Chicago

This past weekend we took the kids and our trusty old minivan and headed to the windy city. The kids have been talking about the Lego Discovery Center and the American Girl Store there ever since we moved to Cincinnati. We really haven't gone anywhere this summer so we decided to brave the car ride with all four kids. I had thought it was just four hours but it is really closer to six, plus add an extra hour for downtown traffic due to the Lalapalooza concert. It was fun though. The girls and I had "afternoon tea" at the American Girl place. We had a great time talking and enjoying girly things. The Lego Discovery center was fun for all the kids and Tyler was able to get a neat Harry Potter lego set with his lawn mowing money. All three big kids had some money saved up for this trip. They have been selling golf balls and lemonade in the back yard all summer.
Lila did fuss a lot in her car seat. I just want to know how other families take babies clear across the country in a car. Even my easiest baby was not happy to be confined for so long and had a hard time falling asleep in her seat. These parents must either be very good at ignoring crying for long periods of time, not require seatbelts, or drive all night instead of during the day. I just can't figure it out!