Chicago

We love going to Chicago. Over the winter we took a family trip up there for a four-day weekend. Kevin took the kids up Friday morning, but I still had to work that day. I flew up that evening to meet everyone, and then we drove home together Monday.

I arrived at bedtime (Kevin had Xoco waiting for me!) but Gwyn was still excited to walk and get breakfast with me Saturday morning.

Saturday we went to Maggie Daley Park, one of our favorite places in Chicago. It is near the Bean, and has different areas for different age groups. I would love to return when it isn't so crowded though. Here are Gwyn and Kevin at the bottom of a four-story slide.

My favorite picture from the park. Gwyn kept trying to surprise me in the mirror maze. (The boys, as usual, refused to be in any pictures.)

We headed to Shedd Aquarium again. (Of course) And typically, we several of us sat down in front to watch the sharks.

No matter how old they get, the boys still love the penguin area. They still play in the play area, but they are so sweet and careful with the little kids, I don't stop them. I remember when they were the little kids in the pay area!

Gwyn really wanted her picture surfing on this turtle.

Saturday night we headed up to the suburbs to see the Noardgaardens. We went to Hofbrauhaus, which K3 strongly disliked. They also had people dressed up as characters walking around, which terrified Gwyneth. So no pictures from there. (I am purposely leaving out the pictures of the shots.)

We needed to rest, so we took the kids to see the Lego Batman movie. This was on the way there. (I fell asleep because I was so tired.)

Not sure where we are going here, but this is how my kids act at bus stops. They are either fighting over reading the map or acting like this.

On the way home, we stopped in Springfield to see my new nephew Stephen! My brother Tony and his wife Hannah had him a few days before we visited! He is adorable!

Colin actually let me take his picture! No surprise though - he likes kids.

Bonus pictures: in 2010 when the boys were the little ones in the penguin play area!