Children have spent an hour running up and down the hallway at granparents house where we are staying for the night to shorten the ride up to the Thanksgiving Feast that is to be had in New Hampshire with said children's great aunt and uncle.
Mom lays down with children at 9pm to try to relax children and avoid thoughts of dread around children's inevitable overtired crank of the next day.
Let's all use our imagination that we're laying down on our backs in the warm grass with the sun shini-
bubby!
We're all feeling the warm sun on our bodies and the warm ground on our backs and as w-
I want to be on bubby!
on your belly?
yes!
But we're looking up at the blue sky
oh
And as we lie there relaxing and breathing slow...
we're in dragon country!
Ummm... okay, let's look around ... see all the dragons sleeping nearby. Everyone snuggle up to the big warm body of the dragon laying right next to us ...
Yeah! We're in dragon country!
Okay, so we all snuggle up to the dragon and look up at the blue sky, do you see that cloud s-l-o-w-l-y moving across the sky?
And a bird! Flying fast!
Now! The bird has started gliding s-l-o-w-l-y s-l-o-w-l-y across the sky...
The dragons are waking up!!
K, I'm going to go check on something. I'll come back and snuggle with you when I'm done.
Thanksgiving update: children had minor whining in the car for the ride up for Thanksgiving (mostly on Farm Girl's part)
On the way home both children fell asleep at 5pm.
And woke up at 7pm.
And went to bed at 8:30pm.
And woke up this morning at 6:50 (a record late for Farm Girl) and 7:30 (Ark Boy who was excited to hear it was a stay-at-home day).
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Friday, November 26, 2010
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
disappointed
Lots of plans yesterday.
Boat ride, children's museum, and meet up with friend from college.
We debated going to friend's house because we weren't sure she'd be able to come in because her daughter is sick.
We opted to risk her not coming to see us last night because it would be a 40 minute train ride and then we weren't sure how close public transport would get us to her house.
The boat ride was great.
Ark Boy had a blast and it was really fun hearing about different buildings in Chicago and Chicago history.
The tour guide was entertaining.
After the boat ride we went to a restaurant that Ren Man wanted to try that we heard had awesome ribs.
It was a sports bar.
This isn't the first time we've brought children to eat a meal at a bar.
It's always interesting.
After a super filling meal (Ren Man wanted us to get full rib racks) we decided a tired Ark Boy wasn't up for the Children's Museum.
I was bummed but it was the right decision because we came home and Ark Boy slept for 3 hours.
Around 5:30 we heard from our friend- her daughter was still sick.
She didn't feel like she could come in.
It was a good lesson learned.
In the future when traveling people come first.
So we should have gone to our friends house in the morning and then tried to do the boat ride in the afternoon.
Oh well.
I was still full from lunch and Ren Man wanted to try the infamous Chicago hot dogs.
I'm happy to pass.
The verdict: taste like hot dogs.
Again, I'm happy to pass.
On the way back to the hotel from the hot dog place we stopped by the "bean"- a huge reflective sculpture.
I was soooo disappointed that we had opted to leave the camera at home assuming we were just running out quick to get the hot dog.
The pictures would have been awesome.
I've been playing with slow shutter speed- sooo fun.
Oh well.
____________
This morning we went back to the bean to get pictures.
It was fun because no one else was there.
(that teeny tiny white shirted person under the bean is Ark Boy)
We're leaving for the airport in about 10 minutes.
I don't feel done with Chicago (I never made it to the childrens museum, the art institute, or the science museum).
I do feel very very done with living at a hotel and NEEDING to be gone 8+ hours a day (meaning transporting myself and two children by myself in the city- needless to say- my feet are really sore... I think the bottom of my toes are blistered!).
Going to get home so we can vote:)
Boat ride, children's museum, and meet up with friend from college.
We debated going to friend's house because we weren't sure she'd be able to come in because her daughter is sick.
We opted to risk her not coming to see us last night because it would be a 40 minute train ride and then we weren't sure how close public transport would get us to her house.
