A Weekend Away

This past weekend was the first one where we left both kids for three nights. My husband had business in Chicago, so I started playing around with the idea of flying to join him.

I flew up bright and early on Friday morning and landed around 8am Chicago time. My husband took the L and met me off the plane. It ended up being kind of rainy so we flip flopped our plans for going to the Cubs game and instead went to the Art Institute of Chicago. But before we went there we had breakfast at The Little Goat Diner which is a restaurant from the Top Chef winner Stephanie. It was DELICIOUS! I'm a big fan of breakfast food so this totally fit the bill.

At the Art Institute, we pretty much checked out every exhibit but I really loved the Impressionism gallery...Monet, Renoir, Manet to just to name a few!

After walking in the cold, we decided to get a pick me up at Starbucks. That night we ate some Dim Sum which was my first time. It did not disappoint! So yummy! We then stopped at the restaurant next to our hotel and had dessert. It definitely hit the spot!

The next day it was a little warmer and the sun was out. So we had breakfast at the Eleven City Diner. Seriously to.die.for.

Then it was off to watch the Cubs play!

We then had a nice Italian dinner and went to a piano bar called Howl at the Moon. This is not your traditional piano bar where they play Billy Joel or Elton John. They were playing all kinds of popular music from Katy Perry to Rihanna. It was really neat, and they had a violin, electric guitar, and more! We had a fun time people watching too and their were like 10 bachelorette parties and two that I met were actually from Canada.

This was our second trip to Chicago, so we had already experienced the Architecture Boat Tour, Navy Pier, The Field Museum, a Food Walking tour, Willis Tower, the Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, a Double Decker bus tour, and lots of Chicago style food.

Have you visited Chicago?

Natalie

Transitions

Transitions.

Do kids ever get better at them?

I dread every time I have to tell my child we have to leave somewhere waiting for the "No!" knee jerk reaction.

I really have tried to start the process by saying we have 10 more minutes of play time in regards to leaving somewhere or going to bed. 

It has helped some. On some days. On other days the monster takes over my child, and he can't walk or yells or just plain out refuses.

IT DRIVES ME CRAZY! I just don't think it's such a big deal to say it's time to go, and then we go. But instead it's this whole song and dance routine. I know he's trying to show his independence and of course he doesn't want to leave a fun atmosphere. But geez! Does it ever get any easier? It really makes me want to not go anywhere ever again especially now that little brother is starting to throw fits when we leave places.

I am just not physically able to wrestle a 42 lb three year old or a 30 lb one year old. I seriously need some bigger muscles!

How about you? Do children transition better as they get older or is this something I'll be dealing with until they are teenagers?

Happy Friday!!!

Natalie