Chicago

It was time for another Family Fun Fieldtrip.  We packed up everyone and spent the weekend in Chicago.  This time we stayed at the Swissotel.  It was a beautiful hotel right along the lakefront in downtown.  We walked to Navy Pier and spent time riding the rides.  The kids favorite was the HUGE ferris wheel, but it was NOT the favorite of my scared-of-heights husband.  After closing his eyes and several deep breaths we all made it down okay.  I felt so bad, but I was really proud of him because he knew that he hated heights, but wanted to ride anyway so he could be with his kids.  What a good dad!!  The chicago skyline is beautiful.  So many amazing buildings and architecture.  Here is our hotel.

 Chicago has so many beautiful sculptures.  Here is Ethan climbing on one :)

 Here is the dreaded ferris wheel!!!

We went swimming in the hotel pool on the 42 floor, it was beautiful.  Then we did a little hotel bed jumping.  It's tradition and despite the fact that it drives Shawn nuts, the kids and I just can't help ourselves.

We woke up the next morning to room service (a favorite of the kids).

And then we headed off to Millennium Park.  The have a neat art exhibit called the cloud gate.  It's this huge silver bean shaped thing that reflects your image, sometimes a little distorted.  It was fun!

Then we drove home and went to back to school night with the kids so they could meet their new teachers.  Each teacher gave out a list of specific supplies to bring for the school year.  One of Ethan's things was 48 sharpened pencils and Cole needed 36 sharpened pencils, and Liv needed 24 sharpened pencils.  Do you have any idea how long it takes to sharpen 108 pencils????  A very long time.  We even killed our electronic sharpener.  Next year I'm buying pre-sharpened ones, I don't care if they are more expensive.

Beaches and Bikes

This is the last weekend before school starts.  We've been trying to enjoy the last few summer nights before busy schedules and homework take over.  Friday afternoon we drove up north to a beach and let the kids play for a while.  We were just planning to have a picnic and play around in the sand, but my kids just can't resist getting wet.  Liv didn't love the cold water, but Ethan and Cole jumped right in, clothes and all.

Then we came home and rode bikes until the sun went down.  At the end of our street is a big dirt hill that the kids love to ride down.

One last summer trip coming up next.....

last Utah post

Just finishing up the last pictures from our Utah trip this past week.  We had lots of fun and already miss all our family and friends.  I wish I took more pictures, but I was pretty spoiled this trip and did lots of relaxing and pampering (including massages, hair cuts, glitter toes and much more).  Shawn took such good care of me and the kids, it was wonderful.  The kids swam almost every day and loved it.  Here are the last few pictures from the zoo and a few from swimming.

Can't wait until our next trip home.

Fishing

Grandpa Bell took us out on his fishing boat at Strawberry Resevoir.  It was the kids first time fishing and everyone had so much fun.  Shawn had the best luck catching some fish, and the boys loved riding on the bow of the boat, while Liv and her cousin Maycee played underneath in the cabin.

Up next.....Zoo and Swimming