Pere Marquette

Jim took a vacation day last Thursday and we rented a cabin at Pere Marquette State Park.  After checking out our cabin (which had a king size bed, bunk beds, and a pack-n-play), we got ready for a hike.

Jack is pretending to wear the hiking backpack with Patrick in it.

These are the cabins we stayed in.

The fall colors were really pretty.  Jack did great on the hike.  Some parts were pretty steep, but he held our hands and didn't complain.

We met a couple along the way and they took our picture.

This picture is compliments of the self-timer on the camera.

A view of the Illinois River from one of the look-outs.

We were setting up for another family shot.  Jack didn't want to sit on the high ledge.

After hiking, we swam in the indoor pool and hot tub.  Then we had a nice dinner in the lodge.  It was a nice, relaxing day with just the four of us.

Here are a few more pictures of our past week.  The first are of Jack painting the other day.  He wore one of Jim's old t-shirts as a smock.

We went to the zoo last week.  It was a little cool, but not too bad.  They are making a new sea lion exhibit, so we got to peek through the fence and watch the construction.

No trip to the zoo is complete without a ride on the train!

On Sunday we went to a Baptism for the daughter of a friend.  Jack signed the card by himself. I think this is the first time he ever wrote his name on paper by himself (so, of course, I had to take a bunch of pictures).