Ben is off from school right now. He goes to school 11 months a year so when he has time off, we try very hard to ensure his time away from school is everything he wants it to be.

His first request was to check out a new park. Luckily, with Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays! initiative, there are boatloads of new playgrounds to choose from.

I stumbled upon this gem in one of my many google searches and Friday morning we packed up and headed out to see it.

Merrimac Park was redone 2 years ago but it’s so far away from us it was completely off my radar.

This park has a field house with bathrooms. Clean bathrooms! It made the visit so much more civilized!

They had interesting climbing structures that I’ve never seen before.

And a water feature.

Two tables for eating or snacking. Or, if you prefer, lots of green open space to picnic, play ball or just run free in. The open space included 2 baseball diamonds and a track that looped the whole thing – perfect for safe biking.

The best part of the park for me was the diversity of the people. I heard Serbian, Spanish, and Arabic. An African American father was biking the path with his son. And everyone was so incredibly nice to each other. After traveling and living abroad, I so appreciate how unique America is. It truly is the great melting pot.

The field house is open 9am-9pm Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday and closed on Sunday.

We felt like a bunch of bears coming out of hibernation this weekend.

Memorial day is always a magical weekend for Chicago. It is the first official day summer fun. Beach and pool open for the summer. Waterparks and splash pads all around Chicago are running at full blast. The sun once again feels warm against your skin and the perfect temperatures, combined with longer days, puts the whole city in a good mood.

This weekend we enjoyed many hours outside enjoying the weather. This afternoon we swam at the pool. Sam and Aaron have stopped using their flotation devices but about 1 and 1/2 of them still can’t swim so it’s all hands on deck at the swimming pool right now. No free time for photos!

Yesterday we went to the Morton Arboretum to check out the new exhibit, Origami in the Garden.

Besides checking out the exhibit, we cruised around to all the usual spots we like to frequent when we go.

Tadpole & Frog Pond

Every time we visit, Aaron is obsessed with these rocks.

Aaron manages to get everyone else to carry them for him.

The Creek, coming up with a plan for a dam.

Ben was a bit overwhelmed by the creek. Adam calmed him down.

The Rope Bridge

The natural playground

It was a glorious weekend and we are so looking forward to all the summer fun ahead of us.

Jack’s pick up time and Ben’s bus arrival land at the same time every day for me. Which means every single afternoon I have to be in two places at once.

Usually I combat this with a combination of helpers, but mostly I lean on our dear sitter Camila.

This week Camila was out of town. So I called my mother to come help for the week.

I picked Mom up at the airport with my two firemen escorts.

It strikes me as odd that I’m in my forties and still lean on my parents so much for help, both physically and emotionally, but I thank my lucky stars every day that I have the parents I have. Both of them rush to help and selfishly give of themselves whenever I ask.

My mom quickly booked the flights, despite the extra expense of traveling on a holiday weekend.

And unlike the half days, 3 days a week that I have Camila, when Mom comes I have help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Every morning she pushed me out the door to take Adam to work, and every evening she stayed home while Adam and I caroused Chicago.

During the day I ran errands kid free while she folded clothes and washed copious amounts of dishes. And cleaned our bathrooms. Like twice a day. Which is what should be standard for four boys with bad aim, but I have been below standard on many things since all these kids arrived.

She even made Jack’s favorite dessert for him – cheesecake. 

And reorganized my linen closet!

And best of all, she enjoyed the kids. She was playful with each and every one of them.

Bauler Park

Children’s Museum

We managed a belated Mother’s Day brunch out at Stella Barra. Adults are only $18 and kids EAT FREE. (Thanks Pam for the tip!) 

The kids seemed so happy to go!

But after they scarfed down a few ‘make your own’ pancakes, they were much happier.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

Dropping her at the airport today was a very sad moment for me, but hopefully we will see each other again soon.

Today I celebrated 10 years of motherhood.

Ten years. That’s 3650 days. It’s 87,600 hours! In Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers” book he states that practicing anything for 10,000 hours makes you an expert. So, by these numbers I should be an expert by now. Hmmm. I think I may have just disproved his theory.

Adam always makes me feel like I’m doing a wonderful job as a parent but it’s good for the kids to be reminded that it’s a choice I make everyday, to get up over and over again and try not to screw them up too much. That’s something they should appreciate and not take for granted!

Plus it’s always fun to celebrate!

