Traveling

We are now in the third portion of our trip to Illinois and Wisconsin and will end up at a family wedding on Saturday. We are having a lot of fun and it is getting easier to go and do with the kids getting older. We are not having many meltdowns but I fear those are coming. I am typing quietly because Riley is still sleeping and this is an utter rarity at 8:13 a.m. Mallory is going to be a beast, her time is coming I fear, no naps and a whole week long of vacation and she was up well before Riley. Oh well, we will survive, it won't be pretty but we will survive.

The first portion of our trip was to right outside of Chicago, and we spent Saturday and Sunday night with cousins, Herman and Kay and had such a good time. We then traveled to Chicago on Monday, and had a blast in the city. Hancock Observatory, Children's Museum, Navy Pier, American Girl Place, Field Museum, Chicago River Boat Tour, Magnificent Mile, were among the action. I could have shopped for myself in that shopping mecca (not just for the kids) but I really want to buy another home one day and if I buy more $$ shoes and purses, that is not going to happen.

I am still relatively new to traveling. My first flight was to Chicago when I was around twenty five. I realize now this current trip has special meaning because we stayed with Herman and Kay way back then as well. George was interviewing for residencies. Cousin Herman took me on the train into the city, and we went to the top of the Sears Tower and I was able to get the lay of the land. From then on if possible when we have gone to a big city, I like to go to the tallest building and get the lay of the land early on in the trip.

My children have already flown several places and the eldest is just now entering first grade. I'm glad for this. Traveling opens the horizons, and also makes you appreciate home in the end. I was so much more relaxed this trip. Either age or yoga is helping me and I really like it. I remember I had great anxiety at 25, when I was leaving work to catch a plane for the first time. I was flying by myself and I really needed an anti-anxiety pill but I had no experience with them or know what they were (even though I had a Masters degree in Counseling!!!). But it ended up being fabulous and such an eye opening experience. I am grateful that we are able to travel with our children and are opening their horizons as well. Until that meltdown comes and it is coming...