Spring Break 2014

Our kids are travelers and museum lovers so we go on those type of vacations for Spring Break and fall Break and even in the summer.  We are completely amazed they haven't even asked to go to Disney World.  Andrew has been dying to go see Sue, the first complete T-Rex skeleton ever found.  Sue is at the Field Museum in Chicago so that's where we went.  Andrew & Aubrey took their first plane ride, and since Davis was only about 2 when he rode on a plane, it was kind of like his first time, too.   They were all troopers and amazing little travelers.  They were perfectly behaved in the airports, on the plane, in the big city, and rode all the subways, trains, and taxis like pros.  The weather was cold and snowy but it didn't slow us down.  We toured the Field Museum, Aquarium, and Museum of Science and Industry.  It was an awesome Spring Break with some pretty awesome kids!

Ready for take off!

The boys were excited!

Aubrey's stuffed animals apparently liked riding on the tray table.

Enjoying the ride.

Best burgers ever at M Burger!

It was a teeny tiny place but we didn't care, we were starving!

First stop- Sue!!!

He was completely in awe!

Sue is pretty big.

Sue's real head, it's too heavy to fit on the actual skeleton.

Making music together.

Aubrey found a friend just her size.

The walls with the eyes were a little creepy.

The eyes were watching us!

Building Sue.

Checking out an exhibit on music.

Pumping blood to a giraffe's brain.

She was mesmerized.

Snow...

... LOTS of snow!

So pretty!

More of the city.

Davis loved looking at the lake.

Bundled up!

Riding the subway.

Lots of tall buildings.  They were fascinated.  I didn't think Columbia was that small!

Looking for the aquarium.

They weren't used to having to cross the street so quickly, either.

Ready for a 4D movie.  

Aubrey thought this corral was beautiful.

We loved the teeny tiny blue fish.

Museum of Science & Industry: Lots of being silly...

...Rick & I even got in on it...

...haha...

...last one!

Andrew actually asked to have his picture taken in front of the leopard.

It took about 50 tries to get this action shot of Davis "jumping" onto the train.

Working on the submarine.

Davis in the Navy.

Andrew fell in love with the U 505.

Reading the cartoons to Aubrey.

Driving the tractor- Grandpa should be proud!

More of these...

...they LOVED these...

...see?

Aubrey on the periscope.

Relaxing in one of the bunks on the submarine.

Making the balloons float.

Creating a vortex.

Aubrey's turn.

The tornado was a little too real for me.

Creating an avalanche.

Not sure what they're doing.

It was so cold, but pretty!

My little climber.

You can't really tell, but that's Aubrey's face projected on the mannequin's head.

Checking out the train.

So cool!

Funny notes, fishing, Field Day, and a funeral.

Andrew is my heart.  He is such a sweet, sensitive soul.  He loves to do 2 things, create art at home and go fishing.  He's not a big fan of physical activity but he does (sometimes) like to be outside.  He enjoyed Field Day, but it left him, "exhausted."  He's also busted his big brother for not studying, caught some tadpoles but then had to bury them, and even went fishing with his sister.  Take a peek inside the world of Andrew:

This cracked us up!  Even Davis had to laugh.  Guess this is what little brothers are for.  In case you can't tell, it says, "News!  Davis is not studying"

Letting Aubrey have a turn.

She's looking...

Andrew's turn.

Teaching her how to put bait the hook.

It was too cold for any fish but they had a great time anyway.

It was a sad day for everyone when Andrew's tadpoles died.  He cried and cried.  It even made Davis tear up.  

He decided his big tadpole, Tyler, needed a proper funeral.

Finding the perfect spot.

He even made a tombstone which reads, "2014 Tyler the Tadpole."

Frisbee toss at Field Day.

He did pretty well.

Cup stacking.  This might have been his favorite.

The plunger race.  He thought this one was hilarious!

Nice!

If he would do it more often, he's a really fast runner!

Aubrey being Aubrey

Being the little sister of two big brothers isn't always easy but we think Aubrey has adjusted pretty well over the years.  She's fiercely independent, incredibly stubborn, and extremely determined not to be left behind.  We love our baby girl!  Here's a look at what she's been up to lately...

Yes, she is standing on a stool to get something out of the refrigerator.  She decided I was taking too long and she got her own snack.

Following in big brother Davis' footsteps, she's been taking karate every Saturday morning.

She loves it!  She earned her first belt 2 weeks ago.

Aubrey's job from Davis' tennis coach is to pick up the tennis balls.  She LOVES it!  Andrew picked up all of 4 tennis balls and said he was "exhausted."

Working hard.

She has been wanting Rick to take her training wheels off of her bike for months now!

She doesn't know that he's not holding on.

There she goes...

...all by herself!

Her "Care Bear Recycle Project."  She and the boys did this all by themselves while I was at a meeting at school.