Chicago- Museum of Science and Industry

Laura and I decided to make a day run to the Chicago museum of Science and Industry.  Early flight on Southwest and a 45 minute bus ride and we were there.

The huge model train set was great.  Laura found some kayakers and had to share with everyone.   I saw this German war plane as we walked in and was hoping this Fokker was a Messerschmitt.  But alas it was a Stukka.  So much for bad jokes.

Both Laura and I found our jobs in the Museum.  I think all my family would have found their work in the museum. Even my sister,  believe it or not, they had a patent and industrial law display.

The main reason we went to the museum was to check out this house.  Which you can have built if you want.  It showed off a number of eco friendlier ways of design and material use.  It is a modular home, box rooms built in the factory and put together on site.   It was sweet.  Denver has a townhome site being built on a lot of the same design principles.  I am going to check out how much that would be.  

After a long day and no state fairs for me this year.  I at least got to rest in a John Deere wheel.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh

ps from Laura--- I have to note that the first picture is me pouting because we could not, in fact, go see the giant heart that I have heard about since I was 3 - they're redoing all the human body stuff. And Laura Rose- the patent law display was a climbing wall. L:)

There's the tallywhacker!

So... it's a boy.. we think? It was a pretty indecisive ultrasound - started out a girl, then ten minutes in the tech says "there's the tallywhacker" (this tech cracks us up). We won't torture you with the grainy pics, but everything else looks good, so we'll take it. I guess we're registering in green and yellow anyway... And we'll see how long it is before Ray stops popping up with "There's the tallywhacker" at utterly random moments.

Soon...

So I'm about ready to tattoo "no, I don't know the sex yet" on my forehead...but the sonogram is Monday, so soon I'll have to decide if I'm holding Ray to his promise not to share. As if I can. 

In the meantime, the minion has chosen to make his/her presence known - first distinct kicks. Apparently, Poptarts were the key - a couple of you will find that amusing. 

Busy!

How did we let a whole month go by? I still haven't added Heather's pics to the last blog..

Things have been busy- a bit of kayaking and camping, some nesting, and a trip to NYC for me. I was sampling air on the subway platforms. Here's a fun pic of Kristen (the technician) and I sampling at 14th and Union Square (note the trains! and no comments on the um, fit of my fashionable sampling attire):

We sample the City Hall station, which was one of the first subway stations in the city but now serves only as a turnaround for the 6 train (due to design issues). Because it was the City Hall station, this station is really interesting, with chandeliers, arches and sky lights. They were going to open it as a subway museum, but then 9-11 made everyone less eager to open access up right below City Hall - but I'm glad the MTA people are kind enough to help us sample there. With no people, I tried for some arty pics. Here's one I like:

And finally, for the pics - we stayed in a new hotel - right between Grand Central and the Chrysler Building. Sadly, we had a west (Grand Central) facing room, but I still got to see the reflection of the Chrysler Building:

Things will slow down for me this month, but there's still plenty of nesting to be done. :) Ray has his usual work schedule, and the world is still not safe from the German empire (he's been playing some Civilization in his off time), but I think we're out of camping plans, so between the two of us, maybe the house will actually get worked on. Maybe. :)