July - September 2022

 Anna and Mom started July in France.  Jack was at Philmont in New Mexico.  Kate was at Waldsee language camp in Northern Minnesota.  Big adventures for everyone.  Dad was in charge of making sure everyone got picked up when they were supposed to be picked up.  In early August, we met up with our friends for a vacation at Lake Chautauqua, which involved lots of relaxing, some time on the water, and a trip to see "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in concert" with a live orchestra at the Chautauqua Institute.  We did an adventure course in the trees at a wintertime ski resort.  Jack and Dad helped plan a long weekend camping trip for Jack's Scout troop that went to the St. Louis City Museum; likely, that was the last campout for Jack with the Troop.  We managed to use the fire pit a few times as the weather started getting cooler at the end of September.

Anna and Mom in France

Anna and Mom at a Chateau

Jack at Philmont

Pont du Gard

bookstore in Paris

Paris Metro stop

Arc de Triomphe

Mona Lisa

Eiffel Tower

Kate am Waldsee

Kate with Waldsee friends

on Lake Chautauqua

Jack and Dad kayaking (no lake sandwich yet)

end of the trip (someone's lunch was one sandwich short)

the group at the Chautauqua Institute

Lake Erie beach

Mom and Jack on the adventure course

Kate on the adventure course

Anna on the adventure course

Dad and Jack on the roof at City Museum in St. Louis

fire pit

April - June 2022

As we got into Spring and the start of summer, with COVID becoming a little more manageable, we started doing more activities.  The ballet school and company had a performance of Alice in Wonderland.  Anna and Kate were in both shows.  In the second show, Kate had to fill in as one of the flamingos during the croquet scene; she learned the entire routine in one day and gave a great performance.  After his successful Eagle Scout board of review in February, he participated in his Eagle Scout Court of Honor to receive his pin and neckerchief.  He also added his name to the troop's ever-growing plaque of members who have become Eagle Scouts. In mid-June, Kate left for Waldsee, the German language immersion camp for a second summer.  Jack, Anna, Mom and Dad all headed up to Chicago in late June.  From there, Jack, along with a crew of boys and adults from his scout troop, boarded a train to head to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  This was Jack's second Philmont trek.  Anna and Mom boarded an airplane the for a flight to Paris for a few weeks in France.  Dad stayed in Chicago for a conference, then headed home to "hold down the fort".

Anna as the red queen from Alice in Wonderland

Kate from Alice in Wonderland

Anna and Kate after the show

Anna and Kate after the second show

Summer intensive week 1

Goofing off

Jack hearing the Eagle challenge

Jack getting his Eagle pin

Jack at the close of his Eagle Court of Honor with his rank pin and neckerchief

Jack with the Troop 335 Eagle Scout plaque (along with his Scoutmaster)

playing Kübb

Kate moving in at Waldsee

Anna after the summer intensive final performance

Last picture before the big adventures start

January - March 2022

A few pictures from the first quarter of 2022.  We are still trying to stay safe with COVID still around for the start of the year; we have a bit of an advantage home schooling.  Kate celebrated her birthday. Jack submitted all of his paperwork for Eagle Scout and then had the Board of Review with the Sagamore Council.  Kate got a sourdough starter going, and she started some baking.  Anna and Jack celebrated their birthday with a cake.

Anna in online class

Big snowfall in February

Jack with his merit badge sash the night before his Eagle board of review

Kate wearing her birthday tiara

Kate's loaf of bread

Troop 335 court of honor

The twins with their birthday cake

October - December 2021

We continued into fall with our school studies.  For "October Break", we went with some friends on a short camping trip to Raccoon Creek state recreation area.  There is no fall recreational soccer, but Jack stayed active with his scout troop; a highlight was a two-night backpacking trip into the Hoosier National Forest. Dad went with Jack on the trip.  We had to set up our backpacking tents--one person per tent--in the dark on Friday night.  We completed about 10 miles total in a series of loops.  Kate and Anna continued with ballet, too; they were able to go back to in-person classes in the ballroom with mask wearing as part of the protocol.  We also took some photos during our Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities.

setting up for dinner at Raccoon Creek

a chilly morning at camp

Jack helps with the Eagle Scout court of honor for his troop mates who earned Eagle since the pandemic started

Jack getting his tent ready in the dark at Hoosier National Forest

Jack and Dad on the trail with our packs

breaking camp on Sunday morning

Dad got a new phone, and he used the portrait mode to take a picture of Jack

our Christmas lights are up, and Dad used the night mode on his phone to take a picture

Kate helping prepare the Thanksgiving dinner with Jack
(she did make crescent rolls, but we didn't get a photo)

the pumpkin pie that Jack made with some help from Mom and Kate

a silly selfie at Thanksgiving dinner

Kate with a Christmas gift

Anna and Jack with Christmas gifts

Kate and Anna after the Lafayette Ballet Company's
"private performance"

Christmas dinner family selfie