Chicago is a much different city when you are toting four young kids with you. Todd and I have been to Chicago many times, enjoying the nightlife, the food, the music, the art museums, the theater. I have always loved Chicago, but I knew taking the kids to Chicago would be a different experience all together.
I fell in love with Chicago all over again through my kids' eyes.
We drove into Chicago on Tuesday night. It was fun driving into the city in the dark and watching the kids' eyes pop out as they took in the Chicago skyline. Very exciting stuff. Then of course there was the excitement of staying in a hotel. The kids were CRAZY after the long car ride and it was near impossible to settle them down. Bedtime that night was madness, and there was far too much scolding and yelling. I was afraid we were off to a bad start.
The kids were tired the next day (surprise, surprise- messing around until after midnight makes you tired) but the day went surprisingly well. I think Todd and I started off to a grumpy start (we were also tired so we were less able to handle the kids' fighting and whining) but we managed to turn it around.
There is so much to do, and we tried to cover all the major bases. We bought Chicago CityPasses and that helped immensely. We got in to all of the attractions we wanted to see. The problem was fitting it all in to our two day trip.
Our first stop was The Shedd Aquarium. It was a very cloud/foggy Wednesday morning but that didn't stop us from walking from our hotel to the aquarium.
This time we took a cab (it was a little too far to walk and I think the kids' feet weren't working so well anymore) to the Sears (Willis) Tower. The kids marveled at how fast the elevator went up 103 floors and they LOVED the little glass observation decks. As you can see below, I did not. I was clinging to the wall and only managed to stick a foot out onto the glass. Watching my kids go out onto it nearly made me pass out. I'm sweating just thinking about it. I'll probably have nightmares tonight. Grace, Tommy, and Ben later admitted to me that it REALLY freaked them out too.
Overall, I'd say the trip was a huge success.
Kids exhausted. Mission complete.
No rest for the weary. Tomorrow morning we are leaving early for a trip up north. I'm sure the kids won't be thrilled for another 3 hour car ride, but they are willing to put up with it for a visit to the cabin. Hopefully there will be much fishing, and swimming, and bonfires so we can properly and thoroughly exhaust them again.
Ahh... summer.
16 comments:
Love the pic with all of you in sunglasses. So cute! Sounds like a lot of fun.
How fun! I remember taking our kids to the Rainforest Cafe in Vegas many years ago. They loved it. I would not be able to handle that glass floor at Sears Tower. I get queasy just thinking about it.
When you vacation you do it up bigtime!! They will always remember that one. I have donated a chambered nautilus shell or two to the aquarium...maybe you saw it? ;=)
Looks like you guys know how to have fun! I can't believe you packed all that in and didn't lose your mind!!! Ha ha!
Oh and there is no way I would have gone up in that elevator, and if some how I were tricked into it, I would lose my cool and probably cling desperately to my children. ;) Giggling hysterically with tears streaming down my face, because that's what I do when I'm nervous and freaked out. I look like I need to be committed frankly. I started hyperventilating just looking at the picture of your kids stepping out on the glass... No Freaking Way!!! Good job mom letting them live a little and not infesting them with your fears, much better mom then me. I try so hard, but I fail often.
I so want to visit Chicago and all 3 of those places are on my Must See list!! Looks like so much fun.
The cabin sounds like a nice restful trip. Hopefully everyone will get plenty of relaxation :)
Riahli- I did have nightmares last night. Doggone tower. I think I would rather go sky diving than just standing on that glass box "waiting for my death" as Joey said. He he. I do try very hard not to pass my fears on to my kids. And I went back to the glass box and stood on it for half a second just to try and rid myself of that fear. I don't think it worked. ;)
What a wonderful trip! I love the Shedd and the Field Museum. I know exactly what you mean about the walking, we went to Chicago in December, it was so horribly cold that year we took lots of cabs, the cordoroy in Jacob's pants froze. :)
I absolutely love your flats, too cute!
Hope you enjoy the lake.
(I don't think I could have done the glass box either.)
This sounds like such a fun trip for your whole family. I've never been to Chicago before. I'm pretty sure I'd love it.
How fun! I wanna go to Chicago, too, and do pretty much everything that y'all did. lol
Love the pictures
Awesome!
Man, I missed you in Chicago just by a couple of days! We should meet up there someday. I love that city. I really want to take my family someday...
you have a beautiful family! I can't wait to start taking trips like that will my kids!
Looks like fun!!! I have always wanted to go to Chicago. And it cracks me up how you refer to your cabin as "up north" when I think you are just "up north" in general! I would probably refer to that cabin as "wayyy the heck up north!" ha!
This brings back memories of my family's trip to Chicago, though we didn't do the touring that you did. With three girls who were young at the time, American Girl was tops on the list. And we managed to see Navy Pier. Because we were mainly visiting friends, our touring was limited. The friends did take us to the zoo in Milwaukee, though, which is close to where they live. You've inspired me to get back and do the things you all did. The photos are great. I'm with you on the glass observation deck. I may have fainted or thrown up if I stepped out on it. :)
Continued Happy travels!
sounds like a great trip. my favorite shots are with sue, the glass floor and the sleeping kiddos. but our family likes the weird shots best. thanks for sharing such happiness.
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