While in the Hershey's shop, a little song-and-dance number from the employees ended up involving us ... and we shared a HUGE cupcake as a prize. YUM!

Downtown Chicago ... Can you tell we're tourists?

Of course, I loved the opportunity to get close ups of all kinds of interesting flowers while we wandered.

The conservatory was pretty amazing ... and I guess the "exhibits" change with something new to experience year-round! The kids enjoyed it and had a good time exploring.

The best pizza in Chicago ... Giordano's! I love the sign as well.

View from Adler Planetarium ... it was GORGEOUS! 

This was the birthday gift for a soon-to-be birthday girl ... SHOPPING! 

What more can I say? This is evidently the ultimate thing to do in Chicago (I'm not a huge sports fan - LOL). 

My son's birthday present ... a trip to Wrigley Field! 

"Can I roll down the window?" is the question of the weekend. 

Chicago is so cool ... I love the new and the old. 

Her favorite place and mine ... a horse barn! 

Sleepy kids. 

Sleepy cats. 

Challenge: Retrieve your little sister from a very cool climbing thing. 

One of my favorite things? Watching a polar bear swim!

Who can forget the monkey who liked to suck his thumb?

Thanks to a couple of construction workers, a lost hairband was rescued from the middle of the street. 

First view of the water in Chicago ... when I was here in February, all the boats were gone. This was an amazing sight - boats everywhere! 

Sunset on the way to Chicago ... I wish this view had been out our window (this was across the aisle)! The kids flipped a coin to sit by the window and my son won. The intent was to switch on the way back and we didn't get a window seat! I had one very unhappy camper then. 

What a treat ... dinner waiting and ready? Thanks to a dear friend, my son is getting an occasional cooking lesson. How cool is that? 

Airport Stink-Eye

 

Two little competitors ... mine said before we left, "I want to wear something cuter than M-----!" 

I think my little one takes after me ... she does love to tease. I was ruthless when I was little! 

My little one was sure there was a fish in the river by the shore. She and her friend named it ... and drove my older one up a wall! He was sure it was the tip of a stick. Let the debates begin!