Our visit not to the Shedd

Last weekend included a quick trip down to Chicago.  Greg swam with the kids Friday evening while I went to the temple.  And then I took the kids to breakfast in the morning while Greg had his turn at the temple.  Then we headed downtown, excited to visit the Shedd Aquarium for the first time.  We had been putting off the Shedd because we had yet to figure out some student/military/reciprocal membership way to get in cheap.  But this time we were determined to visit, credit card in hand for the full-price tickets.

Then we saw the line to get inside.  And we realized our mistake.  It was the weekend of the Chicago Marathon (and Columbus Day to boot).  This was no run of the mill Indian summer Saturday.  It was the kind of weekend when an ordinarily crowded tourist attraction is EXTRAordinarily crowded.  (Anyone ever been to a Smithsonian the day after Thanksgiving?)  The thought of paying eighty bucks to be a sardine, and not just look at them, made me EXTRAordinarily grouchy.

As much as I wanted to meet Granddad...

...we stepped out of line.

And enjoyed the views.

Time for a plan B.  Having already paid to park our car at Soldier Field, we hopped onto a nearby water taxi to enjoy a little relaxing on lovely Lake Michigan.  (I couldn't believe how beautiful the lake was!)

Then we took a river taxi up to Michigan Avenue.  (It was pretty cool, to be floating among the skyscrapers.  A great way to enjoy the city's architecture.)  Did I mention it was a gorgeous day?

Then we decided to walk the Magnificent Mile.  Why?  Well, why not?  That's what every other single human being on the planet was doing Saturday.  We made our way to the Lego Store, of which we have fond memories.  But it's different now.  Boo!  Also, every single human being on the planet, plus all those visiting from other planets, were in there with us.  (But, of course, we bought something cool, so why am I complaining?)

By the way, I believe the Magnificent Mile should be renamed the Miraculous Mile...because our kids walked.  Block after block after block, they walked.  A whole mile.  With relatively minimal whining.  It'a miracle!

Then we took the bus back to Soldier Field, and retrieved our car.

On our way out of town we stopped in the suburbs for dinner and a quick stop at Ikea--because what's more fun than Ikea on a Saturday afternoon?  (Ha.)

Then we went home and went to bed.

And, truly, it was a happy, delightful day.  (Even if I had to share it with a gazillion people and saw nary a fish.)

Stuff we've been up to

So you know my mom was here.  There has been other stuff going on too.

Like

1.  Greg's qualifying exam.  He passed!  Phew and hooray.  In fact, he got the elusive PASS PLUS.  Greg's adviser, the department chair, told him that they don't give out many PASS PLUSes.  In fact, they can go several years without anyone earning a PASS PLUS.  Then she pointed out, "What it really means is that you studied too much."  (That's my husband!)

2.  Post-qualifier party.  The day after the big test we invited everyone who took it over for a cook-out.  It was a good time.  After they left it all sunk in: In the group, we'd had someone from France, two people from Taiwan, a Turk, and a young man from Shanghai.  Most of them have not been in the States very long, and it dawned on me that for some this had been their first (and therefore only) experience in a "typical" American suburban home. . . . . . which begs the question. . . . . . WERE WE NORMAL ENOUGH?!  Nice enough?  Hospitable enough? Entertaining enough?  Did we meet their expectations?  Wait.  Do we even WANT to meet their expectations? Anyway, I stayed up all night AFTER the party worrying about it.  (A normal person would worry BEFORE the party.  I prefer to drive myself into a tizzy about things I can do absolutely nothing about.)

3.  General Conference.  (The women rocked!  I may occasionally mention on my blog "Relief Society" and "visiting teaching."  Here's the deal with all that.  Thank you, Julie Beck, for your articulate and inspiring words.  And, hello, Sister Dalton!  Loved her address on oh so many levels.)  As I watched and listened throughout the weekend, my heart was comforted, my soul filled, my understanding deepened, and the Spirit spoke to my spirit.  (I also yelled at my kids a lot.  Somehow I think the two weekends I yell at my kids the most every year are General Conference weekends.  A little ironic, don't you think?)

4.  Soccer, tap, ballet, book fairs, back-to-school nights, parent meetings, volunteering, homework, play dates.

4.  Elim's dedication.  Remember this sweet little guy?  On Sunday we had the privilege of attending a dedication service at his parents' Unitarian church.  It was a wonderful experience!  (I mean, did you go to services on Sunday in a church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright?)  The service was beautiful, the dedication ceremony inspiring.  (I loved how it had less to do with the child, and more to do with us as friends and family dedicating ourselves to the child.)  The congregation was warm and genuinely, sincerely, unassumingly, institutionally welcoming.  So welcoming, in fact, that I couldn't help but think, dang, we Mormons could learn a lot (a lot!) from these folks.  That afternoon we enjoyed a wonderful spread of food with Baby Elim's family and friends.  We have loved getting to know his parents, Mikhael and Deserae.

5.  I thought/spoke/wrote/posted/thanked the heavens too soon.  At least I'm only the assistant.  Good-bye, nice small, sweet intimate group of young women.  Hello, big, huge dinners and parties for hundreds.  And hundreds.  And hundreds....  This is way out of my league.  (Good thing I have helpful friends!)

I think that just about sums it up.  We're off to Chicago tomorrow after school for one of our quick, 24-hour trips.  The agenda?  Temple, swimming, Shedd Aquarium.

A rainy day

This was last week.

Fortunately, this week is bright and crisp...and even warm!  We're gulping it up--we can sense the snow pants in the closet taunting us.

Grandma Evie was here

My mom was here this week.  It was a good week to have a mom around.

She entertained my kids while I hid in my bedroom hiding from myself.  Then she was patient while I weakly tried to catch up on my laundry.  Then she entertained my kids while I lay in bed with a stomach bug.  Her being here gave me reasons to get out and see this beautiful fall weather.  And excuses to stay in and avoid fully engaging with life out there.  (Sometimes life is too much, and you just want your mom, you know.)  It was a good week.

As you can see, we made it to Little Norway and to Cornish Mineral Point.  (You don't have to cross the Atlantic to get a little bitty taste of the European.  Come visit us!!)  We also went to House on the Rock, which is sad and ironic and hilarious and also okay because my mom and I both dislike the House on the Rock but it's in a lovely location.


P.S.  I just think everyone should know that I am sitting here watching the Wisconsin-Nebraska game.  ALL BY MYSELF.  (What is this state doing to me?!  I could be watching old TLC shows on Netlflix instead.  I am ALL BY MYSELF.)  The kids did demand that I stay up and watch to the bitter end so that I can tell them in the morning if Bucky Badger won.  (At this point, it's looking good for Bucky.)