Monthly Archives: July 2011

The Elusive Pirate Park

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I first heard of it from my friend Pam. But after accidently wandering to it one day, she was unable to find it again. Today my playground expert friend, AKA Playground Pointers, showed me the way to the park that is such a secret that it doesn’t even have a name.

The Park with No Name

It seemed like it was in a valley, surrounded by tall residential buildings on all sides. It was not far from Millennium Park, where we jogged to this morning to see Mr. Singer. Again. That makes for 4 shows in 2 weeks.

Mr Singer Groupies

Back to the no name park. It had sprinklers in the center, a pirate shaped play structure, swings, and another boat-like structure that actually rocked back and forth. Soft surface. Surprisingly comfortable benches with shade and nice shrubbery. During our visit a Mom blew bubbles for all the kids. Another Dad filled water balloons for the whole park.

Jack pretends we are sailing to the Cayman Islands

Besides the park itself, right outside of the gate there is a great open lawn area. But the best bit was copious amounts of fountains. I think we spent as much time playing in the fountains as the actual park.

Jack, Josephine, and Lillian

No bathrooms nearby, so I found myself in a porta potty on a construction site. Crouching in that smelly cell while holding both of Ben’s hands so he didn’t touch anything was the low point of the day for sure. The good news is the construction site is building a Fresh Market and other stores so I’m sure there will be a bathroom there soon.

Surprisingly the highlight of my day had nothing to do with finding a park that I’ve wanted to see for years. It was a tense moment when I was yelling at Ben to sit in the stroller on the L platform. Jack looked over, saw him crying and gave him his Elmo. He stopped crying immediately. I couldn’t have been prouder of Jack for that display of empathy and problem solving ability.

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Adams Playground Park

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We are very lucky in Chicago to have such an incredible Park District. If I wanted to, I could go to a different playground every day for the summer. In fact I have a friend doing just that! In August my friend Mistie is launching Playground Pointers, a website directory on public playgrounds. If you want to learn more now, you can ‘like’ her facebook page to get updates on the progress. If the site is anything like the woman, it will be thoughtful, thorough and interesting.

Some are better than others and every day I’m so happy we are lucky enough to live close to Adams Playground Park.

Jack with his Cutie Patootie Friend Josephine

In the summer there is a great water park, separated by a gate. Big enough for pre-teens to enjoy and safe enough for toddlers.

Ben give Mommy a Hat

It also has a great sand box with lots of toys that are there permanently.

Soft surface, swings, a see saw, picnic benches and two play structures.

And most importantly, it has a bathroom! The bathroom has hours, only open from 9-5 during the week and sometimes if you are lucky there are weekend hours.

Be warned, one of the entrances has no gate. Also, the water park is only open certain hours. Check the schedule before you go so you don’t disappoint your kids! There is a link on the park district website for Adams Park.

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Hidden Creek Aqua Park Fun

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We had a great day at the Hidden Creek Water Park today. With the husbands along, it made for a much more enjoyable, less stressful morning. It was super hot and gloriously sunny so the water felt great.

Believe it or not, we actually decided NOT to get the membership. For our family of three (Ben doesn’t count yet) it would cost $251. And the park is only open May 28th until September 5th. With the weather in Chicago, who knows how many times you could feasibly use it.

Instead we paid $12 for each non resident over 3 years old, a total of $36. Doing the math we’d have to visit 7 times to start saving money.

The water park occupied the boys for hours, and Jack didn’t even get to the sand pit. There was also a deep pool (6 lanes) with diving board and two slides for older kids which I’m hoping the boys will grow to in years to come. What else? A water playground with dumping bucket and slide, a huge zero-depth entry pool with smaller slide, water fountain sprays and a structure that funnels water that you can move around and vary the water pressure. They have lounge chairs everywhere and we were there early enough to be able to get ones under an umbrella for shade. Also a grassy area to picnic and a concessions stand to buy a picnic at.

I’m on a mission to check out all the water parks in the ‘burbs this summer but let’s see if we run out of summer days as perfect as today before I can complete it…

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The Summer Camp Debate

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Today started an internal debate about Jack going to summer school.

