Trip to the Quad Cities

We had our first family trip (with all three children) past weekend. It was an adventure within an adventure. Nathan and Matthew were excited at first and Maya was sleeping, but soon she needed to be fed and Nathan needed to sleep. The last hour of our four hour trip, was very noisy to say the least. Upon our arrival to Cleveland, we received a special welcome and hospitality that melted away the pressure we felt during our short trip (specially in our heads and ears.) Linnet knew the Finley family through their daughter, Janene from undergrad school. They let us stay at Janene's late grandfather's house, that is used for their guests. Right after we arrived, Matthew and Nathan started playing with the Piano. Believe it or not, listening to the music they played was much nicer than their screams in our ears.
The next day, we went to the Family Museum in Bettendorf, one of the Quad Cities in Iowa. Matthew and Nathan were soaked at the end and had to be changed to new clothes. We had lunch at Culver's and were off to visit the John Deere Pavilion in Davenport. Matthew and Nathan enjoyed getting into so many different trucks. Since Maya was quiet, I have to assume she like the museum as well. Nathan had fun pretending to milk a cow and having his picture taken as a farmer in a tractor. We then proceeded to a walk by and a ride on the Mississippi river, and we met Ryan (Janene's fiancee). After that, we met with Janene's parents at the Shed Machine restaurant. While Maya was feeding and Nathan snoozing, Matthew went with Janene's parents and Ryan to take a tractor ride, or as he put it "a hay ride". Janene's father was kind to ask the driver to stop by our car to pick us up. We went one time around the restaurant and then stayed put until it was our turn to be served. During this time, Janene's Dad helped me take a picture of Nathan on a red tractor, and Matthew posed with different sculptures and old farm machines.
The food was as good as the presentation we received in the restaurant. Nathan's chicken tenders came in a little tractor, and we also admired the adjustable leather belt on the toddler seat. Janene's Mother kindly held Maya, so Linnet and I could enjoy our food. After Matthew was done with his food, he asked Ryan to go on another tractor ride with him. Later on he told me they went on two rides back to back and that he wanted to go on more. Overall, we had a very nice time at the restaurant and I didn't have to reach into my pocket, as Janene's father paid for everything.
We had a visit of the local mall that evening, where we got ice-cream (Ryan paid for that). Matthew and Nathan enjoyed a ride on the carousel in the mall, and we all head home. Visited with Janene and Ryan a bit, where the kids played piano for everyone and went to bed well after their bedtime. The next day we left Davenport for Downers Grove after the breakfast that Janene had provided for us. The kids enjoyed watching a DVD of their favorite show, Phineas and Ferb. I was stopped by a cop along the way, for going 10 miles over the speed limit. We ended up at my parents, watched the pictures and videos and caught up with everyone. It was rare occasion, since both sisters were present.
As you can tell, we were due for a vacation and although short, this was a very nice one!

Mina's White Coat Ceremony

On August 28th, we attended Mina's White Coat Ceremony at Chicago State University in Chicago. It was a nice event, with two of the faculty treating us to songs. We are all pleased that she is attending a university to accomplish her PHD and fulfill her goal of becoming a pharmacist. After the ceremony and refreshments, we visited Mina's dormitory. She was excited to show us around. We were also chased by a bee, and got lost trying to find I-94 to get back home. We all arrived at our place and enjoyed a little BBQ with corn on the cobs.