Do Division #2

We also got to hunt for mushrooms on the way home. Very cool.

A bit concerned that daily per capita hot dog/sausage intake was >3 for all family members both days.

Do Division Weekend

Julie's festival rocked. We hung with the Rats, Mercs and McMahons. Big fun.

There were pony rides, a petting zoo, a bounce house, face painting. Pretty much all of the best things in life. We were eating lollypops all weekend it seemed.

Monticello Visit #4

The new white paint at the Sunken Garden was a bit of a surprise. It looks clean, I suppose.

Also of note: Nata is a supermodel who likes mazes.

Monticello Visit #3

The green lion has been cleaned up a bit. E.B. also successfully touched a koi, grabbed a garter snake and picked up a turtle (snapping?). Pretty awesome wildlife handling. He was beside himself about the whole trip.

Monticello Visit #2

We also got hit by a HUGE thunderstorm out on Buck's trail. Hiding under the forest canopy worked OK until it really opened up.

We hit the pool at the hotel and then headed downtown for dinner at the 3 Ravens Pub.

We had ice cream cones out in front of the Piatt County courthouse which turned Nata and EB into monsters.

The Fu Dog garden has been recently rehabbed and looked great.

Monticello Visit #1

Grandma Bonnie and Uncle Gene's childhood homes were on the agenda.

We hit all the key spots: The Brown Bag (Triple Berry Pie by Inge RULES), Dairy Queen, Grandpa Buck's Trail at Allerton Park.

Elliot B. caught a frog in a creek on Buck's trail. It was freaking crazy. We also found lots of other creatures and tracked them in our journal. Natalie pointed out "evidence of beavers" down by the Sangamon River. Pretty hilarious.

Thank goodness Harlean warned up about bugs. We'd have been munched without DEET.

Enhanced garden

Added garden furniture and window boxes this weekend. Bedding plants still waiting to be planted but we've finally got some.

It's getting there.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Brisk spring day with lots of sun. Went to the zoo with Zoe. As a bonus. ran into Sarah, Johnny and Alex Mercurio. Big fun.

New Princess Look

Zoe gave Nata her beloved princess dress and high heels.

Continuing Urban Adventures

Larry and Steve Schuerr made some big headway this week on gutters and other things. Jules got fired up and put a first coat of Melted Butter on the garage. Great color choice, Aunt Valerie. Once we paint the door and trim, it should really pop.

On an unrelated note, we went to Elliot's buddy Caden's little brother Devin's birthday party in Bucktown today. As we got out of the car, E. B. spotted a sweet eight ball crack bag. Jenny used to collect them for art projects and Elliot wants to start doing the same.

Easter Insanity

Uncle D, Aunt Valerie and Fletcher D came for Easter. It rocked. Grandma Bonnie's bunny cake got a coating of coconut which was awesome.

It was even warm enough for the Easter bunny to hide the eggs in the garden. We won't be counting on that in the future.

Fletcher D's terminal cuteness is woefully underrepresented here.

See his blog if you are interested in rotting your teeth out.

St. Louis Other Stops

The gang also went to the zoo where they got a private show from a peacock.

They went to southern Illinois where Jenny showed them how and where to dig for geodes, then went to Pere Marquette State Park where bald eagles nest, ate fried pickles, and generally had HUGE time.

City Museum Cont.