Surprise Treats That Will Delight Your Wife During Pregnancy

 

Pregnancy can be a beautiful and awe-inspiring experience for many families. The reality is that while both parents are preparing, it can take a more significant toll on the person who is pregnant. This can leave many expecting fathers with a desire to do more. While you cannot take over the pregnancy process, there are many things to do to support her. If you want to give your wife some pampering during pregnancy and show her how much you care, here are a few ideas.

At-Home Spa Day

The pregnancy experience can have intense physical symptoms. Whether she has muscle aches, back pain or is just tired, consider creating an at-home spa experience for her. Draw a warm bath with her favorite candles, book a massage appointment Chicago IL and give her a foot rub. With this kind of pampering, you will give her a bit of me-time that she likely needs.

How to Design a Bedroom That Will Grow with Your Child

 

Image by Press 👍👍 Love you 💖 from Pixabay 

As your child grows, his or her bedroom should mature as well. This can be tricky as kids grow quickly and their tastes are constantly evolving. Fortunately, a little forethought goes a long way in creating a bedroom that will suit your child for years.

How to Enjoy a Museum With Kids

 

January 2020 Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City

Let's say it's been one of those days. Everybody is either laying around on screens bored or bouncing off the walls. Or maybe you're having a washer repair situation and need to be out of the house while the other parent stays home and deals with it. 

You're dying to head to the local art museum, but you're eyeing your kids and picturing them running wild through the place, screaming and touching priceless artifacts while a guard yells after you and patrons glare at your family.

Yes, children’s museums have been popping up all over the country, and they are great fun for everyone. But sometimes you want to go to a grown-up museum with your child … for your sanity and for their art education. So how do you pull it off? The secret to a good day at an art museum with a child is preparation.

Resurrecting Reading as a Mom: Hands-Free Life (9 Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better & Loving More)

I used to be a voracious reader. I remember those first few years of marriage when Aron would be cooking (he loves to do it and does it well) and I'd be snuggled up by a fire (our first apartment had a fireplace!) reading a book. I remember Memoirs of a Geisha, Little Altars Everywhere, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and a ton more, many of them from Oprah's book club list. (by the way, friend me on Goodreads so we can share book recommendations!)

Then I had my first baby and ... I KEPT READING! I structured my life so that I had plenty of time to read. I nursed my baby to sleep and instead of putting him down somewhere else in the house, I kept him in my arms and picked up a book. Okay, sometimes I watched soap operas and daytime talk shows, but a read a lot. I read mostly nonfiction then ... books on attachment parenting and parenting in general and self-help books so I could try to be the best mom for my kid. After my second baby came along I was able to keep it up ... focus moved to homeschooling books and "how to parent boys" books, since I now had two of those.

Tips for Dealing with Kids Who Misbehave on Vacation

March 2017 Chicago trip with the family while Daddy was in work training :-)

Planning a vacation is no easy feat, especially if you’re traveling with children. From making sure you’ve packed everything they’ll need to planning the right activities, it can feel like a full-time job! It’s even more difficult the further you travel from home. For example, if you decide to travel to Laos, you’ll also need to apply for a Laos eVisa application.


After you’ve spent so much time planning the perfect vacation for your family, the last thing you want is for it to be ruined due to misbehavior. Unfortunately, it’s likely to happen at least once during your trip.


Don’t let it ruin your whole vacation! With these tips, you can deal with misbehavior, even in the most public, unfamiliar places.

Don’t Make Threats You Won’t Follow Through With

A popular parental go-to is the threat. For example, if your child is throwing a fit at Disney World, your instinct might be to threaten to go back to the hotel, but you probably won’t. Not after you made it to the park and paid all that money to get in!


Empty threats aren’t effective. If you have no intention of leaving the park, don’t tell your children that you’re going to. They’ll quickly figure out that you aren’t serious, and they’ll just keep misbehaving.


Instead, only discuss the consequences that you will actually follow through with. Mention that they can’t go on the rides they want if they’re throwing a fit, or tell them they’ll have to take a break in the car if they don’t stop. That way, they know you’re more serious, and if you have to follow through, you can.

Find a Distraction

Distraction can be an effective way to discipline a child, especially very young children. It can be especially effective on vacation because they’re surrounded by new and exciting things!


