Mama + The Midwest ~ Part II

I'm back today with another recap of our recent Chicago trip. If you missed Mama and The Midwest ~ Part I you can catch up on that here.

Monday morning we woke up bright and early to head to the Shedd Aquarium and I am so glad we did. I've read it gets super busy and you can wait in line for hours just to buy tickets, especially in the summer. We purchased a City Pass prior to going to Chicago, so we didn't have to worry about tickets. But when we were heading to leave it was exactly how everyone had described, JAM PACKED and lines out the door! So glad we were some of the first in line!

 We bought tickets for the Aquatic Show and watched Bennett be magically wide-eyed.

After the Aquarium we loaded up the kids in the car, they both took a little tight snooze (WAHHOOOO) and we met Shane's cousin Zach and his wife Kirsten at The Little Goat for lunch. Holy yum.

 And then we walked to their store, BLVDier. I am so proud of them. They opened up their shop and it is going so well, and it was so fun to see all of their stuff in action! If anyone is headed to Chicago and/or lives in the area and is looking for custom fit clothing - give Zach a call. You won't regret it.

After our late lunch and long visit, we walked around Rush Street for a little while, grabbed the kiddos a cupcake from Sprinkles; headed back to the hotel and took it easy for the rest of the night. Tuesday we woke up and headed to eat some yummy breakfast from Toni's Patisserie and Cafe. French Nutella crepes, amazing coffees and macaroons for the road, sign me right up!

 Lainey with the photobomb.

 A blue for Bennett and a pink for Lainey Bennett :)

 We ate our cookies while we walked across the street to Millennium Park and Bennett got a good look at "THE MAGIC BEAN!"

 GoGo was there too!

 Uhh guys, I'm embarrassed I'm still sharing photos of us in front of the bean. Get it together Katie, one is more than enough.

 Then we loaded up the stroller and headed across BP Bridge to check out Maggie Daley Park to let Bennett have a full day of running splashing and everything in between. Lainey played a little too, but she mostly just napped in the shade! Y'all that park is AWESOME. Chicago had my heart many moons ago, but that put another point for their team in my book.

 And once we'd had enough we walked back across the bridge only to decide we hadn't had enough and B was going to splash once more in Crown Fountain back in Millennium Park this time!

 If you follow me on snapchat, you watched the whole show as it unfolded. Unfortunately I got only video and no photos, but Bennett made the park his own giant slip and slide pad and it was hysterical. He was exhausted and on his 'I have so much energy because I'm overly tired' high and it was so funny. Needless to say, we had a good day.

 After splashing, running, swinging and sweating all day we were spent. It was time for the kiddos to rest, and time for mama and GoGo to get ready and have little toast to vacay!

 The littles finally woke up and joined the party and we headed to dinner at one of my dad's favorite Chicago steakhouses, Gibson's. Max, my younger brother, is dating Alison and she's living in the city for the summer so she met up with us for dinner (fail, no photo included)!

 Wednesday we woke up and trip exhaustion had finally settled in. We tried to combat it with sugar, but the kids were tired. So GoGo played the ultimate mom and grandma card and agree to keep the kiddos in the hotel room to give them a "city break" and let me have some alone time. They stayed in the hotel and had a low key day while I went shopping in the city all by myself.  *Do you hear the bells ringing?! Because it really was THAT magical!*

 Once I came home we got cleaned up and headed to dinner at one of my most favorite Chicago stops, Eataly. It's no where near the real thing, but for a few moments I can take in the flavors and be slightly transported back to one of the most magical times in my life, my semester abroad in Florence, Italy. And lets be real, it's a lot of good cheese, pasta, wine and pizza. So, it's good regardless of if it reminds me of Florence or not. And Alison met up with us again, so the company was great too!

 Bennett tried to lift the Parmesan like they were "bildin bwocks" and then was terribly disgusted that his hands were covered in grease. It's cheese kid, there is nothing disgusting about it. Deal.

 More cheese please!

 After Eataly, we packed up and headed back to the hotel for a little nighttime swim.

 I wish I could tell you I'm finished boring you with my play by play scrapbook of our daily timeline, but I have two more days to share with you. So, there will be a Mama + The Midwest Part III coming soon. Until then, stay fancy my friends.

Mama + The Midwest ~ Part 1

Last week we were in the Windy City and I didn't want to leave. Comfy hotel beds, club level snacks, full coverage rainhead showers, fancy coffee machines, an agenda all our own, fun shopping excursions, memories with my kiddos, my momma, and the city. All my heart.

