The Lake....

What have we been up to? NOTHING! Michael and Roger WORKING...and playing on the lake when they aren't working!Michael went diving one day..takes him awhile to get ready....

On Sunday (Father's Day)...we spent the day on the lake. After Michael got off work, we went by boat, to Pontiac, MO to a restaurant called Just Jackies. We all like eating there. It was a good day!

Love ya Rog! You are the best!!

HERE & THERE & EVERYWHERE

From Chicago, we left and went another 5 hours to Sandusky, Ohio- to Cedar Point..it's a roller coaster amusement park. The boys have wanted to go for years.

This was the view coming into the park..it sits out on Lake Erie.

Boys trying to decide which coaster to tackle first.

One of many that they rode. I didn't ride any!

Another one, it goes straight up and drops straight down! No thank you!

The back of our resort that they stayed at (only one night). It had brown sand and beach chairs right by the lake..it was kinda nice.

The guys in front of Lake Erie.

Boys and their momma.

We had a nice time. We just didn't get to stay long enough. The boys rode rides on Monday night from about 6-10 pm. Got up on Tuesday and rode until about 1:00. We then went to visit Roger's uncle who lives there for a few minutes, and began our journey home. We drove straight through and arrived back at home at 4:00 in the morning on Wednesday morning. In a short time, we have done alot of interesting and fun stuff! Love my guys.

Chicago Cont'd....

I can't say enough about what an amazing trip we had to:

We played a total of 6 quiz bowl games. We only won 1 but the matches were all close with 4 of the other games. An amazing experience for
the kids. I hope we get to do it again.

This is Jacob's Gifted/Talented teacher.

We went up in the Sear's Tower AKA Willis Towers now. 103 stories~

the following are pictures from the top..(it had been raining that day, so the visibility was not the greatest, but it was still amazing)

Us on the sky deck! Notice below us...incredible!

Roger on the sky deck...

Boys laying down on the sky deck...didn't bother them..

We went to one of the parks to see the "bean"...it was incredible..notice the reflections in some of the pictures...The pictures don't even do it justice.

Look at that reflection of the city in the "bean"...

We took a carriage ride in downtown Chicago. It had been raining, so the carriage top was up, and we missed alot of sights, but it was a nice ride.

Our horse and carriage...
I wasn't able to see Oprah's studio during any of our visits downtown. So on Monday when we got ready to leave, my dear husband drove me downtown so I could see her studio! Oprah wasn't there to greet me! :(

Probably the only time I'll ever get to visit her studio. I've tried for years to get tickets to her show, and have never had any luck.

There is so much to see and do in Chicago. We didn't even touch on so many things...just not enough time. It was a great trip and very educational for the quiz bowl kids (and parents)....

Chicago

Day two of our trip and it's going good. Started off NOT so good. Suburban wouldn't start when we went to leave home. DEAD battery--had to go buy a new one. Hit the road about 6:30 am on Friday.
This was the line of traffic going into St. Louis...road construction was RIDICULOUS from there onto Chicago. We lost a lot of time!

Our hotel that we are staying at while in Chicago. Sheraton 4 Seasons-out by Chicago O'Hare Airport. Planes haven't been too bad.

John Hancock Observatory. We went up to the top on Friday night. Views were gorgeous!

My three boys at the top of the Hancock Observatory.

View from the Hancock Observatory.

View from the Hancock Observatory.

We had "Chicago Style Pizza" for lunch...I didn't really care for it. But at least I can say I've had it now.

So the reason we are here is for National Quiz Bowl competition.

So far, we have played 5 games and won 1. They have been close games and the kids have done well over all. Great experience for all of them. Jacob has been the team captain.

Went down to the Navy Pier last night. Ate, walked around and watched fireworks.

We ate at Bubba Gumps...oh my goodness was it ever good!

Michael and Susan at the end of Navy Pier.

Roger, Susan and Michael at the end of the Pier.