Kroll's diner - Bismarck

26 states - chicago to fargo

Block Party #2

Oh yeah, there was a water balloon fight with Anthony, Paul and Christina too.

Block Party

Police horses, bounce house, a pinata, live music, live dance, bike riding, soccer, buddies, and Grandma Bonnie.

It was pretty huge.

The Berras

They were in for the weekend. We treated them to some Miami style heat and humidity. On the plus side, Jake really liked the cheese pizza at Crust.

Block party is on.

Filter is very cool.

Door #5

We have here a simulated sleepover in a tent. Maeve was into the house and in a regular bed 5 minutes later. Elliot wasn't far behind. Johnny has no fear.

Door #4

Door Pics #3

I may have let Elliot work with a hatchet for a while. He was doing great until he got his finger between the handle and the piece of wood. Note the blood. There was much, necessary, screaming when the big chunk of dead white skin came off in Green Bay.

The Mercs looked great heading onto the ferry. No pictures were taken coming off. It turned into a bit of a death march across Washington Island.

Brendan is a legend. The other grown ups tried to sneak off and leave him with all the kids but he caught us.

Surprisingly, the kids SMASHED a pound of squid ink pasta one night. It won most popular starch of the trip in a landslide.

Maeve probably should have been paid for babysitting Natalie.

Door pics #2

The Farm was a massive hit. Baby goats drinking milk from your bottle will do that. Danny McMahon grabbed a kitty.

Julie caught minnows in Ephraim Harbor which made her a big hero. We then brought their little dead bodies over to the Merc's for some dissection action. Elliot drew a pic showing the minnow's anus just as Dad described it.

Julie and Nata standing next to the car is the team heading home (late) sans E.B.

Door County

We went again for a week. This time the McMahons joined us and the Mercs for a few days. Many things haven't changed: the Gram's house still rocks, the view from the Merc's house is still awesome.

We got everyone on bikes for a hour, we caught and dissected several minnows, we went to The Farm and Washington Island. There was even a moment when the grown ups were eating lunch and talking at Wild Tomato for 5 or 10 minutes without interruption from kids. (The fact that Danny and Nora were napping in a Burley made this possible).

Also, BABY GOATS!!!

Dinner at the Alterra by the lake

Feeding bunnies on Washington island

Carroll house for eggs. No E.B.

Writing down license plate #s at The Farm

Playing in a bio-swale

Chocolate croissant at Alterra

Another tooth bites the dust

Museum of Contemporary Art

Jules took the kids to the MCA today. There was a Calder show that really fired them up. Also, Elliot likes knives.

They had a picnic in Johnny Merc's Grandma's park next door to the museum and filled every sand container they could find.

Black dog gelato