Shhh

It's hard to resist taking pics of the kids when they're sleeping. They're so relaxed and angelic looking.

Cupcakes!

A few days late, but E made cupcakes for my birthday today. She told me to leave the kitchen and she decorated them all by herself. What a sweet girl!

Sears ... er, Willis Tower

Mom and Cindy drove up last night and early this morning we headed to the LaGrange craft show with L and E. The only thing on my shopping list were car coasters like the ones I bought last year, but the lady with the car coaster booth was nowhere to be found. Cindy got a few cute ceramic mushrooms to put in her yard.

This afternoon, Mom and Cindy went to the pool with B and L. Afterward, we drove downtown so they could go up in the Sears, I mean, Willis Tower. B and L went along. E went Andy and me to see Andy's new office. Then, Andy, E and I got some drinks at Dunkin' Donuts and sat in Daley Plaza watching the people pass by. We even saw a wedding party leave the Methodist Church across the street and take some pics on the Picasso.



Tonight we drove over to Brown Cow in Forest Park for some ice cream - Mom's treat. Here's L with her humongous ice cream cone.

Making dinner

Tonight we volunteered to make dinner for a church family that recently welcomed a new baby boy. I made Baked Chicken Fajitas and L whipped up some mini corn muffins.

Suck it up

Before leaving Door County yesterday, B wanted us to stop by an orchard so he could get his souvenir. He chose a 12-pack of Baumeister root beer. He stuffed most of them in the fridge and has had at least two (that I know of) today already.

Happy B-day to me

Today we drove home from Door County. Construction in Wisconsin was horrible once we got near Milwaukee. At one point, police officers were diverting all traffic off the interstate because a light pole fell over. I didn't think we'd ever make it out of the state.

We drove into Chicago tonight for my birthday dinner - deep-dish pizza at Pizzeria Due. We parked in Andy's work garage and walked over. The weather was absolutely perfect to be downtown.

B help me set up my birthday present in the back yard. It's a rain gauge on a sunflower and the petals of the flower turn in the wind.

Golf ... again

This afternoon we watched the Fourth of July Parade in Egg Harbor. We did a little shopping in Fish Creek, where I bought a rain guage for the back yard, then headed back to The Red Putter for another round of mini-golf.

This time, B got a hole-in-one on Hole No. 3, and if you get a hole-in-one on Hole 3 or 6, you win a free game! He was so proud of himself! We take pictures of the holes-in-one we make and, judging from the photos, I was the only one without a hole-in-one on this outing. B golfed his free game with Andy and L while E and I played checkers.




After golfing, we drove back to Ephraim where we had dinner and dessert (ice cream!!) at Wilson's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor. The dinner was nothing fantastic, but the ice cream was delicious!

Go-karts!

Today to went to the Fun Park, just south of Egg Harbor, where the kids went go-karting. We try to do something new each year in Door County and although Andy had driven go-karts before with B and E as passengers, this was the first time they were able to drive. L was still too young to drive her own car. B was in the lead for a long time during the five-minute ride, but a kid overtook him on the second to last lap. They all had a great time.


We had lunch at Shipwrecked in Egg Harbor, enjoying the beautiful weather by sitting outside.


Tonight we watched the fireworks display in Egg Harbor and coincidentally sat down next to two couples from Oak Park. What a small world.

Action-packed day

Today we had lunch at PC (Peninsula Center) Junction, a train restaurant, and followed that with mini-golf at The Red Putter. I actually got a hole-in-one! B and L couldn't resist taking a turn sitting in the big rocking chair.


Later, the girls painted pottery at the Young at Heart Pottery shop in Egg Harbor. We did a lot of swimming at The Landing's indoor and outdoor pools, but I didn't take my camera to the pools.

Tonight, we headed up to Fish Creek and watched "Cars 2" at the Skyway Drive-in. The movie ended about 11 p.m. so we decided to head back to our room rather than stick around for the second movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

Heading to Door County

Here's B sleeping on the long car ride to Door County. We waited for E to get home from summer school, A to get home from work and all had a quick lunch before we packed up the car and started driving. We arrived in Door County early that evening, stopped to buy groceries, then had dinner at Mojo Rosa's. Here's a couple views of our room at The Landing in Egg Harbor.