Chicago

We took a weekend trip to Chicago at the end of July to visit my Aunt Cherie and her family. We all had a great time!  Pictured above:  Grandma Connie, Grandpa Rick, Cherie and John, me, Sasha and Lela, Sarah, Allison and Sydney (Brandi's kids, but sadly, no Brandi), Robyn and little Finley, and Chance and Michael. 

We went to Santa's Village, this adorable amusement park geared towards little kids. The best part is that I have great memories of Santa's Village from my childhood when Aunt Cherie and MY grandma used to take me and Brandi, Robyn and Chance on our summer trips to Chicago.  And now we cousins are all grown up and three of the four of us have kids of our own we took to Santa's Village.   

Grandma Connie and Lela went riding.  

Lela volunteered at the Animal Show.  Look at her face!  The anticipation is nerve wracking....

And for good reason!  They brought out a snake and wrapped it around her hand!  

Sydney got to hold a Cayman alligator. 

We also went to the Lincoln Park zoo, which is one of the prettiest zoos I have ever seen.  Lela loved hanging out with her big cousins.

 

Lela and Sash were pretty well-behaved on the trip.  I was nervous because we were flying in the evening and we didn't have Babak traveling with us, but the girls did great and Grandma Connie and Grandpa Rick were available for some Sasha wrangling.  

I hope we can do it again next summer.  Love you Aunt Cherie!