June 20th

Another 6 months, getting around to another update. We are now officially moved into what is our 4th house in literally two years. Lived at 1253 Tamarack up to July 08, moved to Chicago Ave while building house #1, moved into house #1 in Aug 09, moved out of house #1, on now at Mill St while we build house #2. Hopefully, it will be five moves within 3 years come next spring, and I think that will be it for moves. Would love to keep building, but will have to involve some other means than us moving all the time. Was rather interesting that while house #1 was on the market - we seem to be designing a house style that people like, as I had one offer to buy my house plan and several people mention having interest in me actually building houses for them (albeit, it was likely just small talk). With that said, it is on to the 2nd build and that blog we start when that time nears.

Attached are several pics from a fathers day excursion to downtown Downers Grove to the Tivoli Theatre basement for some bowling at Tivoli Lanes. The idea to take the 10 minute train ride from Naper to Downers was scratched due to the threat of storms and the fact that we have been stuck 3 times in storms after having walked downtown the past 3 weeks.

Tivoli Lanes is the perfect little old school bowling alley for kids. Kids are free on weekends (except for shoes) and I bowled free for fathers day (albeit, its only $1 per game anyhow on summer weekends).





A couple random shots of the 2 minute long Naperville Memorial Day parade before a monsoon rolled in and we swam home.

Wow! An Update

5 months since last update - so figure it is time. Kids, a job and finishing up the house all but consumed every waking moment this past summer. Someday I will get around to finishing up the story on that blog...for now, still working on some final projects. Will eventually get around to having some sort of open house party. We went to a halloween open house party at a house down the street from us that was finished recently - and it was cool to see how it really has a neighborhood feel around here. The blocks around us really came to life on halloween.

Anyways - here is a slew of pics from the past few months.

Playing in the snowbanks of leaves that line the streets...


Headed out for trick or treating trek #3 (having already done Safety Town and downtown Naperville the weekend earlier).


The boys helping me construct the mudroom bench/locker system...


Downtown Naperville trick or treating.



Cousin Erin loovvvves picking up Connor an Carter.


A family get together.

Connor/Carter stealing dads chair.


Trick or treating at safety town.


The exterior is done...so here are a couple photos. The autumn blaze maple tree is true to its name.




At the Morton Arboretum with G'Ma Cook


Carters 2nd birthday.



A visit with Great Uncle Tom in Minneapolis.

The planting of the autumn blaze maple - when it was still green.


Connor at the Last Fling downtown - he was more than eager to ride the coasters and rides this year...Carter was having none of it.

Connor and his "friend that is a girl", Olivia...well, from all we hear, girlfriend...as they apparently are attached at the hip during school. Somedays when I drop him off, Olivia comes over, and takes his hand and they go off to play.

At a Thomas party at the other Train place in Downers Grove (on 75th) for his buddy Jackson.

Stopping by the Memorial day parade in Naperville...

Making stuff at the Arboretum.

Making his first Smore with G'ma...

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).