A visit to our beautiful city

Millennium Park is one of our favorite places to visit when we go to the city. A week ago we rode the train into the city and walked around. Chicago also offers a trolley and water taxi so we don't have to walk as much when we are in the city. The silver "bean" is fun to walk up to and see your reflection, underneath, and on each side. It reflects the Chicago skyline, which is very cool.






This is a new statue/water fountain in Millennium Park. It is tall and the outside is glass bricks. Behind the glass is a electronic face that every couple of minutes changes expressions. Then it has water that comes out a hole where the mouth is on the picture. Then when the water stops, the face smiles. Water also falls from the top like a waterfall. The picture inside changes to a waterfall. Of course, the best part is the 2 inches of water that we get to wade in.

Amanda and her friend Lexie.

The other place we like to go is the American Girl Store. I follow the girls around and look at all the outfits and dolls. We just can't resisit the opportunity to buy one new outfit for our dolls.

The Tribune tower is another facinating building to see. Each building in the city has unique architecture. The Tribune building has gargoyles on the top and small pieces from places around the world inserted into it's walls. We found a piece of the Mormon Temple in Utah.

Eagle Project

Brandon has done all his merit badges and so now it is time for an Eagle Project. He found a

non-profit center named Omni Youth Services that does social work for groups of kids. They needed some things built for them to use in their counseling sessions.

We cut PVC pipe into 12 inches and in 1/2 lenghwise to make a channel. We had to sand the egdes that were cut. We made 1,ooo channels! In a counseling session they will use them for a game where the kids work together to get a marble to fall into each other's channel and go all the way to the last person.

The black circles are called circle stumps. It's a for a game called river walk. The black vinyl glued to the wood circle helps them be able to use them in gyms, so it doesn't scratch the floor.

The large labrinyth was already built. We sanded the edges and replaced some worn pieces. Then varnished it to look new again. Then we had fun playing with it using a tennis ball.