Day Trip To Chicago

It was Friday of our spring break and we had a day of fun planned. Ken and I decided to take the kids to Chicago. We also decided that neither of us wanted to drive or deal w/ parking so we chose to take the train. We headed out on our adventure with the 8:00 train. All 3 kids were pretty excited and so were we. Our gang arrived in Chicago around 9:30 and headed for the Shedd Aquarium. We had another first of riding in a taxi--that was an adventure. It was so much easier than trying to figure out where we had to go--so in 10 minutes we were at the Shedd and heading to see "big fishes" as Jackson said. We were slightly disappointed to find out that the main part of the Aquarium was being renovated, so we would not be able to see the the dolphins and the larger fish. Oh well--a great reason to head back. We went to a 4D experience movie and that was quite interesting. In this movie, we were able to feel--mice around our feet, water from a whale's blow hole, snakes polking us in the back, bubbles from schools of fish and countless other shoots of air and splashes. Jackson did not like this at all. This is a very neat aquarium and we look forward to seeing the completed version this summer.!!

We then headed out to walk on the lake front and grab a taxi so we could head to Sear's Tower. Up we went to the 99th floor--what an amazing view!! It was a bit pricey to ride an elevator, but as Ken and I talked about it--God forbid this building ever be the center of attack--it will be something they remember.

We then headed outside to play in the park across the street. We saw double decker busses, lots of taxies and people everywhere. The weather was absolutely beautiful so lots of people were out and about. We hung out there and then walked across the bridge back to Union Station for our train ride home. What a beautiful old building!! Ken and I expected Jackson to be out cold on the way home, but that was not quite the case. He was playing and chatting away the entire way home. Each of the kids enjoyed something different--Jake liked walking along the lake shore, Jordyn liked seeing all the animals and Jackson liked riding on the train the best. Ken and I enjoyed spending the day with our kids and each other--an all and all fun day