He loves being with his best friend who is also signed up for the same camp, but he hate authority.

Summer Camp Buddies

My girlfriend and I signed the boys up together. I’d hate to sell her out at this point. I’d be upset if she did it to me.

Near the end of the school year we had to drag him kicking and screaming to class. But we persisted. Occasionally during those last few weeks the teacher called to come get him, they were unable to get him to behave or listen.

I figured camp with his best friend would be different. Less structure, less time away (it’s only 3 days a week, 3 hours each time). But right from the start he and the camp councilor clashed.

I signed him up because I didn’t want him to be the only kid without a camp. At his age most kids are in something at least a few days a week. Wouldn’t he be bored hanging out his mom and kid brother all day?

I signed him up because I was worried I’d be overwhelmed with them both at home for the entire summer.

I don’t want him thinking he can abuse authority, not listen, and misbehave and that will get him the reward of doing what he prefers.

But now that summer has arrived I am actually enjoying having him with me. It’s more fun with Jack around. And guess what, he and Ben play quite nicely together! There is so much I want to do this summer I’m finding it hard to fit it all in with camp. And I’m sure my mother would say (if she weren’t in Vietnam right now) to keep him home, enjoy it because it goes so quick.

 

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Millennium Park Family Fun Festival

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Today we checked out the Millennium Park Family Fun Festival.

The performer was the same singer we had at Ben’s 2nd birthday, which I think motivated us more. I know it kept me running instead of walking the 4.5 miles for fear I’d miss the start of the show.

Afterwards we spent the morning running in the fountain…

Followed by a lovely picnic on the lawn with the mom posse, with music wafting from the Petrillo band shell.

Just another fun filled summer day in Chicago! Summer in Chicago make winter all worth it. Or maybe winter make you appreciate summer more?!

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Life is Good

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This morning Jack went to Summer Camp and Ben played in the East Bank Club Children’s Activity Center while I enjoyed this gorgeous sunny morning swimming laps at the adults only pool.

Adults Only Pool at the EBC

I’d like to thank my sponsors, well…er, sponsor for making this all possible. Thanks Adam!

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The Cousins are Here!

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Jack and Ben have had a walloping good time with their cousins from LA visiting. Jack has been desperately trying to keep up with the non napping, late bed time (jet lagged) sleeping cousins. Poor thing will be dead tired when it’s all over, but I can’t blame him one bit – it’s non stop fun in our house right now!

The Cousins

We managed to pack in the Butterfly Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the water park at Adam’s Park, a picnic, a sail boat tour, Ben’s birthday party, and for me the best part was one glorious evening adult evening at Perennial Virant while the kids terrorized the babysitter.

I think the best part for the kids was that, through some loophole in math laws, more parents around somehow meant less parental supervision.

There is nothing more important or greater than family and this visit made me so happy to be together, yet so sad that we live so far away from each other.

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Ben’s Second Birthday

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Having a kid born in the summer in Chicago is great for birthdays. It opens up all kinds of possibilities that could never occur during a winter month. We used the weather to our advantage. Adam spent a ton of time cleaning up the deck, arranging play mats, cutting branches and much more. His biggest feat, which shows what a determined husband I have, was to blow up a 6 foot pool with his lungs alone.

This expanded the area for play greatly. Of course, the kids thought the best part of the party was to run up and down the back stair well, using the various entrances to our house as ‘secret passageways’.

It was a zoo theme and we ended up arranging for the singer who plays at the zoo every week to come to our house.

Mr Singer playing for Ben's party

Do you remember the best sound in the world during summer when you were a kid? The music of the ice cream truck, right? Instead of cake we arrange to have the ice cream truck come by.

Who wants some Ice Cream?

We decided not to get cake, since an ice cream truck enough dessert for one day, but when Adam saw this bad boy in the supermarket he HAD to have it. I vehemently opposed. I let him buy it, figuring we could break it open in the privacy of our own home, but after his heavy handed pours of Skinny Girl, it didn’t seem so bad after all…

Ben's Hamburger Cake

 

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