First Adam managed to keep the kids quiet until a ‘slept in’ until 6:30am. They were all up at 5am. Again.

Then this morning I was greeted with many cards full of money and gift certificates to my favorite haunts.

Afterwards I was whisked off to one of our favorite breakfast places (not just because it’s one of the few places open at 7am, either!), Meli Cafe.

The kids and I are starting role reversal. They ordered fancy crepes while I got boring oatmeal.

As you can see, Aaron had the chocolate pancakes.

After breakfast it was time to burn off some energy at Montgomery Ward Park.

Adam, my 5th kid…

They have a huge board walk along the water that goes from Chicago Ave to Division that’s nice to walk.

Next we headed home for some down time, then lunch.

We got a surprise visit from our friend’s the Cameron’s who were brunching at a nearby restaurant.

Which ended up in a shopping trip for the women. Pam helped me pick out some much needed swim wear. I swear this woman has missed her calling as a professional shopper. Everything thing I bought was handpicked with her keen eye.

Pam and I also indulged in some watermelon sangrias at the rooftop of ZED 451. 

Later I got home to find the kids bathed and fed, the kitchen clean and the laundry done.

It was heaven.

Thank you all for making my day very special!

The twins wasted no time sleeping this morning, they were so excited to turn 5 that they were up and in our bedroom by 5:40am.

The celebration for this year started Monday night. We had an early dinner with Grandpa and Auntie Doris before they flew back to Florida at the Rainforest Cafe.

Besides the special dinner and birthday cake, Adam also treated them to a toy at the shop.

This morning they got an assortment of donuts from FireCakes.

Then it was in the car to drop the older kids at school and off to the Chicago Children’s Museum.

They have been changing a lot of things around at the museum. They still have the Castle exhibit that the kids love, but they moved the art studio upstairs.

We also visited some of our old favorites like the dinosaur room and the bus room.

Next it was time for MacDonald’s happy meal. Followed by some Garrett’s Popcorn. (It was very hard to be good about eating today!)

They had their swim lesson too. Can you believe it’s only 2pm at this point in the day?!

We picked Jack up from school and came home to open the first of many presents.

This one was something they both asked for. Sam wanted a Yeti and Aaron asked for more Trio Blocks.

I love how they combined the two gifts.

For dinner the twins wanted breakfast. Luckily we live in Chicago where you can get just about any food you want. We ate at Eleven City Diner. And we got yet another cake to celebrate.

Then home for more presents. We opened many cards, some with money in it. We opened gifts Bubbie and Bill sent up with us from our visit. And their big ticket item – their own iPads. 

But it doesn’t end there. Many relatives gifts are still streaming in. Jack and Ben are going this weekend to pick out their own gifts to the twins.

So lucky to celebrate for so many days! It’s like they are having a birthday week!

This year was a bittersweet birthday for me. It’s the last year the twins will be at home with me all day. Although I joke about how ready I am to have all the boys in school so I can have more free time, I also know that it’s another stage where we grow apart a little more. Eunice Kennedy Shriver once said having a child is just one long, painful separation that starts at birth. Today I feel it.

A few months ago Adam accepted a conference in Las Vegas. He asked if I wanted to join him.

If I say yes, will you buy me tickets to see “O”?

He answered yes to that and more…

My father and aunt generously agreed to watch the kids while Adam and I spend one night together in Vegas. Afterwards, we drove over to see his mother’s place in Arizona.

About an hour after my dad and aunt arrived I put everyone to work.

Dad had the unfortunate job of helping with the twins inoculations.

One day later, I handed over a 7 page instruction manual and flew to Vegas to meet Adam at the Aria.

We had a fabulous dinner at Nobu, then went to see the show I have been wanting to see for over 10 years, “O”. The two drinks at dinner combined with the two hour time difference had both of us tired parents bird pecking in our seats. Ugh, we are old!

Sleeping until you woke up naturally for a week instead of the pitter patter of little footsteps eventually made us feel like normal people again, though.

Huge buffet breakfast at the Aria.

After our night out, we packed up and drove 7 hours just outside of Tuscon, AZ to visit Adam’s mom and husband.

Pit stop at the Hoover Dam

They have been living in a retirement community out there for 4 years. Sadly with all the kids, we have not been able to visit them earlier.

We have heard about it for 4 years though. They said how much they liked it, so I was expecting good things, but when I arrived I was blown away.

