Our summer of fun continues. Last week, we bought Abby this booster seat. We're a little tired of the big high chair, and the booster also works well for travel, so I was happy to buy it last week. Aside from it's trial at home, it was perfect at a family gathering this weekend. Soon enough it will be in full use at home and we'll get rid of the high chair. But we have to buy a 5th Kitchen chair first. Our table only came with 4......long before we ever dreamed we'd have 5 in the family!

We were given tickets to a Brewer's game last week, so off we went to Miller Park on Thursday.
It was an afternoon game, so we packed a picnic lunch and "tailgated" in the parking lot before the game started. The girls got a kick out of watching other people with grills, tents, fancy food, special chairs, and even lawn games. We kept it pretty simple, but it was still fun to have a "car picnic."


We weren't really sure how long the game would be interesting for the members of our family. I'm not sure Abby made it through the first inning. She had to sit on our laps and found that too confining. Eventually she ended up on the ground at the end of our aisle, using empty drink bottles for toys. I had to just accept that she was going to be filthy dirty and gross in order to make her happy.

Katherine made it until the third inning before she asked if it was over. She was easily distracted by snacks and drinks. She kept waiting for Bernie Brewer to slide down his big yellow slide. It's all she wanted to see. Sadly there were no home runs, so she left disappointed.

Maggie actually did really well. Other than being hot (which we all were) she was very interested in the game, and willing to listen to me try to explain everything I could. She was sad when we had to leave int he 6th inning. She might end up going to another game this year, without her sisters?

I hadn't been to a baseball game in many years. I was flooded with memories of watching Cub games with my family. And, as I explained to Maggie what I could about the game, I couldn't help but hear the tune "Seeing My Father In Me" in my head. I don't remember Dad ever sitting me down and saying "this is this, and that is that" about baseball. But it was such a part of growing up, that, it turns out, I really learned a lot from him. And being at the game just brought it all back to me. I even figured out that a 'Balk' had been called when no one around me could understand what had happened. We all had a great day at the ballpark.
After the game, we went to a local appliance store to choose a new dishwasher. Our existing dishwasher was original to the house, making it at least 25 years old. We had it repaired once and the repairman referred to it as "Old Bessie." Thursday morning it stopped working. I needed a new one ASAP, so I called to find out who could get it to me the fastest. And we went to that store. BAD CHOICE! (more on that story later)

Moving on to Sunday, our annual family gathering in Salem, WI. This year, our gathering was extra special as we were celebrating Aunt Peggy's 50th Jubilee as a BVM. It wouldn't be a Geraghty Gathering without some music. Mom and Dad did the bulk of the work creating some special tunes for Aunt Peggy, and we all had fun singing to her; teasing a little, but caring a lot.


It was fun, as always, to be together with family. But especially to recognize the milestone with Aunt Peggy. (I have some memories from her 25th, which really just makes me feel old!) I wanted to teach Maggie and Katherine one of the songs, but first had to explain why we would be singing. When I told them that we were celebrating 50 years, they both got big eyes and Maggie said "Wow, that's even older than you are Mommy!" Thanks for that, Maggie!

I don't have any pictures for this story, but it's too funny to leave out. Yesterday afternoon, we were going to go out for dinner and to a members' event at the Zoo. Knowing that Chris would be home soon and ready to go, I went and found the girls upstairs playing some elaborate game of School or House or Store. It was a mess whatever it was. Knowing that they would whine if I simply said it was time to cleanup, I explained that Daddy would be home in 10 minutes, and told them that they should work "as a team" to clean up the room before Daddy got home. Then I went to Abby's room to get her ready.

I could hear Maggie and Katherine working, and was immediately struck with the fact that they hadn't whined. and it sounded like they were really cleaning up. As I listened, I laughed so hard I cried. They have clearly been watching too many musicals or something, because they took their job of cleaning up and starting with a cheer, "Team Work, We can do it" they then sang their way through cleaning up their room. It was truly one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time. But, they got the room cleaned. And there was no whining! Perhaps living in a musical isn't so bad?

