Category: travel

If you're ever in Chicago (or another big city) with kids for a number of days, I highly recommend the CityPass, which has saved us a bundle of cash. We decided to do it on a whim on our first day at the Field Museum, and it's worked out really well. Okay…enough advertising…

Today we made our way to the Museum of Science and Industry. This has been the first time we've had to drive since our first night. It was actually kind of nice to hop into a slice of home, even if just for a ten minute car ride.

We loved this museum from the start. We got there right when they opened, so we beat the crowd and had our pick of exhibits. We started with the farm exhibit, which featured a huge tractor and a combine. You know, I don't really think of Shep as a vehicle kid, but he could have bounced back and forth between the tractor and the combine all day. They built stairs into the side of each, so he was easily able to hop in and out, and, lordy, did it take some work to pry him out of there.

We went from there to the Omnimax movie about dinosaurs. Will someone in the dinosaur world PLEASE make a dinosaur movie which doesn't spend half the time showing one dinosaur attacking or eating another? I know they weren't the smartest animals, but surely they played a game of tag every now and them?

Ellery didn't make it through the movie, and when we found she and Tom, she was doing her best astronaut impression. A step above your typical state fair cut-out, the kids couldn't stop playing on it.

There was so much more stuff we saw and didn't see. Tom and I were dying to see the Smart Home, but our wiggly children were too wiggly. I may try to sneak back there before we go.

Another highlight, the ToyMaker 3000, where you can create a small toy top, watching the entire automated process happen from beginning to end. We were having so much fun, I didn't snap a single photo, but you can refer to this cheesy YouTube video for reference.

We put the kids to bed on time, but woke Neko and Shep up for the 10:15pm Navy Pier fireworks. They had been jazzed about them for days, so we promised we wouldn't let them miss out. Neko kept falling back asleep, but Shep sat with his chin resting on the back of the couch, wide-eyed. I remember that illicit feeling of being up far past your bedtime and getting to do something that simply takes your breath away.

What? You thought just because we're on vacation Neko wouldn't uncover strange and weird bugs? I have no idea what this caterpillar is, but it was all I could do to convince Neko that we could not take it home, as we're already traveling with a chrysalis, awaiting its transformation into a moth.

There is no room in the bug cage, kiddo.

…it's possible I should have packed a few more toys.

Today we headed to Shedd Aquarium. Lots of great aquatic things to see, but nothing topped the dolphin show. Neko now no longer wishes to be a train engineer, but instead, would like to be a dolphin trainer.

I've also included a shot of the view out our window, which we can't stop staring at, as well as a shot of the jets that keep zooming past our window. Little did we know, the Chicago Air and Water Show was this weekend, and we're getting to see all the practice runs. It was a bit alarming at first, but now it's become another source of entertainment, just outside our window.

Our outing today was to the Field Museum, which, if you aren't familiar, houses one of the most famous T-Rex skeletons named Sue. I visited Sue myself before I had children, and was somewhat in awe. It naturally follows that I thought Neko would be astounded. She's a total dinosaur nut right now, so I happily babbled to anyone who would listen about how amazing that moment would be when we walked into the museum and she first laid eyes on Sue.

You would think by this point in my parenting career I would have learned that this whole gig is completely unpredictable and that nothing ever goes as you've planned. True to form, we walked in to see Sue after much hype and excitement, I pointed and Neko looked up and said, "Yeah, I've seen that before." She then walked off to some case full of stuffed birds and exclaimed, "Mom, look at these BIRDS."

So whatever. Sue? Yawn. Stuffed birds? Wheeee!

To redeem herself, she did cozy up to the Brachiosaurus outside. You know, after she crushed my spirit.

Shep and Ellery loved the music room, where I actually got a chance to take a few photos because it was a room with a door. That closes. And contains children. Super fun display with musical instruments from around the world.

On the walk home my nature child was able to find this enormous mushroom in the middle of a city of skyscrapers. She demanded I take a photo, because clearly large fungi is far more interesting than an nearly-complete ancient fossil.

Despite my disappointing dinosaur moment, it really has been a wonderful vacation so far. Our location is ideal. Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue are to the North and Millennium Park and all the museums lie to our south. We've been able to walk nearly everywhere. In fact, I think I walked about four hours today. My hip, which I seem to think is only 18 years old, is now reminding me that three babies treated it like a lounge chair on some Caribbean beach, and now it is payback time.

But other than the dinosaur and my future hip replacement? Excellent.

Today? Magic Kingdom.