The boat ride was great.
Ark Boy had a blast and it was really fun hearing about different buildings in Chicago and Chicago history.
The tour guide was entertaining.
After the boat ride we went to a restaurant that Ren Man wanted to try that we heard had awesome ribs.
It was a sports bar.
This isn't the first time we've brought children to eat a meal at a bar.
It's always interesting.
After a super filling meal (Ren Man wanted us to get full rib racks) we decided a tired Ark Boy wasn't up for the Children's Museum.
I was bummed but it was the right decision because we came home and Ark Boy slept for 3 hours.
Around 5:30 we heard from our friend- her daughter was still sick.
She didn't feel like she could come in.
It was a good lesson learned.
In the future when traveling people come first.
So we should have gone to our friends house in the morning and then tried to do the boat ride in the afternoon.
Oh well.
I was still full from lunch and Ren Man wanted to try the infamous Chicago hot dogs.
I'm happy to pass.
The verdict: taste like hot dogs.
Again, I'm happy to pass.
On the way back to the hotel from the hot dog place we stopped by the "bean"- a huge reflective sculpture.
I was soooo disappointed that we had opted to leave the camera at home assuming we were just running out quick to get the hot dog.
The pictures would have been awesome.
I've been playing with slow shutter speed- sooo fun.
Oh well.
____________
This morning we went back to the bean to get pictures.
It was fun because no one else was there.
(that teeny tiny white shirted person under the bean is Ark Boy)
We're leaving for the airport in about 10 minutes.
I don't feel done with Chicago (I never made it to the childrens museum, the art institute, or the science museum).
I do feel very very done with living at a hotel and NEEDING to be gone 8+ hours a day (meaning transporting myself and two children by myself in the city- needless to say- my feet are really sore... I think the bottom of my toes are blistered!).
Going to get home so we can vote:)
Monday, November 3, 2008
the rest of "today"
When Ren Man came home both kids were still sleeping.
By the time they woke up we weren't sure if we had time to do the Sears Tower before meeting our friend.
She ended up calling saying that her daughter was throwing up for the first time in her life and she needed to stay home.
We were sad but hopefully we'll be able to see her tonight.
We decided to go to Greek Town to get gyros- Ren Man's favorite.
He insisted we go to Greek Town Gyros because he'd read a good review.
In we walked and ate delicious gyros.
I glanced out the window and spotted a sign for Greek Town Gyros.
I asked if Ren Man was sure we were at the right place.
"YES" he said all agitated at my questioning of his gyro restaurant choice.
I pointed out the window.
Oh he was embarrassed.
Score one for me:)
We were at Mr. Greek Gyros.
It was yummy and I'm sure just as good as Greek Town Gyros.
After walking around for a little while (past Sears Tower, no less)
(taken for the sidewalk- as in the camera was on the sidewalk)
we came back to the hotel to wait for the Brown reception.
Ark Boy asked to read books and wanted his snuggly blanket.
Clearly he thought bed time was imminent.
We carted to slightly cranky and definitely tired kids to the reception for 9.
We saw a professor from our St. Mike's- where we were undergrads.
It was nice to see him and he told Ren Man to consider SMC when he's done with his program at Brown because the dept. "isn't getting any younger".
We would love to be at SMC so this was very cool to hear.
A little before 11 we brought one sleeping baby and one tired toddler back to the hotel and we all crashed.
Today- our last day in Chicago- is going to be just as full as previous days have been.
Then tomorrow we fly back to Providence- (well, Warwick really:))!
By the time they woke up we weren't sure if we had time to do the Sears Tower before meeting our friend.
She ended up calling saying that her daughter was throwing up for the first time in her life and she needed to stay home.
We were sad but hopefully we'll be able to see her tonight.
We decided to go to Greek Town to get gyros- Ren Man's favorite.
He insisted we go to Greek Town Gyros because he'd read a good review.
In we walked and ate delicious gyros.
