So it took some convincing, but I got everyone to go downtown with me yesterday! Melanie wasn't so sure she wanted to go, and neither was Katie, but eventually they agreed, and we were on our way!
The day didn't start out exactly as we had planned. We planned to go to one train station, and when we got there, we parked the cars, and realized "Wow, we don't even have to pay for parking - GREAT!" Well, once we got everyone unloaded out of the car, Melanie noticed a sign that said "we tow 7 days a week!" We were in the monthly permit parking lot. We quickly got in our cars, while Auntie Katie watched all of the kids, and we tried to find parking. To no avail. We drove all over the place, and could not find the public parking! I decided we should just head to another station, in the hopes of catching the same train. So we got everyone back in the cars and drove like speed demons to the next station. We had like 14 minutes! It was crazy!!! We were giving kids instructions in the car, and planning out who was going to put the money in the slot for the parking, and telling them that they couldn't fool around or we were going to miss this train!! We were running like mad people, only to find a couple flights of stairs that we had to get THREE strollers up! Thankfully I just had an umbrella stroller, so I folded mine down, and helped Mel with hers. We got the kids on the platform, and then we went down and helped Amy with hers. All of this, only for the train to be LATE!!! In the end, we were glad it was late, but had we known it was going to be late, we wouldn't have been acting like chickens with our heads cut off! And because the train was late, we had the opportunity to take a couple of pictures! :)
Here's all twelve of the kids!
(l to r: Melanie, Amy, Katie and Aimee)And the mommies ready to brave the City of Chicago!!!:)
For a lot of the kids, this was their first train ride, so that was a lot of the fun for them! :) I couldn't get everyones picture, because we had to split up.
First Stop - Millennium Park
We couldn't believe that we actually got all twelve to look at the camera!!!
The kids looking up at the buildings after we got off the train
Anna and Chloe were the best of buddies all day!
They all loved the bean!
Especially Brett! He loved that he could look up in the middle of it and see himself! :)
At the park, they had a Family Fun Tent where the kids could go and play - they had loads of fun making paper, and fans and hula hooping, and building with blocks, etc.....
On to Walgreens, yes, Walgreens. Bretts flip-flop broke. (Did I mention that my flip-flop broke at the beach?!? Crazy.) Anyway - found a pair of flip-flops for $.54!!!! WHOO HOO!! This was the scene for me from the inside of the store... :)
I just thought this was too funny not to get a picture of. Notice the smooshed heads and faces on the window! :)
Now it was time to find the trolley to take us to Navy Pier. It was a little bit of a hassle, and it took A LOT of time, but it was worth it!
LUNCH TIME! We ended up just going to McDonald's inside Navy Pier. We figured it was the cheapest with that amount of kids, and it would probably be the only place to get a table for 16 right away! :) The kids were SOOOOOOO good! They all sat and ate so nice. I guess it helped that it was 2:00 and they were STARVING! :)
At the Navy Pier, that have a little "garden" upstairs. It was really pretty. And would you believe that we actually got all of us to get ANOTHER picture!!!
We ended up going outside to the area with all of the rides, and it took forever for everyone to agree on one ride (each ride is $5!!!). We ended up going on the Ferris Wheel. It really worked out to our advantage though, because it normally costs $6/person. Well, because we had so many people in our group, we were able to buy a Family Combo Ticket which made it a little less than $3/person!! :) We love to get a deal!!
After the ferris wheel, we decided to try and get pictures of each of us with our kids. It's no easy task with my kids, so I was thrilled when I ended up with this photo...
We bought a quick snack, and decided it was time to head on home. We had such a marvelous day! The kids were all so well behaved, and they had a lot of fun! We had so much fun, that Melanie said we should make this a tradition each year!! :)
I also just want to add that I am just so blessed to not only have these friends in my life, but now all of our kids are making lifelong friendships and growing up together. It's just so great!
First Stop - Millennium Park
We couldn't believe that we actually got all twelve to look at the camera!!!
The kids looking up at the buildings after we got off the train
Anna and Chloe were the best of buddies all day!
They all loved the bean!
Especially Brett! He loved that he could look up in the middle of it and see himself! :)
At the park, they had a Family Fun Tent where the kids could go and play - they had loads of fun making paper, and fans and hula hooping, and building with blocks, etc.....
Next Stop - The Fountains at Millennium Park
The kids loved this (well, except for Brett and Tucker. Brett just didn't want to go in, and Tucker had a broken arm :( ). We brought bathing suits so they were able to get as wet as they wanted!
The kids loved this (well, except for Brett and Tucker. Brett just didn't want to go in, and Tucker had a broken arm :( ). We brought bathing suits so they were able to get as wet as they wanted!
On to Walgreens, yes, Walgreens. Bretts flip-flop broke. (Did I mention that my flip-flop broke at the beach?!? Crazy.) Anyway - found a pair of flip-flops for $.54!!!! WHOO HOO!! This was the scene for me from the inside of the store... :)
I just thought this was too funny not to get a picture of. Notice the smooshed heads and faces on the window! :)Now it was time to find the trolley to take us to Navy Pier. It was a little bit of a hassle, and it took A LOT of time, but it was worth it!
LUNCH TIME! We ended up just going to McDonald's inside Navy Pier. We figured it was the cheapest with that amount of kids, and it would probably be the only place to get a table for 16 right away! :) The kids were SOOOOOOO good! They all sat and ate so nice. I guess it helped that it was 2:00 and they were STARVING! :)
At the Navy Pier, that have a little "garden" upstairs. It was really pretty. And would you believe that we actually got all of us to get ANOTHER picture!!!
We ended up going outside to the area with all of the rides, and it took forever for everyone to agree on one ride (each ride is $5!!!). We ended up going on the Ferris Wheel. It really worked out to our advantage though, because it normally costs $6/person. Well, because we had so many people in our group, we were able to buy a Family Combo Ticket which made it a little less than $3/person!! :) We love to get a deal!!
After the ferris wheel, we decided to try and get pictures of each of us with our kids. It's no easy task with my kids, so I was thrilled when I ended up with this photo...
We bought a quick snack, and decided it was time to head on home. We had such a marvelous day! The kids were all so well behaved, and they had a lot of fun! We had so much fun, that Melanie said we should make this a tradition each year!! :)I also just want to add that I am just so blessed to not only have these friends in my life, but now all of our kids are making lifelong friendships and growing up together. It's just so great!
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