LP Zoo after a night out in the club

Turkey's done

Field turf on Augusta.

Love the year round soccer field.

No sleeves and a picnic in her pack

Recent art

Nata is showing some big skills lately. Elliot's got her in his school. Her most recent drawing of Julie, complete with running shoes, eyes and mouth caught our attention.

E.B.'s drawing of a Tomten was also pretty cool. Of course, he has the distinct advantage coming from a long line of pointy-capped Scandinavian dwarves.

Elliot's drawings from the Art Institute

All ball point pen on wide ruled spiral bound paper.

Among many others, he drew a suit of armor dating from between 1550 and 1560, Sanctuary by Martin Puryear, and created an original piece. He's hidden various letters in this piece. Which can you find?

Art Institute

First trip since Elliot was a baby. Gotta love getting a cheap family membership.

E. B. was obsessed with sculptures. He loved the ancient pieces but came around a little on the modern stuff after a while.

Wearing a piece of armor was very cool as well. We also played hide a seek in the courtyard. It was surprisingly hard to find him.

Nata made some art of her own holding up her fairy wand in front of a video installation in the new Modern wing.

Also, there were sweet treats in the cafe.

Sunday Fun Day

Natalie wrote her name today while wearing a green fairy costume (a gift from Katie, beautiful Katie).

Later, the kids tested Dad's patience as we planted bulbs for the spring. Note the frown lines deepening.

Octoberfest in November

The Mercs threw a great sausagefest at their house today.

We seized the opportunity to dress Elliot and Nata in the super cool Bavarian clothes given to them by the Hahns.

Darth Vader Theme Music transcribed by EBD

Elliot got very excited about sheet music the other day when I was playing my guitar. He really wanted to write down the notes to Darth Vader's Theme Music, and he did today. I told him Aunt Deb would be proud and he wanted her to see it. Here you go Aunt Deb. Maybe it's time to think about piano lessons.

Headed to boo palooza

Nata refused her coat despite the chilly wind.

2 more birthday pics

Elliot's Birthday

Star Wars theme rocked today. The boy requested beef stew for his birthday dinner so we made it. It seemed to go over pretty well.

Big time grandma help made for a fun party.

We went out trick or treating in the hood. That was a hoot. We descended like a plague of locusts (a dozen kids or more) and picked candy baskets clean. Reminder for next year. Hoyne between Division and Cortez is a candy gold mine.

Boo palooza at Wicker park

First cats game

Caden's halloween party

Lots of star wars characters plus a pinata.

Highline Pics #2

With Ethan and the Bear on the Highline

Ethan and the Sexy Bear are in town for Paula's wedding (all U of M grad school buddies). We took the opportunity to go on a hike only nerd planners could love.

Me: "Hey guys, wanna walk an abandoned railroad line that could some day be an elevated public park/open space."

They: "Absolutely."

The Bloomingdale High Line runs right through Wicker Park along Bloomingdale Avenue starting at Ashland to the east and ending at Kedzie, I think. We hiked only a small stretch from Milwaukee east to Winchester and back.

Still, we loved it and are planning on future hikes.

Cute helper

New Zoe Zucker gifted gear for fall. Nata looks like a million cookies.

Library Card

E. B. signed up for his library card today. You must be able to write both your first and last names to be eligible. He knocked them both out of the park.

He checked out two books even though his limit is five. Good restraint by the boy. No need to pig out on your first day.