Grayson & Liam ~ July Photos

July has a fun month.  Liam loves to cook so he helped make cupcakes.  We hung out with friends, played lots of soccer and they hung out with Juju.  

Sailing Camp

Liam did a sailing camp with his friend Ryan.  It was a week long all day camp on Lake Michigan.  They had a family night so we got to check out Liam's sailing skills.  The boys were doing front flips off the dock into the water.  I was so nervous while they were doing this, but they had no fear.

Brian's Lake House in Elkhorn, WI

On our way home from the tournament we stopped by Brian's lake house in Elkhorn, WI.  The boys love to go tubing on the lake.  We finished the day with some good food from the grill and smore's by the campfire.

USA Cup in Minnesota: A Week of Soccer, Team Bonding, and Fun

This past week, the boys participated in the USA Cup in Minnesota, one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the country.  With teams from all over the world, the atmosphere was filled with competition, camaraderie, and plenty of great moments on and off the fields.

Each of the boys played one game per day, giving them a great balance of competition and recovery time.  The tournament brought some touch matchups, but it was a fantastic opportunity for them to push their skills against strong teams from across the country.  The played hard, gave it their all, and most importantly, had a great time representing their team.

Beyond the games, one of the biggest highlights of the trip was spending time together as a team.  The boys had a blast at Mall of America, where they took full advantage of the indoor amusement park.  We stayed at the JW Marriott at the Mall of America which was a huge step up from the hotel we stayed at previously.  The roller coasters were a definite favorite and they had the unlimited pass so they took full advantage of it.  

To top off the trip, we also attended a Minnesota United FC game, getting to see professional soccer up close.  The energy in the stadium was incredible, and watching the pros in action was both inspiring and exciting for the boys.  This was the perfect way to celebrate a week of soccer. 

Tournaments like the USA Cup are more than just about the competition; they're about the friendships, the experiences, and the memories made along the way.  From the excitement on the field to the thrill of the rides at Mall of America, this was a week the boys won't soon forget.

 

Ross Family in Chicago

The Ross family came to Chicago to hang out.  The first day the boys went to a Cubs game.  That night we had dinner at Costera Cocina Tulum and then had drinks at La Serre.  The next day the boys went to a water park while the ladies went shopping at the outlets by O'Hare.  That night we all went to dinner at The Bellevue to celebrate Kat's birthday.  We always love spending time with the Ross Family.