I glanced out the window and spotted a sign for Greek Town Gyros.
I asked if Ren Man was sure we were at the right place.
"YES" he said all agitated at my questioning of his gyro restaurant choice.
I pointed out the window.
Oh he was embarrassed.
Score one for me:)
We were at Mr. Greek Gyros.
It was yummy and I'm sure just as good as Greek Town Gyros.
After walking around for a little while (past Sears Tower, no less)
(taken for the sidewalk- as in the camera was on the sidewalk)Ark Boy asked to read books and wanted his snuggly blanket.
Clearly he thought bed time was imminent.
We carted to slightly cranky and definitely tired kids to the reception for 9.
We saw a professor from our St. Mike's- where we were undergrads.
It was nice to see him and he told Ren Man to consider SMC when he's done with his program at Brown because the dept. "isn't getting any younger".
We would love to be at SMC so this was very cool to hear.
A little before 11 we brought one sleeping baby and one tired toddler back to the hotel and we all crashed.
Today- our last day in Chicago- is going to be just as full as previous days have been.
Then tomorrow we fly back to Providence- (well, Warwick really:))!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
daytwo
Avoiding writing blog.
Feeling like there's too much to say.
If I don't want to write it- you won't want to read it.
Attempt to make entry short and sweet.
DAY TWO
Went to Shedd Aquarium.
It IS enormous.
And amazing.
I don't remember ever seeing sea horses in real life (doesn't mean I haven't- just means I don't remember seeing them).
They are very funny.
There's a huge coral reef there that was super cool.
K- enough- trying to be succinct.
Went to yummy Italian Restaurant last night.
Saw fireworks on Navy Pier.
Throughout the day AGAIN people just started up conversations and were really nice.
the end
Feeling like there's too much to say.
If I don't want to write it- you won't want to read it.
Attempt to make entry short and sweet.
DAY TWO
Went to Shedd Aquarium.
It IS enormous.
And amazing.
I don't remember ever seeing sea horses in real life (doesn't mean I haven't- just means I don't remember seeing them).
They are very funny.
There's a huge coral reef there that was super cool.
K- enough- trying to be succinct.
Went to yummy Italian Restaurant last night.
Saw fireworks on Navy Pier.
Throughout the day AGAIN people just started up conversations and were really nice.
the end
Friday, October 31, 2008
Day One
No pictures. ETA- PICTURES ADDED
Sorry.
The driver we need is not compatible with laptop.
Pictures will have to wait until we're home.
Planned to go to Field Museum and Art Institute while Ren Man was gone all day Thursday.
Field Museum opened first so decided to go there first, then lunch there, then Art Institute- and hopefully Ark Boy would nap in between.
However- the Field Museum is AMAZING! It is set overlooking Lake Michigan (Ark Boy was beyond excited about the boats/water) and is right next to The Shedd Aquarium- where I knew we were going to go today.
Kids are free at the Field Museum, adults are not (they are $14).
For reasons that are still unclear, adults were also free when I went.
Ridiculously thrilled by this.
Bring Ark Boy straight to children's area of museum.
He presses buttons to make various animal noises (squirrel, cardinal, coyote, etc), "picks" corn, visits adobe house, jumps into infant padded area (makes Farm Girl laugh), plays with model indigenous homes/people/animals.
He also wandered into the art studio.
Typically he doesn't draw
for long
or color
or play with playdough.
So paint/glue/scissors/and other messier more fun art supplies have not yet been introduced.
Ark Boy bee lined for the scissors.
He began cutting teeny tiny snips in paper.
Couldn't manage more than that-
scissors are trickier than I knew!
Mid coloring he dropped his crayon and ran from the room to resume picking corn.
Hastily thanked the person helping him and chased after Ark Boy.
Ark Boy also worked very seriously on his drum skills in a music room.
But the absolute most fun part of the children's area of the museum was
the roped off portion with tables set up for a school group to examine artifacts.
Suddenly Ark Boy announced that we should go see dinosaurs.
