People often say that things get easier when the kids get older. Each summer is a chance to reflect on this, to look back and see how things have changed since last summer.

Yesterday Jack had two of his buddies over for a playdate. We headed over to Maggie Daley & Millennium Park for the day. Six kids, Two adults in a huge, open area park with lots of places to lose kids. It was a task that would have been too daunting a year ago.

This year was different. This year, Maggie Daley seemed like just about the only park in Chicago big enough for a bunch of 10 year olds to play at without getting bored. Or without getting dirty looks from parents of younger kids.

Jack and his buddies along with Ben played an epic game of tag. I barely got any pictures of them because I would just catch glimpse of them running.

Or hiding. 

Sometimes they would just pop up over ridges out of nowhere.

Yet they somehow managed to find each other because every time I asked, someone else was ‘it’.

Luckily the twins still needed my company all the time. And I was able to snap away at them enjoying all the park has to offer.

My Dad is here helping out so even if the twins split up we still had complete coverage.

We stopped for an ice cream break after 3 hours of non stop running.

Then across the Serpentine Bridge to Millennium Park to play in the Crown fountain.

After hours of hot sweaty play, it was a welcome change.

When we got back to the house, I expected the boys to zone out on electronics, but instead they played another tag game for hours in the house. The amount of energy exerted was incredible. If only I could bottle it and sell it, I’d be worth millions!