Chicago - part 1

This past Labor Day weekend we celebrated the end of summer by going BIG and road tripping it one last time as a family.  We started with the Packer game.  But on Friday headed to Chicago to visit Ed's brother's family.  That evening the kiddos played and then hopped in the bath.  Classic cousin shot in the tub. 

Since they were visiting their GIRL cousin Morgan...they got to bathe with this bathing beauty....

Someday, it will be Sydney and Morgan and their beauty parlor bath shop. 

Uncle Mike read them stories...

 But they also found some reading time of their own.

 And then it was sleepover time.  The three of them slept in the same room ...all three nights. 

On Saturday morning we got up and walked to the train station and hopped on board for a ride into the big city.

 Super Aunt Becca whipped out homemade graham crackers.  We will be attempting these next week!

 Gotta document the handy plus side of nursing.  It is there at a moments notice.  Miss Sydney nursed the weekend before on a plane.  And this Labor Day she nursed on a train. 

 The cousins on the train!

The plan was a little sketchy once we got off the train.  Aunt Becca and Uncle Mike gave the map a moment of consideration.

And then Miss Morgan was strapped into her stroller and this look pretty much says, "Really Aunt Sarah, couldn't we just stay local and do a park.  Do you really need to march 3-4 miles throughout the city to spend 10 minutes at the Bean thingy?  Because it doesn't sound like a good idea.  Especially, since I will be missing my nap." 

But we set off.  We had lunch midway to the Bean thingy. 
And they splashed a wee bit here...Ed was nervous they were going to get drenched.

But then the skies darkened and we had to decide what to do...because we either had to book it back to the train station to catch the 2:40 train.  Or take our time until 4:40.  It was 2:00.  The dads were ready to go. 

Here is Miss Morgan asking, "Well Aunt Sarah...what do you suggest now?"

So we hiked hard all the way back.  Morgan and Sydney were in strollers.  The boys walked the WHOLE WAY.  Trying to make the 2:40 train...and we got there at...
wait for it.
wait for it.

Yes, that is exactly what we were going to have to do.
Wait for it.
We got there at 2:45 and the train was gone.  So for 2 hours we enjoyed a smoothie and each other's company.

I know the outing wasn't what we all envisioned or dreamed of.  But I had a blast.  And the kids were all really great troopers.  And bedtime came easily!