6/17/06..Opening Father's Day gifts the night before we left...

6/18/06...Moline, Illinois.  Nathaniel is standing in front of the John Deere pavilion, where many big machines are on display!

Nathaniel prefers the big trucks over the tractors!

Climbing inside the cab of a John Deere tractor.

Can I see your license, ma'am?

Playing by a cool fountain downtown Moline.

Father's Day dinner at TGI Fridays.  We stayed at the Raddison across from the John Deere Pavilion, a very nice place.  We swam and hot tubbed in the evening!

6/19/06...Monday.  Chris left for his week of business meetings in Illinois.  The kids and I spent the morning relaxing in Moline.  We biked along the Mississippi, then returned to the hotel for a morning of swimming.  We left for Morton, to my grandparent's farm midday. 

We met Grandma Rudy at the Brecher farm.  Here she is with Nathaniel looking at the new horses on the farm.

Nathaniel watching a John Deere in action near my Grandpa Brecher's farm.

Playing trucks with Grandma Rudy in front of the farm.

Inside the Brecher kitchen...a place of many happy memories for me.  My grandparents are in their 80s and are amazing!

Annabelle and Nathaniel with their Great Grandpa Brecher.  He was weeding his vegetable patch!

The horses loved Annabelle!

Annabelle and Nathaniel looking at a little foal.  

6/21...Wednesday.  Back in Battle Ground (Indiana), Annabelle spent the day at work with Grandma Rudy.

Nathaniel and I spent the day biking around Battle Ground (my hometown) and the Tippecanoe Battlefield.  Here he is in front of the church I grew up in.  

6/22/06...Thursday.  At Horticulture Park near Purdue's campus with Grandad and Grandma David.  

Eating lunch at Purdue's Memorial Union.

Annabelle and Grandad looking at the model of Purdue's Campus in the Union Building.  This started the "VIP tour" of campus!

On the Boilermaker Train in the Alumni Building.

Go Boilers!

Looking at the old fountain near Stone Hall.

Looking at the big fountain in front of Hovde Hall.

Annabelle and Nathaniel climbing the steps at the Battlefield.

A storm blew a huge limb off a tree at the Battlefield.  Annabelle and Nathaniel played on it for an hour - pretending they were climbing atop the mighty old trees. 

With Grandma Rudy at the amphitheater,  where we saw the Wizard of Oz.  It was done by two of the local high schools and it was excellent!

Annabelle in front of the set.

Dorothy and Glinda on stage - they used a real dog as Toto.  He only ran off once during the 3 hour show!

Scarecrow, Lion, Tinman and Dorothy.

6/23/06...Friday.  Nathaniel playing with the excavator bike at Grandma Rudy's while I did aerobics in the garage!

We spent the afternoon playing at Grandad's.  Here Annabelle is swinging with Grandad.

Chris' parents met us at Grandma Rudy's to visit and go to dinner.  They are seen here with Nathaniel.

Annabelle on Grandma Ludwig's lap.

Eating dinner at Arni's.  We were lucky enough to get the train room!

6/24/06...Saturday.  A sight to behold...the Hahn cousins (my sister's kids) and Annabelle around Grandma Rudy's breakfast table.

At the Fiddlers in Battle Ground, the free kids concert.

Annabelle with her cousins, Ganan, Noah and Jacob (wearing a hat).

I got to visit with my friend Amy and her family at the Fiddlers - always a treat!

The cousins at the Battlefield Monument.  Nathaniel in the front, Jacob on the steps and on the top (L-R) - Annabelle, Noah and Ganan.

Later that day - lots of water fun at Grandad's.  Squirt gun fights were first...

...then the sprinkler and pool...

...and finally the slip and slide!

Annabelle doing a card trick for Noah and Ganan.

The whole clan gathered on the front porch.