We took our first family vacation (but hopefully not our last) this past week to Chicago! We had a great time and I thought I took quite a few pictures, but realized when we got home I didn't have as many as I thought. I think we were too busy having fun :)
We drove up to Chicago on Wednesday {after a quick stop to buy a Garmin} and made our first stop at Shedd Aquarium. We parked at Soldier Field and made the {not so} short walk in the rain to the Aquarium. It was really cool with floor to ceiling aquariums and there is even a "downstairs" where the ceiling is glass and there are glass parts on the floor so you could see you are completely surrounded by water. After seeing {almost} all the exhibits we headed outside, where it had stopped raining, and walked along Lake Michigan before heading back to the parking garage. As we were leaving for our hotel we saw where there were police lined up and preparing to block a road. We wondered what was going on and heard later on the news President Obama was back in Chicago for his birthday and some other business....{maybe to support Blagojevich in his trial- haha :)} After we found our hotel, finally got parked {I thought we were just going to drive home after all the fun we had with this}, and settled into our room we decided to go find something to eat. We walked a few blocks to a little cafe and had a quick meal before heading back to our hotel for the night. When we got back to the hotel I stopped at the front desk and began looking through the brochures of different sites in the area when I noticed Jason was staring at the people in the little computer room {though it's not so uncommon for him to stare at people :)}. After I talked to the lady at the front desk about the zoo Jason was still staring at them. I thought it was because they were being loud, but he was staring because it was Mike Ditka....oh my bad. His restaurant was actually attached to our hotel and he must have needed the internet so he was in the lobby. CrAzY! I told Jason I would take his picture, but he didn't think I should {but it was okay for him to stare for 10 min :)}
Kale & Jason checking out some of the fish at the aquarium
Checking out all the boats on Lake Michigan
After a looong {but short} night of a little boy rooting around in bed with Jason & I we got up for the day. After a quick breakfast in bed we headed to the bus stop to catch the 151 to the Zoo. We couldn't have asked for better weather for the zoo and we all had a good time and took a few pictures :) After waiting forever on the bus we finally made it back to the hotel, just in time for both boys to take a nap! I think we succeeded in wearing Kale out at the zoo because we had to wake him up to go to supper. We walked to a neat pizza place just down the street. It was great and I would definitely recommend it! After pizza we headed to the John Hancock Observatory. It was pretty neat, but we didn't spend a ton of time up there because it was late and Kale was ready for bed. Before going to sleep we watched some tv and ate cookies in bed. He went right to sleep in his pack 'n play so Jason & I got to watch tv, I packed and we even got to sleep in the next morning until 8! Yay!!
Time for a family picture....as soon as Jason gets off the phone :)
One with just Dad & Kale
and finally all 3 of us
waiting for our pizza
Jason said his favorite part of the trip was eating here...and the 2nd best was the John Hancock Building
Obama's motorcade...yep, he was in the neighborhood again
Pollard Family in the John Hancock Building with Navy Pier in the background
Kale with Mrs. O'Leary's cow...the one that kicked over the lantern and started the Chicago Fire
Another view of the city
Jason & Kale washing the windows :)
As close as we got to Navy Pier
the best way to end the day....cookies in bed :)
Friday morning we finished packing and loaded the car. We decided to skip Navy Pier and just head home. We made it out of downtown {even though our Garmin was confused (turning in circles while we drove) and we lost satellite} and onto I-55 headed home! We made a couple more stops before we made it back to Greenview though. We stopped off at Bass Pro Shop in Bolingbrook to look around and eat lunch. They had a really good restaurant right in the store. Kale loved being able to look at the fish while {trying} to eat. Our final stop was along an exit ramp for a diaper change, but Kale sure had a good time dancing in the front seat while we gave him a break from the car seat. Kale did great with being cooped up in the stroller or carseat for so much of the the time, but was worn out when we got home. He went straight to bed for a nap, woke up for supper, had a bath and went back to bed for the night.
A happy baby after a good night's sleep!
breakfast in bed
Pollard Family Vacation 2010 - our last day
playing around
helping dad load everything
Kale fell asleep right before the exit for Bass Pro and was still asleep after a diaper change and being strapped in his stroller. He woke up to see the fish inside though and didn't go back to sleep until we got home!
hanging out at Bass Pro
taking a break from the drive
cool dude dancing
We have {thankfully} had a lazy Saturday- Jason went golfing all day and Kale & I stayed home & did laundry {sounds like a fair trade off right?!?} This next weekend we are headed to Missouri State Fair so we have most of the week to rest up and repack! I'm just wondering if we can wear the same clothes for the next 5 days so I can go ahead and pack and not have to do laundry before we leave for Sedalia :)
The cake almost ended up all over the table :)
a picture of the two birthday kids
Grandma Cile with 3 of her children...Kathy left before the cake so she missed out on pictures
Ed with his three children...all smiling {a little at least}
Grandpa Ed, Jason, Kale, & Great Grandma Cile
carrying a halter around...I think this is his all time favorite toy
what a ham
Kale has taken over Jason's {not so clean} work hat
checking out the 4-wheeler
showing Uncle Justin how to drive
