Our New Usual: Navy Pier

Sixth grade. Low dogs on the Central Middle School totem pole. Sir Mix-a-Lot blaring on our boom boxes. Umbros with spandex underneath on many of the girls, including me and Michelle. Big hair and bigger bangs (especially, Michelle...) That's when we met each other. 21 years later we are still friends. I cherish that because I know a friendship that long is rare so when she called me and said she wanted to bring her family down to my neck of the woods for a weekend I was excited. Turned out the weekend we choose was perfect - the same weekend of the Air and Water Show.

Friday night, Michelle and Fred came over for a grilling out dinner with their kids, Niko (almost 5) and Gio (2). I knew Niko was asking what I had to do at my house because he thought I was just going to have "girl toys" yet he spent all night baking cookies in Nora's kitchen in the basement! Ironic.

On Saturday, we took the train into the city and stopped at Millennium Park to see The Bean and play at the splash pad. Then we walked to Navy Pier where we ate lunch and saw the Air Show.

First ride on the train.

They have newspaper boxes
in Chicago, too! Luckily, this was
the only one she cared about.

When we got off the train all the parents needed a little
caffeine in them so we had a quick pit stop at Dunkin' which
is when the monkey see, monkey do started. Anything
Niko did, Nora did too. The followed each other around
just giggling the entire time.

You can't go to Dunkin' without getting a chocolate
doughnut to kick start your day!
This is Gio and also one of my favorite pictures from
the day. Pure joy right there.

The game of monkey see, monkey do continued.

and continued.
Niko was beyond excited and I think
Nora just liked having someone to run
with again.

Holding up the Bean.

Finding their reflections.

I love Nora's gaze at Niko in this picture. You can
tell she's in a giggly mood copying his every move.

Finally Mr. Myles got to get out of
the stroller!

Nora was happy to see him join her.

Then we walked over to the splash pad.
Niko is the super tan boy in the grey
shorts right under the giant waterfall
giving his mom a heart attack for
getting that wet.

Gio was hilarious here. He absolutely
loved every second of his time in the
water. He didn't stop running back
and forth the entire time.

And this boy decided he had enough
and was cold after about 5 minutes

so he sat on the sidelines with his Dad to dry off.

I took so many pictures of Gio while here. His energy
was infectious and was a magnet to my camera.

Haha! Trying to drink the water.

Nora briskly walked most of the time
because the few times she did run
she forgot to slow down at the edge and
took a slip onto her booty.

Joined her bud to dry off.

This little guy wasn't a fan of the
water again but was happy as a clam
watching everyone...

... and playing guard man of all things
in the stroller.

After we put the kids in dry clothes we started our trek
to Navy Pier.

The famous Ferris Wheel

We took a ride on the carousel.

Even Myles rode.

Gio loved it and Niko named his horse Clyde.

This was still before the ride started
moving because by then, Myles was
over it and didn't want to sit on the
horse anymore.

Navy Pier is an amazing place to watch the water show.
You can see the planes coming toward you far in the
distance. It's almost ominous to see five
fighter jets coming toward you.

It's amazing how closely these jets fly.

But all proved to be just too much for this little
guy who zonked out right at his usual nap time.
He was so exhausted from all the outside time he
slept through the noise of the planes. And if you've
ever been to the Air Show you know how impressive
that really is... the noise is EXTREMELY loud.