It's been a while since a non-vacation post. So, here we go, catching things up from the start of the summer of '25, the beginning of junior high in 6th grade, and wrapping up the summer of '26.
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| Once summer 2025 began, we found a sunny day to take our annual temple photos. |
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| This year, we went inside and learned a little more about the architecture's symbolism. |
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| We took our lap around the grounds... |
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| ...looking for nice photo spots... |
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| ...and always the fountains! |
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| To keep things fresh, we always look for a new pose/perspective... |
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| ...I think we found a good one this year! |
During the first few weeks of summer break, the twins participated in their third Kuumba Olympics.
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| Clare helped with the torch relay... |
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| ...helped her team win the field hockey event... |
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| ...and participated in badminton, too. |
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| Luke competed in fencing... |
...and both twins competed in swimming.
Luke won a couple of races...
...and brought home some Kuumba gold medals!!
The majority of the summer (for Clare and Dad anyway) was spent on the softball fields.
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| Clare played her first summer season with the Evanston Express. |
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| It was a fun summer of E-V-A-N-S-T-O-N softball, and these girls were fired up to play! |
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| Individually, Clare continued to pitch and found herself in the circle several games. |
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| There were many at-bats... |
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| ...and the team grew a lot... |
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| ...and won some tournament hardware too! |
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| It's always nice to end a long weekend of softball with a medal around your neck... |
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| ...and a nap on the long drives back home!! |
While Clare was busy on the softball circuit, Luke was able to attend camp and do some other cool stuff!
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| Luke & Eli reporting to Van Buren!
 | Luke & his friend Xavier toured the Chicago History Museum...
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| ...where they ran the Chicago Marathon... |
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| ...and garnished each other in a Chicago-style hot dog! |
The summer was spent on the backend vacationing in Canada...
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| ...and turning 11!! |
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| Truth be told, this year's annual tree pics weren't taken until the fall... |
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| ...oh well! |
And, just like that, we now had two junior high students!!
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| How is it even possible?!? First day at Haven Middle School! |
6th grade was a good year for the twins, and they had a lot to show for it!
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| Clare kept going with travel softball... |
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...though thankfully the travel was not so far (these three put the TON in ArlingTON Heights!!).
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| She also played EBSA house softball, ... |
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| ...where she showed great improvement in her pitching... |
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| (Here's the whole motion!) |
(Here's one of several K's!)
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| ...and did some catching too! |
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| The 'Berry Burritos' had a great season and came close to winning it all! |
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| Luke was busy too, albeit in the water!! |
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| This was Luke's second year participating in the Wildkit Swim-marathon. |
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| This year, in one hour, Luke tallied 135 laps... |
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| ...which equated to 3375 yards... |
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| ...which was just short of 2 miles...W-O-W!! |
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Luke also swam in a couple of swim meets and showed GREAT improvement with his times.
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Here are some clips of his races at a pentathlon at Glenbrook North High School.
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| He also continued to play 12U waterpool for the Wildkit Water Polo Club... |
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| ...and enjoyed playing great defense and scoring goals here and there to help his team to many victories. |
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| In January, his team traveled to the Orlando area for a water polo tournament... |
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| ...and won the championship!! |
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| Great aunts and uncles living in the area came to cheer him on... |
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| ...and there was even time to wrestle a gator! |
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| Luke's amazing coach had really great words to say about his progress in the sport... and this year he even won the 'Most Improved' award! |
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| One day, a big box arrived at our house, signaling the beginning of Clare's hockey adventure! |
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| Clare played for the Evanston's junior Wildkits... |
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...and showed a lot of improvement from October to May.
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| We are proud of her progress and passion for something new. |
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| She even scored a few goals (and earned the game puck)! |
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It was a fun and successful season for the Wildkits, and she's already looking forward to next year!
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Proving he isn't only good in the water, Luke returned to land and
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| started playing chess tournaments in the winter... |
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| ...and saw a lot of success in his first year! |
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| His Haven Middle School team took 2nd place at the city championships... |
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| ...which came with a congratulatory handshake from the Evanston mayor, Daniel Biss!! |
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| And, in the blink of an eye, the school year was over and had rising 7th graders?!? |
Summer '26 was pretty similar to 2025, with more swimming, softball, and water polo. We, of course, made our annual trip back to the Baha'i Temple.
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| This year we got photos standing,... |
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| ...sitting,... |
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| ...and even laying down!! |
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| Last, but never least, our 'gazing at the fountains' shot!! |
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| Because, ever since 2018, it never gets old!! |
The majority of the summer of 2026 was similar in cadence and busyness to 2025.
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| Lots and lots of softball again in Clare's (& Dad's) second year with Evanston Express softball |
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| This season had its ups and downs being on the lower end of the 12U age group,... |
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| ...but the girls remained focused, played hard,... |
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| ...and grew as a team. |
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| The end of the season was bittersweet, but the memories... |
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| ...and the fun times won't be forgotten! |
While softball kept us busy, your family continued to rack up great experiences.
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| ...and these two are already looking forward to their next concert! |
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| Ed puts on an amazing show! |
The end of summer proved to be tough as we had to say goodbye (or see you soon!) to some really close friends who moved out west.
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| Whether it was at a birthday party,... |
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| ...at the pool... |
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| ...or boating on a lake... |
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| ...the twins cherished every last moment. |
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| Saying goodbye is never easy... |
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| ...but true friendship isn't defined by distance! |
Right before we headed out for summer vacation (see future blog posts!),
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| ...the twins squeezed in a week at Van Buren camp... |
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| ...where most of the evenings were spent in a mass slumber party on the floor of the camp lodge (due to the wild fires)! |
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| And, they turned 12!! As usual, there were presents... |
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| ...there was cake,... |
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| ...and there was...Puttshack!! |
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| The guy on the right won...not that anyone was counting!! |
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| Tree pics were taken... |
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| ...because they always have been... |
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| ...since their 4th birthday!! |
