Festive Fall

We have had a fun fall.  Here are some catch up photos.

We went to a Chicago Fire Soccer Match.  Luke and the mascot.

Oliver and Luke.

Go Fire!  Kids with a school friend.

Chad and Gloria celebrating the Diwali, the Hindu New Year, with some traditional crafts.

Oliver took us on another El adventure -- this time the Blue Line.

Oliver and Luke set up the travel plan by reviewing the maps.

After a transfer to the Red Line we ended up near Water Tower Place.

Underground transfer tunnel.  Cool!

Halloween time!  Luke as Luke Skywalker.

Gloria the Cat.

Oliver as Darth Vader.

Epic battle!

Fun Halloween, also with Bernadette and Juliana.  

We've been busy the past couple of weekends with fall leaves.

We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving back at Blair Farms, including a fun gathering at Martha and Bob's. 

Gloria and Grandpa Blair.  Go Fish!

Grandma Blair with Oliver and Luke. King me!

More fun games!

Great weather for a fun walk on the Farm.

Luke.

Oliver.

Luke and Oliver near Spafford Creek.  

Deb and Amy.

Piano concert after a great meal.

Gloria.

Great weather for an evening walk.

Luke, Oliver and Amy.  Faster, Mom!

Luke, Gloria and Oliver with Great Grandpa Grimes.

Thanks for the fun Thanksgiving, Grandpa Blair!

Extended Summer Fun

School has started, but we've been enjoying the warm weather and have sneaked in a few extra summer-like activities.

Amy and Gloria's amazing sunflowers outside our kitchen!  Wow!

We went to a weekend matinee of Aladdin in Chicago.  What an amazing musical production!  

Afterwards we checked out the famous Picasso sculpture in the loop.  A natural slide for kids, it turns out.

 

The Art Institute has a great exhibit on Gauguin and the varied media he used to make art.  We all learned a lot!

Oliver.

Luke.

One of our favorite Georgie O'Keefe's.  

A stop by one of our favorite Mary Cassatt's.  

Outside the museum on the bridge to Millennium Park.  

These two were able to sneak away for a weekend.  Thanks Joe and Deb for watching the kids for us while we had a weekend in San Francisco celebrating Amy's 40th!

Chinatown. 

Embarcadero.

Bike ride across the Golden Gate!

Walk in Muir Woods.

Bike ride around Napa wine country.

Birthday brunch.

Fun shopping around Napa.

Happy Birthday, Amy!

Boys remain busy in soccer.  Luke above.

Oliver above.

Oliver had the idea to spend today traveling the El system.  We took the Blue line this time, the first time on this particular line for the kids.  

We even transferred to the pink line so we could circle the loop.  Fun!

Oliver.

We made a stop for lunch at the Shake Shack.  This is our idea of a good time!