For example, if your child wants an over-priced ice cream cone that you don’t want to pay for, and they start throwing a fit because they aren’t getting it, redirect their attention towards something that is just as much, if not more, fun. That might be a different slide at the water park, a ride at a theme park, or an animal at the zoo.

Separate Squabbling Siblings

Traveling with siblings takes dealing with misbehavior to a whole other level. At home, it’s probably something you’re used to dealing with, but in public, it can be embarrassing.


The best way to deal with sibling fighting when on vacation is simply to separate them. For example, one parent can take one child out on a kayak, while the other stays on the beach, or one kid can go on a ride while the other rides something different.


If you think the problem can be easily solved, go ahead and give it a try after the separation. Otherwise, let the issue go and only address is later in private. That way, it doesn’t cause more distractions to your day.

Rest or Take a Nap

Did you know there are multiple benefits of taking naps? They are a great way to boost brain power and increase mood. That’s true during the week while the kids are in school, and it’s true while you’re on vacation.


It’s easy for everyone, kids and adults included, to get tired on an exciting vacation. It can fray nerves and make kids more irritable than usual. If you notice that one or more members of your family are starting to get crankier than normal, it’s time to take a break.


Head to the hotel so everyone can take a quick nap. If the kids aren’t up for sleeping, watching a movie can be helpful.

Assess Their Needs

It’s possible that the kids are misbehaving because their needs aren’t being met. A few causes of misbehavior that are easily remedied include:

·        Getting a snack if your child hasn’t eaten for a while.

·        Getting something to drink if they’re thirsty.

·        Spend some time in the shade if you’ve been in the sun all day.

·        Find an air conditioned place to relax if your child is overheating.

·        Provide them with a few snuggles if the day has been too busy.

Children are going to misbehave, and they’re going to do it whether you’re at home or halfway around the world. That doesn’t mean it has to ruin your day or your vacation! With these tips, you can get to the root of the problem and move on quickly to the next exciting vacation adventure that’s just around the corner.

The Oxford Comma: Should You Use It?

Image by Lorenzo Cafaro from Pixabay

The Oxford comma is one of the most interest punctuation marks, only because there is a lot of question on whether it’s necessary. Some believe wholeheartedly that it adds clarity to your writing.  Likewise, some may find it useless or overused. As long as you understand its usage, it’s all up to you.

What Is the Oxford Comma?

The Oxford comma is always up for debate. There have even been legal cases that hinged on the Oxford comma. No other type of punctuation has quite the same reputation. So, what is the Oxford comma? The Oxford comma is the comma before the conjunction at the end of the list. Some would say that it slows down the pace of the writing, while others say that it offers clarity. The truth is that it can do both of those things in different contexts.

When it comes to the Oxford comma, the rules tend to be based on the style that you’re using. Some style guides require it, while others do not. When you’re writing for yourself, you get to choose whether you want to use it or if you think you should omit it.

Popular Style Guides For and Against

The two authorities that dictate whether it ends up used are the Associated Press Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style. The Oxford comma is not the only grammar point that these two authorities struggle with. Proper capitalizations and spellings are also worth noting when it comes to these style guides. However, one thing that has stayed the same is the Oxford comma.

Chicago style recommends it for almost every instance, whereas AP style is against it in most cases. While AP doesn’t ban it entirely, it believes that you should only use it if it’s necessary for clarity. Otherwise, ditch it because it’s not an essential marker.

Clarity: Arguments For and Against

The biggest argument for the Oxford comma is that it offers clarity when you are constructing a list. Most people have seen the various examples of a missing Oxford comma changing the meaning of a sentence. It is true that this can happen. However, there are arguments that stand in direct counter of the clarity argument.

One argument is that you can always reword a sentence to give it more clarity. You can write a list in a way that makes it clear what you mean, rather than creating a misunderstanding. The truth is that you can rewrite any sentence for clarity if necessary. The Oxford comma simply makes some sentences easier to follow than others are.

When it comes to the debate about the serial comma, there really is no right or wrong answer. Unless you are bound to a style guide, it is all about personal preference. Some writers have a fondness for the Oxford comma and others think that it’s better to leave it out. As long as you can get your message across and be understood without the need for clarity, then it doesn’t matter if you use it or leave it out.

