Chicago in February - Part 1

Who doesn't love Chicago in February?  Really?  Lots of people.  We spent a week a way from cold Boston basking in the colder of Chicago.  Many lessons learned on this trip.  Like, Ben & I like urban getaways ... but maybe our kids do not yet.  And if the kids are going to be sick, are they any more sick at the museum than they are in our hotel room?  What? we did not see you while we were there?  Well, lemme just say, we had a plan.  And our delightful daughters plotted a plan all their own.  And, the toddlers won.  They were down for the count a couple of days, so it made it hard to plan more than 45 minutes in advance.  And to the city of Chicago, we apologize for all the germs we spread.  We are the reason you really should wipe down hand rails, doorknobs, drumsticks, before handling them in public.  And to the Residence Inn Marriot River North, we owe a HUGE thank you for your hospitality and excellent accommodations and service.  Maybe we have been in New England too long and simply fell for all the people randomly smiling and saying hello, but it sure was nice.  And when we lost our camera, you really went above and beyond helping to find it.  And when we were cooped up, your free internet and breakfast buffets and nightly kiddie/babysitter meals were amazing.  I owe you a write up on trip advisor or something.  But alas, here is our play by play of the trip.  In several acts.  

Sheer joy at the airport.  Friday night cocktails and "Old McDonald's" for dinner.  Samantha is ready to roll.

Our first time on a plane as a family of 4!  And the first time we had to buy a seat for Elliot - she now has a frequent flyer account.  The girls were the best travelers.  Really good on the plane both ways.  No photos of the trip back, since that is when we lost our camera.  But, as you can see, we got it back ... after the hotel, the theater and finally the rental car place searched high and low, repeatedly for us.

We made it to Grandma & Grandpa's lake house for a snow weekend.  But the snow all melted, so we had to get creative.  Grandma came up with putting Samantha in the doll stroller and zooming her around the house.  Elliot had to wrestle the stroller away from Grandma.  

We spent Saturday shopping on the Woodstock Square.  Who knew it was so cool these days?  Many cutesy little shops.  There was an art show in the old courthouse.  We even had a "celebrity" siting... Gallagher (freakshow) at the ticket counter of the Opera House (he was performing there that night).  It was Valentine's Day, so there was a wine tasting in Cobblestones and at the wine store.  We totally cashed in on the kiddie room in the (aackkk) Scrapbooking store.  The kids colored, while we were at the wine tasting next door, I bought some stuff to start "stamping" before we all sped off to the Swiss Maid Bakery before it closed.  Though it was only closing if you forgot to switch your watch from east coast time.  Ahem.  

Posing with "Old Alex" under the "Ned's Corner Groundhog Day" Plaque.  Told you it was filmed in Woodstock.