TheOphoffs.com

Outside the Shedd Aquarium. 4/9

Getting a kick out of the tidal pool at Shedd. 4/9

In the forest at Shedd. 4/9

Stairs are way more fun that sea life. 4/9

Watching the dolphins during a break from stair climbing. 4/9

There are the dolphins. 4/9

So the dolphins are more exciting that we thought. 4/9

That's one ugly fish. 4/9

Loving the turtles of the Amazon. 4/9

Wow. Amazonian Rays. 4/9

Calvin's "bedroom" at Curtis's apartment (he slept like a log, by the way). 4/9

Having our picture taken with SUE at the Field Museum. 4/10

Sharing crackers with Uncle Curtis. 4/10

Petting a dinosaur bone at Field. 4/10

Waiting out the tornado warning, sirens blaring, at Rachel's. 4/10

And entertaining Sue (margaritas helped, too). 4/10

Taking advantage of the hotel pool. 4/11

Just how tall IS the kid? 4/11

Practicing the techniques learned in his swimming class. 4/11

Splashing daddy. 4/11

Feeling pleased after that great workout. 4/11

Curtis and Julie at the wedding. 4/12

Groomsman and bridesmaid for a day. 4/12

Queen and King for a day! 4/12

Post wedding bliss. 4/12

More post-wedding bliss. 4/12

Post wedding shenanigans. 4/12

Reunited at the reception. 4/12

Shenanigans at the reception. 4/12

What a soft flower. 4/12

First dance. 4/12

Millionth dance. 4/12

Shenanigans on the dance floor. 4/12

The kid knows how to get down. 4/12

One last photo op for the evening. 4/12

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. 4/13

The birthplace of the thirty-first president of the U.S. 4/13

His one room school house. 4/13

The river through the town, and the Friends Meeting House. 4/13

Inside the Friends Meeting House. Someone left a kid in here. 4/13

Line of site from birthplace to gravesite.

Apparently President Hoover had one lifelong wish, and that was to be burried within sight of his birthplace.  Why they didn't bury him in the yard, we don't know.  Instead the line of sight from the old houes to the gravesite is a federally protected "sight line."

Stopping for the night at Starved Rock State Park in IL. 4/13

The park lodge, on top of the bluff. 4/13

A very strange and incongruous sculpture in the yard. 4/13

The hall in the loge (bar and restaurant are at the end). 4/13

On our evening hike before dinner. 4/13

Still hiking before dinner. 4/13

This is about where we saw the wild turkey on our path. 4/13

On our way back to the lodge for dinner. 4/13

Still heading back for dinner. 4/13

Relaxing by the fire after dinner. 4/13

Feeding the fish (the desk clerk liked Calvin a lot). 4/13

Hugging a lodge bear. 4/14

Hiking after breakfast the next morning. 4/14

A long way off the ground. 4/14

Where we were standing (and the shadow of where we are standing). 4/14

Wildcat Canyon. From above. 4/14

This is where we ended up on the wrong (the long) path. 4/14

Sure was pretty. 4/14

Tying a shoe. 4/14

Calvin is a big fan of hiking. 4/14

Sandy Point Canyon. 4/14

Walking into the LaSalle Canyon. 4/14

Someone should put a path in here. 4/14

LaSalle Canyon. 4/14

Calvin loved the water fall. 4/14

Everyone loves a waterfall. 4/14

The rock formations were beautiful, too. 4/14

Snowdrops in spring. 4/14

Hiking back along the river edge. 4/14

Chasing daddy (he looks worried, doesn't he?) 4/14

Wildcat Canyon. From below. 4/14