Sightseeing in Chicago

We were surprised to encounter this giant eyeball in the Loop of Chicago. We took the train south of town to Chicago's 14-acre Museum of Science and Industry.

We learned about this U-boat (above), the only one that was captured and preserved from WWII.

A highlight of our trip was spending time with Friends. The Faubs from Greensboro were in Chicago following a PCM conference and we toured 2 museums and walked under a funny modern sculpture - a silver bean - with them. :)

We took an architectural tour of Chicago with lake views from the "Tall Ship Windy."

Alas, the time came for J.T. to spend 2 days at his fee-only financial advisors conference in our hotel (shown above).

Chicago 2010 Visiting the Strands

We flew to Chicago from Raleigh on Southwest Airlines. This was Russell's first flight that he was old enough to remember. About 15 minutes into the flight, he leaned over and asked his Dad, "What will happen if we hit a cloud?"

It's rare for Russell to snuggle up to us so I just had to snap this photo on our late-morning drive from the airport to the Strands' house in Aurora, IL.

Our dear friends from our Baltimore days, the Strands, have relocated from suburban Naperville to a predominantly Hispanic area. Kirsten is the community outreach director for their church and Scott is a teacher at their local elementary school. He can walk to work. :)

Ross fit right back in with Erik and Brian.

We loved visiting their new, bilingual church campus in Aurora.

Our kids had asked to ride a train and they got their first chance to do that as we all rode in from Aurora to Chicago. The trip took about an hour and a half.

The Field Museum was interesting and impressive.

Summer Fun Around Town

Visiting the new spray park at Barber Park

Our married babysitter Naomi introduces us to her sweet baby Taylor

Lydia and best friend Tatum at Target

Attending Our First VBS at Our Own Church

Russell and Cousin Anna

Russell's Summer Tales

Russell has been phobic about tornadoes since one touched down in a nearby town in March. He is often nervous about going outside. For example, he'll refuse to go to the pool then he'll reveal his hidden reason by asking if it might be an indoor pool. One Wed., he was afraid it was going to rain and my sister reported their ensuing conversation to me.
Russell: Well if there is a tornado, we could call the police.
Aunt Liz: What would the police do?
Russell: They would put the tornado in jail!

Russell (age 4) "Why does Hulk not like wearing a shirt? ... I do not like seeing his belly!"

July 2010 arriving at the Spears YMCA, Russell said, "OOhhh it's too hot out! They should change the weather tomorrow!"
Jen: "Who should?"
Russell: "The weather people!"

Mom, I REALLY want one of those rocket-powered skateboards!

This airplane can go anywhere it wants to go: NObraska, Bibleman, Chicago, Hannah Montana, California.

Sci Works

Recently, we made our first trip to SciWorks (Discovery Museum) in nearby Winston-Salem. We met our good friends, the Faubs, there. Paula kindly took all the kids to her home for the afternoon while I went to a staff meeting at my counseling office.

June McCain Beach Trip to North Topsail Beach, NC

We missed the Bishop girls. They were away all month serving at a Young Life camp.