This is quite funny because Ren Man has been sad on more than one occasion that his dear son is not as enthralled by dinosaurs as Ren Man once was (dare I say- still is?)
I tell him on every one of these sad occasions that if he wants Ark Boy to be interested in dinosaurs the boy needs to know what they are!
Anyway- I showed Ark Boy a dinosaur skeleton in front of the museum before entering but other than that dinosaurs had not be discussed.
My guess is, like me, he had heard several mothers attempt to lure their children from the children's area by saying: "do you want to go see the dinosaurs?"
Happily the 2.5 year old got in the stroller and the baby was put back on the mommy back
not without several comments about wrapping-
really I think these midwesterners are on to something with this friendliness- it's been quite refreshing- not that I think us newenglanders are unfriendly... it's just usually a smile, a wow at most- and that's it. Here people are having whole conversations with me!
And we traipse upstairs
well- into the elevator that brings us upstairs.
There are two enormous elephants on an elevated stand in this huge open hall and a huge dinosaur skeleton.
We proceed to view various huge exhibits
the place, suffice it to say, is huge
and this is just the second floor
We walk through a (need I say?) huge exhibit of various stuffed animals (not like fluffy cuddly stuffed- taxidermy stuffed) set in their natural (but dead) habitat.
We saw bears, lions, moose (huge moose), deer, (let me just pause to say: when I say bears, for instance, I don't mean one case of brown bears- there were at least 1/2 a dozen bear displays each featuring a different type: brown, black, polar, etc etc), flamingoes, geese, deer, rhinocorous, chimps, lemurs, cats, hyenas, dogs, and more!
About this time I was getting a little hungry so I checked my watch.
noon
perfect
asked if Ark Boy wanted lunch.
Go get lunch.
Restaraunt not as crowded as I would expect but no matter.
Have cheese ravioli for Ark Boy (but I end up eating because he prefers the other option)
and california panini for me
panini is amazing- what little I ate of it (have a picture of how little I was offered-
Ark Boy kept one hand on the half he wasn't eating to guard it from unwanted nibbles from mommy- have picture of that too).
Decided it wasn't worth going to Art Institute when there was still so much to see here.
Went on to see exhibit about earth's progression from the beginning to now.
Saw Lucy!
Ark Boy kept calling Lucy a monkey and saying he wanted to see it.
So we went and looked at her again.
"Look! She has nipples!"
"yepshehasnipples"
"Look! She has hands!"
"Yep, she has hands"
you can guess who said what.
We saw a dinosaur exhibit, a jade exhibit, a jewel exhibit, and more! It was huge (have I said that) and sooo cool.
Wanted to see more but Ark Boy wasn't falling asleep and he's only so patient with my stopping of the stroller- it was definitely a speed tour for me.
After a quick visit back to the children's section (where Ark Boy was completely uninterested in the now not-roped off area) decided we were done.
WAH!
Glanced at my watched- realized I hadn't changed it to Chicago time.
It was now only a little before 3.
Ren Man wasn't getting home until 6:30.
Reasoned that three hours in the hotel would be okay and we could all use some down time before going out for dinner.
At 4 Ark Boy was cuddling with his sleepy time blanket in a corner on the floor.
Insisted he get up- did not want him staying up until 10 or later.
Suggested a bath.
That lasted.
About 3 minutes.
Attempted- unsuccessfully- to put Farm Girl down for a nap.
At 6- when Ren Man was done with class- I called to tell him to RUN not walk home.
"I'm on a bus right now"
argh.
Add to all this that the wonderful wireless internet was VERY intermittently working- much to my frustration.
We had decided that I would figure out where we should eat dinner (from a pre-compiled list).
CHICAGO INSIDE OUT STUFFED PIZZA
Decide on place from one of "my" restaurants.
Ren Man wants to try a different one.
Go to "his" restaurant (takes much longer than this sentence makes it sound do to a couple turn-a-rounds) by way of the restaurant I want to go to.
