To Chicago to see the Grandpappies

We love our yearly family reunions where we get to see everyone, but with 14 adults and 14 kids all together, it's a bit of chaos and we never feel like we get enough one-on-one time with my parents. So we've tried to budget in a trip to see them at their home in Chicago at least once a year. So far it's worked and my kids have been great travelers.
It helps that there are fabulous play places at both the Salt Lake and Chicago airport so waiting around isn't too hard.


Ethan ended up missing 2 days of school during the trip so I made him bring along his homework- which since it's just 1st grade is mostly just reading. He didn't seem to mind.

And after we get there, everyone gets spoiled by grandma Tina. Chocolate chip pancakes shaped like Star Wars characters. Who could ask for more?

And since Grandpa Pat had to work the first day we were there we ventured off to check out the newly renovated park- complete with zipline! This is the one and only time Miles tried it.

Isaac took his allotted turns but refused to let us push him. Apparently gravity was just enough of a thrill for him.

Ethan was the most adventurous- being twisted, spun, and pushed hard. At the end the chair swings almost 180 degrees up (taking the rider along with it).

And of course Grandma's tiny tent is always a hit.

As are the popper guns shot off the deck. Shoot, find, shoot, find... until it's too dark to see anymore.

My sister Kristina drove up from Iowa with her 2 kids to join us for the weekend.

And she's a pretty good shot which is helpful since Isaac doesn't have the arm strength to shoot by himself.

Although Grandpa is the favorite helper by far.

All 5 of the cousins monopolizing grandpa.

So the ziplines were such a hit that almost every morning when we left to go do something, we got talked into first stopping at the park for a few minutes. Miles didn't even bother going most of the times and just stopped at his personal favorites- the old school metal rocking horses. Evan joined him of course as this is a little more appropriate for 2 year olds than a crazy swing ride.

And grandma Tina can't resist joining in on the rocking and singing.

Of course when we did finally make it over to the zipline, we discovered Ethan had talked grandpa into doing the zipline with all 3 of them together.

This is Ethan's favorite part- the big jerk at the end. Of course Grandpa paid for it later when they bottomed out.

And then we had to stop at the climbing gym. Thanks for paying your outrageous taxes mom and dad- your parks ROCK!

We had planned to explore downtown a little but the forecast was all rain so we instead just went to a local lake where we could rent a canoe and then try out another fabulous playground. The paddling started out beautiful.

My boys are in heaven!

Exploring all the sides of the lakes.

And while Kristina and Evan had their turns, there were lots of snacks to eat and geese to chase.

Unfortunately the rain forecast came true and Miles' trip around the lake was not as stellar as the others.

But even with full-on rain, Ethan and Isaac insisted on going out for one more pass. See they even have smiles? Luckily they have a really good grandpa who loves them and loves canoeing- even without a jacket in cold, Chicago rain. If it looks like Ethan is trying to help in this picture, he isn't. He's trolling for sharks. The child was fully convinced there were sharks and that he could "get one" if he could just whack the water hard enough. Isaac is sure his big brother is right too!

And at the end of a wet, muddy, fun day all 4 boys needed a bath.

Monday was rainy again so we ventured to the mall playground which is just like one we loved in DC and wish there were some in Salt Lake.

And then after a few more small adventures it was time to head home. Mostly uneventful flights- Isaac slept the entire way, Ethan played games, and Miles watched Elmo. Easy-peasy.