We all got up at 5 AM this morning to catch the morning train to Chicago. The kids were actually tolerable during the whole process. Polynomial was off at a doggie spa, having her own vacation and primping. The train was only 20 or 30 minutes late, which is good. I am not sure what the trip up was like, as I was asleep for basically all of it. We arrived in Chicago in good time and immediately headed out for our fascinating adventures in the big city!
We were able to drop by the hotel to drop off our luggage although we couldn’t check in early because the hotel computer system had crashed. After that Mom and Alice headed off for the American Girl store. The boys decided they would rather hang out at Borders. Then it was off to the highlight of the trip for Charles, the Lego™ store. Corwin and Charles got kits but Alice got a keychain with a mini-fig of Princess Leia, just like in the Wii game. By then it was time for lunch. The kids insisted that we go to California Pizza Kitchen at which Charles and Alice ordered plain cheese pizza. Corwin at least tried the BLT even though he doesn’t much like lettuce and definitely doesn’t like tomatoes. He ate about half of it. Mom and I had the BBQ chicken and shrimp scampi and both were very good.
We spent the afternoon at the Museum of Science and Industry and caught the Harry Potter exhibit. The boys thought it was OK, although Alice thought it was too scary. Mom had fun — she made Corwin and Alice go to a “dissect an owl hairball” lab. She found a gopher skull in Alice’s. By 5 pm, when the museum started closing, we were all about done in so we just headed back to the hotel. Purely and utterly by coincidence, it turned out that we were in time for free beer courtesy of the hotel. What a pleasant and complete surprise it was for the whole family, but especially Mom. Oh, there were free potato chips and goldfish too.
After that, we rested a bit then went out for dinner before Mom collapsed. Once again Mom and I had a delicious meal but the kids didn’t like anything they ordered. Gorged as they were on potato chips and goldfish, it didn’t make much of a difference.
Alice spent part of the evening practicing her Lego Star Wars poses, with Mom’s encouragement. Corwin refused to share his bed so he was put on the fold out while Alice and Charles shared a bed. I had to pull back the covers to prevent Alice from suffocating because she had shifted down until her feet hit the foot of the bed. I got stuck with Mom but at least she’s not as squirmy as Alice.