Find "his"
Looks super fancy
Decide to go to mine
Been told best inside out pizza in Chicago
When we order waitress tells us it will take 35 mins.
Starving.
Ark Boy is happy to sit and wait.
Farm Girl is not falling asleep.
It's 8pm
Chicago time
Usually Farm Girl falls asleep around 6:30
East Coast time.
Considering all that- she's done very well.
35 mins later
pizza arrives
wow
I want to go there every night!
Ren Man says no.
The pizza is so super yummy!
On the way home Ark Boy passes out big time (manage to take off his coat, button down shirt, shoes, socks, and pants before putting him in bed- still asleep).
Farm Girl also falls asleep
and stays asleep!
Another busy day planned for tomorrow.
Sorry.
The driver we need is not compatible with laptop.
Pictures will have to wait until we're home.
FIELD MUSEUM
Planned to go to Field Museum and Art Institute while Ren Man was gone all day Thursday.
Field Museum opened first so decided to go there first, then lunch there, then Art Institute- and hopefully Ark Boy would nap in between.
However- the Field Museum is AMAZING! It is set overlooking Lake Michigan (Ark Boy was beyond excited about the boats/water) and is right next to The Shedd Aquarium- where I knew we were going to go today.
Kids are free at the Field Museum, adults are not (they are $14).
For reasons that are still unclear, adults were also free when I went.
Ridiculously thrilled by this.
Bring Ark Boy straight to children's area of museum.
He presses buttons to make various animal noises (squirrel, cardinal, coyote, etc), "picks" corn, visits adobe house, jumps into infant padded area (makes Farm Girl laugh), plays with model indigenous homes/people/animals.
He also wandered into the art studio.
Typically he doesn't draw
for long
or color
or play with playdough.
So paint/glue/scissors/and other messier more fun art supplies have not yet been introduced.
Ark Boy bee lined for the scissors.
He began cutting teeny tiny snips in paper.
Couldn't manage more than that-
scissors are trickier than I knew!
Mid coloring he dropped his crayon and ran from the room to resume picking corn.
Hastily thanked the person helping him and chased after Ark Boy.
Ark Boy also worked very seriously on his drum skills in a music room.
But the absolute most fun part of the children's area of the museum was
the roped off portion with tables set up for a school group to examine artifacts.
Suddenly Ark Boy announced that we should go see dinosaurs.
This is quite funny because Ren Man has been sad on more than one occasion that his dear son is not as enthralled by dinosaurs as Ren Man once was (dare I say- still is?)
I tell him on every one of these sad occasions that if he wants Ark Boy to be interested in dinosaurs the boy needs to know what they are!
Anyway- I showed Ark Boy a dinosaur skeleton in front of the museum before entering but other than that dinosaurs had not be discussed.
My guess is, like me, he had heard several mothers attempt to lure their children from the children's area by saying: "do you want to go see the dinosaurs?"
Happily the 2.5 year old got in the stroller and the baby was put back on the mommy back
not without several comments about wrapping-
really I think these midwesterners are on to something with this friendliness- it's been quite refreshing- not that I think us newenglanders are unfriendly... it's just usually a smile, a wow at most- and that's it. Here people are having whole conversations with me!
And we traipse upstairs
well- into the elevator that brings us upstairs.
There are two enormous elephants on an elevated stand in this huge open hall and a huge dinosaur skeleton.
We proceed to view various huge exhibits
the place, suffice it to say, is huge
and this is just the second floor
We walk through a (need I say?) huge exhibit of various stuffed animals (not like fluffy cuddly stuffed- taxidermy stuffed) set in their natural (but dead) habitat.
We saw bears, lions, moose (huge moose), deer, (let me just pause to say: when I say bears, for instance, I don't mean one case of brown bears- there were at least 1/2 a dozen bear displays each featuring a different type: brown, black, polar, etc etc), flamingoes, geese, deer, rhinocorous, chimps, lemurs, cats, hyenas, dogs, and more!
