Summer Birthdays by the Lake and in Chicago

In mid-July of 2017, we got the family together for a trip centered around a couple of birthdays. The big one was my grandfather Skip's 80th, and his cake, complete with a fishing pole and lily pads, really set the scene for our time by the water.

We spent most of our days out on a Sun Tracker pontoon boat, making the most of the warm, sunny weather. The lake was calm, surrounded by dense green trees, and it was just a really peaceful way to spend an afternoon with everyone all together.

Alongside the 80th, we also celebrated a younger family member's birthday. We had an outdoor party for her under a big yellow tent where she got her own cake, and my grandfather helped her make the first cut.

The evenings there were incredible. As the sun went down, it cast these deep pink and purple colors across the entire sky, reflecting on the water and silhouetting the hills across the lake. We just sat and watched the light change.

The trip finished with a shift in scenery, heading into Chicago for a bit. The kids got their faces painted and we explored the city, which was a fun, busy contrast to the quiet days on the water.