Chicago Trip - Day 3

After checking out of our hotel, we headed to Navy Pier. First we went to the Children's Museum. It is kind of like our Magic House. The boys loved it. It took a while for them to move from the first room, which had a fire truck and fireman clothes. Afterward, they found the kitchen area where they made ice cream cones and pizza. If you know my boys, then you know these two rooms took about an hour to get through.






After that Kevin braved the rope tunnels to get the the next floor, where they discovered the building materials. Colin spent a lot of time placing washers on any available hook or bolt, while Kevin and Daddy built a bench! Kevin was so proud that he had made it, he even wanted his picture sitting on it!






The museum also had a transportation room, a water room, a bug room, and a dinosaur fossil room. The boys enjoyed them all. They especially liked the habitat area. There were caves, and both boys enjoyed climbing in and growling like animals. Colin even went out to get a fish to feed to the pretend bear.

After lunch we all headed to the Tall Ship Windy for a boat ride. We were treated to pirate stories as the ship sailed from the pier to the planetarium and back. Colin spent a lot of the time snuggling with me, while Kevin enjoyed the pirate stories and watching the skyline. Kevin also told us that he had been on a train, a bus, and a boat. Now he needs to be on an airplane.





After the boat ride we transfered to the condo. Kevin asked if we were going to move every day. We let him know this was our last move. (The plan was to be in the hotel for two nights and then the condo for the rest of the trip. The hotel was walking distance to the pier, while the condo was walking distance to Museum Campus.)

Here are a couple pictures of the condo. We loved the view of Grant Park and the pier. There was a bus stop right outside the door, and an El stop, grocery store, diner, and doughnut shop within one block. And the Metra tracks ran by us as well, so Colin got to see a lot of trains. Perfect for us!

Chicago Trip - Day 2

We all had breakfast at the hotel and then Louise, Kelly, Kevin and I headed to the Cubs game. The Cardinals were in town so we headed up to Wrigley Field. The weather was perfect, even if we lost the game. While at the game Pappy took the boys to The Rainforest Cafe where they got new cups, and then they napped.






After the game we moved into our new room in the same hotel. Kevin was very excited that our room was so close to the ceiling. He wanted a picture of it.


And of course the first thing that was done was that a train was made. There were two engineers, however, since Colin was upset that Kevin was the driver. Kevin came up with the solution of having two engineers. That made everyone happy.


For dinner we returned to The Rainforest Cafe. Both Kevin and Colin enjoyed walking us around showing us the fish and elephant and gorilla and talking tree they had seen just hours earlier. (Actually it was more like Kevin showing us the stuff he liked, and Colin showing us stuff he was scared of.) He wasn't very interested in having his picture taken.

Chicago Trip - Day 1

So we had our first family vacation this past week. (We are not counting our trips to Kansas City as vacation, although they are fun.) We headed to Chicago to meet up with Aunt Kelly, Pappy and Grandma (Kevin and Louise).

We left St. Louis on an Amtrak train around 5:30 Friday evening. We had dinner on the train, and the boys were very excited. They spent time watching movies and playing. I think Colin's favorite part was looking out the windows to count motorcycles with me. Kevin and I were amazed at how well they did. Crying only happened once, which was when I stepped on his fingers accidentally. Kevin never reached his breaking point, and Colin lasted until we arrived at Chicago's station. We were very proud. I think the passengers around us were also relieved.



We met Aunt Kelly and Pappy at Chicago's Union Station, where they dropped off all four of us, along with 9 separate pieces of luggage, at the Embassy Suites located at 600 State Street. We arrived around 11:30 pm with two very tired boys. When we got to the front desk we were told that they were sold out and did not have a room for us. We had called earlier that day to let them know we would be arriving very late, close to midnight. Apparently that did not stop them from giving our room away. They did offer us a room at the O'Hare location. That was out of the question. They also found a room in a different hotel with one queen bed, which was also out of the question. So we spent about 20 minutes arguing with the front desk before they gave us cash for a taxi.

Thankfully, Pappy, Grandma, and Kelly were staying at another, nearby Embassy Suites. Since they had two rooms which included two double beds and a fold-out couch, we all crashed there. We had someone sleeping on the floor, but at least we were all downtown. What a great way to start the trip!

A Very Fun Sunday

Yesterday was a very fun day for our family. After breakfast we all headed to the zoo for Kevin's class. (He signed up for two classes this summer. His first one was Zoo Clues, and his friend Kyle was there with him. They talked about carnivores and herbivores and were then given clues to figure out an animal. Once they said the animal was nocturnal, he figured out that it was an owl! Colin's class isn't until September.)

