Exploring the Burbs

Bright and early yesterday morning, Nate decided he wanted to go to the flea market. (The flea market, you guys! For real! This is how it starts - next thing you know, he will be sending anonymous ripped jeans to my dad and negotiating bride prices for Sophie and Clara. Help!) But after the trek out there, we discovered that it wasn't open. We had sold it to Sophie as a grand adventure and she was expecting one - eek! We scrambled and found a forest preserve right nearby. We spent some time exploring the woods and throwing things in the lake. Clara was especially fearless about getting her rocks in the water. We have to watch this kid!

Then, thanks to our trusty iphones, we found that the Wildwood Nature Center was close by too. It was basically just one room with cages full of prarie dogs and snakes and toads and mice, etc. And the guys that worked there were so nice and got the bunny and the ferret out for the girls to pet. Well, for Clara to smack.

 There was a park across the street so we did some sand balls.

By then it was time for lunch so, again using our iphones (what did people do without them???), we looked for a restaurant and figured out that the Choo Choo Restaurant was in the neighborhood. I've always wanted to take the girls but not enough to drive all the way out to Des Plaines. But since we were already there... The food was actually delicious and Sophie loved watching the train deliver everyone's meals, especially the super sprinkley cupcakes with train whistles on top. So it turned out to be a fabulous day and maybe Nate has forgotten his impulse to go junking. Hopefully.