FORCE FAMILY

All three girls had a ball at the beachnear our hotel in Florida during our vacation in early February 2009, it was really windy but in the high 70s so we all enjoyed the day.

Grandma Lynch and Sophia really seemed to bond during our visit down there in early February.

My three Irish cuties! Happy St. Pat's day! Taken in 2009, even tho it says 2006.

My neighbor talked me into going to the PTO's March Madness auction/dinner thing so here we are, all dressed up!

Outside of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

Crown Fountain in Millenium Park in Chicago, Sophia had a lot of fun cooling off in the water with the multitudes of other children on this hot July day.

Sophia and Isabel in front of the "big egg" (Cloud Gate) in Millenium Park in Chicago. It is a lot bigger than I thought it was, quite impressive in person.

Chloe and me at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Chloe wasn't too excited about the waves here, but she really did enjoy walking into the waves in Rhode Island, unfortunately I don't have any pics of that!

Sophia and Isabel enjoying the North Avenue Beach in Chicago.

Guess where this pic was taken. Newport, RI? Nope. Off of Navy Pier in Chicago.

The lump on me is Chloe sleeping while we wait for fireworks on Navy Pier, she got a good nap in, then woke up for the show.

Me and my girls on Navy Pier, waiting for the fireworks to begin. Chloe was a big fan!

Home at last! Dave enjoys showing off Chicago to the girls.

Sophia and Isabel enjoying the view from our Chicago hotel pool. I think the pool was their favorite part of this vacation.

Dave tooting his own horn, what a shocker!

The girls' cousin Caroline enjoying the Milwaukee Follies parade. Say what?

Let me at it!

Let them have cake... and smear it all over.

Chloe would have eaten the watermelon rind if I'd let her. Yum, cold watermelon sure feels good when you're teething!

Isabel stays warm on Lindsey's lap.

Sophia and Isabel getting ready to watch the fireworks with their friends.

Chloe bonding with Uncle Carl.

Isabel and her pals (Julia, Kaylee, and Sydney) at Libby Lou's celebrating her sixth birthday.

Isabel's sixth birthday! They grow up so fast.

The sandbox was the place to be when my brother, Craig, came to visit with his two little ones, Sydney and Harvey. Look at Gram getting in on the fun too!

Our three swinging sweeties. Look at that green, green grass!

Chloe in her new (used) buggy, it was a hit from the start! I love garage sales.

Took me a while to convince Chloe to enjoy her little pool. I think this is the only time we used it the whole summer. Maybe we'll have better luck next year!

Sophia and Isabel cooling off with neighborhood pals, Paxton, Paige, and Jack, in mid-June 2008.

The Frisbee-decorating contest at the neighborhood end-of-school bash.

Sophia and Isabel with Julia and Natalie at the neighborhood end-of-school-year bash.

Isabel and Greer doing the 3-legged race at the kindergarten picnic.

Isabel at her kindergarten picnic which had to be moved indoors because of inclement weather, the kids had a ball regardless.

It's so hard being a baby, everybody always taking your picture and expecting you to smile. Although you can't tell from Chloe's expression, we had a nice visit with Great-Grandma Lynch, who was impressed with our new house (we're moving on up!) and our 9.5 foot high ceilings and our finished basement, and the girls were delighted to see her and promised to visit her soon in Florida.

Sophia holding court in typical Force tradition. We celebrated her birthday yet again at Aunt Eileen's in Milwaukee.

Chloe holds a sippy cup and I just had to record it for posterity.

For the birthday party, it was half gymnastics, half bounce, the kids made the most of the time they had by running around like crazy, I can't believe I got this shot!

This present got the biggest smile, Sophia's friend Lilia knows the way to her heart.

Ohmigod, where was this when I was a kid!! The girls loved this most of all, I think.

Sophia had a blast at her birthday party, we had it at Ultimate Gymnastics and I think it may have spurred a resurgence of interest in gymnastics, which I (Paige, that is) am very excited about.

Chloe and Gracie bonding. I swear her first word was doggie, or maybe kitty, but you really have to have a loose interpretation of "first word." Our neighbor has an Irish setter that Chloe just loves.

It was really fun to see Erica be so fascinated with Chloe. They're only 8 months apart, so it was fun to see what I have to look forward to since I've forgotten so much since Isabel was this age.

Well, almost all of them are looking at the camera... we had a great time visiting with Aunt Paula and cousins Erica and Claire. It is so fun to see my girls interacting with their cousins!