Garden Tour

Chris' parents were in town visiting this weekend so we took them to the Chicago Botanic Garden.  We haven't been there in probably close to seven years (the first summer we lived here?), and that is so unfortunate because it is a beautiful area and not nearly as long a drive for us as it is to the Morton Arboretum.  It was a beautiful day!

 

 

 

Chicago Staycation Part II

We talked Chris into taking a day off of work so we could all go to the Morton Arboretum.  It gave James a chance to RUN and play, and Honey and Papa the chance to play their favorite game, "Name That Tree". 

We also got the opportunity to determine that James is NOT allergic to bees, because he got stung not once, but twice!  Poor thing.  A couple of band-aids and a jump in the "pond" healed him right up. 

Chicago Staycation Part I

Honey and Papa came for a visit a couple weeks ago.  Papa thought 10 days was going to be waaaaaaay too long to be here (staying in our house), but the time flew by and before I knew it they were headed back to Arizona.  We fit in a lot of fun around Chicago, and lucked out by having beautiful weather before the heat and humidity arrived.

One day we took the train downtown and did the architecture tour on the Chicago River.  Trains + Boats = lots of fun for 3 year old boys!

We spent the rest of the afternoon on Navy Pier.  We checked off lunch at Bubba Gump (turns out James loves shrimp), the Ferris Wheel and carousel.  Honey and Papa rode on the "swings" while James and I looked on.  And James got a ride on the train, because we knew if he didn't that would be the ONLY thing he remembered from that day, that we didn't let him ride on it :)

enjoy the ride of life

At least one of us has been working our tails off for the past two months, and unfortunately that has meant that James has not been getting the attention he needs and deserves.

So we walked away from the housework (for at least the day) last Saturday and deemed it "James' Special Day". We went out to breakfast, went downtown to Lincoln Park Zoo, and then went to the FRG fireworks that night. It was great for ALL of us to be out of the house for a while...and to not think of all that is still left to do.

James got to ride the train

and the carousel

and practiced his jumping skills.

"Enjoy the ride of life" is the dedication plaque that was placed below the zebra James chose to ride on the carousel. This has been one bumpy ride the past couple of months, and I know I need to do a better job "enjoying" this time, embracing it for what it is, and to know that there will be smooth roads ahead as well (and to be realistic, I'm sure there are more bumps to be had too). This day was a great reminder of what is really important in this ride we are on.