Thais, Avery, Carson and I arrived late afternoon – just in time for rush hour traffic. What could be a 15-minute drive from O’hare to the hotel turned out to be over one hour. The taxi driver was quite knowledgeable and shared a lot of facts and information about Chicago.

Dinner at Ramen-San.

The second playoff game for Christian Brothers against the Yuba City Honkers.

They won! Next game is Thursday.

Regarding the candles, imagine there’s a big one in the tens place plus four ones (skinny candles). In first grade math, that’s 14. (Auntie Holly/candle buyer thought this was birthday #13 – lol). Brooklyn, Leo, Avery, Sophia, Carson

Rita/Lala, Holly, Brooklyn, Avery, Leo, Sophia, Carson, Lenin, Thais, me:

Time to go home, but a few guys stayed to play poker:

Tuesday. I drove out to Justin’s in the morning.

He set up everything for me (yay), brought out the wagon, baskets and rakes.

I raked just three trees and filled the drying rack above.

Wednesday. Minimum days all week at St Ignatius. Perfect. I picked up the boys and we drove out to Justin’s. First stop, the pigs. Getting quite big .. you know what that means, right?

On to walnut gathering. We scooped all the walnuts from the drying rack into 3 grocery bags, these would go home with Avery and Carson. Time to rake.

Drying rack refilled.

Back at home, Avery and Carson continued the drying process on smaller racks.

Friday. Another bagging then gathering trip, but this time, I was carefully observed.

Friday evening at St Patrick’s Academy. Avery is #14.

One of the things Avery’s good at is rushing the quarterback and grabbing the flag before he can throw.

I really liked this field. No grandstands or seating of any kind, so you are able to stand near the sideline and have a great view.

Sunday afternoon at Jesuit. The championship game against Presentation. St Ignatius won!

The regular season of volleyball has come to an end. Playoffs are next.

at St Ignatius. Waiting for the 8th graders to come out and meet their grandparents or special friends,

then to Mass in the church.

Third grade plus Carson’s 4th grade class form the choir and put on this mass. Carson had one of the readings.

Afterwards, we went to lunch at Cafe Bernardo.

Late Friday afternoon, a baseball game for Carson.

At one of his at-bats, he actually struck out, but the catcher dropped the ball. A fast runner, he was safe at first, stole second, and then scored.

Bottom of the sixth inning, we’re ahead, time to bring in the Closer.

Three up, three down. Good job Carson.

Avery has been enjoying riding on dirt trails and practicing lifting the front to ride on the back wheel (not easy).

Sunday afternoon at Jesuit: Avery, running back!