Kevin was excited to go to class with his dad. This class was about water animals, and they visited the stingray exhibit. Last summer he was too scared to touch the stingrays, but yesterday he did! He was so proud. Kevin (the dad) even fed one. It was a bit strange watching the stingray eat the fish, which made Kevin (the son) laugh when retelling the story. Colin and I had a blast riding the train and playing in the rain. After the class we all went to the aviary and then lunch.

The stingray exhibit at the zoo.

Other children touching the stingrays.

After naps for the guys and a baby shower for me, we made pizzas for dinner and headed to the pool. Kevin again did something new - he went down the slide! He went down a few times last summer, but refused this summer. (Earlier this week we visited a different pool with a simpler slide with Aunt Cathy. He loved that slide, and I think he felt more confident trying Wapelhorst's slide.) He went down at lest 10 times! We didn't have our camera, but here is some other kid going down the same slide. That kid looks happy.

The boys seemed to have a lot of fun. Normally they cling to us. This time they were running around and laughing on their own. They both love jumping to us, but Kevin was telling us to back up so he could jump farther! What a brave day for a very cautious child! For the first time, we actually we there until the pool closed, and the boys didn't want to leave!

Learning Letters

I haven't been posting because I have had a difficult time posting pictures, and I really like having pictures when I post. My apologies.

Kevin has asked us 3 times in the last few months to teach him to read. So I tell him we start with letters, but he has shown very little interest in them. (Other then the letters in his name.) However, all of a sudden on Friday he started telling his teach which letters she was talking about. And he has been doing the same for me.

For example, I asked what letter "dog" starts with, and he yelled "D, for Dylan!" Then I asked about spider and trash truck and he yelled s and t immediately and was excited. He is even starting to point out letters on street signs. It is so interesting to watch his development and interest change in such a short time.

Number Sense

I have been asking Kevin questions about numbers lately, just to see what he understands. Here was our conversation today:

Me: Kevin, what is one more than 2?
Kevin: 3!
Me: What is two more than 2?
Kevin: 4!
Me: What is three more than 2?
Kevin: 5!
Me: What is four more than 2?
Kevin: 6!
Me: What is five more than 2?
Kevin: 7!
Me (thinking he is just counting up now): What is four more than 2?
Kevin: 6!
Me: What is three more than 2?
Kevin: 5!

I think he gets it. I was very surprised at his number sense, especially since last week when we asked him what three more than 4 was and he didn't know. This was the first time he has told me anything more than "two more."

Colin Hiding (Bonus Child Included!)

They were playing hide and seek. And if you ever play with them, this is the only place they hide. Ever. Even when you play it for over 30 minutes.

Father's Day Cardinals Game

For Father's Day Kevin went to the Cardinals game with the boys and his parents. It was Colin's first game, although I am not thinking he will remember it. (We are most likely going to do another game as his official first game later.) Even though it was hot and Colin would not sit still, they all lasted until about the 6th inning. Here are some pictures.

Sundays are "Free Ice Cream" day. I think someone needs to let Kevin and Colin know so they don't expect it every time they go. This week, they got ice cream sandwiches and a popsicle!


Kevin eating a hot dog.


Colin eating a pretzel. (I am wondering if they did anything other than eat.)


Pappy and Colin


The boys.

Steve's iPad

Our friends Steve has an iPad. It is his favorite new toy, and he graciously loaded some great kids games for Kevin and Colin. Kevin loves the spelling games, while Colin plays the animal matching ones. (Kudos to Steve for searching through the games to find some great ones!)

While we were visiting downtown the other week, Steve brought his iPad for the boys. Here are the pictures of him with the boys, and then me with them at the diner. You can tell the boys are having fun!

Kevin's Picture

If anyone ever wonders why we have plenty of cute pictures of Colin, but not as many as Kevin, here is your explanation. (I try hard to get pretty even coverage of the kids.) Here is Kevin's response when I asked to take his picture while we were visiting Aunt Cathy for dinner.

Saving Mommy

This morning at breakfast Kevin just started going "Bang bang bang bang!" while looking at me. He wasn't really pointing a finger or saying he was shooting, but he was playing. (For those who dont' have boys, everything is or can be a bad guy who needs to be taken down so others can be saved.) Colin immediately started crying and yelling "No, stop! Not mommy!" It took .16 seconds for him to jump to my rescue. Good to know who I can turn to.