The Parrillo Family

This is year two for Eloise at Camp Tecumseh in Indiana where she spends a week with her cousin in a cabin and gets to do all sorts of traditional camp things - like swimming in the lake, climbing trees and eating in a mess hall.  This year, she was in Cayuga - and here's a photo below of them on their first day of camp this year: But this year, she was also joined by Sadie.  With her first camp year.  And, this was something that SD was looking forward to ever since dropping Eloise off last year.  I don't think there was anyone more amp'd up for Camp that SD this year.  And, she was blown away.  What did the girls do?  All of the things.  Horseback riding. Chapel.  Sign Language.  Friendship bracelets. Swimming.  And pickleball.  With real pickles!

Who is the best boy in the world?  Frankie.  That's who.  He's now seven and wants everyone to know it.  He's 65 pounds of 'rompin' stompin' dynamite' and is all boy.  Loving, snuggly boy.  And Nerf-gun wanting boy.  He's carving his own path and doing incredibly well in first grade.  He loves all forms of screentime including the Switch.  He says he'll only eat cheeseburgers and tacos and has a best friend in his cousin across town.   He still is our most snuggly child but also is the one with the hottest temper (at times).  He loves his Momma and his Sisters and I know how lucky I am to have a boy that loves me with all of his heart.  I couldn't imagine a better gift than seeing Frankie continue to turn from a baby to a boy.  And...(hold back the tears) at some point a man.   Here's a look at Sadie when she turned the same age of Seven in 2019 .  We're so fortunate to have Frankie in our life and can'...

A big milestone in a young woman's life: shipping off to a week-long overnight camp.   Eloise and her best-est cousin are on an adventure this week at Camp Tecumseh. The property is beautiful and seems endless. There are trail rides and paddle boards and very sweet/cool counsellors. The t-shirts at the trading post are surprisingly high quality. We miss her already but we know she's safe and happy.We  can't wait to see them at pickup and hear all about it. 

Look who made it down to the beach in La Jolla?  Great Grampy spent some time (in the shade) on the sand with five of his great grandchildren.  We were in town for Uncle Peter's wedding - that is taking place in a few days. 

The girls spent some quality time with their cousins (and Grammy) up in Wisconsin and got all hopped up on sugar with some s'mores fireside. 

One of the great family traditions we have that kicks off the holiday season annually is a visit to pick out (and cut down!) our Christmas tree.  Welp, this year, we have tree(s).  Two of them.  And we cut them both down over the weekend. We've been going to the Tammen Tree Farm down in Braidwood for as long as I've been a part of the Moran family Christmas Tree tradition and have been posting the photos since 2010. Here's the post and photos from our trip to the Farm in 2016 . I don't seem to have posted about Christmas Tree Day in 2015? Here's the post and photos from our trip to the Farm in 2014 . Here's the post and photos from our trip to the Farm in 2013 . Here's the post and photos from our trip to the Farm in 2012 . Here's the post and photos from our trip to the Farm in 2011 . Here's the post and photos from our trip to the Farm in 2010 . This year, we had our full crew and found our 'big' tree in one of the fields.  Yo...

It included a birthday party to see the Incredibles 2 at the Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove.  And the usual breakfast cupcakes.  Sadie is six and she's incredible.  Funny.  Goofy.  Caring.  Loves animals.  Loves her siblings.  Is quick with a compliment.  And with a shoulder to cry on and an arm around you to embrace.  Here's SD on the morning of her birthday: She was lucky to have her cousin from Elmhurst sleep over! The day included some pampering:  here she is getting her toes done.  Look at that side smile?!? And we had a party for her, of course.  Grammy delivered with Gummy bear-inspired cookies. And she was surrounded by cousins. Here's our crew: She shares a birthday with her great Uncle Frank, too!  What a special treat!

We got Summer off to a pretty solid start with some lake time up at Grammy and Grandad's Lake House in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.  The kids played (with their cousin) on the floating 'yoga mat', rode on the boat and loved life.   Totally reminds me of my childhood, spending Summer days up on Paw Paw Lake in Michigan. Eloise can control one of the Stand-up Paddleboards and took SD along for a ride.

It literally feels like yesterday that we were baptizing our first born child Eloise.  Here's the post from all the way back in February of 2010 when we posted about that event .  But, now, eight years later, our wonderful Eloise has now had her First Communion.    As you can imagine, there's a lot of dress and shoes and outfit details, but I don't know any of them.  Natalie can fill in the blanks, but what I can tell you is that Eloise looked perfect.   We arrived at St. Mary's (where Eloise goes to school) to find her banner hung on one of the pews.  Eloise put this banner together - and despite us having to audible from fabric glue (which, folks, just doesn't work!) to hot glue - came out nice.   Eloise takes school and her religion very seriously.  And she's created a special bond with Fr. Shaun at SMG who gave the First Communion Mass for the school kids.   After the Mass, we (of ...