Now that Lincoln is old enough to remember past experiences, object to repeating them and offer his own ideas, we won't be celebrating his fourth birthday at Taste of Chicago as we did each of his first three. He wants to go to Rainforest Cafe instead.
In fact, the rest of us have more than a little of a been-there-done-that feeling about Taste of Chicago, too.
But there was some music there Saturday night that interested Dad, and we like to do picnics at the park in the summer, and Taste
does have plenty of treats in addition to all the meat we don't eat anymore. So we decided to pack a picnic dinner, buy dessert, listen to the music and do some kids' activities.
Then on Sunday afternoon, while Mom was working, Dad and the kids attended the open house at the Poetry Foundation's just-completed building. It's pretty cool.
The Poetry Foundation is the publisher of
Poetry magazine and didn't have a home of its own until this, three blocks from us. It's so bright and open that the kids enjoyed just walking around the building, and there was a small set of muddy footprints (yes, already!) that they followed in hopes of finding the source.
(And, yes, those are trees growing inside it!)
Levynn blew past the summer reading goal of 10 chapter books in barely two weeks - she's at 19 now! - and was rewarded with the official t-shirt today.
The kids were all smiles, too - at least while Lincoln was awake.
But he fell asleep in the middle of it, while Levynn got out of her seat and danced.
The Poetry Foundation is the publisher of Poetry magazine and didn't have a home of its own until this, three blocks from us. It's so bright and open that the kids enjoyed just walking around the building, and there was a small set of muddy footprints (yes, already!) that they followed in hopes of finding the source.
(And, yes, those are trees growing inside it!)
Gram, Papa, Aunt Rachel and Cousin Chloe have arrived!
Chloe's first visit to the "The Bean"...
We're checking off those things we likely would do again this summer, and we'll cross out those that we likely won't.
We also stopped at Wrigley this morning, before the Cubs opened their series with the Yankees. Even Dad can say, "Go Cubs!" this weekend!
We don't think we'll be marking any items on the list Saturday. We've got other plans. Someone's birthday is right around the corner, after all.
Here are the kids with their summer reading folders - and Levynn's decorated face from Millenium Park, where we watched a performance by Aerial Dance Chicago. Levynn was so struck she wants to take classes with them!
Yes, they're wearing coats - because it's 50 degrees on June 10.
Levynn's class started weekly spelling tests in March, and she aced all 12 of them. More than 150 words. She even got bonus words most weeks. Mom and Dad are very, very proud. Mom wonders if any child ever has had such an accomplishment. (Mom is very, very proud.)
Practically a year to the day after Dad and the kids attended the She & Him concert at Millenium Park last June 7, it was time to try it again tonight!
Speaking of books and music, Book Beats is the theme for the Chicago Public Library's upcoming summer reading program.
