Violet sang the national anthem for a patriotic program at Riverview

She did a great job! We got her a patriotic dress and she had fun with this.

Homeschool camp April 23-26, 2017

Vanessa had been looking forward to this camp experience for 365 days!  

All settled in her bunk with big sis Violet with her

Breanne, Libby, and Violet

Libby, Eli and Violet

Calvin got set up in a bunk near Cade and immediately started playing 9 square!

Cade and Calvin

Vanessa and Hannah Beth Myers

Dave's 41st birthday

A heath bar poke cake!  He looks pretty good doesn't he!?

Homeschool field trip to US Armory and Aviation buildings

A friend of mine, Brandi Sharkey, organized a field trip to the US Army base and aviation buildings, which was a tour and they showed us the contents of their survival packs, weapons, and a helicopter.  It was super cool!

all the gear, compact and small.

night vision technology

Calvin with his buddy Greyson

Chicago for Easter 2017!

We stayed with Josh and Carrie Thurs night before heading downtown Chicago Fri morning.  Carrie was sweet to give us a ride to the train station in the morning!

Vanessa and I on the trian

We walked from Union Station to our hotel (Hotel Chicago) on the corner of Kinzie and Dearborn.  These two terms (Kinzie and Dearborn) go back to the history of Chicago.  Kinzie was the first english settler in the Chicago area (the name Chicago refers to "little onion" by the indian language that first settled in the area), and Dearborn was the name of the first American fort there.

Hotel Chicago!

All worn out from the walk to the hotel.  It was a long one!

I love this picture!!!

Gino's East for dinner Fri night!

You can draw on the walls/chairs/lamps...whatever. I had a permanent marker with me.

I had Vanessa draw one of her little princesses on the inside of a lampshade. :)

Eli drew all over the seat.  I know, mom, you're cringing!

ice cream at Ghiardellis!  Calvin told me this was his favorite moment, looking out on the city lights at night.  We got an Uber ride to this place - our first experience with Uber in the city!  So easy and slick.  

Eggsperience for breakfast on Saturday

Look at the two Cubs fans we ran into right after walking out of the restaurant Sat morning!

It was sooo hot so we chose an indoor activity - Shedd Aquarium.

Beluga whales

this huge 6 ft long fish was amazing to watch - largest river fish in the Amazon River I think.

"O come explore America!" Vanessa sang...from her homeschool work.

Eli and I watching the dolphin show

so pretty and amazing! The dolphins jumped in unison.

LaMarches and the Chicago city skyline

Chicago

"yes, you can pet the dog!" our kids love petting other people's dogs.

the famous "kidney bean" downtown Chicago in Millennium Park.

We ate dinner at the House of Blues with Sean and Alyssa Sat evening.

cousins!  Vanessa, Alyssa, and Eli

Sunday morning we went to Moody Church - aaaaammaazzing music and ministry.

George Washington statue!

We came across a neat park with light-up see saws infront of the Chicago Children's Museum - we didn't go in but played here for awhile.

another Uber ride!

playtime at Maggie Daly park - Calvin climbed to the top of this pole on a ship

two LaMarche families - we are missing a kid...where's Vanessa? haha!

this is such a cool park 

the girls braided Vanessa's hair and decorated it with flowers from the blooming trees

Chicago city lights

Sunday morning breakfast at Yolk (right in our hotel!)

train ride back to the suburbs Monday morning - she looked so grown up sitting like that reading the paper

oh look - a random shopping trip with me and all the kids at Walmart!