Up until this point, our vacation has been very kid-focused. This is much different than our trips to Chicago pre-children, where we slept in late, ate at amazing restaurants, and walked hand-in-hand while we shopped and sipped our cappuccinos. But today? We put our foot down. We both wanted to go back to see the Smart Home, and the kids were just going to have to deal.
Of course, it really didn't take that much convincing. Tom and I took shifts in the museum, and we each got to take a tour. It really was an amazing place, chock full of ideas. Tom came home ready to tear our house apart and then The Voice of Reason (me) stepped in and said that was a terrible idea, both for our financial and mental health. But I can definitely see how we can implement some small changes. There were no photos allowed inside, so I give you one photo of the outside.
Neko has clearly been in need of some one-on-one time, so after Shep and Ellery went down for naps, she and I went on a bike ride. You can just barely see us in that second photo. Tom just happened to be looking out the window and spotted us, and managed to snap a quick photo.
I'd really just intended for us to bike up and down the Lakeshore bike path, but Neko quickly started spotting the beaches, and was soon begging to go. By the time we passed the third beach, I relented, and said she could wade around and just get her feet wet. Needless to say, after 15 minutes she was jumping around the waves in her underwear.
We built a sandcastle, complete with walls and a moat. She lept in and out of the water. She dove and swam and frolicked. I started kicking myself for only taking her to the beach on the very last day, since she clearly loves it so much.
Being at the beach with a five-year-old is a completely different experience than a beach with babies. I actually sat. And relaxed. And played. I wasn't spending my whole time pulling sandy hands out of mouths and eyes and calming the inevitable tears that followed. I was watchful of Neko, but not feeling as though I had to be inches away at all times. It was an excellent peek into our future in beach vacations, and I like what I see.
When the ice cream cart went by for the zillionth time, I agreed it was a good time. I got the coconut bar and she got the SpongeBob bar, infused with so many artificial colors, she was stained from head to toe.
We sat and ate our ice cream and watched the waves. "This is a perfect day," Neko sighed. I couldn't agree more.