The Big Window

Spring Break 2018 was a fun-packed freezing cold time!  Good Ol' Michigan in April.  

First up, Easter prep!  Grandma came over a couple days before Easter to dye Easter eggs with the kids like she does every year!

Day 1 of Spring break was Everson's birthday.
Day 2:  Air Time!  Carson took Elliott and Laney took Kate.

Trampoline Dodge Ball!

Day 3 was our big family party for Everson and Laney's birthdays...(pics are in the last post about Evie's birthday)
Day 4:  Easter Sunday!

 The Easter Bunny was good to our kids!  I didn't get a shot of them all dressed up for church but they looked cute :-)  After church there was an Easter egg hunt AT church and then when we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house we found out the Easter bunny had left MORE EGGS in the basement for yet another Easter egg hunt!  This was our third time around for the weekend and yet Evie still opened her first egg and quit to eat her treat.

 Alright Day 5:  Chicago Vaca!  Whoop whoop!

 So the pool was pretty packed when we went there.  Carson and Laney had a blast jumping around but Evie got pretty anxious about all the kids screaming and splashing around.  She went in with Patrick and even started to get in and swim but as soon as a few kids came bounding over she was done.  She enjoyed sitting on the side watching her brother and sister.

 Patrick really enjoyed the kid packed pool as well, as you can clearly tell :-)

 The kids loved the view of Chicago from our hotel room!  I didn't realize that they hadn't experienced a big city before.  Carson remembers Charlotte somewhat and we've been to Baltimore and Atlanta on trips but I think they've forgotten.  Just looking out our window was mesmerizing for them.  Laney was in awe of all the sky scrapers and Carson loved watching all the people walking by and all the trucks, buses, and cabs.  We spent a good amount of time in this window.  It was unexpected and pretty awesome.  Taking your kids places can be a lot of work but it's things like this that remind me how important it is to just keep taking them!

 The weather wasn't great but it was good enough to walk eight blocks to get pizza in Chicago!  The kids loved walking in the city! All the lights and buildings!  We had some great conversations it was like they were just soaking it all in.

 Day 6:  Shedd Aquarium in Chicago!  This place DID NOT disappoint.  We stayed all day and we all had a blast.  Everyone had different favorite parts...I can honestly say I loved it all! 

 Beluga Whales!

 I mean how cool is that?!

 Well I know Evie's favorite part of the day was interacting with this little guy!  There were probably 30 penguins in there and this same one kept swimming over to Evie and doing jumps, turns, and sometimes just starring at her.  It was like they had a secret language through the glass!  I have a cute video of it.

 Penguin Play Land!

 Carson's favorite...Patrick's nightmare!  I thought Patrick was going to run right out of the aquarium when we saw this anaconda.  Holy Moly!

 Dolphin Show!  Ahhhhh!

 This little Sea Lion was found in California, blind and confused. They are rehabilitating him and he's just the cutest!

 Saying good-bye to the dolphins...tear tear.

 Shark time, Laney's favorite.  Of course Laney would love sharks the most!

Chicago was amazing.  We had the best time and we wanted to stay.  We did end up cancelling our second night because of an April snowstorm coming through.  Yep.  Love you midwest.  We will be back though!  On our way home we stopped half way at Greenbush Brewery for dinner and kept the good times rollin.  

 The next couple days we stayed inside playing with friends, watching the ugly snow fall  Ugh!  Laney and Kate made this elaborate puppet show set and then put on some shows for us.  It was time well spent!

 Ok, Day 9:  Laney's birthday party!  Laney got to take 4 girlfriends to Chuck E Cheese for some game time and Carson got to take his buddy Carson.  It turns out several of their friends stayed here for Spring Break this year too.  That doesn't usually happen.

 This guy gets pretty serious with these games no lie. 

 We had Thapasya, Kate, Abby, Laney, and Kendall.

 Really Dad?  When can we have a turn?

 After the games we had ice cream sundaes at the house!

And presents and a pinata and send those kids home this Mom is whooped!  

The last two days of Spring break Grandma and Grandpa Brang came to stay over with the kids while Patrick and I got a whole day and night in Traverse City surprising Sarah for her 30th birthday!  The weather was worse than ugly but I'd say we had a pretty successful Spring Break!  Lots of parties, celebrating, Easter egg hunting, vacationing, hanging with friends, and even relaxing a little bit!  Next year we vow to go somewhere warm.  We shall see!