Heading out

Not a good sign. . .

This is what my car left on the pavement after the tow truck pulled away.

Feed the birds. . .

Tuppence A Bird

Emmalee feeds the birds at the Newport Aquarium. What?! Birds at an aquarium?

Steel Wheels

Father and Son Time

John controls a locomotive at the Train Club.

John's lego jet plane

John built a lego let plane at Grandma's house.

Lego creation by John.

Pioneer Zephyr

John climbed up the outside of the cab of the Pioneer Zephyr at the Museum of Science and Industry.

He loves trains! It's genetic. ;-)

Magic Bus

Through the eyes of a child, even a ride on a city bus can be a big adventure. The kids took their first ride on a city bus in down town Chicago during our recent visit. When we were done, Carolyn confessed it was here first CTA bus ride too. How could that be? She knows Chicago better than I do . . . How could I be the resident expert on anything chicago related?

Then I recall . . . Eighteen years ago i was a chicago commuter. My mad commuting skills paid off. Young kids who can't walk two miles of city streets in twenty degree weather were given a rest while we rode from the Sears Tower to Water Tower Place.

Walking down the Magnificent Mile eventually tuckered out Emmalee, who hitched a ride on mom's back.

He Dressed Himself . . .

John's idea of proper winter attire. 'What?! I'm wearing snow boots.'

She posted a lookout. . .

My daughter decorated the banister in cowboy garb. I'm not sure why.

The Joy of Stats

Treat

John enjoys a Steak n Shake treat with Grandma before we head home.

Getting ready for winter

One trailer full of wood cut to length. The stuff requiring splitting has been stacked. Nephews will help stack the rest . . . They didn't want to be left out.

My girl

My baby girl turns nine tomorrow.

What Do You See?

To me, it was a pattern on my wife's shirt. To John, it was an interplay of four sea horses, a man, and the head of a dragon.

John's Quote

Taking a walk in the woods with the entire family, John declared: "I love trees. Everybody should plant trees. I wish 'the middle of nowhere' would take over the earth."

I love the way he thinks.

Labor Day Fun

After picking apples with his sister, John enjoys a walk in the countryside.

Emmalee at the pond.

John and Emmalee enjoy a Labor Day hike at the Phyllis and Russ's place.

Walking Leaf

Bugs tickle when they walk. Luke wouldn't touch it, but he got a huge belly laugh out of watching his brother Jaden hold the bug.

7th Inning Stretch

The afternoon baseball game was interrupted to allow the kids to see a katydid.

Balloons Passing Overhead

Balloon Chasing

Just hanging around. . .

Emmalee, hanging upside down. Photo turned right side up

After the storm . . .

None of our trees were damaged, but the tree across the street lost a big branch.

No damage to anything else, just a temporary lane restriction.

Day Two

Can't be summer without roller coasters.

Happy Kid

Heaven must have roller coasters. At least, heaven on earth does.

Tinker Toys

John poses next to his tinker toy helicopter.

Smiling faces

Dinner at a friends house tonight. Thanks, Carters, we had a great time.

Monkey Boy

My son can climb anything, even a mature tree with no branches within reach of the ground. 

In the good old summertime . . .

The swimming pool at Clifty Falls State Park is one of the best we've seen. The kids enjoyed the slides and diving boards.

Just a baby duck . . .

John and Emmalee enjoyed watching the ducks at the park.

Start 'em young

Nephews enjoy sitting on Uncle Ted's bike.

Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok (1985)

All The Gear . . .

John loves his new gloves so much he wants to wear them all the time. Here he wears them for a game of Uno.

A walk in the park. . .

John and Emmalee enjoy a day at Holliday park

One night in Bangkok . . . Er I mean Ohio.

One campground is very like another when your head's down over your pieces, brother.

Queen to queen's level three . . .

Why do they play chess in their swim suits? Because they were on their way to the pool when they spied the irresistable, enormous chess set.

Pedal Power

John and Emmalee try out the pedal cars at the campground. That looks like fun. I want one.

Big Time Chess Game

John and Emmalee spotted the giant chess board on the way to the swimming pool.

Lake Louie

Record rainfall turns the new house into lake front property.

Vacation has begun

Camper is parked. Marshmallows are roasting. Lights are strung. Ahh, good.

Our son, the Loophole King

In the name of gaining traction, here he is obeying the bounce house rules and "wearing socks".

Shrek Head

Don't ask.