Cow Milk

We took a field trip to the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm which is an amazingly large operation where you visit the milking facility and they guarantee a live calf birth every day!!  Here are the cows lined up to be milked in orderly fashion.

In order to keep everything clean and disease free, you ride around on this dairy bus for the tour and never come into contact with the air around the cows.

Unfortunately we didn't see a live birth, but there were two mommy cows in the birthing barn with the newborn calves when we arrived.

There was a train. Blaise was all about the train, but man was it hot!

Blaise sat for quite some time and watched the construction machines - quite the varied experience we had at the dairy farm!

All in all the farm was worth the trip. I really think it drilled into Blaise's brain where (conventional) milk comes from. He started asking for "cow milk" after this trip :) Jan said they had the best ice cream he has ever had in the US, now if that isn't worth the trip, I don't know what is!

Science and Industry

We took a day that looked like rain (it turned out to be lovely) and drove into "town" or "ca-go," as Blaise says, to visit The Museum of Science and Industry. I had oddly enough never been there, so I was interested in what they had to offer. I was quite impressed with the vastness of the museum and the number of interesting exhibits. Blaise had a great time exploring trains, planes and U-Boots (submarines). I would definitely recommend a visit!

There was a very impressive model train exhibit - Blaise didn't know where to look first!

Watching lumberjacks in the Pacific NW cut down trees - "Timber!"

A tornado in the middle of the museum:

A real movie was playing at the Cinema on Main St., USA

The John Deere was a big hit!

This real German U-Boot (submarine) was captured by the Allies in June of 1944 off the coast of West Africa. It is now on display and you can take an informative tour of the inside (for an extra fee, but very worth it!).  The history wrapped inside this U-Boot is very moving, though it is difficult to imagine how these men survived in such conditions and so confined for such a long time.

Kate's Baptism and Double Confirmation

Kate was baptised at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church and in keeping with their tradition, she was confirmed at the same time, as was I as a newborn. Blaise was also given the sacrament, so he shared in her day as well.

My cousin and her family

My Godmother and Grandmother:

Poor Kate (and Auntie Michelle K) didn't take her morning nap and was pretty unhappy at 10am.

She got dipped three times.

Sleeping baby

Great Aunt Marge looking on at the newest generation

My girlfriend Abbi and her beautiful daughter

Kate's Godmother, Auntie Michelle K

Michelle has been a friend of mine since our Our Lady of Grace days when we would walk to school together. We moved on to high school together and then on to college. We have been through many significant moments together, but it was always the everyday, I know she is there moments, that meant so much. Michelle has grown into a strong and independent women - qualities which I hope Kate emulates. I also hope for her that she has such wonderful girlfriends throughout her lifetime, to share those everyday moments with.

Too Hot For Comfort

One afternoon it got so hot that we put some water in the sandbox and loaded up these two monkeys.

Needless to say, they loved it!

Some Friends Are Silver, But These Are Gold

My IU girlfriends and I get together somewhat annually with our families. We met up at Pokagon State Park which offers a lot of actitivies for the kiddos. This year we hung out at the beach and had a yummy picnic. Each time we get together we add new little ones, like these three here.

Aren't they cute?

Eleanor got some sand in her hair...

Blaise had a great time at the playground,

with beautiful Carolyn,

and digging at the beach with beautiful Eleanor.  

Blaise somehow convinced the girls to fetch him water to fill into his hole. He must be a sweet-talker (which is ironic, since he doesn't say that many words!) :)

I unfortunately didn't get any other pictures, but there was fun to be had by all 11 kids!

Adults had fun after the kiddos went to sleep with some cold beverages and old stories. I love seeing you all, I just wish it could be more often!

Brown County

We spent four days in Brown County State Park over Memorial Day weekend. I found we didn't take so many pictures while we were there, so I stole some from Trip Advisor. We stayed at one of their family cabins which we found to be a good compromise between hotel and camping. Blaise enjoyed the water park, riding ponies, having a campfire (in 90 degree heat!) and we coerced him into taking a trail. Blaise was excited about the possibility of seeing a "ratoon," but the only ones we saw were after he went to bed one night (luckily he saw some about a week later). For me it was a great experience taking my kids back to a place where I spent so much happy time as a child.


This photo of Abe Martin Lodge is courtesy of TripAdvisor


This photo of Abe Martin Lodge is courtesy of TripAdvisor