Chicago: Day 3

Well, day 3 was FINALLY Free Comic Book Day - Xavi's self-described favorite holiday. We got 12 free comics (3 per) though not all are X's interest. Waiting we got to flit around Millenium Park, the Crowne Fountain and the Cloud Gate (giant reflective jelly bean). In later photos that's a bat on Bela's face.

After we hit the Field Museum, which had a neat Pirate exhibit and Ancient Americas Exhibit (check soon at the Math Hombre for an ancient americas math-art activity). Then walked down to the Adler Planetarium, whose standard exhibits were somewhat underwhelming, though the Gemini exhibit narrated by astronaut Jim Lovell was excellent. Chicago really has playoff fever, between the Bulls and the Blackhawks.

The culminating event of the day you'll have to ask about.

Chicago: Day 2

Magnificent Mile and a quick trip to the art institute... and a special guest.

The highlight of the Mile was definitely the Lego store. All the current sets, plus great sculptures, plus a pick-a-brick section.


We didn't have much time in the art museum, so we'll probably head back. Renewed the membership, so there's no pressure.


Oh, and the ladies stopped by Marshall Fields -er- Macy's and saw...

MARTHA!

Chicago Day I: Harry Potter

The highlight of day 1 was clearly Harry Potter: the Exhibition. (Which was the first day of the exhibition.)

Y: the Harry Potter Exhibit was totally awesome. It had artifacts from the 6 movies - no 5 movies AND the one that hasn't come out yet. There was this one girl that was hugging the doors from the great hall from the movie - that's just crazy. Favorite, even though it totally creeped me out, was the Forbidden Forest. The Hungarian Horntail looked so real, and the acromantula (giant spider) was creepy, and the baby thestral was cute. I liked the Dark Mark effect. As soon as we get home we need to watch the movies.

X: My favorite thing was probably Hagrid's hut. It was really cool, had Buckbeak and Norbert's egg. The dragon did freak me out, too. The Great Hall I liked because it had Dobby and all the great stuff that happened in the hall. Including the Tri-Wizard cup.

K: the effect of entering was like boarding the train, with steam and windows flashing by, etc. was really impressive. What was amazing was all the detail from the books and beyond that they put into the costumes and props that you can't even see in the movies. Like Ron having moth holes in his sweater, t-shirt being ivory rather than white from many washings, etc. The robes looked polyester in person as opposed to the satin and silk look onscreen.

J: we got to go in just the four of us, and Ysabela and I got sorted. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw - guess who was in which. The detail on the wands was incredible - Prof. Slughorn's had slug details, and Voldemort's was skull-and-bones-ish. Hermione's had ivy.

You get to play Chaser and pot mandrakes, too. (Baby mandrakes - no worries.) All the staff had english accents (some put on, some real). K liked the detail in the audio tour. The costumes were so small - amazing to think how tiny the actors are. The gift shop was even full of details, as if from Diagon Alley.

Otherwise, we did hit Graham Crackers to get the scoop on Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, and saw that Dorothy and Martha Stewart the little girl and the Wicked Witch - are going to be at Marshall Field's today.

We're baaaack...

From: goldenkarenm-at-gmail.com
Subject: Return from Exile
Date: April 18, 2009 8:53:25 PM GMT-04:00



The moldy infiltrators have been overthrown and evicted. The rightful rulers have returned from exile. Unfortunately the ants have shown up to welcome us back, but... we're focusing on the happy! Antsmushing contest!

The cosmetic work is not quite done but we are spending our first night back in our own beds. Provided we can remember who slept where.

We are so thankful to everyone who prayed for us during the "mold crisis" and happily report nothing was airborne and we are mold free. We gained a "newish" bathroom and "walk-in" closet of sorts. New windows and a freshly painted exterior are expected by mid-May.

The kids are making comments on how strange it to "live" here and are anxious to sleep in their own beds tonight. I'm still unpacking and wondering what kind of magic I must have previously used to fit all this stuff into our small closets and dressers. And we have thrown out, recycled or thrift stored car loads.

Reporting from (back) under the bridge -
JKXY - Trolls in Residence

Grandma Golden's

This Easter saw us go down to Carmen's for an overnight visit.


She got the kids a relatively restrained selection of goodies, including a set of cookie markers to decorate your own egg cookies. We would have als pictured Xavi's, but the were eaten as quickly as they were decorated. The picture of Carmen with the kids is from Joe's French Italian. (Would not have guessed they'd have a website.) Long one of Carmen and Oliver's favorites, we had a very traditional Joe's meal. Carmen revealed on the way there that it was one of Manuel Badalamenti's places and she actually had been there before marrying Oliver and moving to Monroe. We were the first customers of the day, actually a little too early.

Pull!

Thanks to staying over night we had lots of time to visit. Carmen cooked a succulent lamb dinner Saturday night, and she had gotten the kids lots of art projects to work on, including the cool Crayola explosion sets, a comic strip artists blank book for X and an American Girl paper doll set for Y. The time not spent on art was spent on Fluffy Bunny interviewing criminal-mastermind-in-training, Aflac the Duck. (Video available if the editor gets it done.)

Even the refrigerator lived up to it's somewhat mythic status. Carmen kept John out of it all weekend.


Also got a chance to visit with Michael at Kate's Kitchen in Level Pebble (aka Flat Rock). Karen enjoyed the way the locals shouted at her that you don't leave your name there, you stay the heck in line. Even people coming in to get one of the famous pies got yelled at to go in the side door. Catch up on Michael's new work gig at the Motor City Casino. (He's the Banquets Chef.)

All X

A looong overdue Xavi update - but we misplaced the camera for a bit in between houses. The move out of the mold house has been good for his health, and hopefully all the work at 550 will make it safe for his inhabitation. (Not quite back in yet.)

He has done really well at Tae Kwan Do, and passed the Yellow Stripe Belt test. The aspect he was most nervous about was the requirement to break a board. His first attempt, bounced off. After a word from his instructor, the next round kick -SNAP- broke the board cleanly in two. A great moment.

Xavier continues to lose teeth at an amazing rate. His plan after break is to tell his friends about the big fights he's been in.



Happy Easter!

Anna Minnebo's cool movie

Star Wars themed explanation of Biodiesel? You'll never see better. Check out:

Grease Car How To