Vermont in Chicago

Years ago Kristen and I went to see a Gillian Welch concert and we met a couple from Vermont, Dave and Emily Keller, who were touring the country by car. We sold them a spare ticket and by the intermission we had invited them to stay with us. They were planning to camp at the Beach State Park in Zion and make day trips into the city to see the sights, with their dog Hickory.

We have kept in touch mostly through birth announcements and holiday cards since. Until a few weeks ago when I got a comment here on Little Hubers from Dave. Fast forward a little and we were all together again, with their two girls Ida Lee and Hava and our Elanor to boot.

We took the El to Millennium park.








This is Sierra, she asked if it was OK to sit next to Elanor. She was super sweet with Elanor and ended up giving Elanor a bracelet for keeps.

(For their whole visit Chicagoans were very nice to us, my thanks to Chicago for putting on such a nice face.)






Here Ida Lee and Elanor are looking at their reflection on the Cloud Gate.







What a handsome family.











I think that Dave enjoyed the Crown Fountian.












I just liked this picture of the Thompson Center.

After the visit to the Park the
girls all fell asleep in the strollers.








After lunch at The Corner Bakery we
headed to the conservatory.






Check out the chick sat the MSI.







We also visited the Beach by the MSI.

a little child labor

We went to the zoo today...
and the pygmy hippo put on quite a show.

Then Elanor had to take in the recycling bin to earn lunch.

Mommy was feeling tired, baby and all.
So Elanor and I took a trip to Jewel to get a few things while Mommy rested.
(Lazy Daddy made Elanor cary the basket.)

A morning spent at the Shedd with the Meyer ladies.

Here is the Shedd Aquarium as seen from in front of the Adler Planetarium,
it is a great place to see the skyline.

The girls are looking at the amazon river exhibit here.
Elanor seems a bit less enthused than Claire.

HEY, look it's Dad...
We just happened to be walking by as the dolphin presentation began,
it is always fun to watch them jump and play.
Did I mention that the girls enjoy each others company?

Garfield Park Conservatory with Claire and Shannon

We took the El from our house,
can you guess what direction it was headed?

That Claire, the camera loves her.
(So do the Hubers!)
ROCKS!!!
This is the hotel that the Meyers were staying at.
Small but lovely.
Ryan always get all the girls.
(He met us for dinner and when the girls saw him they both ran to greet him.)

Summerfest 2007

Mommy took Elanor to Summerfest today while Daddy worked at Two Fish.

I believe that Jim Gill was performing as Elanor tried to ride this rope.

Aunt Birdie and Peter join us at the zoo

Today we woke up at the crack of 9 to pick up my cousin Jenny (aka Aunt Birdie) and her son Peter at Union Station downtown.

Above we have a picture of what might have been the days biggest attraction, sticks.

Go figure.

Daddy and Elanor head to Bloomington Indiana.

Elanor with Tad-cu, Mimi's dad.
Elanor wanted to sleep in the big bed by herself. Cute, no?
Look, uncle John actually smiled for this picture...
there can be no higher testament of his regard for Elanor.
If you want to hear Elanor on the harp
you will have to wait for her CD to come out this fall.

Elanor takes Mom and Dad to the MSI.

There were no good pictures from inside the museum,
but we got this picture of Elanor and me checking out the beach there.