Playing with Zoe on the patio.

I doubt this blog can do it justice. It certainly can’t show the expansive vista they enjoy every single day from their own back yard. Pictures and words can’t give you the feeling of euphoria you experience looking at it while listening to the birds chirp, surrounded by pitch perfect weather.

Adam’s mom told us how many clubs she belonged to, but she didn’t mention the effect it has on a person. How having a group of like minded individuals all living together, all away from their families can effect a person.

It felt very similar to my time in Hong Kong, we called it “the bubble” because we were all in the same age group, without kids, our parents far away. The shared craziness of people willing to leave it all behind and start anew in a foreign place made us all very close very quickly. I still talk to those people and lament for the good old days of Hong Kong. It was a special time in my life, something very rare. Something not everyone in life is lucky enough to have. So I was very surprised to see my in-laws had found their own bubble!

Besides having found many new interests and friends, Adam’s mom has certified her dog as a therapy dog and volunteers with her. She also volunteers at a local school.

But we didn’t see that this visit. This visit we were treated like royal guests.

We stayed in their casita. We were taken to spectacular state parks and for hikes. The dessert landscape was mesmerizing.

Catalina State Park

Catalina State Park.

Salino Canyon

We hiked from that ridge!

And we ate out, at the golf club, a Mexican restaurant , a breakfast diner and more.

The Margarita is as big as my head!

I even got some laps in one of the 3 pools they have access to in their complex while Adam lifted weights in the adjoining gym. Adam and I managed a run the last morning as well.

Meanwhile, my father and aunt tirelessly held down the fort here in Chicago.

They fed the kids, ran them around to school, swim class, soccer and more. And they took them out to the parks to play. But best of all, they formed a connection with them that will last the rest of their lives.

I barely bothered to call. I felt completely competent in their abilities!

When we got back they offered to do more, and never once complained about the kids behaviors. Even as an adult, I’m still learning how to live under their grace and ability.

A big thanks to BOTH families! Adam and I are very lucky to have so many wonderful parents in our lives.

A few weeks ago Adam informed me he had a meeting in Columbus OH in mid April. After checking the calendar, I realized it was the same time as Jack’s spring break.

I’ve never been to Columbus and it seemed like a perfect time to check it out.

So we packed the kids in the car, let Ben take a few days off school, and drove the 6 hour drive to Ohio. We packed many new videos for the trip. Schoolhouse Rock was one of the favorites.

(Picnic pit stop at Fort Harrison State Park outside of Indianapolis on our way to Columbus.)

While Adam spent the first few days working, the kids and I spent time exploring the local surroundings. I couldn’t go anywhere big on my own, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of fun to be had.

We got in two sessions at the hotel pool, one with and one without Adam.

We have been giving Aaron and Sam swimming lessons and while Adam was with us, they showed off their swimming prowess by taking their Puddle Jumpers off and managing not to drown.

We also checked out the local park, Goodale Park. 

Unfortunately the playground was under construction.

But after the boys shook off their city skins, the ones where everything is planned for them, they started to enjoy the other parts of the park.

Like the lake.

Looking at the fish.

And finding sticks.

And discovering pinecones in different stages of life. 

And generally enjoying large, open green spaces with room to horse around.

After Adam’s work was finished, we were able to enjoy some of the bigger sites. First we checked out the Columbus Zoo.

It was a very big zoo. The parking lot was so big they had a tram service to the entrance.

The amount of animals they stocked was quite impressive. The kids really like the reptiles and aquarium. 

So did everyone else.

It was so crowded that the phrase, “It’s a Zoo” was quiet appropriate.

They also really liked all the kid play spaces.

And the Dippin’ Dots!

The next day we checked out the Center of Science and Industry, or COSI.

I loved, loved LOVED this museum.

Everything was so hands on and kid friendly. 

They had loads of science volunteers with pop up stands around the museum. 

We saw a movie in their Giant Screen movie theater, the kind shaped like a huge dome.

We also checked out the outdoor park.

And their temporary Mindbender Mansion exhibit, filled with mazes and puzzles.

They had this huge play space for the twins. They were having so much fun that Aaron said I ‘ruined his life’ when it was time to go.

They pretended they were bandits stealing food and hiding here…

We also checked out the Scioto Mile, a large outdoor space in the city center.

Sometimes we just hung out in the hotel and had down time. 

We also sampled many of the cities delicious eats.