We arrived early, the kids fueled by donuts and the adults by sticky buns (which omigosh if you’re ever at Disney just dive into one of those and don’t come up for air). We got to see the opening ceremony and charged into the park. This was a good plan, as we hopped onto three or four rides with no waiting. Shep, who up until this point has been on stimulus overload, was actually enjoying himself and asking to do more.

After a while we split up, R&D taking Neko to the bigger kid rides, while Shep and I settled in for another round of Winnie the Pooh and the teacups.

I have to say, however, my favorite ride is Small World. It’s ticky-tacky nostalgia, but the kids, even the babies, ride through with slack-jaw awe and never know where to focus their eyes next. Plus I can’t get enough of the weird retro illustration style.

Later on we bought pretzels bigger than the kids’ heads and Neko ate THE WHOLE THING. Clearly the donut wasn’t enough, so we had to top it off with more nutritionally void carbohydrates. Shep ate all the salt off of his pretzel, and every now and then would kindly offer me a piece or two (of the salt, that is), saying “It’s really good!”

We actually managed to get the kids in bed by 9:30pm, only to have them awoken by the fireworks. Neko came screaming through the room, rounding us all up. So we all sat and watched the fireworks, which up until now had really scared Shep. “I’m not afraid of them now!” he declared. I can’t think of a better way to end the day.

We declared today Pool Day. The kids have been itching to go since we arrived, so today we planned the whole morning around it. Of course, I don’t have any pictures of the actual pool since I was watching Ellery most of the time. Ellery pooped out after about an hour. Shep was not much further behind. But Neko? She lasted for hours, and thank goodness Renita hung in there with her, because I went screaming from the cold water in about ten minutes flat.

In the afternoon we headed to Epcot where we had dinner reservations. Our big quest was to find the fabled Beatles store somewhere in the United Kingdom, which we had heard about by someone with whom we were standing in line. It turned out to be about two walls of random paraphernalia, none of which was particularly appropriate for Shep. We finally selected a box of magnets and Shep thoroughly charmed the man working the store and a random fan who was shopping by pointing out all the Beatles and declaring his favorite is Paul. The store clerk said his favorite was John and Shep nodded and said, “Yep, he has the glasses.”

We also hit up the Nemo ride and aquarium, which was a huge hit for Ellery. As were the beans and rice during dinner, as you can see.

And, yes, nearly every picture from today is of Ellery. Why? BECAUSE SHE STANDS STILL. I’m trying very hard to capture the moments, but it’s a bit like shadowing some celebrity that just wants to grocery shop in peace. You two duck at every turn.

Today is Saturday, which I think we can all agree is not a good time to visit the Magic Kingdom. So we headed off the the Animal Kingdom instead. We began in the dinosaur area, which was a home run considering how popular dinosaurs are around here. Every little girl should get to climb on a triceratops skull.

Then we were off to the Nemo show which Neko thought was amazing. I thought the first five minutes were pretty amazing, too, with spectacular costumes and puppetry. And then Shep decided the whole world was caving in around him and began to freak out, so he and I left with Renita and Ellery.

We decided to head out to some other area of the park, which is pretty laughable, because Renita and I are completely inept when it comes to geography and directions. By the time we’d looked at the map from six different directions and walked about 62 miles, we had gotten nowhere and Tom called to say the show was over.

So we threw in the towel and met up at the petting zoo area which was Neko’s top pick for the day. Now, it always amazes me when we travel hundreds of miles and the kids’ favorite thing is something we could do on an average Tuesday and be home in time for lunch.

Anyway, there were goats and sheep to pet. Shep fell in love with this goat named Violet, and cuddled with her for nearly an hour. I’m not kidding. Neko explored the entire Conservation Station (which is no small thing) while Shep held long conversations with Violet and growled at anyone who dared to come near his goat.

In other news, Neko and Shep are going to bed at 10pm, but Ellery is waking up at 5:30am. The parents are tired, but having a really good time.

On your mark! Get set! GO!

We made it. The kids were absolute troopers. R&D were saints. Even though I kind of forgot about booking that whole Magical Express thing where they pick you up and take care of the luggage, which you know, saves you the cost of renting a car which offsets the cost of staying at a nicer place (read: better location) But, you know, this plan only works IF YOU REMEMBER TO USE IT.

Managed to fix that whole snafu at 8am, and it all worked itself out. We barely had a chance to immerse ourselves in our surroundings before we declared it time for bed. Tomorrow? A fresh start.

On a side note, happy birthday to Beth, who I never remember to send a card to, yet she almost always remembers to send one to me.