               

5 Ideas for Your Family Getaway

Chicago, March 2017

The thought of heading off on vacation with your spouse and children probably fills you with glee, as it will provide you all with an opportunity to relax, have fun and enjoy some quality time with each other. Yet you might not know about the best destination to visit to complement everyone’s needs.

If you are scratching your head about the best places to go with all the clan for an upcoming vacation, here are five helpful ideas for your next family getaway.

1.    A City Break

How does a trip that is filled with museums, shopping and sightseeing sound to you? If your answer is heaven, consider taking your family on a fun city break. Fortunately, you will not be short of options, as you can travel to a city at home or abroad, such as New York, Tel Aviv, Dublin, or Rome. One city you shouldn’t overlook for a family-friendly trip is London, as it offers activities and attractions for all ages, such as many free museums, historical attractions, and musicals for kids at the West End.

2.    A Family Cruise

If you want your children to see the world while they are young, so they have a childhood filled with superb memories, you would be wise to book a family friendly cruise. Not only will you visit different locations along the way, but there will be plenty of children’s entertainment and activities to keep boredom at bay. Simply do your homework to find the best cruise line for your family.

3.    A Tropical Vacation

If sun, sea and sand sound like utter bliss to you, a tropical vacation might be the dream getaway you have been looking for. You can trust your partner and children will have fun swimming and snorkeling. You also should pick a kid-friendly hotel, so they will have plenty of fun in a swimming pool and can enjoy superb entertainment every night.

4.    A Fun Road Trip

There is no better way to explore your home country than embarking on a fun road trip with your partner and kids. They will love jumping into a car to find out where the road takes them, and there are bound to be many superb roadside attractions they will love when driving from A to B. Don’t forget to book hotels along the route to ensure the whole family has a place to sleep each night during an adventure.

5.    Go Camping at a National Park

If you are looking for a fun yet affordable break away with your children, consider going camping at a national park. The kids will love helping to pitch a tent before heading off on a walking trail to explore the beautiful landscape and view wildlife in its natural habitat, which will provide them with a new appreciation for the great outdoors. You can then spend the evening cooking a delicious meal for all the family, making s’mores, singing songs, and staring up at the stars.

Meet Eric Lefkofsky, the Man behind Tempus Labs Success

Tempus Labs is a Chicago-based organization that specializes in cancer patients. It uses scientific techniques and machine learning to master every aspect of these persons. Cancer patients enjoy specialized and personalized treatments from the methods. Practitioners can easily find the exact location of a tumor thanks to these techniques.

The center has raised around $80 million in unicorn funding to finance the personalized treatment plans. They tailor the treatment to match the condition of a patient. The facility aims at looking after their patients and their loved ones. Genomic data and analytics aid the organization to facilitate personalized care to infected and affected individuals. The startup concentrates on developing a database and an operating system for health management. Physicians use results of the examination to decide on the right treatment for a patient.

10-Year Anniversary of The Kerrie Show Blog: What a Ride!!!

Ten years ago today I was teaching my 7-year-old son to swim in a hotel pool in Phoenix, Arizona while wrangling 3 younger children and keeping us all occupied each day before Daddy got off work. Gas was $4+ per gallon, and the housing market was crashing hard. Two different weekends we loaded up the minivan and headed five hours to San Diego to the beach and Sea World. It was AMAZING.

I started The Kerrie Show blog with this post called 6 People in a Minivan Heading to Phoenix, Arizona back when my 4th kid, Eva, was just about 7 months old. Joel was 7, Michael was 5, and Callie was 3. Since starting the blog, we've added another family member, Samuel, who is now 8 years old careening toward 9.

In Phoenix, I would borrow my husband's laptop at night sometimes while he'd play with the kids so I could update family and friends about our travel adventures via email. Soon I realized I could be blogging about it and keep an online record just for us. Over the years, it has turned into our personal scrapbook as I got too busy to do real scrapbooking!

Today we'll be swimming in our own backyard pool which overlooks our pond ... all 5 of my kids can swim well and they are healthy, smart, kind (most of the time!), precious. My oldest will get in his own car and drive to Planet Fitness to work out. He'll probably work at his lawn care job this week. Callie and Sam are at a sleepover. Eva will be playing LOL dolls happily. Michael will be creating the most awesome things out of Legos.

