Chicago

Here are some pictures and a review or our trip to Chicago this past weekend.

Friday

We woke up Friday at 4:45 and left the house at 5:30. It really ended up working well because the boys slept most of the trip and we got to Chicago about 9:30 Chicago time. We only had to stop one time on the way there and that was just to get some food for breakfast and some much needed coffee for Josh and I. Steve and Ann ready to go when we arrived and we headed out to downtown to check out some museums around 10:30ish.

We hit the Aquarium as well as the field museum. The Aquarium was amazing. It is unbelievable how many fish God has created and to think that there are tons more than were on display there and some that have not ever been seen by man. Ben was so excited to see the dino's that he was jumping up and down running from one to another one it was very cute. We got to that part of the exhibit before Josh and Jake did so we went back to go and find them and he had the same reaction again. Very priceless.

Some Trisaritops

Ben and Josh's feet in a dono foot print

Josh and Ben in front of Sue

Steve Ann and Matthew in front of Sue

After our museums we went to meet Scott and Steph and kids in Oak brook at the Cheesecake factory. It was great to see them and we always have fun when we are together. Ben and Anna enjoy playing with one another. We had a super long wait and Cheesecake and all 5 kids were not so happy about that (neither were the 6 hungry adults). By the time we got back to the Bovenkerk's it was about 10:30 or 11:00 Chicago time and we were all very ready for Bed.

Saturday

Steve and Josh went to a golf tournament. Ann and I just kind of hung around and helped recuperate the boys from their busy day the day before. We were all very tired but we had a nice relaxing day. Josh and Steve got home around 5:45 and we headed out for some dinner minus Matthew who was already asleep. My boys were so tired that it didn't make the dinner all the enjoyable. Ben was falling asleep eating pizza and Jacob was crying (which is rare) so I left to sit in the car with the kids who both fell asleep. Ben does not even remember the dinner at all but his eyes were closing as he was eating the pizza we had ordered for him.

Sunday

We woke up and headed downtown again. This time to hit the shopping as well as Navy Peir. We left the house around 9:00 Chicago time. We traveled to the top of the Hancock building first and it was so nice to be up there without all the crowds.

Ben admiring the view

Ben washing the windows :)

After the view from the top we walked around and visited some stores. Ben was quite grumpy and made the day not so enjoyable but we did get some Jomba Juice :) One of my favorites from California as well as some yummy dark chocolate fudge from Ghiradelli's too bad they didn't have any peppermint ice cream. The last stop of the day was at the lego sore. Ben thought it was great to sit by the Lego man and he was suddenly a happy boy once in the car :)

We left Chicago area around 4:00 Chicago time and after tons of traffic and a stop to feed Jacob (and ourselves) we finally rolled into the house around 10:00 Detroit time. Ben fell asleep at 4:10 while driving down lakeshore drive and woke up around 6:15 to then watch movies the rest of the way home.