Happy Halloween

2 weeks, 1 update

Busy is the bee...a nice two weekends as both sets of grandparents were in town - which meant a chance for us to get some time alone...thanks to both G'ma Cook and G'ma and G'Pa Fitz for allowing us to get out and about. We walked down to Jilly's one weekend (nothing like paying $12 for a martini and $6 a beer) and tried out the Flat Top Grill the weekend. Nice place - I jsut wonder how it is going to survive - as it is the same concept as the Mongolian Barbeque across the street. It was busy - but two of those types of places right next to each other is a stretch - but who knows. An interesting story on Jilly's. The process of this house building has really introduced me to some interesting characters. I had met an HVAC guy (heating/ac) for a bid on our new house - we got to talking about the changes that have occured downtown - turns out, his father had a heating/ac place in what is now Jilly's back in the 1960's. He had lots of other little nuggets of info that I love to hear - great to hear about the history.

Anyways - today we made the hike downtown as its the day all the shops and restauraunts open their doors to trick or treating. Weather was supposed to be crummy - but it held out most of the day until we were walking back. Was really a great even -packed no less. Then we headed down to the Riverwalk Grand Pavillion where the park district throws a big Halloween Festival geared towards those under 10. Most of the stuff, the boys are still 1-2 years away from really enjoying it. But again, a great event put on by the Naperville Park District...we will definently attend next year as well.

Connor and Carter also get to go out around here Trick or Treating this Friday...so they get two doeses. Connor likes it, but does not exactly follow the 'rules'.





We have FINALLY passed permit...so a pic of the house that will shortly be dissappearing from the neighborhood.




Thanks to Uncle Brad for making Carter another b-day cake (his 2nd) for when G'ma and Aunt Carolyn came to visit.


Connor - with his hair spiked for crazy hair day at school - for which I was a week early...Carter, giving his best Gene Simmons impression.


Getting ready to head downtown...




Carter was just a sepctator...to busy for him to walk around...so much for the rainy/cold forecast...it held off until 5pm...


Connor wondering why his costume was not unique...


Carter, going crazy, once out of the stroller...

No luck at a quality pic....


Trick or treating at one of the original barbers that is still downtown...

Connor, somehow, thought this maze was fun...all he said was "again, again"



Busy streets...but fun to see all the costuems...Connor got a lot looks as most kids like Mickey and there was only one other kid dressed up as him out of the hundreds there...



The Rosebud cooks doing double duty...


Connor playing carnival games (next to Harry Potter)...

Just Pics and Captions

No time for a big write up...so only pics and captions.



Carter had a very low key 1st B-day party....



Bridget and I on a rare night out at a friends wedding...


Connor making cookie bars with mom...


Connor, taking a break from a hot day at the Morton Arboretum...


Playing in the stream at the Arboretum...



Of course, the two stooges find the messiest. wettest areas to play...


The flowers looked extra bright in the heat and humidity...



Carter still finds his ability to walk pretty funny...

No Pics - Just a Random Fri Night Story

Carter has been sick (nice, quality. watery poop that always blows out the side of his pants)…Connor calls is “Yuuuuck, Yuck”. Anyways, the little guy needed some Tylenol, so Connor and I were going to walk to the downtown Walgreens to pick some up being it was a nice evening. Well, as soon as we turned the corner out of our house, we noticed cars everywhere, and a lot of parties going on in people’s front yards. Turns out it was the annual Naperville North/Naperville Central football game at North Central Stadium…Needless to say, this turned into an adventure for Connor. We walked by one pre game party and Mr. Mongo from Mongolian Barbeque was there (who knows why). Connor kept on saying “Pete, Pete”. For whatever reason, he thought he resembled Pete from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse…I am guessing because he was rather large. Anyways, he gave Connor a small Nerf football that he would not put down the rest of the night. So we continue to wind our way to Walgreens, where Connor becomes amazed by this group of girls who have their faces and stomachs painted for the game. Literally, he could not look away. They are nice enough to interact with him and they all give him their toys they had from a meal they just ate at Burger King…so we now have a football and some incredible hulk toys. We are unable to leave Walgreens until I buy the pack of rainbow Twizzlers Connor spots…On the way back, he catches the action at the stadium, and wants to go check it out….which I didn’t mind…so we sat and watched the player introductions and a little bit of the game from the other side of a fence. So what was going to be a trip for medicine turned into a memorable mini-boys night out (minus Carter), as we rolled home about 8:00.

