More Summer Fun

It's funny, you think since there are no super big vacation plans this summer it'd be a pretty quiet summer.. but then, this is Chicago and there's always something fun to do.

So we've been doing little things here and there. The other week we had some fun with a good friend. She's pretty new to the Chicago area, so she's not been to all the touristy spots. So, her birthday was coming up and she was interested in visiting Navy Pier, and I hadn't ridden their new Ferris wheel  so, to Navy Pier we went!

We wandered through the whole big thing.. We started at the front in the park and fountain at the head of the pier.

Then, we headed inside.. wandered around, hit the conservatory, then walked all the way to the back end.

he saw the big ship and then he was yelling, "ARRRRRR! I'm a pirate!"

Finally, we enjoyed the view from the top of the Ferris wheel:

And the next week we went to the zoo!

face-off with a goose

So, perhaps no traveling great distances, but there's no question that summer is the best time to be in this city.

Passing Time Through the Winter

Here in the Midwest, we've been having a chilly, chilly winter. A couple weeks ago, we endured some nasty coldness; a Polar Vortex. Three days of gross windchills that kept us all hunkered down indoors, bookended with some snow days. By the end of the week we were all getting a little stir crazy.

Happily, we were back to school by Friday and it was a half day! Townshend has been wanting to go to Chicago's children's museum, so we decided it'd be the perfect way to shake off our cabin fever. So, to Navy Pier we went!

The day before we were to go, a friend of mine told me about a special event being held on the Pier... something called The Beach, and so we thought we'd check that out before we went to the children's museum. Of course, there was a bit of a line.. but we got to hang out by big windows overlooking the frozen Lake. I'm not sure I've ever seen it covered with snow before.. gorgeous!

Eventually, we made it into the event. It was a cool, huge room with a high ceiling, that had been outfitted with white astro-turf for sand, beach chairs and umbrellas.. some bright lights, and a sea of white balls simulating water.

It was a riot! There were so many balls, it really was almost like swimming.. except with greater resistance.. you really got sucked in!

We rolled around and giggled for a good while before heading on to our next stop: The Children's Museum.

Since we weren't rushed for time, we were able to visit several exhibits and really savor them.

We wiggled and played and then headed home feeling much better about the world. Still, all in all, I'm so, so ready for this winter to be done (we'll just not talk about the blizzard they're predicting for next week). Spring will come!!