But alas, all good things must come to an end, we were missing daddy and everyone was somewhat ready to get back to routine. But dang today came with a bang and re-entry is HARD y'all! A full day of survivorship scans and some medical updates that I will share with everyone in a following post, but today I want to talk the fun stuff! And document all of these super fun Chicago memories! Beware, picture overload and even more to come after this!

Momma and I have taken an annual trip for three years running now and this year we were slated to head to a bucket list destination, San Diego, but with all of this blah blah medical drama we're holding off on flying until we learn to manage this lymphedema business a little better. So, we tabled San Diego and replaced it with a road trip to Chicago and filled it with all things family and fun.

We drove back to Louisville Tuesday to drop Daddy off for his big golf trip to Scotland and Ireland, spent the night at PaPaw and GoGo's before getting up bright and early Wednesday to make our way north. The kiddos did great in the car and mama and I listened to Serial most of the way. I'm totally into podcasts now, especially with all of the driving we seem to be doing lately. Does anyone have any good recommendations of what I should listen to now that I've finished the Serial seasons?

We arrived at the hotel, The Langham, and unloaded our 4700 items. I mean, I was legit embarrassed at the amount of items we packed. I used to be the gal that jumped on a plan with an overnight bag for a two week trip and now I've got the whole house packed  into my car #momlife. The kiddos made themselves right at home and we got everything situated in our fancy place, Penny totally outdid herself. The hotel couldn't have been more perfect and I will certainly stay there again when we go back.

 And there was a TV in my bathroom mirror. Yes please.

 GoGo had special surprises for the littles when we arrived. And they received a new surprise every morning. Grandma of the year award!

 Nespresso machine. Did someone say I'm turning 30 soon? Did you need gift ideas? No? Oh, okay ... nevermind.

 And let's be real, give us cookies and it seals the deal.

Thursday morning we started off the trip with a bang (for Bennett anyways) and headed to see a children's theatre performance of The Three Little Pigs and Bennett was amazed. He's been obsessed with nursery rhymes since he began school last fall and his latest love is the three little piggies. So, when I saw there was performance I knew we had to go. And sure enough it was a huge hit.

After the play we loaded up the car, snagged some Chick-fil-A and headed to Wheaton, IL to visit with Daddy's family. We played and visited and introduced them to Lainey for the first time! We need to get up there more often, it's never enough time, but we had a blast and a yummy dinner.

Friday we had GREAT weather and loaded up the kids and road The El aka "DA TRAIN MOMMY!" to the Lincoln Park Zoo which is an AWESOME free zoo in a great little part of the city. We followed up with a yummy lunch at R.J. Grunts before headed back to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

 The Lions were extra lively and put on an awesome show for us.

 And little miss thang made herself comfy and took a whittle nap.

 Look at that salad bar and unlimited burger topping station! Nom nom nom.

 And once she was ready to get our of her stroller for a bit, I put her in my backpack and we walked along the park some more.

 And little mister picked out a popsicle.

 And tried to steal his PaPaw's girl.

We then hailed a cab, headed back to the hotel got cleaned up for dinner and made our way to Latinicity where we racked up our card with tons of yummy dinner options.

When we got back to the hotel, we went to the kids room and let Bennett romp and play.

And then we got all cleaned up and headed to bed, and in our suitcases we found a surprise from daddy! 

Bennett's very own stuffed Maggie to keep him company at night. I mean does it get any sweeter? What a great daddy that little boy has!

Saturday the kids slept in and I snuggled in bed with my computer and coffee, ahhh vacation.

 We then headed to check out Bucktown and had brunch at Mindy's Hot Chocolate where we indulged in all things yummy and scouted the town for cute shops and eateries. And we peaked inside and checked out The Max, the real life Saved By The Bell restaurant - SO COOL!

 This mac 'n' cheese y'all. Oh. Em. Gee.

 And no hopes of seeing Zack or Slater ... but just as I'd imagined.

 And this little man weaseled his way into another cookie.

 We headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up before heading back to Lincoln Park to meet up with the family once again for The Taste of Lincoln. Shane's cousin, Mary, and their band, March Fourth Band, had traveled all the way from Portland, OR and were performing so we headed down to party and watch her on stage.

 Cousin Mary,

 Uncle Danny,

 The whole crew!

 And of course we had to surf :) before calling it a night.

Sunday we took it easy, and did a little Magnificent Mile strolling complete with giggles, legos, chocolate, and lots of walking; followed by some downtime in the hotel and lots of Chicago pizza from Giordano's in our bellies!

 And on the walk back home we threw pennies in the fountain and wished for health and happiness.

I was lots of fun and that's not all! I'll be back with Mama and Midwest Part II in a few days. Have a great rest of the week lovelies!