The Parrillo Family

2020 was a year unlike any other.  COVID disrupted everything and sent us scurrying home.  What started with Zoom Happy Hours and Home Schooling eventually evened out and some things got back to normal.  Including spending New Year's Eve up in Wisconsin where we rung in 2021 and hoped for better days ahead.  Congrats, Parrillos.  We made it.  This far.  Here's to an even better 2021. 

We wound down Summer at the Lake House in Wisconsin with the Foxes and Morans.  Salad days indeed. 

Too early for apples?  That's ok.  We'll pick berries.  The kids had a great time at the All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock, Illinois.  When it comes to orchards and apples and U-Pick places....Wisconsin (or far Northern Illinois for that matter) is no Michigan, that's for sure. We took the exact same picture two years ago.  Check it out here .  Frankie had some salad!

The Parrillo family was fortunate to gather in Twin Lakes for annual Camp Parrillo.  Looks like even little Lizzie snuck in there in the bottom left.  We spent a cool weekend hanging around, eating too much and laughing a lot. 

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. 

Over Labor Day weekend, we couldn't find SD for a little bit when we were up in Wisconsin.  Turns out, she was sitting with Great Grampy out on the front porch where he was spending some time reading with his iPad.  But SD insisted she show him all about the games that are on there.  He was so patient with her as he always is! 

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.

I wouldn't go so far as calling us a "fishing family" just yet, but it seems that all three kids have taken to fishing off the pier on Lake Elizabeth up in Wisconsin.  And that's because they're all having some success in pulling a fish or two out of the lake each time we put our hooks in. I've posted about fishing before here on the family blog, but a big piece of this is due to Uncle Bill.  He's a real angler and he's a major force in pushing us all to get equipment and to enjoy the sport.  Check out Eloise up top.  Holding her very own Rock Bass. (I think.) Below you can see the Beef pulling out one of his many Bluegill.  Sadie hit a bunch, too.  She was so proud of herself. And even their little cousin - who is the best fisherman of the bunch (thanks to his Dad!) pulled out a few fish.  Look how proud he is!

This year we went apple picking like we usually do every fall.  The difference?  We didn't go to Michigan.  (sad face)  We went apple picking in Illinois!  On the way up to Twin Lakes in Wisconsin at a place called All Seasons Orchard.   We had a great time and picked a bunch of honey crisps! It appears that I didn't post photos of apple picking last year in 2016.  But, here's the post from 2015 when we picked at Crane's in Michigan . Here's the photos from 2014 when we picked at Jollay's in Michigan .  Nat was VERY pregnant with the Big Beef at the time! Here's the photos from 2013 when we picked at Jollay's in Michigan with the full Parrillo clan. We were joined by Grammy and Granddad and really liked our first trip to All Seasons.  I think we'll be back.

Over the weekend, we did a first:  took the boat out and tried to fish in the deeper water.  Both girls seemed to enjoy it despite the fact that we didn't catch a thing.  We ended up heading back to the dock and fished off the pier where SD caught 8 pan fish of various types in a row!

For a weekend in early August, we were fortunate enough to gather most of the Parrillo family up in Twin Lakes for a 'right before back to school' get-together.  The girls had fun hanging with their older cousins and Nat and I loved being able to spend time with my sisters, my parents and Equation Boy/Man.  It was a low-key affair, but was so nice to be able to be together up there and we're grateful for the Morans for making it happen! The first night of the weekend included a makeup session/party with the girls applying makeup to themselves and the older cousins.  The older girls were good sports.   And we spent a lot of time out on the water in the boat.  The Big Beef wanted to be in the captain's seat the whole day. Here's the girls posing with their cousin who just came back from being abroad for two years. With Papa's big tube, we were able to get three little ones and the Goozer on the tube together.  Eloise an...

At the Root Beer source enjoying the known contraband of soda:  Sprecher's Root Beer place in Lake Geneva.  Eloise:  Age 7.5.  Sadie:  Age 5.

For as long as we've had kids, Natalie and I have spent the 4th of July up 'at the lake'.  Up until this year, that has always been with Noonie and Papa in Coloma on Paw Paw Lake.   Here's some photos from 2013 up in Coloma with Eloise and Sadie and Grammy and Granddad and Aunt Sisi. This year, we were fortunate enough to be able to go up to Lake Elizabeth where the kids got out in this little raft that you see above and below.  The interesting thing is that *this* is the raft's second life.  It actually is from my childhood all the way back in the 1980's and Vic and I used to paddle around Paw Paw Lake (and Vic would take it up the channel) before we were old enough for the Waverunner. I love seeing my kids in the raft and I immediately sent my Dad (Papa) these photos, which he adored! The kids loved the freedom the raft gave them.  They could play 'Disney Boat' for an hour!

With the weather warming up that means the water in Lake Elizabeth is warming up too.  And the kids love spending time out on the lake - especially on the Lily Pad (that they call the "Yoga Mat") that Granddad bought for the lake.  Sadie is the bravest of the bunch and spends time on the Pad but also just out there swimming. Eloise takes Nat's SUP out for a spin, but also has a lot of fun on the Pad. Lizzie got her first exposure to the water when we threw her in.  She started to get her sea legs, but doesn't fill out the life jacket as well as our dear Maisy did.  Another way that Lizzie "is no Maisy"!?!? And, we also got out on the town a bit.  The kids love this pirate guy outside the Sandbar restaurant.  I love their onion rings.  We both win. I took the kids to Walmart to buy some fishing gear and Frankie noticed Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and his taxpayer-funded security shopping for kayaks.  If you know your corrupt Chicago...

Up in Twin Lakes this past weekend, Eloise came across a little friend.  She was able to capture him and get him in this cup to show Nat and her siblings.  Of course, Eloise the animal lover let it go in a safe spot shortly after capture. She was pretty proud of herself!  Seeing her capture the frog totally reminded me of the days of looking for critters up in Coloma.  Whenever the Pawlak boys came up there, they'd always find turtles and frogs and other critters.  Those were the days!

We spent some time up in Twin Lakes with Grammy and Granddad recently and while the lake was still frozen (mostly) the weather was awesome, so the girls had a lot of fun 'fishing' off the pier for ice chunks.  You can see them in the photo laying down on the little partial dock that extends over the lake.  And Lizzie - our puppy - had fun being outside after a long winter of being coop'd up. Frankie got outside to take in the sunrises each morning and loved when Nat dressed him up 'like a Jedi'.  He kept saying "I'm a Jedi" when he had his 'cloak' on him.  Too cute. This was our first time out on Lake Elizabeth since last fall when we posted this photo of Eloise on the swing . Everyone is dreaming of summer days up there on the lake and this past weekend was a really nice hint of what is to come!