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

St Louis #3

St. Louis #2

The group pic at the zoo includes a sleeping mountain lion in the tree if you look closely.

Jules got travel journals for the kids. E. B. drew a fantastic peacock. He also stuck some insects to the pages with scotch tape. They now look like reddish brown dots. Train tickets, leaves, pictures from zoo brochures and other notable tibits are now memorialized.

St. Louis Redux

Jules and the kids took the train down Friday am and met Jill, Sean and Finn at an uber suburban Marriot in west county. Lots of time was spent in the pool avoiding the Houston-like climate.

The Zoo on Saturday morning was superb. We swam more on Saturday. We spent the evening over at Mark, Wendy, Jack and Sydney Menghini's house in South County.

They have room for a pool, water table, and a soccer field in their back yard so it was like a trip to paradise for the kids.

Headed to brunch at the Majestic in St. Louis

Father's Day Gramside #2

Father's Day at the Gram's

Big fun today. Grandpa and Grandma and Grandma Bonnie all came with us to Bill and Jean's. Matthew, Jamie and Dawn were super good with the kids. Their good buddy Vill was there too. We ate, played LOTS of soccer and bounced on the trampoline. Nata had her nails painted by Dawn.

Helado at north avenue beach

Hoyne and thomas

A big storm knocked out power for several hours tonight. A falling tree blasted this Jeep around the corner from our house.

Last Day of Pre-School

Some sadness leaving Ms. Russell. Luckily, Nata will be in her class next year.

Elliot and his classmates have been scattered to the four winds by good old CPS. Hope we keep up with them.

Galena - Eagle Ridge

The Illinois City Manager's Conference was a real treat. Bikes, pool, hikes, video poker in a downtown Galena bar/restaurant.

Norman Rockwell stuff here.

Bemused face. Cheese face.

Facepainting

Do Division #2

Mary Macaroni's balloon animals also ripped. Two bunnies and a pink alien later, we were on the way home.

Do Division

Festival Season is upon us. We went with the McMahons, Mercs and Rats today. Jules was there working like a turk while the rest of us ate grilled meats beforehand.

We got lucky and got a few rain free hours while we were there.

Mike Merc's stovetop smores, pony rides and the bounce house were highlights.