Trip to Chicago

We had a great Spring Break trip to Chicago at the beginning of the week. It was a bit strange acting like a tourist with my husband and two kids in a place I once lived as a single girl. I kept cringing on public transportation as we delayed commuters hauling our stroller and babies on and off. 

The back half the week has proven to be not as much fun (Max threw his back out, Elise and I have the stomach flu, the muffler fell off my car on the way home from the doctors and we lost the cottage we had secured for 4th of July...all in 24 hours.) We're committed to focusing on the positive though! These pictures help me do just that!

Below is little miss, so close to crawling that I had to share. She scoot backwards, but only converts from knees to belly flop right now. So onto the show...

 

EASTER SUNDAY:

Museum of Science & Industry

Swimming

Dinner at Rosebuds on Rush

Ryan aboard a real steam engine!

It was a dream come true to see the MSI's gigantic miniture train exhibit.

Ryan on a human hamster wheel.

This exhibit asked kids to try and make the people on the screens laugh with movement. The more you laughed and moved, the more they did too. Ryan thought it was hilarious.

Even Elise got into things, touching this static electricity globe and having it react with her hand.

The water play place was a big hit...

...As was the life size, REAL John Deere equipment that Ryan got to drive. Both a tractor and a combine made this little man very happy.

After the MSI, we attempted to take Elise for her first swim. This picture of her in her new bathingsuit in the hotel room is about as happy as she was about the entire experience.

Ryan however was a fish and very excited to use his new goggles he got for Easter.

Later that night we had a fancy dinner at Rosebuds on Rush to celebrate Easter. It was strange to be away from church and family for the day, but we had a lot of great talks with Ryan about the reason for Easter and tried to make due (we did not realize it was Easter when we booked everything :)

MONDAY:

Breakfast at Yolk

Bus Rides!

Shedd Aquarium

Swimming

Lego Store & Foodlife Cafe

Hancock Tower

Cheesecake Factory for Dessert

Shedd was a bit crazy and overwhelming since it was Spring break for everyone, but we had fun our second morning there. Here Ryan's impressed with the Jellies exhibit. We also met up for a bit with our friends the Alguires too.

Ryan making his "this is a battle" commander face as he launches a torpedo from the kids submarine.

Watching for sharks...Ryan's real reason for being at Shedd.

Mass transit was a hit with our kiddos. Here's the fam on the bus.

Hancock tower was inspiring near sunset.

My boys navigating he city...hey, maybe this is why Max's back is out?

TUESDAY:

More Buses

Children's Museum on Navy Pier

Bubba Gumps for Lunch

Subway Ride

Giordano's for Dinner

Swimming

 

We got to be pros at waiting for the bus.

The Children's Museum on Navy Pier was the best surprise of the trip. So many unique exhibits for the kids.

Elise loved the crazy mirrors.

And Ryan loved the life-sized fire exhibit. They even had a real Chicago fireman handing out coloring books and a fireman's pole and truck you could drive.

Below Ryan was a staircase, so this is very high up and our brave boy climbed through even though you had to be 5 to do it.

Max and Ryan digging for dino bones.

Rerouting water from a bubbler with tubes. Its a miracle everyone made it out dry.

Bob, I mean, "Ryan the Builder" after making a fort from bolts and sticks.

 My boy and I got to ride the subways for two hours, just the two of us.

 Ryan transferring between red line and brown line.

 

WEDNESDAY:

Breakfast in Bed

One Last Swim

Two Toots Grill

Home!

 

Wednesday was all about food. It started with breakfast in bed...

 

...And ended at Two Toots, a restaurant Ryan has been excited to dine since hearing about it a year and a half ago. Trains deliver your food to your table.

 He could not have been any happier, especially since

the place is right near the metra lines and he saw three commuter trains while we were there.

 

Did I mention this place is 30 miles WEST of the city? Yeah, that's love of boy and trains to drive the opposite direction on your way home, but it made his day and it made our trip.