All in all, cool to see the community involvement with the football teams – apparently the annual match up can draw 15,000 people. And given Naperville North is the defending state champ – added to the mystique.

Sadly, when I asked Connor if he was going to play football for Naperville North, he routinely said , “No Daddy”.

Lots of Pics...

The second gorgeous Sunday morning, so we once again left the house at the crack of down (7 AM) to walk downtown and grab a quick breakfast at Einstein Bagels and then back in the stroller for a couple miles along the river. Carter got his first real taste of freedom, as the park was empty and he was free to roam with no walls or barriers...he was in seventh heaven.

Overall, a beautiful early fall day, only to come home and watch the Packers take one on the chin (at least the Brewers snuck into the playoffs).


Carter playing in the leaves.


Trying to keep up with big brother.



Walking home with the football in hand...

Football in the backyard.




Carter at the park.


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The 3 second window we had to take a picture before they parted ways...



Carter in the abyss of leaves.


I got antsy and took down a small tree that needed to come down at the new house property (turned out it wasnt so small).

Connor with his manufactured smile...


Early breakfast at Einsteins...


Connor, sporting his much shorter trim...(makes him look much older)


Cleanup continues at Centennial Beach...the water from the flood was up to that little equipment house. I am guessing they had to drain the quarry to wash out the river soot...

Carter Walking

While he has been walking now for about 2 weeks, he has started to kick it into high gear. The video is from a week ago, he can now pretty muc do a loop around the house without falling. And as Carter always does, walks around giggling. A good nickname for him is either Chuckles or Bam-Bam.

He and Connor are bonding quickly...Connor usually mopes around in the morning (when he is up at 5:30) until "broaaather" gets up. At the first hint of noise from Carters room, Connor races in there as fast as he can screaming "broaaaather". They have a way of communicating with each other which you can hear at the end of the video...the have this short scream/squeel, and they will go back and forth with that sound non-stop.

This morning Connor ran up to me yelling "Carter, Carter, Carter, Carter, Carter" as loud and as fast as he could. Turns out I had forgotten to put the gate by the stairs and Carter was about to take a dive down the steps...big brother is pretty smart afterall and probably saved his little brother a trip to the hospital.

Connor also likes to say "I want snacks" now...however, he doesnt quite anunciate it very well...thus the "n" in snacks dissappears and the "a" sounds like an "e"...so basically, he walks around saying "I want secks"....I think you can make out what the last word ends up sounding like ;)

Rain Rain Go Away

Last 3 days have been nothing but non-stop rain - 10 inches in total (25% of the annual average)!! After having got a few emails from the city of Naperville advising residents of road closures and the fact that we should avoid downtown and the riverwalk....well, that was about all we needed for motivation to make the 6 block journey to see what the hubbub was all about.

To our surprise, we probably got to witness something we may never see again...the DuPage river at least 10-15 feet over its banks...much of the Riverwalk consumed by the river, Centenial Beach now part of the river, all bridges have water up to the pavement, Connor's favorite park completely submerged and the lower lying parts of downtown (which luckily, are numbered in the few) sandbagging and fighting back the river. While the pictures I have attached dont do video (which do not have) justice, it is quite the scene, given we were just down there early last week and had commented how low the water was. Thankfully, damage looks to be minimal and probably will consist mostly of powerwashing, but would imagine is probably more than meets the eye.

We had figured it would be dead downtown...oh no, it was packed just like a normal summer day...gawkers everywhere...crazy how everyone comes out to see a train wreck...

As Connor has been saying all weekend. "its raining, its raining..."


A look east down the river...normally that bridge is 10-15 feet above the river. This was the rehabbed section they just reopened this week.

A "closed" Webster St bridge...


Carter and Connor both thought all the water and raining was rather comical...


The "hidden gem" of Peanuts Bar outdoor patio is no longer above water...


The new slide at Centenial Beach - was about 15ft off the water...


Normally, this is my running path (by the trees)...at least I have an excuse now...


A look towards Washington St...another two feet or so of water would have shut down most roads...


Rosebud on a normal day...

Rosebud today...


Sandbags in front of Rosebud (not sure what they were going to accomplish)...