Pascale visits Chicago!

Pascale started at URS Belgium one day after I did. We sat next to each other in the office and worked on some projects together but, most importantly, had a lot of fun! Making a friend in Belgium was the best part of my time there. And, I was so happy that I would see Pascale again so soon after we left Brussels. She traveled here with her mom. They first went to NYC for a few days and then came to Chicago for a few days. We ate at some great restaurants and toured the city. We had a lot of fun and it was so great to spend time with Pascale and her mom. Eliot had a great time, too!

I don't know when we will go back to Belgium, but having a good friend there means it will not be too long before we return to the land of Dutch, French, charming Grand Places and far better waffles than the frozen ones I showed Pascale in Trader Joe's!

These photos are from a fun restaurant in Wicker Park called "Earwax." We also enjoyed dinner at Wishbone in our old neighborhood and Pizza Duo (gotta try some Chicago deep dish while you are here)! I can't hardly believe Pascale was here and now it will take some time to get used to her being gone again.

Holland... Michigan!

Since we returned to the US, we have been really busy. Moving into a new house, keeping up with jobs, keeping up with Eliot, seeing friends and family... It is a good kind of busy. Last weekend we took a break and went up to Holland, MI to see some fall colors. Although the weather was a bit rainy, we got in some great outdoors time on the dunes and in the woods. We also went to a nature center.

We drove to the windmill island tourist attraction just to get a glimpse of the windmill because the park is closed for the season. But when we got there a volunteer was arriving to do some work. When Chris asked him if we could park and walk in, he invited us to follow him with the car and then gave us a personal tour of the windmill. We even met the miller.

It was a nice chance to enjoy one of our favorite states - Michigan (Go Blue!) - and be together.
I love this picture.

Eliot is a much better walker now - he will stay on a path and make forward progress, but ocassionally he still hitches a ride on Dad's shoulders.