I'm planning our homeschool year, proofreading, keeping house, and finishing up my latest book. My husband works at the same company and we'll be married 20 years in October.

Let's get some sad things out of the way, because I think they are important and make us who we are. I was pregnant this past March with our 6th child, who we named Olivia Della, but we lost the baby very soon after we found out we were expecting :-( At the same time, my husband got hit by a car while riding his bicycle ... and he's fine, miraculously! My good friend's son died in his sleep at the age of 13. I've lost 3 of my 4 grandparents, and Aron's last living grandparent is now gone. Life is full of good and bad, up and down, happy and sad.

We've traveled with my husband Aron for work a few more times to Wyoming/Utah (2012, and it gave us our love of the country and our dream of moving), Texas (2015), Chicago (2017).

We've been on vacation to Colorado (2010) and Florida (2017) (no blog posts of Florida?! ... I have to get on that because it was 2 weeks of awesome in the midst of buying and selling a house!).

Here are some Christmas Letters to get you up to speed if you're new here or if you know my family personally and want to walk down memory lane and cry! Lots of photos!

Our Lame-o 2008 Christmas Letter

Our 2010 Christmas Letter

2011 Christmas in July Letter Written by Samuel, age almost 2

Our 2011 Christmas Letter

Our 2012 Christmas Letter

Our 2015 Christmas Letter

Our 2016 Christmas Letter

Oh, and we moved in 2017 from our house of 17 years in Overland Park, KS on a busy street corner across from a school (we miss the playground and walking to the library!) to 8 acres in Peculiar, MO.

One last photo at our house of 17 years on Grant Street. November 2017.

If you're looking for something specific on here, I have a Search box on the right-hand side so you can type in a topic :-) I do it all the time myself!

I also have a few more blogs, which are in various stages of disarray:

The Published Parent

Homeschooling Mommybot

Kerrie the Kitchen Queen

Here's to another 10 years! What would you like to see me post more about?

Never miss a post! Head to the right-hand side of the blog and enter your email address so I can send you new posts! (I am trying to get off the old way and on to Mail Chimp; this means you won't get all the sponsored posts on here but mostly relevant content and fun things from our life.)

9 Apps That Help You Vacation When You’re on a Tight Budget

Chicago subway; March 2017

Vacations don’t have to cost thousands of dollars. You can travel on almost nothing. And there are tools available online to help you do just that.

This is your guide to figuring out how you can travel to one of your dream destinations without breaking the bank.

1.      Booking.com App

The greatest tool around for finding great accommodation is the Booking.com app. It aggregates everything from guesthouses to hotels to luxury resorts. The app has grown over the years to become the tool of the average person.

Apps like this have become so proficient because of technologies like master data management, so now is the time to start benefitting from them here.

2.      Mint

Saving your vacation is tough. This lovely little tool will help you plan for your trip by managing your expenses through logging everything from manual entries to your receipts from the store.

Perfect for saving every cent!

3.      Skyscanner

There’s no better tool for flights than Skyscanner. It monitors prices from every available airline to every destination in the world. You can search months ahead or you can look at a specific day.

It even has a cool feature where you can look at the prices for the whole month!

4.      Secret Escapes

Flash sales are every vacationer’s dream. Now you don’t have to get lucky because Secret Escapes will notify you of these ultra-low cost vacations in luxury hotels.

You just have to be flexible to take advantage of the hundreds of offers every week.

5.      Xe

Currency conversions can make or break your trip. A few points of difference in the currency could cost you hundreds of dollars. Begin monitoring the exchange rates a few months in advance and select the best time to convert your currency.

You’ll never get unlucky again!

6.      Detour

Detour will help you to save money on those expensive city tours. This app includes personalized audio tours for some of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

And the best part is the app is free.

7.      Rome2Rio

Sometimes there might be a cheaper way between destinations. Rome2Rio compares the prices of different methods of transports and includes links for where you can buy tickets for trains, buses, flights, and even boats.

8.      GetYourGuide

Figuring out where you should book tours is always a hassle. GetYourGuide is an easy way to book your tours without any hassle and without worrying about the price you’re going to get in the dirty tour office when you arrive.

