Kaleidoscope Family Day at the Art Institute

8/2/08

We took a trip into the city today. It was the kids and my first ride on the Metra. Maddie and Max were impressed with the double decker train. When we got into town, we took a water taxi down the river. That was pretty fun. We ended up at the Art Institute of Chicago for the Kaleidoscope Family Fun Day. We met the Claus Family there for a day of artsy crafty fun.

                                             

Some people were snapping pictures of Max wearing the coattails because he was hamming it up  conducting and bowing to everyone.  It was pretty funny.  

Naperville Riverwalk

8/1/08

We had an amazing day on the Riverwalk today.  We started out at the Carrillon tower.  We took the stairs all the way to the top and were able to see the bells up close.  The observation area offers a great view of the area.

Next we walked over to Centennial Beach where they offer a sand beach, swimming and fun water play features.

We ended the day at the Paddle Boats. The kids enjoyed the boat and the scenery while I paddled them all around the lake.

Museum of Contemporary Art

7/31/08

Today we met Maddie's BFF Brendan and family for a trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art.

1.  Maddie and Max on the front steps of the MCA. 2.  Maddie and Brendan looking around.  3. Brendan, Max, Maddie pouting and Aiden with a Jeff Koons blue heart hanging in the background. 4. Maddie and Max with an Alexander Calder mobile.

So, taking the kids to a contemporary art museum was probably not the best idea ever.  The collection was too provocative for our little group.  We ended up wandering down Michigan Avenue to play at the Lego store afterwards. All in all, it was a fun adventure down town.

Exploring Elmhurst

On 7/30/08, we spent the day exploring Elmhurst.  Our first stop was the historic York Theatre where they  have a Wednesday Morning Movies Series for kids.  We saw the Pirate's Who Don't Do Anything.

Elmhurst has a very quaint downtown area with a lot of cute shops.

Our next stop was the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art.  The Lizzadro Museum displays gemstone treasures created by ancient craftsmen as well as by contemporary artists. The building itself was designed to resemble a jewel box in a park setting.

I thought my  mom would like to see these bowls.

The museum features many dioramas, each one a small scene populated by gemstone creatures native to that environment. This polar bear diorama was Max's favorite.

Maddie was in heaven here.  She loved the famous Castle Lizzadro.

Of course no visit to a museum is complete without a stop at the gift shop!  

Since the museum is located in Wilder Park, the kids were able to play and swing outside for a while after we finished inside.  

We ended the day at Jim's Hamburger Heaven.  This local favorite is only open for a few months out of the year.  They are famous for their made-in-the-barrel root beer, and their signature burgers which are strangely similar to the McDonalds Big Mac.  We like their angelic hamburger mascot.

Pirate's Cove

Pirate's Cove

7/29/2008

We went to Pirate's Cove today. The kids had fun playing on all the rides. The Pirate's Plunge slide was a favorite. The Paddle Boats were a fun way to cool off. The show was really lame, but the kids didn't mind. 

Jumps and Jiggles

7/29/2008

Jumps and Jiggles is a little play place in the Elk Grove Park District.  It is best for younger children, but Maddie still had fun there.  The best thing about this place is the unlimited rides on the historic carousel.  The carousel is 28-feet high and features 18 hand painted, jumping horses and an Oita Chariot.  The kids loved the design of the horses, and it was a fun way to kill time before Pirate's Cove (located right next door) opened.

Picnic on the Riverwalk

7/23/2008

The kids and I had a great day on the Naperville Riverwalk.  The local library hosts "Picnic on the Riverwalk" which involves some singing, dancing, a puppet show and some stories.  We brought a blanket and a little picnic and had a lot of fun on this very hot day.

Max was sooo hot that he just couldn't keep his shirt on. 

He kept asking me if he looked cool and I kept saying, 

"No! Put your shirt on!"

He finally agreed to keep his shirt on when I bought them candy fans at Naper Nuts and Sweets.  The fans were worn out by the end of the day, but they were well worth it!