About this time I was getting a little hungry so I checked my watch.
noon
perfect
asked if Ark Boy wanted lunch.
Go get lunch.
Restaraunt not as crowded as I would expect but no matter.
Have cheese ravioli for Ark Boy (but I end up eating because he prefers the other option)
and california panini for me
panini is amazing- what little I ate of it (have a picture of how little I was offered-
Ark Boy kept one hand on the half he wasn't eating to guard it from unwanted nibbles from mommy- have picture of that too).
Decided it wasn't worth going to Art Institute when there was still so much to see here.
Went on to see exhibit about earth's progression from the beginning to now.
Saw Lucy!
Ark Boy kept calling Lucy a monkey and saying he wanted to see it.
So we went and looked at her again.
"Look! She has nipples!"
"yepshehasnipples"
"Look! She has hands!"
"Yep, she has hands"
you can guess who said what.
We saw a dinosaur exhibit, a jade exhibit, a jewel exhibit, and more! It was huge (have I said that) and sooo cool.
Wanted to see more but Ark Boy wasn't falling asleep and he's only so patient with my stopping of the stroller- it was definitely a speed tour for me.
After a quick visit back to the children's section (where Ark Boy was completely uninterested in the now not-roped off area) decided we were done.
WAH!
Glanced at my watched- realized I hadn't changed it to Chicago time.
It was now only a little before 3.
Ren Man wasn't getting home until 6:30.
Reasoned that three hours in the hotel would be okay and we could all use some down time before going out for dinner.
At 4 Ark Boy was cuddling with his sleepy time blanket in a corner on the floor.
Insisted he get up- did not want him staying up until 10 or later.
Suggested a bath.
That lasted.
About 3 minutes.
Attempted- unsuccessfully- to put Farm Girl down for a nap.
At 6- when Ren Man was done with class- I called to tell him to RUN not walk home.
"I'm on a bus right now"
argh.
Add to all this that the wonderful wireless internet was VERY intermittently working- much to my frustration.
We had decided that I would figure out where we should eat dinner (from a pre-compiled list).
CHICAGO INSIDE OUT STUFFED PIZZA
Decide on place from one of "my" restaurants.
Ren Man wants to try a different one.
Go to "his" restaurant (takes much longer than this sentence makes it sound do to a couple turn-a-rounds) by way of the restaurant I want to go to.
Find "his"
Looks super fancy
Decide to go to mine
Been told best inside out pizza in Chicago
When we order waitress tells us it will take 35 mins.
Starving.
Ark Boy is happy to sit and wait.
Farm Girl is not falling asleep.
It's 8pm
Chicago time
Usually Farm Girl falls asleep around 6:30
East Coast time.
Considering all that- she's done very well.
35 mins later
pizza arrives
wow
I want to go there every night!
Ren Man says no.
The pizza is so super yummy!
On the way home Ark Boy passes out big time (manage to take off his coat, button down shirt, shoes, socks, and pants before putting him in bed- still asleep).
Farm Girl also falls asleep
and stays asleep!
Another busy day planned for tomorrow.
Arrival
Was going to wait until we got back home but:
have verbal diarrhea
nervous I'll forget something important
have internet connection
know moms, in particular, would appreciate live updates.
Have pictures from yesterday so will wait to blog about yesterday until I put pictures on computer.
ARRIVAL
Flight was for 12:45.
We had ordered a laptop kindof last minute hoping it would arrive in time.
Knew hotel had wireless and we're addicted
to the internet
How could we face a big city (or anywhere, really) without internet
(for maps, reading reviews, etc)
Packed car.
Excited.
Didn't want to leave house too early though and then have to hang around airport.
Five minutes before leaving- fedex truck pulls up.
Ren Man and I are ridiculously giddy.
Get kids in car.
Drive to airport.
Ark Boy is not sticking with us in airport as I expected.
Stressful checking in.
Finally ditch bags.
