Our trip to Chicago

Our day started out at about 9 a.m. Our first stop was the Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. We had never been there but heard about it from our cousins who visited a grossology exhibit there this summer. The grossology exhibit was gone but they still had a lot of neat stuff. The kids really liked all the bugs on display as well as birds and wildlife of Illinois. Then of course there was the butterfly garden which was outstanding. They also had other hands on exhibits for the kids and little play areas to climb and explore. We think it's a cross between a zoo, the arboretum, and a children's museum. Very cool. Next we headed off to Rainforest Cafe for lunch. The kids love the flashing light cups and volcano dessert. Stephen wasn't very thrilled with the gorillas that kept making noises though. Poor baby cried through most of lunch. After lunch we went to the Museum of Science and Industry where we saw the Christmas Around the World exhibit. Finding the tree from Guatemala was the highlight for me. The kids really liked the trains, plains and tractors but we called it quits early because it was so crowded. Finally, we walked down Michigan Ave. to see the lights and windows ending the day with hot chocolate.

The nature museum.



I can't hear anything.

Robert was terrified of this Polar Bear.

Exploring.



The butterfly garden.




Lunch at.....

Baby boy was not thrilled with the gorillas that we were seated near.




The Museum of Science and Industry.

Christmas around the world.


The Guatemala tree.





The windows at Macys. This year the theme was "letters to Santa."


Some pigeons keeping warm by the fire.

The tree at Daily Center.

Robert couldn't make it. He missed all the lights.

Having hot chocolate after our long walk.

Holiday lights at the zoo.

The Babel cousins Christmas Party

We hosted this years Babel cousin Christmas Party. A total of 30 people came including a family with 8 kids and one on the way. Evi, Robert and Stephen had a great time playing with the Gorecki kids and were very sad to see them go. The ornament exchange was of course a blast. Thanks to everyone who brought food and spirits, it was a great party!

Bunny and Eddie.

Christopher and Stephanie.

Daddy and Stephen


Sam, Caleb, Noah and Robert

Hannah, Evi and Robert

Sam and Stephen

Noah rockin the drums.

Evi and Sam

Caleb and Robert

Stephen's number one.

Caleb opening his ornament.

Robert fell asleep before his turn.


Rachel and her ornament.