After Springfield, we headed to the DeKalb/Sycamore area. Our first night was at our friends the Websters' house in Sycamore, IL.

As Leslie and I settled in, Joanna made friends with their Rachel. They had a great time playing together.

This picture is from the morning of 6/29, but from the moment we got in the house, Elijah and Benjamin instantly bonded by the power of Legos! This is Benjamin, Ethan (friend Lisa's son), Elijah & Josiah.

The next day after breakfast, their Rebekah helped do Joanna's hair.

Our Rebekah was thrilled to be able to ride one of their bicycles. (UPDATE as of 7/4/07: Rebekah told me 8 things that made staying here so much fun. Number 1 was riding their bikes FAST!)

Aren't we all glad kids bikes are made strong enough for a dad?

Good job Tim! I'm glad the bike didn't break. Actually, it looked like this was not the first time you rode your kid's bike!

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Ronny & Theresa with Sophia live in Springfield. They were brave enough to let our little family stay the night with them so we could visit and explore the sites.

On our way to the Lincoln Museum, we drove past a few historic landmarks.

---

Lincoln Tomb

The new capital

A monument to President Lincoln

The Lincoln Museum

This place is worth every single penny you spend on admission. It was $7.50 for adults and $3.50 for kids 5-15. This has to be the best museum I have ever been to. There is something about the layout that makes it seem small, but once you move into some exhibits you see that this is just a facade.

The museum's web site.

This is the front of the exhibit detailing the Civil War and President Lincoln's role.

Another exhibit front

In the very center of the museum is a wax statue of the Lincoln family.

The kids LOVED Mrs. Lincoln's Attic

You might want to click on this picture to see it a little larger. There are certain familiar things inside the doll house.

Congratulations to Theresa on successfully getting the little ball into the cup. This is a maddeningly simple and addictive game.

A familiar sight in most bookstores we visit!

Home Sweet Home

Ron and Sophie pose for a picture as we left their adorable house. Ron has done some terrific things in that house and he has some great plans for more work. I'm very proud of my brother who has developed a skill for working on houses.

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Bye bye hotel. We highly recommending getting a suite for extended stays at a hotel. It was so great to close a door and not worry about waking the kids.

My mom

My sister Sandy

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Here are some of the cuties we have had the pleasure to be with. I don't have them all with close ups, but I thought I should post what I have.

Cutest of them all

My sister Sandy

Mitchell

Christopher

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Last dinner with Dad and Jan, so we got our picture taken

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Rock Island is home to Lock and Dam No. 15 (Wikipedia info) built by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1934. It has a visitor center on Arsenal Island as part of the Army's base. The admission is free and worth the hour it takes to look at the exhibits and watch a boat go through the lock.

Water exhibit at the center explaining that the lock is not capable of assisting during a flood situation. You simply can't open the dam to stop the flooding of the Mississippi.

Want to see more?
Web cam

Satellite image

Labels: Illinois2007

 

We went with Sandy and her kids to the John Deer Pavilion in downtown Moline, IL.

Elijah and Christopher

Joanna and Elizabeth

Kids, kids, kids...

Sometimes I do get photographed

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Just having some time with Steve and Kerry.

Elijah broke the rope after a few more swings. He is okay

Mom with her dog and granddaughters.

Rebekah took this picture of Hoover

Labels: Illinois2007

 

We were invited to the Stradt family reunion held in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Stradt: the family of my mom's first husband (and 4 of my half-siblings)

Sandy & Scott's son Mitchell

Sandy & Scott's son Christoper with Elijah

Family! This is the family with the half-siblings on my Mom's side. Maybe you should click on the picture to see a larger zoomed image.

My brother Bobby and his terrific girlfriend Julie (please review the post on the last minute BBQ to see how awesome Julie is)

Bobby and me

Ronny (my brother) & Theresa and their sweet baby Sophie

Sandy (my sister) & Scott -- this is the too-cool couple that we all want to be

Sandy & Scott's son Christopher with Elijah. The boys are being Roman centurions

My Mom & her dog Hoover with Les and girls

... and as we are talking about Hoover, my girls LOVED this dog. Mom gave Rebekah a great honor of walking Hoover. Rebekah, decided to take her new friend on the playground with her.

Look, Mom: the dog is on the slide! Whee!

"Rachel, get your hand out of the dog's bowl!"

Les had a great idea for all the cousins to make souvenirs. She had all the cousins sign tee shirts with fabric paint & stamp them with fun designs.

Labels: Illinois2007

 

So my brother Steve gave my brother Bobby about 1 hour notice that we were all coming to his house for a BBQ. The really crazy thing is that the BBQ was to be at 5:30 pm and it was about 5:15 when Bobby asked Julie to help out! Julie is an incredible hostess: she whipped the house into shape and was producing wonderful food in no time. My hat's off to Julie!

Here is my very flexible nephew Kevin
I'm sure this picture will come up when he goes into high school

The family

My sister Robyn -- what a cutie!!

I got to play my part

The girls loved the two cats that Bobby has

Labels: Illinois2007

 

After a great start to the day by hanging out with the Lees, we left the Aurora area and I took my family back to my hometown.

We went to the park where I played as a kid, and where the greatest 4th of July fireworks display is.

Gotta love self-timers: family portrait in front of the Rock River.

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Elijah and Rebekah were thrilled to find out that Ryan Lee has a XBox 360 with the Lego Star Wars game. We didn't see much of them after that!

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Les and I get a little computer time to post some blog stuff and for Les to keep her 2nd page status (inside joke, sorry).

I can't believe how many little issues I had to post these pictures. Jer really bailed me out by giving me the info I needed to make the post go through.

Labels: Illinois2007

 

We had pizza from Giordano at the Lees' house. The kids ate together. One of them said, point to your friend. Here is the picture...

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Our second park visit for the day. This is the same park where we had Elijah's first birthday. It has been a lot of fun taking the kids to the different important places. This picture shows how our baby has grown.

Here is our climber. Give her an inch and she'll take 7 feet.

Labels: Illinois2007

 

(by Leslie) Our first activity in Illinois was to meet up with IRL (In Real Life) friends and friends that we know from the Sonlight forums. We went to church with the Cobbles when we lived in DeKalb. The last time we saw them, just before we moved back to CA, they had just had their second child, and we were expecting our second. Now they have five (some homegrown, and some chosen) and we have four! Erin brought them to meet us at the park in Plainfield, and we had a great time catching up!

These are my friends from the forums: Joyce (QuiltMomOf2), me (NoUglyOneYet), Ang (TogetherForGood), Tracy (Sarah's friend from Panera), and Sarah (MunchkinMom9). We had a great time with our e-maginary friends, and our children had a wonderful time playing together (especially my 4yo Joanna with Sarah's 5yo Amanda--who wanted to take Joanna home with her!)

Labels: Illinois2007

 

Packing all into the van before driving to the airport.

At the airport...

Alamo car renting time. While Les gets the ride, we play.

Our first night in Illinois was staying at the Lee family's house in Aurora. The kids shared one bed (thanks to Ryan for giving up his bed). Elijah thought Rebekah would be the best pillow to use.

Labels: Illinois2007

 

I'm not sure who taught her this

 

Last day of school and here are all the books read for the year.

The new is just waiting to come out. The kids are excited.

 

We hosted two of Elijah's good friends for his birthday party sleep-over.

Elijah requested his favorite meal...tacos!