Chicago has more than just the Cubs!

Last weekend we packed up the kids and headed to Chi-town for a 3 day weekend. On Saturday we went to the Chicago Field Museum, the largest museum in the country! The girls enjoyed the dinosaurs and children's interactive play area the most while Aaron and I were intrigued by the famous (now dead and stuffed) man eating lions of Tsavo. We then went back to the hotel (Hyatt McCormicks Place- a 4 star we got on priceline that was superb!) and went swimming in near frigid waters. Brrrr. After warming up, we headed off to Giordano's for some famous Chicago deep dish pizza... yum! The next day we headed off to Navy Pier and the Children's Museum. Isabel has informed us this was her favorite day. The museum was great... tons of interactive stuff for the kids. We swung by the Build-a-Bear shop where Isabel made her new friend, Ianna. After dinner at Bubba Gump's we called it a day and took a taxi back to the hotel (the kids first America public transportation ride). Next morning we got up and went to Shedd's aquarium and watched a dolphin show, saw the sharks and scarred Isabel for life at what appeared to be an innocent 4D showing of Sponge Bob Squarepants (sort of like Soarin at Disney). While Aaron and I thought it was a great time, Isabel started screaming and crying and buried her head in my shoulder the whole time. It was in 3D and then had tons of cool special effects (like how your chair would move, water squirted out at you, air blew on you, smells came out.... etc). Five years and I still don't understand her... I was VERY hesitant to let her ride on the 150ft tall ferris wheel (which she ended up loving!) and had no concerns about the Sponge Bob movie (which I am pretty sure is going to land her in therapy some day). On the way home, we stopped at Fair Oaks Dairy farm for ice cream and a huge trampoline (those two things don't mix well... just keep that tucked away for future use).

Big fish at museum Isabel's new friend.


Well, Isabel did it first... so we all had to!

View from the ferris wheel... kids and dad on the carousel

In the canoe... always a safety girl.   Hugging spider.. Not my kid!

So excited to ride the bus! At Navy Pier


Sydney is testing out new careers. Climbing at the children's museum
Pizza... YUM!

syd the builder!

 

Silly girls posing with the T-rex! Who are you more afraid of?

         

Digging for dinosaurs! Look, I'm as big as a dino footprint!

Happy Birthday Aaron!

April 12th was Aaron's 32nd birthday and in celebration, all the Elliott girls made a triple layer italian cream cake (Aaron's favorite).

Cafe Elliott

Some friends of ours gave us a table set for the girls' room and they have had nothing but fun with it since they got it! Here they are reading their "menus" that Isabel drew up in preparation for ordering their lunch at the cafe. 

This is them, after ordering the house specialty, grilled cheese. This restaurant gets five stars... a great window view, gourmet food by a top chef (me) and an impeccable wait staff (me). Isabel even gave me a tip (a whole $0.25)! Perhaps we eat out too much when my 5 year old knows to tip.

Isabel doing her thing!

Here is a quick video montage of Isabel at tap and gymnastics.

Biking and a Picpic (as Syd would say)

Today we loaded up the kids and hit the trail... the monon trail that is! First stop... the grocery to stock up on healthy and nutricious lunch options like lunchables and combos snacks! 

Next, we attached the bike trailer, loaded in the kids and their items (dolls, books, fruit sna

cks), and our cooler. 

The girls were a bit snug (smaller trailer) but had a blast.

We found a great place to stop for lunch 

and feed the geese

 Then Syd fell asleep on the way back after lunch (and Isabel pretended to be asleep). Overall, a fabulous day enjoying the beautiful spring weather!