Manage to make it through security
only forgetting Farm Girl's hat
which they brought over to us soon after
(read later- 12,000 laptops are left at airport security EVERY DAY!- fortunately that wasn't us!)
Hang around gate for an hour and a half or so.
Fortunately our gate is the last one so we waste a lot of time stopping to look at airplanes.
When it's time to board we have to wait for our turn.
Ark Boy is straining against the stroller straps yelling: "GET ON AIRPLANE!"
FINALLY we get on.
Not crowded at all on flight.
Ark Boy looks out window, sees another airplane, insists on getting on airplane.
Hard to convince him that we ARE on an airplane.
First time I'm flying Northwestern.
Love Northwestern.
So funny.
For example: "If you haven't been in a car in the last 30 years- this is a seatbelt... when the oxygen mask drops, stop screaming, let go of your neighbor and put it over your head..."
Funny.
Nice.
Taking off, Ark Boy looks out window, looks at Ren Man:
"Scared!" Ark Boy says looking insistent.
"Daddy carry you!"
Convince Ark Boy to stay in seat.
He's not a big fan of seat belt.
Also scared when we land but manages fine.
Soon after lays head in Ren Man's lap and falls asleep.
Sound asleep.
When getting off airplane people are impressed with wrapped Farm Girl
they even comment!
Maybe this is the midwestern culture as oppose to "uptight" (is it?) newengland culture?
Fun.
One man says: "I didn't even know there was a baby on this flight!"
That's all.
That's all I needed to hear.
Feeling so pleased.
That brandy worked well I guess.
Kidding.
Kidding.
GOING OUT INTO CHICAGO
Thankfully Ren Man had everything organized in his mind as far as where to go.
Found airport exit to train station and took train to hotel.
Ark Boy wakes up as we get off train.
Ark Boy insisting he wants to leave hotel to take a walk.
Hook up laptop.
No wireless card.
Decide to go buy one at staples.
Discover:
Chicago is big (over 4.5x's the square footage of Boston)
Chicago is crowded (about 5 times more people than Boston)
Chicago is loud
Get what we need.
Come back to hotel.
Ren Man hooks up card and gets computer online.
Starving.
Take Ark Boy and get subway.
JUST ME AND THE KIDS
Ren Man has a meeting to go to so leaves
at bedtime
aka meltdown point
for me
oh- and the kids too
After brief sojourn into bathroom Ark Boy strips all clothes as they are wet.
Decide to nurse Farm Girl to sleep
Ark Boy is begging to watch "Emmie do say gobble gobble"
Turn on youtube
start nursing Farm girl to sleep
You might notice
"Emmie do say gobble gobble" is not long enough for Farm Girl to fall asleep
"EMMIE TICKLE TICKLE"
Wait!
"EMMIE BATHROOM"
Wait!!
Mommy not responding speedily enough
Ark Boy comes to investigate
Sees opportune snuggling time
this involves attempting to lay on top of Farm Girl
Feeling frustrated.
Farm Girl smiles at brother
pulls his skin
he thinks this is funny
they laugh at each other
very cute, yes- I'll admit.
Couple quick rescues of Ark Boy's bits as Del attempts to pinch and/or taste them.
Decide- after approximately 37 interrupted nursing attempts that Farm Girl is probably full.
Bring Ark Boy to couch and read ALL 5 books in whispered voice while Farm Girl falls asleep in bed.
When done tell Ark Boy to go to sleep.
After about an hour
he does.
Enjoy internet time for 1/2 hour before Ren Man comes back.
Feeling excited and a little nervous about tomorrow....
have verbal diarrhea
nervous I'll forget something important
have internet connection
know moms, in particular, would appreciate live updates.
Have pictures from yesterday so will wait to blog about yesterday until I put pictures on computer.
ARRIVAL
Flight was for 12:45.
We had ordered a laptop kindof last minute hoping it would arrive in time.
Knew hotel had wireless and we're addicted
to the internet
How could we face a big city (or anywhere, really) without internet
(for maps, reading reviews, etc)
Packed car.
