Museum of Science and Industry

The kids probably spent 30 minutes on this little steam room of the locomotive. They were in love with the cow/farming section, too. Marissa loved the water area (this is the first picture). We totally loved the U-Boat section where they had this massive U-Boat in the museum. This museum is enormous. We went on a "free" day at the museum and I decided (in keeping with the theme of low cost) to take a bus to the museum. Can you imagine taking a bus through Chicago (and having to change buses) with three kids? Well, it was very much an adventure. We all learned the art of asking for directions.

Marriott

We took a trip into Chicago and stayed overnight at the Marriott on Michigan Avenue. This is in a hallway by the elevator. The kids are now aspiring to be shoe shiners. They thought that was a really cool job.

Our Three Little Ghosts

This was a picture of the kids as ghosts going to "Boo" our neighbors with Halloween treats.

Home

Marissa was sitting at lunch. It was kind of quiet while we were all eating our lunch. Out of the blue she said, "I sure am glad we're home." I have no idea where it came from but I was very glad she felt that way.

Star Power...Dad Power

A horrible brotherly tragedy happened after the fashion show. This is dad reassuring the fashion girl that she is, in fact, beautiful and fabulous at being the star of the fashion show.

More moves

More fashion show pictures.

Fashion Show Moves

More fashion show pictures.

Fashion Show

Marissa putting on a "fashion show" for us.

Friends Gotta Hug

Garett loves to get in on the action with Trenton and Tate!

Good Ol' Friends

Our good friends from Kentucky stopped by for a visit. This is Tate, Garett and Marissa having a ball with Trenton and Ashleigh.

Dancing Queen

Go White Sox!!!

Kevin got tickets to take the boys to the White Sox game in Chicago last night. They had lots of fun and great seats! (Thanks Patricia!!!)

Princess Party

Marissa's little Princess Party. We did makeup, tattoos, hair, costumes, a piñata, and lots of cake and candy!

Pink Castle Cake

Marissa's pink castle cake for her princess birthday party with her friends.

Pink is in

Marissa and Lauren had individually selected outfits that matched the others. It was sooo cute!

Little Princess

Marissa fell in love with this Princess gown at the Disney store. Soooo, it was fun for her to open it up on her birthday. Dad bought her a box of 6 pairs of princess slippers which was a total surprise. That night after all the children were asleep- I went to make sure she was covered up. She was sound asleep in her gown and princess slippers!

Lunch with Daddy!

Kevin got to eat lunch with Marissa at the Rainforest Cafe on her birthday!

This is a picture of the kids before they gave her a very special birthday present: her very own Webkin. They both had one and really wanted her to have one like them. They pooled their money and handed it over to the Hallmark clerk. The clerk was pretty surprised to see a little boy buying a pink pony Webkin!

Marissa's Pink Cake

The birthday haircut

Every year for Marissa's birthday, we get her hair cut and picture taken. This year, she really needed it! It had gotten so long! She was a champ. We got her picture taken at Kiddie Kandids and they turned out adorable (I'll have to send some out!).

This was Marissa's special request for dinner. She wanted eggs, popcorn and spinach. Well, crazy enough, I didn't have spinach on hand. She made do with broccoli and a special cake that she helped make!

4th Birthday in Bed

Marissa' s birthday breakfast in bed.

Leftovers

Well, it just cracked me up, after I dished up my kids' dinner one night, how this dinner was probably not going to go over. We were sort of having leftovers and after I looked at it- I thought that if I were them- I would run the opposite direction. They were pretty easygoing about the whole thing, fortunately.

Garett's nap

This is Garett sleeping in the middle of the day (exhausted from a day of kindergarten no doubt). What I loved is that he surrounded himself with all the things he loved. He loves army trucks, his Webkin, and his Kentucky jersey.

Discovery Museum

This is a picture of Tate at the Lake County Discovery Museum. Wauconda is our neighboring village.

Marissa's new friend, Lauren

1st Soccer Game

This is Tate's 1st game. His team name is "The Purple Dragons". They played the Piranhas. He got to be goalie for the 1st quarter. It was too cool! Garett watched as a great enthusiast from the sidelines. He rolled his own socks by the way and insisted that it be that way instead of folded or crinkled. You know, when you are 5- certain things really matter.

Soccer Parade

The boys were in a big parade for their soccer teams. Tate is a "Purple Dragon" and Garett is on the "Tigers" team.

Going off to battle

This is Tate's serious I'm-going-to-battle pose with his new things from his grandmother.

Momo sent a big box of army gear to the boys and a handmade tutu for Marissa along with books and other fun things. It was like Christmas in September. We were sooooo excited as you can see with these pictures!

The 1st day of...Homeschool.

The Bristol Renaissance Faire