While the twins were at AWANA, I took Heather out for a slice of pie at Around the Clock in Crystal Lake. We sat together where I could put my arm around her shoulders. We shared a yummy piece of French Silk pie and a pot of hot tea. Good times.
Category Archives: Family
Double Date with Daughters
This date was a double date where I took both Alexis and Rachel on a wagon ride. We rode to Walkup Woods Park (aka “The Yellow Park” or “Woodlands Park”). The ride started at 7am as the girls snuggled into their blankets, squeezed their growing bodies into the two person wagon, and went for a peaceful ride coffee in hand of their chauffeur.
It was Alexis’s turn to go first on this date so originally I was intending to take Alexis one morning and Rachel the next. However, Rachel was so disturbed by not being first that she took the trouble to arrange a double date. I wonder how she’s going to take it when I tell her that Alexis is still first on the next date. A double date is not considered a “turn” in the “who goes first” rotation. Ah, the life of a child.
My Help Meet
You know you have a good wife when she makes poetry out of work. We were calculating hardware quantities based on length measurements. That’s when she wrote this poem:
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways
6, 4, 16, 32, 88, 36, 24
Let me measure
All my love And
I won’t have a tape long enough
Ah, true love!
Date with Alexis
This date was in Woodstock, IL. We started by going to the local restaurant for dinner. Alexis ordered the Jumbo Hotdog. Then off to mini-golf. Alexis took her first Go-Kart ride with me. It was a thrill. Then we played a game of mini-golf. To top off the evening, we went to a jazz concert in the square.
Date with Rachel
We went to Woodfield Mall for this evening’s date. We had great conversation about the upcoming school year, being separated from Alexis for classes, and making new friends. I recounted how adding new friends was a wonderful journey. Then I described my friends from Ohio, college, seminary (meeting Heather), and Wisconsin. Upon entering we raced up the escalator and down the elevator. Rachel posed with all her bling. We found a delightful train which Rachel chased all the way through the mall to the station where we boarded. Rachel made a new friend at the playground. We ate yummy ice cream and kissed in the parking lot be the sunset – that was no longer visible. Good times.
Ridgefield Bike Path in our backyard
The McHenry County bike path is building a bike path, Ridgefield Trace, a two mile path that connects McHenry County College to Walkup Ave, in our backyard. Well, it’s really under the power lines. The path is 10 feet from our property line. We are very excited about the path and are sure to make many happy bicycling memories in the coming years.
We said goodbye to our garden as the skid steer plowed through half our garden. Fortunately, we harvested most of our garden in advance. Sure made the weeding easier.
Today’s rain storm made a perfect mud pit for Alexis.
Date with Rachel at Veteran Acres Splash Pad
Rachel wanted to go to Veteran Acre’s new splash pad for her date with Dad. The splash pad just opened along with the new pavilian and playgrounds. One playground targets younger children and has a sand pit nearby. The other playground is designed for older kids with whirly bars and has swings nearby. Rachel loved the splash pad and ran through it with her play clothes on instead of a swimsuit. The splash pad is closed (water is turned off) from 11:30-12:30 and 3:30-4:30 daily. The water is off if the temperatures are below 72 degrees.
We went home to change before heading to Dairy Queen for dilly bars. Then a quick trip to the adjacent pet store, Birds and Beasts.
Date with Alexis at Three Oaks Recreation Area
Summer is here as is a new park in Crystal Lake. Three Oaks Recreation Area is open with a splash pad, boat rental, sand beach, concessions, and trails made from a rock quarry. It’s very nice so Alexis wanted to go for a boat ride on one of their paddle boats. We chose one of the blue sparkly boats for our date cruise. It’s $6 an hour for residents, $10 otherwise. Alexis’s legs were barely long enough to pump if she sat at the end of her seat. We circled the islands and peered down at the sea weed in the crystal clear water. It was a wonderful date with my lovely daughter.
Memphis in May
We enjoyed a splendid trip to Memphis for the Memphis in May celebration. Angela Potter hosted a party with friends and family for her 40th birthday. We drove downtown with Sonia Willis and took the trolley to the park. Here’s the lineup.
- Symphony, Blues, and Soul music on stage
- Air Show
- Fireworks
- Good eats with friends
The in-laws watched the twins. Sonia was my air show buddy saying all the right things when the planes came rumbling through and maneuvering the sky with their stunts. The trolley ride home was a blast. The conductor’s microphone was so muffled that a lady, somewhat tipsy, echoed her version of what he said. “One dollar, no change. Main St. stop.”
Rachel rides her bike.
Rachel learned to ride her bike and then Alexis. Our neighbor, Makayla Kennett, learned to ride by pushing with her feet on a tennis court. So we took the tip and tried it too. It worked! Here’s video.
