Chicago: Day 4

Saturday was a great day on vacation.  We went to the Museum of Science and Industry - a super-boring name for a really interesting (and huge) museum.  First stop for us was the farming section....go figure.

 I think we returned to this area three times - as if the boys don't have a combine and tractor just outside our house in the shed.  It was funny to me how big of a deal this equipment was to kids and adults.  Let's just say, people are crazy...

 The boys "milked" some cows.

 And Levi FINALLY got to ride a cow!

 We saw the HUGE submarine, but didn't wait in line to go inside it.  It would have been really cool to go in it, but waiting in line with the boys just wasn't going to happen.

The kids area was great.  There were all sorts of activities that made the boys think but that kept them engaged and never let on that they were educational.  Ben, Andy and I had a good time too which is always a bonus in the kid section of a museum. 

 The airplane was pretty dang cool.  Levi talked to the Captain of the plane and got a ticket from him that had information about the plane. But, Levi was sure it was an actual airplane ticket.

 The model city/train/countryside display was amazing.  The boys were really excited to find the train and watch it go to Union Station where our real train had really gone just a few days before!

 Levi found out how hard it is to turn the wheel on a ship.

 This gizmo feels impossible for me to explain, but it was fascinating.  I've never seen 30 people crowd around a display to watch a metal ball travel around so mesmerized by it that nobody could leave until the ball finished it's entire course.  Fascinating design and wonderful colors.  This YouTube video shows what it was (it's jumpy at first but gets better).

 On our way back to Andy's we found ourselves at the same train station we had been at the day before.  It was interesting to see just how far we actually walked to get to the aquarium on Friday.  See that white building at the very end of the street?  That's Shedd Aquarium.  In terms of walking around a city, it's not a long walk.  But when you factor in the heat and that for most of that walk two of us were hauling kids on our shoulders - it was a long walk.  Speaking of hauling kids on shoulders, maybe I should do some special weight training prior to our next vacation to help my muscles prepare for that.

 Every El stop in Chicago has blue bumpy stuff along the edge.  Our rule for the boys is to stay off the blue.  This rule gives them lots to tattle on each other about because inevitably, to see far enough down the track to watch for a train, they HAVE to step on the blue.  Then the other one tattles and promptly steps onto the blue bumpy stuff too.

 Train must be coming!

 When we got back from the museum that afternoon, Ben and I took off to a one-of-a-kind ice cream shop in Andy's neighborhood.  I didn't take my camera but I sure wish I had!  It was pretty small, decor from the 1970s with brown vinyl booths, wood paneling, little juke boxes in each booth and a fantastic small time ice cream shop feel.  The ice cream was served in a huge clam shaped dish with fudge sauce that was served in a gravy boat on the side. It was so good and it was fun to get away for a little bit, just the two of us.

 When we got back, Noah was busy showing grandma the video I'm Farming and I Grow It on YouTube. He watched it several times,

 and then Andy's girlfriend Lia came over and Noah showed her the video, too!  Speaking of Lia, it was wonderful to finally meet her and get to know her a little bit during our visit.

That evening, Ben took Levi on the El out to O'Hare Airport just for the fun of it.  Levi made sure to take his airplane ticket since he was sure he'd get to ride on a plane if he had his ticket.  Ben may have played along with this idea and encouraged him in thinking this would all work out.  When they got to the airport they went inside and finally found a TSA agent that broke the bad news to Levi that his ticket wouldn't actually get him on an airplane.  Thankfully, we have plans to fly to Phoenix in November and Levi plans to keep his ticket until then. :-)