Train Overload

We had the "nothing but train (thomas)" day today....as at 10am we made the walk to the train station to catch the 10:30 train to Downers Grove to go eat lunch at TwoToots. Its all of an 12 minute train ride - just enough being they got to do it there and back. We were the first in the door at TwoToots when it opened at 11...smart thing, as by 11:20, no tables left. Kids had their lunch delivered by train and of course, you can see real trains goin by outside as well.

Being we had an hour left to catch the 1:15 train back to Naperville - we made the short walk over to Prince Pond in Downers Grove (a great little piece of history - basically, in 1890, a developer dug out 1/2 of a city block and turned into a pond to better attract people to buy his houses - 100+years later - pretty valuable property). We had come close to purchasing a teardown lot about 2 blocks away from it 2 years ago - but the lot was simply too close to the train.

We caught the 1:15 back and then made the walk back home in Naperville. All in all, a very cool way to spend a day without having to ever get in a car...next up sometime, taking the train down to the Brookfiled Zoo Stop...


Every train is "thomas" to Connor...


Connor with the "real" punch ticket...



Lunch at TwoToots...



Making it to Prince Pond...

Waiting for the train to head back home...



Random pic...Connor and his official cover shot for "Young HomeBuilders Magazine"...

May 3rd

Connor, at the new house, helping...
Future Napolean Dynamite's??

Going down the "Fed Ex" slide together.

Glasses they got from a party they went to at Chuck E Cheese. We cleaned the entry porch out, so now that is their favorite place to hang.

A party at Chuck E Cheese for Connor's friend, Sujit. This is his buddy Jackson - who is quite the socialite.

Racing cars with mom.

Skee balls didnt exactly end up where they should have...

Fun at the mall on a Thursday night.

The fake Wiggles at Six Flags.

Racing with cousin Alexis.

Alexis, Cameron, Carter and Connor.

Making a fool out of yourself so your son will go on a ride at Six Flags (and yes, the ride held up to two ADULTS....and no, mohawk boy was not with us).

April 13th - Photos Photos Photos

Been awhile - two out of town funerals and other visitors/travels left little time for blogging...


Stopping at BK on the way back from Noah's b-day party during a big boys afternoon out...as Connor calls them "hamburgerburger"

A lot of little ones at Great G'Pa Fitz's funeral.


The three Chicago "boys" in Cleveland.


Making eggs...
Visiting friends Kathy and Paul in Cleveland...


Geocaching and having success in Cleveland (uncle Scott is into Geocaching - which is taking a garmin GPS and finding stuff people have hidden around the country - it is quite popular and there are likely tons around your house - this one was a fake bird in a tree stump. There are tons of websites on it.)

Connor helping geocache with Uncle Scott.

Connor and his "idol" - Cameron. (and yes, we know, they look like they could be brothers).

Hunting eggs in grandpas basement.

Victory in finding easter baskets.

Cousin Erin loves picking up Connor and Carter - and Connor loves tackling Cameron. Carter just follows along.

Surprised to find Easter baskets from Grandma Cook and Aunt Carolyn upon return from the Cleveland road trip.

Unfortunately, Connor is becoming just like me...stubborn, overdetermined, too independent and unwilling to admit something isnt possible. As despite going up a hill and the fact Carter is quickly catching him in size, he still was adamant on pulling his brother all the way home from the park. He proceeded to have a tantrum when I took it away...and then proceeded to run the equivalent of three blocks to catch back up to Bridget and Carter to continue pulling him home. (Carter was more than willing to kick back and polish off his juice).




Connor really likes going to the house now whenver I go...

He calls it the jungle...somehow he associates the open walls with a jungle...go figure...

St. Pattys Parade & Other Things...

Carter was very "in to" the parade - he watched the entire thing...


Firetrucks are always popular -


Connor got a few pieces of candy - although he is not aggressive enough yet, as the big kids get the most.


Horsing around at the parade...


Connor and Dad's journey to the park - I made him walk - to see if he could do it - as I made Connor do it at his age = there will be no whiney kids always wanting to "ride" everywhere in this household ;) To my surprise - he made the 7 blocks all on foot with no "ups". Although he liked to pick all the utility flags and political signs out of the ground.


The next day - we tried again - he did it, but was much more distracted with all 4 of us there.

Connor loves manufacturing those smiles...

Fun in the community sand box...


Soccer star...
The 2nd bubble machine - the one from last summer got left out in the rain and rusted out...oops.



Connor and Carter both got there first trip to the house. Both were pretty mesmerized...Connor called it his house.

Carter was not too happy to be on foot in the dark basement...