We started off with a day at the Museum of Science and Industry.
We spent the entire day exploring the museum. Everyone had different highlights. The huge model train exhibit was obviously top of Briggs' list. We spent lots of time in this area. And if the girls wanted to go see something that Briggs wasn't interested in, he would request to head straight back to the trains.
The fairy castle dollhouse was Adelie's favorite. Just like Briggs, she kept asking for another chance to go back and see it again and again.
Staley's favorite was the mirror maze, Zach's favorite was the submarine, and my favorite was either the Lego exhibit or the fact that we found free street parking so we didn't have to pay for parking.
We all enjoyed the special Lego exhibit. The art that could be created out of Legos was pretty extraordinary. Other family highlights included the baby chicks, the funny mirrors in the circus area, all the hands-on fun in the weather area, the mirror maze, and the movies about climate change.
We followed up our day at the museum with a visit to Uncle Ethan to see his condo, meet his cat Pip, and eat some yummy pizza at Giordano's.
After a little swimming in the mostly adequate hotel pool, an adequate night's rest, and a less than adequate breakfast at our very adequate hotel, we ventured to Brookfield Zoo. They were having an Ice Age exhibit, so along with the regular animal viewing, we also got to learn about giants from the Ice Age.
Although we got caught in a little morning rain, we still enjoyed a full day at the zoo. (Since we hadn't packed for cool weather or rain, the kids all got new long-sleeved shirts from Target on the way to the zoo.) The abundant okapi at the Brookfield Zoo have been a standing family joke since our last visit. As we joked about all things okapi at the Brookfield Zoo, Adelie mused about whether or not they had okapi flavored ice cream.
Zach said that he wouldn't go to the zoo unless I could assure him that we'd see a saber-tooth tiger. I'm glad I could deliver. The Brookfield Zoo is really big, and we took all day to cover it all. We especially enjoyed the monkeys and apes, sea otters, pygmy hippopotamus, dolphins, kangaroos, the carousel, and (of course) the okapi.
I always love our little family getaways. And despite a little rain and Staley's ear infection, it was another winning week-end.
