Bright Lights, Big City

Happy 3^rd birthday, my sweet Theo!    Sorry that there is no traditional birthday party and presents this year, but I promise you an exciting day!

With another 700 kms before us today, we were somewhat less than enthusiastic about starting out in the morning.  However, we were off by 7:30am; and what a difference leaving early makes.  Somehow the drive seemed so much easier, and we pulled into Chicago before 4pm.  It’s a good thing, too….the 4^th of July celebration was about to begin.  Or, as we told little Theo…the city was prepping for his birthday!!

Chicago, the city of hot dogs and gangsters, lived up to my vision.   After driving countless of miles throughout the countryside, we were suddenly thrust into aggressive city driving.  Our first impression of Chicago drivers:  they drive fast, are not inclined to signal, but like to block intersections.  We breathed a collective sigh of relief when we pulled up to our hotel and parked the car for the night.  Time for the walking tour.  Our destination?  The Navy Pier Beer Gardens to enjoy the 4^th of July fireworks, or, as again, as we told little Theo, his birthday fireworks.

I love cities that have a downtown near water.  This affection probably has something to do with growing up in Vancouver.   Chicago downtown is awesome.  On our 2 km walk to Navy Pier, we happened upon a fantastic fenced playground!  This was urban living: a safe and clean playground in the centre of downtown, with the lake and beach on one side and beautiful sky scrapers on the other.  Apparently I was overdressed, as well.  Walking along the boardwalk in a bikini is in vogue!    Chicago, I hope we’ll be back!

Last year I had taken Levi and Theo to the Westbank Daze to go on the midway rides.  Levi was not at all ready for this kind of excitement, and was too scared to go on any rides.  Well, what a difference a year makes.  We’d been fortunate to visit Disneyland twice this year and also the Santa Monica Pier.  Levi is 100% loving the rides now.  In fact, the scarier, the better.  He was completely devastated when he was denied the Swing Waver ride due to his height, or lack thereof.  (The Swing Waver is this crazy carousel type ride in which the chairs swings around faster and higher as the ride progresses.  I was even terrified to go on it.  Thank God for the 48” height requirement!!)  He settled for the kiddie version of the Drop of Doom.  Theo isn't quite as crazy about the rides, yet.  Anything that goes up high or spins around is not his cup of tea.

The Navy Pier goes on and on.  We walked for what seemed an eternity only to find out we were about half way.  When we finally reached the Beer Gardens at the end, the place was packed.  We found a little space on one of the steps, and claimed our seats.  Then the line ups:  line up for beer, line up for ice cream, line up for bathrooms.  The amount of people that came out for Theo’s birthday was really quite extraordinary.   The boys have been spoiled, though.  After about 10 minutes of a non-stop spectacular fireworks show, Levi looked at me and asked if that was it.  Apparently the length and personal touch of the Omaha neighborhood fireworks party was more worthy than the showmanship of Navy Pier pyrotechnics.  You have to love the sincere values of a child!! 

We were graced with carrying our two boys for the better part of the walk home.  Our backs and feet breaking, we crashed quickly upon reaching the hotel.  Theo couldn’t even keep his eyes open for another piece of birthday cake.  Goodnight, my sweet 3 year old, goodnight.