Shedd Aquarium/Mil Children's Museum

April 30, 2011

I am loving Groupon. I receive daily emails about offers of restaurants, museums, or services at 50% off. Back in September, the Betty Brinn Children's Museum of Milwaukee offered a great deal. A family of four for half price. Suddenly it was almost May and it expired early April. All I needed was the paper I printed off to show that I bought it.

We got to the museum and I didnt have the paper. Now I was going to have to spend $24 MORE to get in- knowing the previous $12 was a waste. I was sad but didnt want to let it ruin my day. I mentioned to the desk person my frustration and she offered that I come around and use the museum's computer to print off the paper! What a great save!


There was so much to see and do there- A. enjoyed it but with so many people she kept busy checking out the multiple exhibits.

D. was so happy he could walk. He enjoyed toddling around and trying to do all the things his sister could do.

I love this picture of my little man. Ankles crossed, park bench just his size...

D. was confident he could play too- it just wasn't quite as easy as it looked!

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The Shedd Aquarium (April 9, 11)

One Saturday we decided to venture to Chicago for a day at the Aquarium. I have been begging Andy to go there since we moved to Wisconsin. Now that he goes to Chicago often for the Cubs games he found a fairly simple way to get there. We drive to Skokie, pay $4 to park, take the yellow line to the red line, and go right into Chicago! I will admit that as we were on the train leaving Skokie it occurred to me that I didnt remember locking our SUV doors. This fear haunted me most of the day.

We left home an hour later than I had hoped. We didnt tell A. of our final destination in fear that the 2 hour long wait we had heard about was really true. When we reached the grounds of the aquarium I was saddened and almost sick about how far the line stretched. How could I expect a 4 yr old and 1 year old to wait.in.a.line.for.two.hours???

Andy had gone to investigate and came back quite pleased. Because we had a stroller (a double one in fact), we were allowed to enter in the side entrance... the entrance that had more of a 20 minute wait!

(Sometimes it bothered me that A. was more excited and focused on the technology than the actual animals in front of her!)

At the counter I produced my WI teacher ID and the paper I had printed off confirming my entrance was free ($35- whew!). I politely small talked about the museum, the sadness that the aquatic show was already sold out, and the aquarium- and she told me the final price was $31. She had let Andy get in for free! I thanked her profusely.

I then went to buy overpriced batteries for my camera. When I put them in I discovered my memory card wasn't in my camera! BUMMER. Thankfully Andy had brought the video camera so these pictures of from it.

After about three hours at the aquarium we walked (YES WALKED) to Navy Pier. I was extremely thankful for the double stroller as A. slept the whole walk and D. would have been heavy to carry. We ate dinner at Harry Carey's and then took the train home. The car had been left unlocked- but nothing was touched. I guess no one was interested in a vehicle over five years old. Thank goodness!