Part 4!

Chicago!!!

(This is where I might get a little wordy.... ;) )

We took the train from the park to downtown. Our train started out being 15 - 20 minutes late, then later 20 - 30 minutes late, so we killed time with a game of Uno and Simon Says. The train ended up being very crowded with standing room only! We all squeezed into two seats for the hour trip, but the kids did a great job.

Once we arrived downtown, we headed for the Field Museum. We had learned on a Chicago web sight that it was a free day there as well. (The Sedd was free that day, too!) But upon arrival, we learned that the sponsor, Target, had backed out and that it was no longer a free day. While their web sight had changed it, the Chicago tourism one had not. However, we were not the only ones who were there for the free day!! A very nice, loud man caused enough of a scene, that we got in free with him! The poor lady in front of us paid over $100 and was not happy! We decided to get off the main floor, lest they change their minds! It turns out we are a bit spoiled by our Children's museum in Indy. This place was impressive in size and the sheer number of dead, stuffed animals, but there was little for the kids to touch or play with. Also, because they couldn't read, they were only slightly interested. We supported their food vendor and then found the play area that was much more like our museum! The kids picked some corn and then took it into a Pueblo house. They also found some instruments to play where Tim and Cooper did a tribute to Rich Mullins!

After the museum, we headed out to find the Shedd. But! The line to GET IN was over an hour wait. So we opted not to do that. We overheard a girl on the train home saying there was very little free stuff to see. You still had to pay to see many of the exhibits. Very glad we didn't wait for an hour! Instead, we hoofed it (probably should have taken a cab, but again, the kids did great!) to Navy Pier to ride the Ferris Wheel and catch some silly pirates dancing and singing. (Cooper's favorite - they were fighting, too!)

After Navy Pier we caught a cab to the Rainforest Cafe. The kids loved riding in the cab! They enjoyed their dinner next to the fish tank as well. After dinner we took another cab back to the train station where we quickly caught the train home. We were able to get 4 seats facing each other this time. We were also glad we had our iPod to entertain! :)

Back at camp we were all exhausted and pretty much went straight to bed! What a great day!