First Stop: Chicago

After 2 days of driving we weren't worn out but definitely excited to get out of the car.  Thankfully Grandma Tina and Grandpa Pat were up for a long walk in the rain to the park.  

The boys couldn't pass up the sledding hill even though there was no snow.  Apparently it's just as much fun to run down in the rain as ride a sled.

Of course then we were all too wet and muddy to be allowed in the house so it was time for sibling bathing in Grandma's giant tub.

And because she's super fun, she made shaped pancakes too.

Saturday we went to a morning movie and then waited outside the Chicago Temple while Grandma and Grandpa went in for a friend's sealing.  We had planned to stop and "touch" temples on our trip anyway so this was perfect.

The unique thing we discovered about the Chicago Temple is that there are 16 "secret" doors on the outside of the temple.  "Secret" because they don't have doorknobs on the outside so you can't go IN through them.  Really they're just fire exits but kind of neat to see.  That's one of them behind the kids if you can make out the faint lines.

When they were finished, they came out and touched the temple along with us.

Sunday we went to church with them and Isla's teacher gave all the little kids in class funny sunglasses.  Isla was in love and wore them for days- inside and outside the house.

We climbed the giant spider web.

And took turns on the zipline at their park.  Isla was not impressed- even with the slowest ride ever and being held the whole time by Grandpa.

The other boys though were in heaven.

And worn out even before we started the long walk back to their house.  Luckily Grandpa is preparing for a backpacking trip and was happy to try out all 25 pounds of Isla.

Monday we joined them for their ward's Memorial Day breakfast- complete with Mickey Mouse pancakes and sausage!

Then we headed out to Independence Grove Lake to play.

And when we were all thoroughly exhausted from 3 days of way too much fun, I let them all be zombies with their ipads.  Even Grandpa snuck in on the action a little bit.