Whirlwind Trip to Windy City

There is A LOT to see in Chicago.  We tried to pack in as much as possible during our quick trip to visit Shelly and Zack (who were there for a conference.)

Brielle and I took the train from East Lansing to Chicago Monday Morning and came back Wednesday afternoon.  Because we would be on foot and taking the bus I tried to pack as light as possible, which meant I was not very well prepared to keep a toddler busy and distracted on a train ride.  We walked up and down the train over and over again during each 4 1/2 hour train ride.  Ellie's favorite thing was to point out everyone that was sleeping. 

Watching the dairy cows at the Farm (at Lincoln Park).

Ellie is really into tractors right now.  She was SO excited about the chance to drive the tractor at the Farm.

The Lincoln Park Conservatory

At the Lincoln Park Zoo.  We saw the tigers, giraffes, lions, seals, bears, snakes, etc.  The only picture we had of us though happens to be at this exhibit with not much to see.  You can see the turtle and fish behind us.  There was also monkey's climbing around above our heads.

We got to the top of the Sears Tower at the perfect time to watch the sunset.  It was beautiful!

Brielle with her Aunt Shelly at Sears Tower.

Alder's Planetarium.  Our favorite part was the heat sensor wall, we enjoyed watching ourselves dance in front of it until closing time.

There is a great hands-on room at the Field Museum.  Brielle was long past due for a nap, but when she saw all the fun things to do she forgot all about sleep and started playing.  She then immediately fell asleep when we left the kid area so Shelly and I could enjoy the rest of the 9-acre culture-filled museum.

The Shedd Aquarium has a lot to see.  I loved watching the diver feed the fish, seeing the eels , turtles and thousands of kinds of fish.  There was also a really great pet show where they brought in trained dogs and showed how they are similar to training the dolphins.  Brielle's favorite part of the aquarium was stirring the fake eggs set up at the toddler exploration area.

The Crystal Gardens Atrium at Navy Pier

View of Chicago from Navy Pier

We also enjoyed some window shopping along the Magnificent Mile (including the the American Girl Store), going in to the haunted Water Tower, the Museum of Stained Glass Windows,  and lots of bus rides and walking.  

The best part of going the Chicago this time of  year...the museums were all free!!  There was a lot more to do, but not enough time.  We'll have to plan to go back again sometime.

Cookie Letters

Brielle is really into letters lately. She doesn't know them, she just picks a favorite and calls every letter she sees that for the day. (Today they are all the letter "S")
To encourage her interest in letters we decided to make letter shaped sugar cookies.

She helped make the frosting that morning.

And liked licking the beater so much she decided to dip it in and get some more.

Rolling them out

Before baking

Decorating

Beautifully frosted. I couldn't get the whole name because she was already eating the other "E"

yep, that's the missing E

I did put whole wheat in the cookies, so I didn't feel so guilty letting her indulge. I wouldn't say they were healthy, but at least she got a serving of whole grains.

Playing with Rice

Today's project was colored rice. Ellie helped me color it this morning and then I baked it during her nap. It then kept her busy again this afternoon for at least 1/2 an hour allowing me to get pizza dough made for dinner.

There is a recipe to color rice or pasta with rubbing alcohol, but I didn't have any on hand, so I used a recipe with vinegar instead.
For each color you need
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
5 drops food coloring
1/2 tsp white vinegar
Ellie helped me pour it in a container. I put on a lid and she shook it up to mix the color.
I then spread it on a cookie sheet lined with pieces of tinfoil to keep colors separate. Bake at 200 degrees for 40 minutes to dry the rice.

I put the glue on the paper and then let Brielle pour rice over it to create the pictures. She loved just playing and running it through her fingers.
Warning! This is a MESSY project. Put down paper or a blanket, or be prepared to sweep.

I've been wanting to capture how Brielle is learning to talk before she learns to really say the words correctly. However I don't think this was the best time. She mostly seemed annoyed with me for bothering her while she was trying to play. I did get her to do a few animal sounds for the camera though.

Rainy Day Projects

We like to spend most of the time outside, but sometimes there are too many mosquitoes, or too much rain or it is too cold...yeah I know lots of excuses. When we are inside though we like to do something fun. I'm excited Ellie is finally getting old enough to care about the craft projects. Of course they have to be easy and they can get pretty messy.

Pumpkin Painting

Items needed: Washable Paint, Paintbrush and a Pumpkin


Corn Syrup Finger Painting

Items Needed: Corn Syrup, Food Coloring, Plastic Bags.
you can trace patterns through the bag, it is finger painting without the mess. Ellie loved squishing the bags.


Apple Prints

Items Needed: Apples cut in half, Washable Paint, Paper






Coffee Filter Butterflies

Items Needed: Coffee Filter, Washable Markers, Water Dropper, Pipe Cleaners
Mostly Ellie enjoyed taking the lids on and off the markers. She also liked squeezing the water on and watching the colors mix.


I am nervous though thinking about a long cold winter ahead of us. What other indoor activity ideas do you have to keep toddlers busy?

Appleton Lake Campground

We had a great time camping this weekend. Brielle and I headed out early in the day to make sure we could get a campsite and get set up. James was able to join us after he finished with school for the day, just as the tin-foil dinners were coming off the fire.

Ellie loved the open spaces with lots of room to run around. She did a great job helping to collect kindling for the fire by handing me every stick and leaf that she came across.

This was as she saw the lake and took off running toward the water. I had to grab her before she ran right in.

I was concerned about this being such a big slide for a small girl, but she loved it.

A view of Appleton Lake as we went over to the main campground for Halloween storytelling.

It got down to 36 degrees during the night, but we stayed warm with lots of clothes and blankets. If it wasn't for the racoons that kept knocking on our door wanting to play all night, we might have gotten some sleep.

The campsite

And yes, James really did come. We just don't get him in very many pictures.