Monday, May 20, 2013

We're Thinking Chicago...

The Ferris Wheel from our trip to Chicago two years ago.
We're thinking Chicago...

Summer is fast approaching now and we are starting to plot out our mini-vacation plans. One thing on the agenda (and it usually is), is Chicago. It's not really a long drive for us and there's always so much to do. One of my very first blog posts ever was about a trip we took to Navy Pier. We won't be going there this time around because there are so many things to see and do that we haven't yet, but it was an awesome place to visit. We skipped it last year too, because we had something else we wanted to see, but  maybe next year we'll go back. It is a place worth visiting more than once.

The two youngest acting goofy in the gift shop (again, a picture from two years ago).

Tops on the agenda for me is the Art Institute of Chicago. On their website they mentioned having both Seurat and Boucher paintings, but aside from the fabulous paintings they promise, they also have a lot of other categories of art that I would like to see. It's hard to know how much time to plan for museums, some you are in and out of fairly quickly, and others you could be in all day and still not have enough time. If anyone has been to the Art Institute of Chicago and has some insight on how long it takes to have a good visit, I would love to hear it.

The location of the museum is prime, with several other big area attractions close by, but again I'm not quite sure how much time we'll spend in the museum, so we'll play the rest of that day by ear. Hubby is coming along this trip, and he usually does not. In fact, this will be the first time he and I have been to Chicago together (we've both been separately or with one of the kiddos). Strange that we haven't been together because we usually do most things as a family.  That will make this trip extra nice. He wants to go for the pizza.  He's been to Chicago many times, but has never had the pizza (say what??!!). I had pizza my first time in.

Sorry to the Chicago pizza lovers though...I'm more of a NYC pizza lover. My husband is a deep dish man, so I'm guessing he'll like the pizza there.

Another place I want to see is the Willis Tower. It used to be called the Sears Tower, and was once the tallest building in the US.  Hubby says he's not interested in going, but the rest of us really, really want to go, and it is my educated guess hubby will 'tag along' and end up loving it, or we may have to get a hotel close by so we can mosey on over while he's relaxing (sleeping in). ;)  He gets nervous if he's up too high, the rest of us just love it. Take a look at the sky deck online, it's exciting!

My favorite things about Chicago:
  • So much to see and do!!
  • The beautiful scenery on the water
  • Awesome shopping
  • Delicious dining!
  • Culture galore
  • The Bean! I love the bean!
My least favorite things about Chicago:
  • The price of parking (ack!)
  • The super busy traffic if I'm lost (and I always get lost)
Have you been to Chicago?  If so, do you love it?  

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Soccer Saturday


Today was Game #4 for the Kindergartners and it's so fun to see them learning. The progress they've made with the weekly practices and games really showed today on the field. I felt like they had a clue of what was going on, and weren't just out there to kick a ball.  If the coach was talking defense, they knew what that meant... if he was telling a player to walk the line, he/she knew what that meant, and so on and so forth.