And finally, let's talk dishwashers. Meet 'Old Bessie.'
After much drama yesterday, when the new one was not delivered because the sales guy neglected to actually schedule the delivery when he made the sale as he told us he had done, we had a brand new, shiny, happy dishwasher installed today.
(She came from a different store, as I was not going to wait until Friday for store #1 to get its act together and make things right.) I think maybe we need a name for this one. Any suggestions?

Life goes on, even after a week-long vacation. We jumped right back into a busy week, with Chris in class each day 8-4 and me back to work as well. I ended up with pink eye early in the week, but a quick trip to urgent care and a bottle of drops later, All was well.

Also this week Maggie finally got to play in her first softball game. (She missed the actual first game when we were at Disney World.) Wednesday evening was cool but sunny and the excitement level was high. Maggie was up to bat first. (In this league, the coach pitches, each player swings until they get a hit, and each player on the team bats before switching to the defense.) Of course, once she made contact, she forgot what to do. She listened to the crowd urging her to run, but took her bat with her. When she heard the shouts of "Drop the bat" she ran back to leave it with the catcher. She ended up getting tagged out at first base, but hey, she had gotten a hit - so what did it matter?

She was then assigned to play second base. She paid close attention and didn't miss a single play. And she certainly wasn't more interested in chatting with Lauren than playing ball! Ha! If you believe that, well, you'll believe anything! Many balls went past her. And even when she got the ball, she wasn't sure what to do with it. After a few mishaps, she did manage to tag at least one player out - Success!

Chris took a turn as the third base coach. Here he is giving her wise base-running advice: When the bat hits the ball, you run for home!

She loved it. Everything about playing. She was still grinning when she climbed into bed. And she can't wait to do it again next week. (This week is an off week due to the holiday.)

Which holiday? Why, 4th of July of course! It was a weekend of Red, White, and Blue. We packed up and found shade along the local parade route on Sunday. The girls had fun for the first 20 minutes or so, but this parade was VERY slow, with huge gaps between entries, and that did not help the short attention spans of 4 and 6 year olds. Especially 4 and 6 year olds smart enough to figure out that the festival rides had started.
So after about an hour of parade waiting/viewing, we went over to the rides. Both girls wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel, and since Chris refuses to ride, I bravely went with the girls. (hint, I LOVE Ferris Wheels!) They each got to choose one other ride, but we were cheap and limited ride spending to $20. And that is all you get for $20 these days. 5 total rides.

Abby doesn't often wear bibs anymore - she tends to yank them off the first chance she gets. But I did manage to keep her in this patriotic gem long enough for a picture. So funny!

Later that night, Chris took the big girls to see fireworks. This was his first year going to the Franklin Fireworks, as I have taken the girls for the last 2 years. We have a perfect viewing spot not too far from our house which isn't too crowded. Maggie promised she'd show Daddy just where to go. Unfortunately, we didn't check the times,and he ended up ready to watch a full 40 minutes before they were scheduled to start. That left him with time to snap this picture, and time to swat about 4 million mosquitoes.

Even though they bathed in bug spray before they left, the bugs were apparently unafraid of a little DEET. Then, to make things more interesting, once the show started, the wind decided to blow all of the smoke and ash and debris from the fireworks to exactly where they were sitting. They were pelted with little bits of fireworks throughout the whole show. Chris has already told me that it's OK if I want to take the girls next year!

Yesterday we made some tailgating food for friends who were in town for the Brewers game. They came for lunch before the game and we had a great time chatting and catching up with them. Then Chris enforced mandatory naps for the girls and I went to work.

And now this week starts a new kind of crazy....swimming lessons. Of course if you have 3 kids you can't expect that all 3 will have lessons available at the same time right? Abby goes with Chris at 0800, Katherine at 0900 and Maggie at 0930. So Chris takes Abby and I take the big girls. Every day for the next 2 weeks. I saw a mom pull up to the school today and drop off 4 school aged kids and wave goodbye to them from the car. Someday, I will have that luxury!