very kindly watched Ben ALL day so Adam and I could take the other kids and friends to Great America. Then, a few days later Aunt Lara showed up.

We immediately headed to Chinatown for Dim Sum!

As soon as Lara arrived, she joined my mother in helping around the house. While Japo tirelessly folded laundry, Aunt Lara refinished our table!

Before

After

The next night, Adam and I checked into a hotel sans kids and enjoyed some time together.

London House

I got to go eat at all my favorite places.

Slurping Turtle

Goddess and the Baker

We went running TOGETHER, instead of tag teaming our runs to take turns babysitting.

Buckingham Fountain

And we got a chance to explore the city without distraction. The walks we do with the kids feels more like herding cats then exploring.

CANstruction exhibit

CANstruction exhibit

While we were away Aunt Lara and Japo watched our rambunctious herd. We got home just in time for the block party (see previous blog post).

The next day Adam watched the kids for the day while us ladies spent the day celebrating Japo’s 80th birthday.

We got reflexology at our favorite spot, Fit Foot.

Then we went to see “Crazy Rich Asians”.

Not so crazy, or rich, but somewhat Asian.

Finally we had dinner at Girl & the Goat.

I was very sad to see them go this morning, and wished again for the millionth time that we all lived closer.

Yesterday we happily participated in the annual block party.

There was so much fun to be had!

We ran from one delight to another…

Cotton candy… Bouncy houses… Craft table….Hula Hooping with the Band… Magician Show…

Ice Cream Truck…Face Painting…

Aaron’s fan club

Corn Hole… And for the adults, we enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, catering from Oyster Bah and Summer House Santa Monica. Five kegs and many more adult beverages were scattered along the block as well.

But best of all, we got to celebrate with Aunt Lara and Japo…

Grandpa Devensky came up to help us this week.He arrived in time to join us for Ben’s last day of summer session, where they host an annual picnic.

This year, instead of being wrapped as a mummy, Grandpa took the honor.He also helped me take Ben and his friend to see the troll exhibit at the Morton Arboretum. Ben spent a lot of time separated from the other kids so it was super helpful to have another adult around.One night was had a delightful visit with Adam’s cousin, Brett, and his wife, their kids, plus one roommate and girlfriend.

Adam also scored tickets to a cubs game while Grandpa was here and they went with the older boys.

Over the weekend it was super hot and we cooled off at the water park. The kids were daredevils, the twins tried the diving board and big boy slide for the first time.

Adam, my other daredevil kid…

Ben spent many times experimenting on the fastest way to go down the fast slide. He decided crossing your arms like this was optimal…

I liked how Jack took some time to hang poolside with Grandpa.

We had a trip to Chinatown for DimSum.

And Grandpa helped me bring all these kids to Maggie Daley and Millenium Park for a day.

In the morning, the older boys played tag while the younger ones enjoyed the park.

Afterwards, we joined together for a picnic lunch.

Then we headed to the fountains to splash around.

We had a lot of fun activities, but as Grandpa always says, the best parts are not the planned activities. They are the down times, when you are just hanging around. When you have time to connect freely, unforced. Grandpa is great at that.

I was so incredibly grateful for his visit. Without his help, I couldn’t plan any of these fun activities for the kids! Thanks Grandpa for making the kids summer fun! (And for doing the laundry and dishes, and fixing the license plates on our car, and taking out the garbage, and putting the kids to bed at night!!!)