Flowers and wheels

Lena planting some flowers that she and Morgan made in her flower box.

Assembling her new balance bike.

Heading out for a spin.

Back to the old haunts

The last several days we have been in Chicago. Our friend Sara defended her dissertation last Friday and so we flew in the day before to see her and a bunch of other friends. Sara's defense was great and it was fun to be able to celebrate the occasion with her. Here are some photos from our trip (though definitely not exhaustive as we were not always prompt with the camera). It was good to be back in Chicago for a bit - and surprisingly nostalgic after only 8 or so months away. The photo above was taken in Sara's kitchen. Lena called this art installation "Kitchen Cat" Sara and her housemate Nate were generous (tolerant?) enough to put us up the last few days.
We also had a chance to visit with Rozi and her parents Eszter and Feri. It was really great to see them and amazing to see how much Rozi has grown since we left Chicago. Rozi and Lena were born the same day in 2007. Here Rozi is at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Lena at the zoo communing with the apes.
Rozi and Lena shaking it up.
Connecting with their primate selves.
After the zoo we traveled further north and met up with Ramsey - Lena's nanny the last year we were in Chicago and a good friend of ours - and went to the Swedish-American museum and lunch. The museum is one of Chicago's true wonders. Their kids area is incredible. The garden patch with its homemade vegetables is particularly cool. Ramsey took these photos at the museum (thanks!)
The three of us in the farmhouse.
Another one inside the farmhouse. Everything here is real and functional. While you can't actually make a fire in the stove, you can open it up, load it with wood, clang around on pots and pans, and use a butter churn!
Kids preparing to transport pigs.
After the museum we went out for lunch at a nearby restaurant in Andersonville for noodles (one of Lena's favorites).
After lunch.
Following the museum and lunch, we traveled west to meet up with a few more friends for music and dinner. Here Paul and Danny fiddle with Genevieve on guitar and Smith on banjo.
The next morning (Sunday) we met up for breakfast at a coffee shop in Hyde Park. The weather was fantastic and it was great to visit with friends outside.
After breakfast we walked through Jackson Park and took a break at the Japanese Tea Garden. Here Morgan and Sara take in the sun on the banks.
Lena loves the tea garden (and the geese).


Jake and Melanie at the tea garden.
On Monday, Paul and Lena went to the Field Museum of Natural History with Feri and Rozi. We spent a little time checking out the stuffed birds and mammals and then beat a path to the kids area. Here Lena imagines what it would be like to be a dinosaur baby.
In the kids area you can also pick ears of corn and take them into a pueblo dwelling where you can cook/grind them (sort of). This exhibit was very cool but also brings out many heightened emotions among kids who begin to assume a diversity of roles (corn grabber, corn dealer, corn hoarder, corn returner, etc.). After a bit we were ready for more relaxed activities like the music room where you can be inundated with really loud drums.
A final photo of Lena from our trip playing with her puzzles the night before we left. We had a great trip, and now a bit sleepy, are glad to be home and settling back in.

Lena prancing around to a fiddle tune (somewhat dark video).

Playing "button up shos"

Last weekend's adventures

This past weekend Paul's parents were in town and we went over to the cactus garden on campus.



Lena checking out a lizard.








We also returned to the Andy Goldsworthy installation in front of the art museum.
Playing dress up.