Excited.
Didn't want to leave house too early though and then have to hang around airport.
Five minutes before leaving- fedex truck pulls up.
Ren Man and I are ridiculously giddy.
Get kids in car.
Drive to airport.
Ark Boy is not sticking with us in airport as I expected.
Stressful checking in.
Finally ditch bags.
Manage to make it through security
only forgetting Farm Girl's hat
which they brought over to us soon after
(read later- 12,000 laptops are left at airport security EVERY DAY!- fortunately that wasn't us!)
Hang around gate for an hour and a half or so.
Fortunately our gate is the last one so we waste a lot of time stopping to look at airplanes.
When it's time to board we have to wait for our turn.
Ark Boy is straining against the stroller straps yelling: "GET ON AIRPLANE!"
FINALLY we get on.
Not crowded at all on flight.
Ark Boy looks out window, sees another airplane, insists on getting on airplane.
Hard to convince him that we ARE on an airplane.
First time I'm flying Northwestern.
Love Northwestern.
So funny.
For example: "If you haven't been in a car in the last 30 years- this is a seatbelt... when the oxygen mask drops, stop screaming, let go of your neighbor and put it over your head..."
Funny.
Nice.
Taking off, Ark Boy looks out window, looks at Ren Man:
"Scared!" Ark Boy says looking insistent.
"Daddy carry you!"
Convince Ark Boy to stay in seat.
He's not a big fan of seat belt.
Also scared when we land but manages fine.
Soon after lays head in Ren Man's lap and falls asleep.
Sound asleep.
When getting off airplane people are impressed with wrapped Farm Girl
they even comment!
Maybe this is the midwestern culture as oppose to "uptight" (is it?) newengland culture?
Fun.
One man says: "I didn't even know there was a baby on this flight!"
That's all.
That's all I needed to hear.
Feeling so pleased.
That brandy worked well I guess.
Kidding.
Kidding.
GOING OUT INTO CHICAGO
Thankfully Ren Man had everything organized in his mind as far as where to go.
Found airport exit to train station and took train to hotel.
Ark Boy wakes up as we get off train.
Ark Boy insisting he wants to leave hotel to take a walk.
Hook up laptop.
No wireless card.
Decide to go buy one at staples.
Discover:
Chicago is big (over 4.5x's the square footage of Boston)
Chicago is crowded (about 5 times more people than Boston)
Chicago is loud
Get what we need.
Come back to hotel.
Ren Man hooks up card and gets computer online.
Starving.
Take Ark Boy and get subway.
JUST ME AND THE KIDS
Ren Man has a meeting to go to so leaves
at bedtime
aka meltdown point
for me
oh- and the kids too
After brief sojourn into bathroom Ark Boy strips all clothes as they are wet.
Decide to nurse Farm Girl to sleep
Ark Boy is begging to watch "Emmie do say gobble gobble"
Turn on youtube
start nursing Farm girl to sleep
You might notice
"Emmie do say gobble gobble" is not long enough for Farm Girl to fall asleep
"EMMIE TICKLE TICKLE"
Wait!
"EMMIE BATHROOM"
Wait!!
Mommy not responding speedily enough
Ark Boy comes to investigate
Sees opportune snuggling time
this involves attempting to lay on top of Farm Girl
Feeling frustrated.
Farm Girl smiles at brother
pulls his skin
he thinks this is funny
they laugh at each other
very cute, yes- I'll admit.
Couple quick rescues of Ark Boy's bits as Del attempts to pinch and/or taste them.
Decide- after approximately 37 interrupted nursing attempts that Farm Girl is probably full.
Bring Ark Boy to couch and read ALL 5 books in whispered voice while Farm Girl falls asleep in bed.
When done tell Ark Boy to go to sleep.
After about an hour
he does.
Enjoy internet time for 1/2 hour before Ren Man comes back.
Feeling excited and a little nervous about tomorrow....
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