Chicago...Day FOUR...and going HOME!

Friday (July 6th) was our last full day!! We just spent it hanging around the house!! 

Laurie (my sister) got the pool out and filled it up for the kids!!

Max, Brendan, and Emery had a big time playing in it!! 

It was just too hot to play outside without being in the water!! Thankfully their backyard has good shade so we could enjoy sitting and watching the kids play!

We also put an industrial size fan on the porch that was blowing on us!!

We grilled out that night and played more corn hole!! Such a fun game!! The little kids even enjoyed it!! 

And sadly it was the end to our little time in Chicago...

This was the way Max and Craig were sleeping Saturday morning when I got up!! So cute and PRICELESS!! 

We got on the road back home around 9...had a LONG drive ahead but it went smoothly!! The kids played, napped, ate, and played!!

They were really really good and I think we only stopped a total of 2 times!! 

So good to be home but so sad to leave our family behind!! 

Chicago...Day THREE!!

Day three...we got up and all headed down for breakfast around 8. Grabbed a cart on our way back up so we could load up again and head back to my sister's house!! She said it would be fine to stay the next two nights and more fun to be right there with everyone!!

We really just spent the day playing and hanging out! Max and Brendan were like two peas in a pod!! They enjoyed playing a baseball game together on the ipad and iphones!!

After dinner and when it was cooling down to like 99 degrees instead of 110...we ventured out to the Single A Baseball team in town called the Cougars!! 

It was rather inexpensive and just something fun to do!!

Keeping Emery entertained...we flipped the camera around on my iphone and were taking silly pictures!! 

Then out came a very very funny Octopus!! That ended up swallowing the bat boy and spitting out his clothes...his bat...his ball...and then eventually the boy in his boxers! It was quite hilarious...however.....

Max was SCREAMING hysterically the entire time!! He DID NOT like the octopus at all. He thought he was very mean and he wanted him to let the boy go!! The rest of us were laughing so hard at my son's dramatic scene that we finally realized we needed to comfort him...my sweet sweet sensitive boy!!

Making more silly faces sitting with cousin Lindsey!!

Cooling off with some Lemon Freezes and...

ice for little miss priss!!

Max LOVED watching the game!! I have never seen him so into baseball before!!

Emery could have cared less about the game and seriously was passed around to everyone!! Here she is sitting with cousin Kahla!!

Craig took the boys to get a little Cougars baseball bat in the gift shop!! They were PUMPED!!

But not as PUMPED as when Craig took the boys up to the dugout at the end of the game and Player #3 (i forgot his name) game both Max and Brendan a baseball!! 

The boys were holding them up like they got trophies!! It was too cute!!

Then as night fell it was time for FIREWORKS!!! Yay!! We didn't get to see any on the 4th so this was our make-up!!

Everyone LOVED them except....

Emery...she was a little scared and was holding onto me for dear life!!

After the fireworks they told the fans that they could run the bases!!! Of course Max and Brendan were super EXCITED!!!

Max running over home plate!! 

What a FUN evening we had!! So wish we had a single A team at home!! 

We asked Max what his favorite part was...and he said "That the BLUE team WON!!" LOL Go Cougars!!

We got home late...did baths...and everyone PASSED out!! That heat wears you out!!

Chicago Bound...Day TWO and Happy 4th!!

We had a great night's sleep and woke around 8:30 to go and have some breakfast in our pjs!! Max and Emery's favorite thing about the hotel was the ELEVATORS!!!

Yummy breakfast together!!

When we got back upstairs I gave the kids their little July 4th happy!! Thank you Target Dollar Zone. I didn't realize until Max put his glasses on that I grabbed a girls pair for him...oops!! At least they were blue. He didn't care in the least!!

Daddy got the kids dressed....can you tell....Emery's outfit is on backwards!! LOL

Below is the right way!! Such a little cutie!!

Kids walked down with Daddy to get a cart and got a ride back up!! Fun!! We packed up in hopes to head to Chicago....

Next stop was THE MAGIC HOUSE!! St. Louis's Children's Museum. 

Daddy and Emery singing songs!! 

When did my son get to be 3.5 ft tall!!! Someone please put a brick on his head!!

Grocery shopping time!! Emery and Max had a BLAST in this area!!

I would say their favorite part was ringing up the groceries and playing with the play money!!

Our little ice cream man!!! Mint Chocolate Chip...yes! please!!

Sorting the mail!!

I would have to say this was Emery's FAVORITE place!! They had a baby nursery!!

She was all about rocking them...

feeding them...

and dressing them!! I had a hard time getting her to move on to another area!

Played in the little cafe where we made pizzas and served people food! Super cute!!

Then off to the balls in motion room!!

This was by far one of Max's favorites!! 

There was so much to do at this museum!! Almost overwhelming!! Could have stayed their ALL DAY!!

Playing in the bank!!

and the bubble room!! We didn't stay in here long as it was super crowded and smelled funny!

Music room!!

Then into the story book room!!

The school house!! Seriously this museum had it ALL!! We had such a wonderful time!! Will def have to make our way back one day!!

We got the call from my sis to come on to Chicago!! They didn't have power yet but we just decided to get a hotel and make the most of it!!

McDonalds to go!! Emery was saying "cheese"!! LOL

Bye bye St. Louis!! Until next time....

The ride to Chicago went very well!! We did lots of playing!! Here we are having a tickle me fest!! Love those sweet smiles and giggles!!

We got to Chicago and Emery went straight for the toys! She didn't want much to do with anyone right off!

15 minutes before we arrived my sister's air came on!! YAHOO!!! So we played outside as it was cooler out then in their house. Played a few games of corn hole...swing set...baseball...

Grilled out some burgers, hotdogs, and brats!! YUMMY!!!

This as the night fell we did some fun sparklers!!

Max and Brendan!!

And even Emery helped me hold one!! 

Shortly after the sparklers we loaded up and headed to the hotel. My sis's house was no were near cooling off so we felt it was best for the kiddos to sleep at a hotel. Brendan went with us!! 

Kids enjoying a snack and a show before bed!!

Sweet cousins!!

So glad we made it to Chicago!! It is so good to be able to spend some time with my sister and her family!! God is GOOD!!