9.      Debitize

This free app allows you to avoid debt and benefit from credit card rewards. This app pays your credit card bills automatically to avoid incurring interest rate charges.

So now you’ll be able to take advantage of those credit card rewards without worrying.

Last Word – Make Your Next Travel Destination Cheap

You’ll have no problems making your next vacation a memorable one. But now you can make it a helpful one with these nine helpful tools.

Saving for your vacation and making the most of it when you’re there has never been so easy.

Which of these tools do you think will be the most useful on your next trip?

Author Bio: Mark Alvarado is a freelance writer and digital nomad.

Take Your Kid on a Spring Date (no matter how old they are)!

Happy Thursday! I'm able to write today because the craziness of Homeschool Co-op Wednesday is behind me and I can chill out today a little bit. I know I've had a lot of informational blog posts lately, so I wanted to share something personal with you today: spring dates with my kids (and of course I think you should take your kid on one as well, no matter how old they are!).

I got some writing checks all at once and decided it was time to take each of my kids out on a small date. Nothing spectacular like in the past (present, full meal at sit-down restaurant, dessert, going somewhere to play), but just an hour or so alone and some food. I knew if I waited until I had the money to do something fancier and waited until we had the time, it would not happen. So off we went!

**I know some people with big families with older kids who take their kids one at a time on a nice long WEEKEND trip somewhere by train ... that is my ultimate goal: to take each kid somewhere like Chicago alone so we can explore and chat.

I grabbed Joel, age 16, first because he is the busiest out of all of us. He is either working or doing schoolwork or reading or with his friends. On a Monday afternoon we went to Taco Bell in Raymore and got some snacky stuff and just sat and talked. Our Taco Bueno in Belton has been closed since last summer when the roof caved in during a storm, and I have to tell you they have missed out on hundreds of dollars from the McLoughlins moving to town. They need to open back up! Anyway, we forgot to take a picture so I grabbed this insanely great selfie outside our garage when it was crazy windy.

10-year-old Eva was next on Tuesday at lunchtime, and she chose Taco Bell as well. By this time I was having a real craving for the spicy tostada, so I was happy to go. Look how happy she is! One-on-one time with me is hard to come by, and she chatted me up. Oh, before we went there we got her bangs trimmed up in Peculiar at Shear Serenity.

Thursday for lunch, Sam, age 8, wanted to go to Freddy's Steakburgers in Belton. We got yummy cheeseburgers and fries and sodas, but he wasn't very talkative so we just chilled. Then he got a dirt and worms concrete.

That night was Callie's turn. She just turned 13 and wanted a smoothie, so I found The Smoothie Shop in Belton and off we went. Highly recommended! But she also wanted some food so ...

 We went right up the road to Arby's, where she got a roast beef and cheddar sandwich. Once they hit teen years, they don't always love to have their picture taken, but if you are a kid of mine, you gotta do it! Mommy likes her pictures for posterity! SMILE!

Friday, 14-year-old Michael and I were going to head to Freddy's but, alas, it's LENT and so we were not having meat that day. So we waited until Saturday to go. We got our yumburgers and fries and drinks, but he was thinking a smoothie was more his style than a concrete (plus he gave up ice cream for Lent), so The Smoothie Shop it was. It was an exciting day at Freddy's with a couple of altercations between customers and workers and customers and their children ... never a dull moment in Belton, we are learning.

 So that ends this episode of The Kerrie Show Takes Her Kids on Dates ... Belton and Raymore, Missouri did very well monetarily and the "date envelope" is empty. I need to start filling it back up with cash for the Mr. and Mrs. Aron McLoughlin date ... which I know for a fact won't be held at any of the places I took the kids because he has an EXTREME aversion to fast food (except for Chick-fil-A).

Leave me some great date ideas in the comment section please!!!! And I'd love to hear about dates with your own kids ... include a link if you have a blog post about it!

Have a great Spring season!!!!!!!!!!!

3 Ways to Make Homeschooling More Fun

Homeschooling your kids is a unique opportunity to truly shape the minds of tomorrow, but even the most enthusiastic student can get bored at times. The hours spent reading lines of text, trying to solve math problems, and struggling to remember facts can really start to get your son or daughter down — unless you step in and make homeschooling fun and exciting. In this article, we'll share three homeschooling tips with you that will transform the way you teach your kids and give them new enthusiasm for learning.

