A Few Family Shots...

Ok, I know ... it's boooooring but here's a few family shots just to prove I have some!  Starting with me, Mommy and Grandpa!

...and then replace Grandpa with Daddy!

And then there's mommy -- but she's missing something...

Yup.  ME!

I'm the best accessory a mommy could ever have!

...and one last family shot -- daddy's broken arm and all!!

The Train Home!

Planes!
Trains!
Automobiles?  Nah, none of those today! Just planes and trains -- which are my favorite and second favorite thing.  After the air show, we headed home on the train!

We had to wait.  I didn't mind the waiting as there were lots of trains coming and going!  Oddly, mostly the other direction!

...and then there was the kinda cool curvy track.  I wonder if I can build this layout with my Thomas set?  Maybe grandpa will help me with it...

On the train, I got my own seat!  It was cool sitting next to mommy!

Daddy had to stand with the stroller.  Ha!

More Party People!

Of course, there were loads of people there.  I mean, yes, there was myself...

But there were others.  This is me with some of the other kids that were there.  Oh, did I mention that Rion taught me her cheesy grin?!?

...and me with more of Rion's princess friends.  Did I mention that Rion had a serious gaggle of princesses over for the party?!?

Uncle Bruce, meanwhile, did something sane -- he hung out on the deck...

Evan was running around with numerous others as well.  He was kind enough to stop briefly for a photo, but was then off like a shot!

...and, of course, nap time -- I had to grab some shuteye after the planes were done, as I was a tired little guy!

Rion's Jumping!

Cousins are always fun.  Rion and I seem to share an affinity for one of the same activities -- JUMPING!  She first showed me how a princess jumps on a trampoline...

Which, of course, I tried to do as well...

I wasn't quite as successful at first.

But it wasn't long before I was jumping from the trampoline to the couch and all over the place!  I had a good time!  Rion -- after changing out of her Princess dress -- then showed me how to jump really, really high...  You start by looking cute and innocent...

Then you get ready.... Set...

and JUMP!

If she'd jumped any higher, I think she would have hit the ceiling!

...and then land....

I'm going to have to practice my jumping a bit more to catch up with her!

AIR SHOW!

For those of you who don't know or don't remember, Chicago has an annual air show!  Last year, the Blue Angels scared the bejeevers outta me as they screamed overhead as I tried to nap on Mommy's shoulder.  This year?  I got to see the United States Air Force and their Thunderbirds go screaming across the sky!

They didn't scare me...   Well, not with the noise and everything like the Blue Angels did.  It was amazing to see how close together they flew!  Heck!  I get uncomfortable when I get that close to a girl!

Then they leave these streaks across the sky!  They seem to be moving so fast you can't always be sure where they've been, so this helps!

Watching them streak across the Chicago sky was quite an experience!  I really enjoyed it...

...even watching the stragglers head home was neat!  Mind you, if I was in the plane heading for home, I'd probably take my time as well!

It was a good day out.

Flowers, as if...

Kinda just to prove I didn't go and just see trains, I feel almost obligated to put up a few pictures of flowers, 'cos that's what usually grows in a garden!  In this case, something big and white and a water lily seem appropriate!

The other thing going on was a kite festival.  Unfortunately, the photos of that turned out pretty lame.  It was fun watching the kites woosh and zoom around when the professionals were doing it -- but the photos ended up looking like little things miles away.  It just didn't work out very well.  It was very cool watching a professional team fly kites to to music.  I guess that's what dancing on air means!

After the kites, we wandered through the gardens a bit more.  We saw birds and bees -- the bees were far more active!

The sunflowers were kinda neat as well.  They weren't as big as the sunflower in our family room though.  I think that picture is much cooler!

Maybe next year my only official photographer will figure out how to take pictures of kites!  But until then...you'll just have to use your imagination and look at pictures of flowers!

Lots and Lots of Trains!

We went to the gardens.  And the gardens mean trains.  Um...where are the trains?  Trains, where are you?  Where are you trains!?!

There you are!

I just love watching trains.  There is nothing cooler then trains.

From time to time, they go hide -- and it always gets me wondering where they go.  It's more of the "Where are you trains?!?  Trains, where are you!?!"

There you are!  I love the old steam engine and some of the old passenger trains they have.

Then it's more wandering around, this time, looking for Tommy!

There's Tommy and his friends, James and Percy!

Sometimes, you have to fight with the kids to get in and actually see them!  They are quite popular!!

They also have fences to keep me out of things.  Like the water, and the trains, and lots of other things!

But there are tons of things to see!

Even Mommy enjoys the trains!  Or, perhaps it is just my company!!

But back to wandering...