Saturday, November 28, 2009

Jakarta to Brookfield Update #2

Trying to catch up to the present. Post #2 of three years in three posts.








Ada Rose styling the winter fashion scene in January of 09. This will most likely be one of those photos that keep showing up over the years in good natured attempts to embarrass her - like senior yearbook type of things.







We enrolled Ada into a free form kids jazz ensemble. Here she is soloing during an improv session at a downtown recording studio.











Tuning the tubes - Ada prepping for another session.












Three generations of beautiful girls on a beautiful winter day in Chicago.








Ada's first haircut. She liked it.










Ada in the power chair. It is a throne that plays royal type music when you sit in it. Who ever sits in it gets to tell everyone in the house what to do. Ada managed to slip in during one of the few moments I am not in occupance.









Girls with their much loved cabbage head babies.











My two valentines.











Emmerson managed to hold it together for pretty much the entirety of her fourth year birthday party.








Ross demonstrating proper crawdad crawl technique.











Emmerson and Ada ready in Chicago.







Valentines Day breakfast for my lady. I made a valiant attempt at recreating the Macgriddle sandwhich. I injected the waffle with maple syrup and then baked the sandwhich for a few minutes after cooking the components separately. It was tasty - but no Macgriddle. I am confident that what makes the Macgriddle uncopiable is its essence - literally. Much of the flavor in Macdonald's foods (and many other processed foods) comes from the smell of the product which is typically chemically created in some secret underground laboratory at Macdonald's University.








Ada in the power chair with Ducky. At some point in her life Ada decided Ducky was extra special and they have become very close. As is the case with many things that become close to children, they get dirty. So Alicia bought an imposter Ducky (pretty much exact replica) that we could use when real Ducky was getting clean. One day the rouse was almost blown when Ada put Ducky down in her crib for a quick nap, walked down stairs and came face to face with imposter Ducky sitting on the couch. She eyed imposter Ducky for a moment then just yelled "Ducky" ran over and picked her up. She must have figured that Ducky is indeed wonderful and can magically appear wherever she wants (I don't know Ducky's gender). Unfortunately, Ada has caught on and can now tell imposter Ducky from real Ducky. So now and then we tell Ada that Ducky wants to take a bath and off to the washing machine she goes. At the moment, this is acceptable to Ada.









Spring break in Mexico. I am not sure why Barney was wherever we were at this moment.










These make a bit more sense, I guess ....









Holiday pool.









Keeping myself pasty white in Puerto Vallarta.











Showing some skills. Spring break shuffle boarding.










Emmerson and her Puerto Vallarta ensemble. She wears this on a regular basis - good buy.










Fun at Oak Ave. Not sure what is going on here. Another one of those pictures that will follow Ada through her life.

Friday, August 07, 2009

Jakarta to Brookfield Update #1

Three years in three posts. That is the goal. I have been back in the States now for three years and have been a tad bit delinquent in the posting.







Oak Avenue residence in December 07 snow.








Backyard - deck, garage and alley beyond the fence.








Christmas Eve 2007.








Christmas morning 2007.












52 ounces of goodness - all that is good and bad in America demonstrated by the existence of the Road Pilot enormo mug.










Ada traveling in style. Wish I could be transported all winter long like this. Christmas holiday in Colorado.








Emmerson in the Rockies.








Snow shoeing in Rocky Mt. National Forest.










How we spent the rest of the winter ....




Summer returns!









Girls in the hammock at Oak Ave.








Hoovers visit sometime in the last three years. I think it was our second summer here (8/08). Good times. The entire Hoover family piled into Ada's bedroom for four days. The Hoovers are now at ISM in the Philippines.






Emmerson and Kiana on the train to downtown Chicago.







Emmerson and I back to where it all began for the Duell family. The castle where we hosted one of the sweatiest wedding ceremonies on record. Here we were visiting a Rennaissance Fair centered around the Stronghold Castle where the Duell's were married 6 years ago. I am still adjusting to the unique atmosphere's created by these live action role playing events.

Fall of 2008. Good times in the flatlands.





Ada in farmer school. Learning how to handle a John Deere at some farm near where we live.







Ada eating lunch at farm school.









The infamous "Donkey Maze". Me wishing Emmerson good luck on one of her most difficult exams at farm school - completing the six square mile corn maze within one 24 hour day. Fortunately there was a full moon.












Emmerson with her classmates knee-deep in the corn kernel room.













After successfully completing all the requirements at farm school, Emmerson was allowed to begin preschool. Absolutely busting with excitement, posing with her empty backpack before venturing off to day one of at least 14 more years of school.









Getting ready to go to the field Museum. Ada is wearing the matching batik jumpsuit we bought in Jakarta for Emmerson.










Excited at the Field Museum. September 2008.







At the Morton Arboretum. They created all sorts of critters out of sticks. The Morton Arboretum was once the estate of Joy Morton, the founder of Morton Salt. He was an avid naturalist (founded Arbor Day) and dedicated his 735 acre estate to trees and other things wild.






A moment of inspiration captured. The designing of yet another pumpkin masterpiece.












Little piece of Americana.









Ada's baptism.








It took her a while but finally Ada figured that walking did have its benefits and decided it was worth the effort to figure it all out. Some of her first hundred steps at Union Station in Chicago.









Once she got her walking skills down we figured it was time she earned her keep.







Another little piece of Americana. Our first snowman at the Oak Avenue residence.










Emmerson earning her keep. Christmas snow 2008.










Emmerson sporting her new Man U kit.










Christmas jams.












Oh my. Eclectic Emmerson.