Reactions to the sleeping bear were:
Eve immediately transforms into a snarling, roaring bear.
Oak hesitates then runs for Mom crying "Scared!"
Eve the Mountain Goat. Let's just say it took a while to get the goat out of the mountains.
While Eve was being a mountain goat Oak was happy as could be with the baby turtle.
Here is Eve leading her horse down the streets of Chicago.
Our hike along the Illinois River while camping this last weekend.
Eve took this picture of Scott and me.
Eve the River Otter.
Our hike to a beautiful waterfall. I don't know if the kids noticed the falls since they were slightly distracted by the random chipmunks that would fall down the steep walls into the water, swim to the side and try and climb back up.
The kids were great at helping me find fire wood but unfortunately our camping spot was a bit on the boggy side. In fact the first thing the camp manager said when we checked in was "Hope you brought bug spray." Eve and I even got mosquito bites through our shirts. Not nice.
Anyway, back to the fire wood. Most of it was too wet to use which Oak picked up on pretty quick. He'd bring me a stick and say "Fire?" immediately followed by "Wet" with a nod of his head. He would then go put the wet stick on a stump. He built up quite a collection.
Post-Camping Trip Coma.
We've started a new tradition: Sunday Scones. For the past few weeks we've made fresh bread Sunday morning before Church having scones for lunch. It gives the kids something to do and also makes them look forward to Sundays.
Oak is not baking in the nude despite what it may look like in this picture.
Pajama Couch Jumping
Saturday morning run along Lake Michigan
Chillin' with the Oak Man.
Millennium Park, downtown Chicago
Said Miquelin Smith who is now on her way to Texas. She was the one I've been doing boot camp with three times a week. We only met two months ago but have become good friends and I'm sorry to see her leave.
Frozen Custard Cones after a hot day at the park.
The weather was sunny, humid and in the high 90's. We had to have a fire going and wear long sleeves and long pants to keep the mosquitoes away but fortunately there was a beach and we got to go swimming and rinse off the deet a couple of times. The fact is, camping is camping and we had a great time.
This is Oak downing "Spicy Milk" (kefir) but his true love was hot dogs and ketchup on "hot dog bums." 
Eve took these two pictures.
Oak's favorite part about fishing.
We may not be very good at catching fish but we can catch frogs. Oak's frog died within minutes but he continued to play with it for at least an hour. I couldn't watch and definitely didn't take a picture. I don't think he realized it was dead.
Oak a little bit tired after our day of fishing in the sun.
Eve with her boundless energy drew an elaborate picture in the dirt. She was so proud. 
Popcorn and "fireworks" to finish the trip.
A good friend of mine let Eve, Oak, and myself along with my niece Claire and nephew Isaac tag along while she painted a 4x4 foot painting at Riverbend Park (Potomac River). She paints in ink and then pours water over it creating a really cool affect. Here is a link to her website where you can see one of her finished pieces.
Raised in a small South Dakota mining town where he learned the value of a sturdy pickaxe and native tubers, Scott is a man's man who knows the meaning of the word testosterone. Apart from devouring freshly slain beasts of the forest, Scott enjoys sharpening his tools, lifting heavy objects, and throwing a ball at a hoop suspended ten feet off of the ground. He also enjoys Romantic Era poetry and Italian cooking.
