Soccer USA Cup in Minnesota

What a fun week in Minnesota for USA Cup!  The boys had a memorable week and got farther than last year.  We had two games per day so it was a little crazier than last year when it was just Grayson playing.  We rented a house with 3 other families (Damon's family of 4, Maddox and Ann, Vega family of 4) and had so much fun hanging out, playing games (fun dice game that the Vega family made, poker and yahtzee) and letting the kids run around.  The house had an indoor basketball court, jacuzzi and a lot of space.  One night we went to the hotel to meet up with all the City families and the kids had fun in the pool.  Grayson's team beat a great team from Jamaica and another team from Canada to make it the semifinals, but sadly lost to a Texas team.  They were not into the game and couldn't step up their game, but we were very happy to move farther this year.  Liam played on the 2014 team and they lost in the quarter finals, but should have won.  The refs had some terrible calls that cost them the game.  The boys had fun at the Mall of America riding on all the roller coaster rides with their friends.  Overall we had a great time and made a lot of memories.  The boys had fun exchanging pins with the other teams. 

Hanging out with the Alexanders

We had a fun night hanging out with the Alexanders.  

 

Weekend in Lauderdale Lakes

We had a fun weekend in Elkhorn at Brian's lake house.  We got there late on Friday and spent the day on the lake on Saturday.  The boys loved tubing!  I went tubing with Grayson and had a blast, but eventually had to stop because my neck started hurting as we hit so many bumps.  We had breakfast with Aunt JoAnn and Uncle Dominic and loved catching up with them.  Brian is always such a great host and loves showing us a good time on the lake.  We are so lucky to have great friends. 

4th of July in Michigan ~ Grayson

Grayson spent the 4th of July at his friend Leo's lake house with his family.  Grayson brought his scooter to ride in the parade with Leo.  They followed a firetruck and rode through the city with the final stop close to the beach with popsicles.  They spent the day at the beach and ran into Liam's friend Ryan and hung out with him for a little while.  They had a BBQ at Leo's house and went on a ghost walk at night.  Grayson spent the night (his second sleepover with a school friend) and had the best time.  

 

July 3rd & 4th

Craig, the boys, Oma and I celebrated 4th of July on July 3rd in Wilmette.  I wanted a small town feel where we could safely watch the fireworks and listen to live music.  We went to Gilson Park in Wilmette and had BBQ and pizza then relaxed in the park listening to live music while the boys played with bubble guns.  They had a great display and it was exactly what I envisioned and more.  On the actual 4th of July we were at the house and did some of our own fireworks that Craig got in Indiana.  Grayson spent the 4th of July in Michigan with his friend Leo and his family at their lake house.