1. Get Out of the House

There are times when your kids will need to knuckle down and cram - but that shouldn't be their daily experience of homeschooling. Take the time to plan interesting outings with your kids that give them an opportunity to apply what they've learned - or learn by doing. Studying biology is way more fun at the zoo, while history comes alive at museums and monuments. As long as the outing is related to the work they are studying, they'll remember it more easily and have fun learning.

The cold months are especially hard for homeschooled kids, because nobody feels like leaving home in winter. To break the monotony of this season, get your kids some clothes especially for school time and head out for some educational adventures. Moncler for kids has a wide selection of outerwear that is both stylish and functional. Snowy climates have their own unique physical features that your kids can study as part of their geography lessons, while the holiday season is full of cultural activities that make studying history, English and social studies more engaging.

Head to a football game and get a physical education lesson! Go, Chiefs!

2. Teach from Experience

A teacher who is able to make their subject seem fascinating, relevant — or at least useful - by telling interesting stories and sharing life experiences is more likely to succeed than a boring bookworm. Whatever you teach your kids from a book, tell or show them how it makes a difference in the real world. If you're not sure yourself, take some time to research it online and think of ways to explain the topic to your kids in practical terms  — you may learn something new yourself.

Daddy and Callie playing Ticket to Ride on a Sunday ... geography, math and more!

3. Don't Skip the Tough Subjects

Math, science, and history are three subjects that kids usually describe as difficult or boring — but they are essential to understanding the world and shaping your child's outlook later in life. By showing your kids how these subjects (and the people who study them) make a difference in our world, you'll inspire them to do their best. A visit to your local science or history museum is a great chance for your kids to interact with museum staff and volunteers who can explain difficult concepts in language that's easy to understand - and if you have questions of your own, they'll probably be happy to answer them.

Touch pool at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois. A great place to learn about science!

Conclusion

By putting in a little extra effort, you can transform your child's experience of school and open their eyes to the fascinating world out there and the many ways there are to study and understand it. You'll have a unique bonding opportunity that most parents never have with their kids as you teach, learn and explore the world of knowledge together.

Top 10 Attractions for Kids This Summer Vacation in Chicago

If you recently moved to Chicago and are spending your first summer here, you want your summer vacation to be enjoyable and considerably stress-free, and you need to go to places that will not only entertain but keep your children engaged. Fortunately, there are tons of kid-friendly things to do in Chicago that will fully satisfy your children’s curiosity and their need for excitement.

Additionally, if you're just vacationing in the area but are looking for a family-friendly area to relocate to, Chicago should be high on your list.  Here is a list of available homes for sale in Chicago to consider for your family.

Here are 10 attractions that you may want to explore with your kids in the area:

1.      Chicago Children’s Museum

The Chicago Children’s Museum is undoubtedly one of the top museums in the United States and it has something enjoyable to offer for children of all ages – from babies to much older kids. Your children can experience digging for dinosaur bones at the Dinosaur Expedition, go on an adventure at the Treehouse Trails, or even exhaust their creative side by creating something in the Tinkering Lab.

Chicago Day Four: Museum of Science and Industry and Dylan's Candy Bar

Welcome to the pictures of the McLoughlin Family Trip to Chicago 2017! This is the trip where my husband had training all week in Elk Grove Village so the kids and I stayed by the O'Hare airport and took the train downtown daily! Today started with making sure my kids got into the free LEGO monthly minibuild, which is always a frantic time since it's hard to get into these days. So after doing that and dropping off my husband, it was time to head to Des Plaines for some Weight Watchers weigh-in and run action.

This is for my mom, who flips out over White After Labor Day. I'm not in love with the white pants but I ALWAYS buy black, so I got red and white this time. White gets dirty easy, as I knew they would, so forget that. I'm over these pants already.

Our station: Rosemont.

#TheKerrieShow Goes to Chicago Day Three: Shedd Aquarium!

I wrote this in my journal on June 18, 2016:

Joel wants to go to sealife downtown KC now that we saw the movie Dory. I want to take them to florida even worse. Chicago is where shedd aquarium is? THERE! Can you imagine a trip to Chicago with them? They would love it.

