Shedd Aquarium-Chicago

If you're planning on traveling to Chicago one of the have to attractions is definitely the Shedd Aquarium.

Ok, here is my top suggestion for going to this aquarium, pay attention, because I read this tip previously and didn't listen, and I should've. GET THERE BEFORE IT OPENS!!!!  Oh my word, this line is absolutely INSANE!!!!  We got to the aquarium 30 minutes after it opened and the line was already crazy.  However, once we were in, it was AMAZING.  It was absolutely fantastic, even with an eight year old who was suffering through a fever and ended up going back to the truck with grandma so sleep while little Charlie and I finished the aquarium and went to another museum.

So the good about waiting in line, the good about waiting in line, look around, what are my options?  Turning around and *BAM* we're standing in front of any incredible view of the Chicago skyline.  I hoisted the kiddos on the ledge and had a little photo shoot.  Well, that killed about five minutes of the endless we were waiting.
Even more fantastic luck, there was a race going on that we could see perfectly from the ledge.  People were running by below us, which made for a perfect place to cheer them on, which is what they did with grandma while I waited in the line from hell.

Once you get past the line you realize what all the fuss is about.  There are endless exhibits for you to walk through, endless photo opportunities and a HUGE gift shop to splurge in.  Even feeling under the weather, Faith loved what she saw.  Charlie probably could have spent the entire day wandering around, but we had to get to the next museum before we left to drive home.

If you're interested in visiting Shedd Aquarium and would like more information, just click here!

One Direction Concert

When you're younger you mentally make a list of all the things you want to do for your future children to make sure they have an awesome childhood.  When I was in sixth grade N*SYNC came to town and every girl, I mean EVERY girl, seemed to be going to see them.  Well, every girl except myself.  My mother couldn't afford tickets and I was embarrassed and lied to my friends and told them I was going, which ended up biting me in the butt because my friend ended up with an extra ticket, but didn't invite me because she thought I was already going.

This has haunted me ever since, I didn't go to my first concert until I was a senior in high school and Alicia Keys was at the Iowa State Fair.  Needless to say, my daughter's first concert was going to be epic, something she would never forget.  So, when I heard One Direction was going to be in Chicago I knew I had to take her.  On August 29 my little girl's dreams came true as we sat in a sold out stadium and watched Niall Horan, Harry Styles (my man), Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik shake their booties while serenading us under a glow of fireworks.  She loved it and before we left we made sure we bought just about everything in their swag store.

Ready to get this party started!

Gorgeous view while we waited.

The stadium was gorgeous, aside from having to look up and see 15 year-olds stripper dancing in the private boxes.  

Swoon!

Chicago 2013

I love visiting Chicago for so many reasons!  It's clean, it's fun, it brings up the warm fuzzy memories of my childhood, but the biggest reason is my family is there.  Visiting Chicago means my dad, my stepmother and my awesome, giant little brother.  I say giant, because he's been a whole head taller then me since he was 11 years old.  Dario was given an extra weeks vacation from work when he was promoted and he suggested we use it during Christmas time in Chicago.  He knows that's my favorite time to be in the city.  I love seeing the windows at Marshall Field's...yes, I realize it's Macy's now, but it will always be Marshall Field's to me!

The kids love my dad's cats.  If only my throat didn't swell up and cause impending death, we could get one too...

The kitty snuggled up to the kids, rolling on them slowly in
attempts to wake them up.

We went to Marshall Field's, like usual.  We try to see Santa when we visit, but unfortunatly the line was four hours minimum...not happening...but, the windows made it all worth it.

My dad gave my stepmom the sweetest looking German Christmas shadow box made by Käthe Wohlfahrt.  They told me they just bought it at the Christkindlmarket in Chicago, so I immediately decided we were going.

 Spent some wonderful time walking around the city.  Seeing it up against the lightly falling snow was....amazing.  I saved you guys the endless amounts of photos my husband took of scenes from the movie Transformers.  I swear, every time we're in the city I have to hear about it.  Oh, that's where Optimus Prime fought this guy, oh, that's where Shia defeated this guy, oh, yeah yeah yeah, got it babe.

We finished the busy day in the city by sitting in on my dad's radio show at the Tribune.  The kids were really tired at this point, so if anyone was listening to his show on December 14, that was my son screaming in the background from tiredness, they aren't torturing children.

I love the layout of the set.  My dad gets to communicate with
the people walking by outside the building.

 I was pretty excited for the evening entertainment.  We went to the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois.  We saw Mary Poppins in a circular theatre, which I love.  It was a fantastic show.  Let's just say, Charlie sat through the ENTIRE thing.  We were in the front row and the usher told us we wouldn't be able to get up once the show started for anything.  Nothing terrifies a mother of a toddler more then telling her she CANNOT get up for anything during a live show....that you're in the front row of.  Still, I was able to enjoy the show.

...and here's a hilarious photo of my son knocked out after the wonderful day...that didn't include a nap.

                                  

 

Ate breakfast here before we headed home.
Awesome snowman pancakes with rainbow
M&Ms.

For more information on the Christkindlmarket, click here!

For more information on my dad, Bill Moller's, radio show, click HERE!

If you would like information on the Marriott Theatre you should click here!