Chicago and That 1 Guy

For the first time EVER (thank you very much), I felt both comfortable and capable of taking all FOUR kids to Chicago for the day with John :-) We had a really good time and it was a lot easier then I had anticipated :-) Here are some of my random thoughts on the trip.....

**I'm really glad that I have spent quite a bit of time in Chicago before taking the kids! It makes it a lot easier to navigate and pay attention to the kids when I'm comfortable with a large Metro area. I couldn't imagine taking them to a large metro area with out knowing about the public transit system, what roads lead where, things for them to see, etc. It also helps when you have a boyfriend that tends to get lost in his own back yard (and that's one reason I love him :-)

**Four kids really ARE NOT that hard to watch in a large area.... lot's of times when I was feeling stressed out keeping my eye's on them, we would find a little quiet shaded place to "rest and recover" :-) Free to run around and dig in the little bit of dirt they found in the city streets :-)

** It IS possible to do all the things we did on a small budget :-) Public transportation is wonderful! Cheap Music Fests are fun! Just walking around can be entertaining and it's CHEAP :-)

I STILL am anti-video game but I'm fighting a losing battle with Zak....

"MOM! What is THAT!?!"

TOTAL CHAOS.......

AND NOW IT'S UNDER CONTROL :-)

** Kids are amazed by the simple things I have taken for granted in the past.... Couple examples.... We took the CTA Redline from downtown to uptown.... I've done it quite a few times but they were all so EXCITED to be riding on the "choo-choo train" :-) In fact, i think it was the highlight of Izeah's whole trip :-) Another, I've been to this one used bookstore on Clark countless times but Zak and Kayla loved it! Used books galore (although our bag got a bit heavier after that little visit!)

** It's really sad that the kids CAN'T explore openly in a big city.... we let them as much as we could but getting run over by some speeding asshole, or harrassed by some jerk are things I don't really think make exploration in a big city safe....

** Taking kids to music fests is FUN :-) They all danced and watched That 1 Guy (yes that's his name). Zane actually was in my carry sac and passed out cold on my boobs for the entire concert :-) I still got to dance around and he got to take a nap :-)

So now that I'm done with my thoughts.... onto what we did :-) First we took the kids to Rainforest Cafe.... they all seemed to enjoy the attractions and they definently enjoyed the food :-) (So did John and I, as we ate all thier left overs :-)

Then we took the El uptown and walked Clark St. for the afternoon..... Just seeing all the places like the book store, countless bars, clothing shops, and Wrigley Field. They were giving tours at Wrigley that day and we were gonna take the kids.... UNTIL we found out it would be 90 bucks for all of us.... eat it, seriously. There had better be a baseball game ticket attached to the 90 bucks!

Then we went to the music fest and ate really bad food and hung out until one of our FAVORITE artists came on the stage! His name is That 1 Guy and he is AMAZING :-) He has this self made intstrument that he plays all by himself.... he also handles a drum, his boot, and a saw that he plays with no help :-) If you get a chance to check out his music, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! It's kid friendly, full of dancing beats. and he's an amazing performer.... talks to the audience, open to meeting and chatting with people afterwards, very sincere, all the things that make an artist an ARTIST!!! We have seen him in Florida (check out my Langerado blog, there are pics of him in that blog as well) and now in Chi town.... we'll be seeing him again soon hopefully!!!!

Setting up his intstrument....

He does a beautiful version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"!

Playing his saw.... I missed a picture of the boot though!!