This weekend, in order to get away from the termite damage at the house (another long story) Nancy and I took the boys to the campus of Marian College here in town. The campus includes the estate of James Allison, founder of Allison Transmission. The house and grounds were build in 1911, with the landscape designed by Jens Jensen. The grounds were ignored for over 50 years and are being rediscovered in recent years.








Lots of poison ivy, raspberries and moments of discovery. Perfect for a cool July day.

Super Heroes

As you may have noticed at Isaac's birthday, the boys are getting into Super Heroes. At the Indianapolis Children's Museum last month a temporary exhibit got their attention.



Jacob with his web spinners.



Robin and Spiderman



At Grandpa & Grandma's house dressup has become fun again. Daddy's old Superman Cape, one of Grandma's red dresses from the 70's (yikes!), Wonder Woman from Earth and Rainbow Baby from Krypton rounded out the League of Justice.

Summer Vacation Day 4 (Superman Birthday)

Isaac James Krosschell celebrated his sixth birthday on June 22, 2008. As he requested sometime last year, we celebrated at Grandpa & Grandma's house in Michigan.





For the first time, Isaac was able to read his own birthday cards.



The Lego Store came through with the gift of the year.



Jacob is counting the days until his birthday.

Summer Vacation Day 3

Uncle David graduated from Northwestern University School of Music on Saturday. We all attended to witness the end of his 15-year adventure.

Nice purple robe with pink accents, Doctor.





Foreshadowing a Doctor Jacob 25 years from now?

Summer Vacation Day 2

On day two of our trip, after a night at the Elmhurst hotel-waterpark we met Grandpa & Grandma Krosschell and Aunt Sara & Julia downtown.



Isaac and Jacob enjoyed the Lego Store.







The boat tour of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan (the big lake) was the boys' first boat ride. Taking the El train downtown also a first for both of the boys (and mommy.)





There are even pirates in Chicago. Scary!

Summer Vacation Day 1

Isaac anc Jacob, accompanied by their parents took a short family vacation last week to Chicago and Michigan. Here are the highlights in four parts.

Nancy and I visited the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois when we lived in St. Charles 10 years ago. We took the boys back to see their new children's garden, designed by Hitchcock out of Naperville, and this hedge maze.

The boys and Mommy with the bug explorer books, and a bit of shade.

Treetop climbing ropes.

An exhibit of 10 large wooden insects had Isaac and Jacob just as excited as the childrens garden.

Help, we are trapped in the Morton 'Arnor-etum,' as Jacob puts it.

They were pretty cool.

Day two to come.