Elliot's first day of school

Elliot said on his way "something is telling me I'm smart." I asked what. He said he thought it was his brain. He insisted on bringing Great Grandpa Buck's Rocks and Minerals guide book to "show the other kids".

In the classroom, Elliot feigned shy and scared for about 20 seconds. Then Ms. Russel directed him to the nature center. Gave him a magnifying glass and some pine cones and Elliot didn't even respond when I said goodbye. Well I'm off to pick him up. Class is only an hour this first day.

Zoo Daddy

Morning trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo on Saturday. The program - Snacks, farm animals, sit inside an oversized egg, snacks.

Dad likes to keep it simple.

Elliot misses the cousins

A week in Montana and Elliot misses his cousins "so badly."

Gene and Daphne Visit

Jules and the kids got back from a week in Montana on Saturday running on fumes. Dad had a week solo but luckily got visits from Scooter and Geoff Reed to keep him off the streets.

In from the mountain west, Uncle Gene and Aunt Daphne made a Chicago visit this week too. Geoff Reed had the honor? of being the first person to sleep in the upstairs apartment (though he had to purchase his own air mattress to do so).

We had a bbq on sunday with brownies and grilled corn. The midwest was representing big time.

Johnny Merc's 3rd birthday

Big fun Friday. Birthday party for Johnny Mercurio at the Honore Playlot (aka Park No. 520)

75 degrees, pizza, cake and kids. What else could you want?

BBQ Party

John, Meegan and Avery came for a backyard BBQ today. Jenny was in from St. Louis and came by too.

Jules and the kids did lots of cooking in preparation - carrot and beet salad, caprese salad, fresh pesto potatoes. We also made pinchitos for the first time in years. Spicy, grilled pork is alright.

It was a big party.

The top of the head shot is a goodbye hug between Natalie and Avery.

Oh and we gave up on the lawn for 2008. Mulch rocks.

Audrey visit

Audrey is cool. She has a big bike with training wheels. She and Elliot like doing puppet shows too.

More Door

The Gram kids were super with the wee ones. Dawn and Natalie were joined at the hip. The big boys played with Elliot and set off cool fireworks. We even saw a phone booth in Bailey's Harbor.

Natalie insisted on dressing herself for one of our after dinner strolls in the orchard. Thus we get her wearing

1) Elliot's spiderman pajama pants
2) Her rain coat with hood up
3) Her sun hat

The Door for the 4th

Huge trip. Lots of action. Matthew, Jamie and Dawn Gram plus their buddy Vill and parentals were all up in Fish Creek with us. Big kids are the coolest.

We spent a lot of time in Nicolet Bay. Natalie liked walking in the water and floating on a small boat. E.B. was obsessed with finding sea animal. We found lots of clam shells and possible mussels. Some snail shells too. We did a bit of hiking in Peninsula State Park too.

The cherry orchard behind Bill and Jean's house is having an awful year for cherries but Elliot discovered that chamomile is doing GREAT. He made many cups of homemade tea that he was far more interested in than the rest of us.

We went to Bailey's Harbor for their 4th of July Parade. The candy was a big hit with Elliot.

Of course, we hit the inflatable pool in theyard.

Zoe's Birthday

It was Zoe's 4th birthday Saturday at Pied Piper. The kids made cookies and hot pockets. Also, cupcakes. Clearly, it was a big hit.

Art boy

On the 12 hour (each way) drive to the Smokies, Elliot drew for three quarters of the time. He's moving into pen and ink. Crayons are so limiting.

1) One is the storyboard version of Jurassic Park. Upper left, the airplane. Lower right the Daddy Paleontologist and his two kids. Left to right in cages: triceratops, long neck, velociraptor, T-rex (all with eggs).
2) The pen one includes numerous angler fish. (Note, this was drawn sitting in a car seat in Grandpa's pickup truck going 70 miler per hour on the highway).
3) Purple fish. Really cool looking (note the eyebrows).

Smoky Mountains Trip

Jules and the kids went on a big camping trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week with Grandpa Owie and Grandma Sue. Everybody got to sleep in the camper (with only limited success).

Lots of highlights:

1) S'mores
2) Natalie discovered the joys of throwing rocks into a creek while in the buff.
3) A visit from parrots while in downtown Gatlinburg. TN - the tourist town to end all tourist towns.
4) S'mores
5) Gathering rocks, sticks and other vital things while going on big hikes (E. B. made it 4 miles out of a 4.5 mile trail.) Jenny got special fanny packs to hold all of the crucial stuff they found along the way.

Geoff's cooking Johnsonville Brats, Brats. Brats

Got a big ole gas grill. Approaching suburban Dad-dom at a high rate of speed. Brats and Grandma Bonnie's homemade potato salad, caprese salad with backyard basil

Recent highlights

As we battle on with the house, Julie keeps other irons in the fire. She helped organize a "meet and greet" at Pritzker School last saturday. New pre-schoolers and parents came by, played games, toured the school, ate ice cream, and drew on a big poster. Soon after the event the plywood backing was used (as we had planned) as sub-flooring for the upstairs kitchen.

Also, Auntie Lynelle made a super cute new sun hat for Nata.

Last Sunday, Elliot helped Dad cook dinner. After we sat down to eat he said,"I don't really like muchrooms but I'll eat them because they are on my plate." Proud Dad almost exempted him from mushrooms but thought it might be seen as self serving since they were so tasty.