A few weeks ago I saw a picture of the Caribbean Reef in Shedd Aquarium on their website and I almost cried. I told myself that if I could just sit there on a bench in front of that, it would be the most amazing thing ever. I was so excited to go.

Then I stood in line in 25-degree weather with snow for AN HOUR with five annoyed kids before paying $212 for what turned out to be about 3 hours of Shedd Aquarium and I was a little ungrateful and disgruntled. By that time we were hungry and so there went another $80+ at the food court in Shedd and 30 minutes of fun time gone. Should have packed PB&Js; note to self for next time! Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it and then it might not live up to what you had in mind but at least you got to experience it!

I could have spent two full days wandering that place, with or without kids. The older my kids get, I start thinking things like, "Hey, in the not-so-distant future I might find myself in Chicago another time with my husband but the kids will be grown and I will be here alone. I will have to learn to deal with not being a mom of little kids anymore and I will have to enjoy the silence in my mind as I check out places like this ... but I will also be able to go to places like Frank Lloyd Wright's house and Ernest Hemingway's birthplace without worrying about anyone getting stolen or bored."

But I digress, like always. Here are the pics.

MORE SNOW OVERNIGHT

The kids were thrilled with the snow but we didn't have a ton of time to play in it plus the younger two were the only ones with boots :-( Praying for a huge Kansas City snow next year!

Heading to the red line from the blue line in the cool tunnel

Waiting for the bus to Shedd. It wasn't too far but it was COLD so we just waited.

The kids loved taking pictures of these birds.

The bus to Shedd in Chicago. I can't tell you how great my kids were on this trip. True travel champs for real. So proud of them.

Here we go. A long tent up the steps of Shedd and it was COLD and took forever to even get into the lobby then MORE waiting but were at least warmer. I was so impatient because I knew it would cost a fortune and that they closed at 5 so we didn't have a ton of time.

Cold Sammy

Cold but happy Eva

WE MADE IT TO THE CARIBBEAN REEF!!! I can hardly believe it! The room is kinda dark, though, and not perfect for pics, but whatever.

A dream come true!

At some point we broke way from the reef and went to a section of lake and river fun.

Then we went to a 4D Spongebob show and then it was time for lunch. Our view for lunch.

Touch pool

Seriously, we could sit here all day. I hated the feeling of being rushed around the place (self-inflicted because we wanted to see as much as we could). We are the kind of people who like to take our time and enjoy things and mess around, so this was tough for us to rush through an aquarium of this caliber. It was amazing. WE HAVE TO COME BACK SOON.

I can't tell you how moving this was. Incredible to see these gorgeous creatures ... so peaceful.

We call these ponguins.

Time to head downstairs to the Wild Reef, included in our ticket price. I hate that crap, and it's confusing as heck ... just pay one fee and see the entire dang place, seriously. Stop asking me what I want to add on for extra money and confusing me about what's included because then you get kids standing around wanting to do something that's not included in their ticket price and how annoying is that for a parent? Somehow we got everything included in ours, but remember we spent $212 for 6 people. And we could have done without the 4D experience.

Time for the indoor show

Then the littles and I were beat so we sent the big boys off down an alley off the Reef to check some things out and take pictures.

This was my chilling-out view. I was happy resting here.

Joel went to town taking pictures. What the heck are these suckers?

Yes. This is the picture I went for. This, with the Reef behind my precious children. Yes, this is why I do what I do and dragged them on a train to get downtown and pay a fortune and wait in line in the cold. To see them tired and happy at the end of a good day with their brains full of new visions of sea life.

You should have heard them griping at me about this ONE MORE PICTURE with sun in their eyes. I'm such a mean mom. Then we hopped our bus and off we went.

They liked to use their own Ventra cards at the train stations.

Such cool tunnels.

Dunkin' Donuts almost every day. They were at most of the train stations. Brilliant.

Joel took this with his phone and it uploaded to mine ... they went to the workout room together at the hotel that night.

I had to go to Target Tuesday night for a stand-alone phone charger (highly recommended if you're traveling and out all day) and groceries. And saw the next Nerf gun I want. The Lawbringer.

Check out Day Two (Monday), when we went to Adler Planetarium! Day Four was Museum of Science and Industry and Dylan's Candy Bar, so check it out!