At North Market for pretzels and dip.

And Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. Columbus OH is the birthplace of this ice cream genius.

We ate at many chain restaurants that don’t exist in Chicago.

Like Gordon Biersch.

And Buca di Beppo.

The restaurant was so full of tchotchkes that we spent most of our time playing I-Spy.

Finally, we got to see some of Adam’s long time friends who live in Columbus for a dinner at El Arepazo. 

We let Jack take the picture…

He might need a bit more practice.

Finally we headed back home.

(Picnic stop at Eagle Creek Park.)

Aaron spent most of the vacation confusing our trip to Columbus with our trip to Florida. On the first day he asked when Grandpa was coming to visit us at the hotel. A day later he asked where the pizza float that we used on our trip to Florida was. Finally he asked which day were were going to the beach.

When we got home, we talked about our favorite things at dinner that night. Most of the kids agreed on COSI but Aaron loved most that Grandpa was coming to visit him soon.

Ben celebrated his spring break on this cold, rainy week in Chicago.

Still I tried my best to make each day fun and special for him.

Some of the activities included swimming (while the twins had a lesson).

A trip to the Morton Arboretum to look for trolls. 

While we were there we picnicked, enjoyed the playgrounds,

the maze, 

and this really big hill…

Ben also had TWO playdates with his buddy from school. First we hung out here for the day and went to pump it up in the afternoon.

Then, another day, we went to the Children’s Museum together. It was Ben’s first look at the new, “Once Upon a Castle” room. 

I really liked how all the boys just grab swords and form a motley crew. Something about the room really promotes group play.

We also went upstairs where Ben had a pick up game of chess. It was a proud moment for me to watch him find a friend to play with then find the grace to lose to him.

In the past anything could have happened. Ben refusing to play by the rules. Ben refusing to lose. Ben breaking down in a fit of rage and frustration.

Finally I took him horseback riding. It’s something he loves to do and now that he is 7 he can actually hit the trails.

Afterwards they gave us a tour of the barn and Ben boldly petted and fed the animals.

There were also other treats. Like going out to dinner, donuts for breakfast, or spending an evening eating ice cream from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream shop.

Overall I’d say we had a successful, fun filled week for him.

Now I get less than a week’s rest before it’s time to pull off the same performance for Jack!

Mother Nature decided to wait until a week before spring before dumping all this beautiful snow on us.

The kids couldn’t have been more excited!

We haven’t had a good snow day all winter!

We quickly finished our homework and as soon as Adam got home from work, we headed out to the nearby sledding hill.

Just walking over to the hill is fun for all!

Holding hands when crossing the street.

The kids managed to do every configuration of sledding you can think of with the various sleds we brought.

I loved to watch them roll around with reckless abandon, without any worry where the snow might touch them.

It was such a wonderful childhood moment to watch. Pure joy. And one I never experienced as a kid growing up in Florida.

Afterwards we had hot chocolate, ordered a pizza, went to bed late and slept well.

More snow fell today….

Last week Jack had a paper for school where he had to argue whether there should be zoos or not. 

Interestingly, he argued against zoos, siting some animals as dangerous predators, taking animals away from their families and housing them in the wrong climate.

I asked him why he argued against zoos, since we go and visit our local one quite often and he said it was easier to argue against, that there were more arguments against than for.

I love his practical nature!

Which means he wasn’t bothered to walk to the zoo with us this weekend.

I must admit, personally it makes me feel squeamish sometimes to eyeball a bunch of caged animals for fun.

Still, even after all the arguments against, there are still plenty for.

Like the fact that our kids get such great exposure to many different real live species.

Regenstein African Journey

Regenstein African Journey

Quite often it starts a talking point and a learning opportunity. Like whether polar bears and the black bear are the same thing.

New Polar Bear Exhibit

Pritzker Family Zoo Black Bear

Otters at the Pritzker Family Zoo

Pritzker Family Zoo

Pritzker Family Zoo

And our zoo provides all these interesting sights for free!

I also liked that we skipped snacks and had a ridiculously  early dinner at Eleven City Diner, where you can order breakfast ALL DAY long.

(It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.)

Early dinner means we have the run of the place and our wiggly kids don’t annoy other customers!

Afterwards we visited their candy counter for dessert. Loved all the old school treats!

It was a really nice day out, we have been so lucky to have another mild winter that makes it possible to wander around outside and it not be numbingly painful.