Sam in Lombard

Sam called in to our friend's radio show, House Calls with Dr. David Fisher, tonight. (It was actually pre-recorded because it airs from 10 - 11pm on Sunday evenings.) He sounded great! You can go here to listen - find "Show #8". Sam is right around 32:00.

Trick or Treat!

Because the boys are going to be at Father-Son camp on Halloween, we took advantage of the beautiful weather today, and enjoyed downtown Lombard's Halloween Spooktacular. Sam originally said he wanted to be a ninja, but decided on a hockey player at the last minute. Charlie came up with his werewolf costume, and Mary chose the dalmatian over a tiger suit I had in the dress-up bin~All of the businesses on St. Charles and Park were giving out candy~

Sweet Tomatoes was there handing out hot cocoa and cookies~

We met up with Cole outside the bounce house~

Sam enjoyed the pumpkin mini-golf~

And the petting zoo~

It was a great (Free!) afternoon of fun. The free part was especially helpful, because Scott stayed home waiting for a plumber to come and replace our ejector pump ($700!). Ugh.

Delicious autumn!

My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot
After Sam's cello lesson, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and stopped by Cosley Zoo. I knew Mary would get a kick out of seeing her favorite feather friends~

It was so pretty there, today, with the leaves just starting to change~

Sam checking out the goats~

And Charlie, always wonderful with Mary~

She loves all the animals - and can make most of the sounds~

A "moo", with its "pookie"~

Sam loves the raccoons they have at Cosley~

The hill of hay (where we ran into some other homeschooling friends from Lombard)~

While Charlie hung out with his friend, Sam and Mary shared a pretzel~

Someday, I'll get a picture of two kids smiling and looking at the camera at the same time~

But not today~

You! The Experience

We trekked down to the Museum of Science and Industry with our friends, the Peseks, today. First stop - Jolly Ball!

Then we checked out the new exhibit, You! The Experience. It is fantastic! Sam rocked the hamster wheel. We need one of these in our family room~ Mary learning about how her heart works. Well, not her heart. Her heart is special. How the rest of our hearts work~

I heart oxytocin~

Mary's first time on an airplane~

Stopping to check our maps. I love how Mary hangs with the big kids~

The rock-climbing wall is always a hit~

And the race car simulators are a perennial favorite~

My "extreme" athletes~

Mary thinks she knows it all~

Of course, no trip to the museum is complete without stopping at The Great Train Story~

The kids (and adults) could spend hours following the trains' journeys~

Mary cleaned a cow's nose on our way to the exit~

We had a blast! We only were able to really explore a couple of exhibits, so I hope to head back around Christmastime and check out the Trees from Around the World, along with some other favorites.

The Fighting Irish

We're not sure how it happened, but Sam is a huge Notre Dame fan. We looked into getting tickets to a football game last year, but had to abandon that plan when the cheapest we could find were over $150 a piece! Scott did end up taking the boys to the Shillelagh Tournament this past January, to see the Irish play hockey. We were happily surprised when Carrie called and told us her husband (an alum) had two extra tickets to the ND vs. USC game! Now, not only was Sam going to get to see his favorite football team, he would get to see them against their biggest rivals!!

This morning when Sam was dressed and waiting to leave he told me, "I don't know what to dream anymore". I asked him what he meant, thinking he had had a nightmare last night. He replied, "This (to see ND play football) was always my dream, and now it's come true." The weather was perfect~
Sam asked me to paint his face before they left~

Scott and Sam got there a couple of hours early, in order to walk around the campus~

Inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart~

Statue of Jesus. The inscription reads, "Venite ad me, omnes" (Come to me, all) ~

In front of the Fieldhouse~

A really pretty campus (Sam is so happy!)~

Waiting to go in~

Touchdown Jesus~

Outside the stadium~

Dream big~

Trojans~

There is not an Irish bone in his body, but his blood runs green~

Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame~

Marching Band~

There were paratroopers~

The Leprechaun~

It's not looking good~

What a crowd! ~

The final score was USC 34 - ND 27. Sam still had an amazing time! Poor Irish. I bet the people that put this out feel a little silly~