Summer 2012 Chicago/Iowa Trip

Earlier this summer Maddie and I took a trip up to Iowa to visit family and to Chicago for some fun!  Grandma Sharon, Aunt Roxie, and Aunt Susie went to Chicago with us too...we had a ladies only trip!  In Chicago we visited the Navy Pier, The Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Field Museum of Natural History.

 Madeline was saying "woo hoo" here...as we were getting ready to head over to the huge ferris wheel at the Navy Pier.

 At the Navy Pier they also had Chicago Children's Museum which Maddie LOVED!!!!  Three floors of fun exhibits including a temporary circus exhibit.

 The photo above is the view from the top of the ferris wheel.  It was huge but went really slow and it never stops!  You have to get on and off while it's moving!

 The view from below...

 Me and Mads at the Navy Pier.

 The next day we headed over to the aquarium and Field Museum.  This giant sculpture was on the way from the parking garage.

 Madeline and I with "Sue" the dinosaur skeleton at the Field Museum.

 Giant dinosaur bone.

 And another dinosaur skeleton.

Chicago's Buckingham Fountain (as featured in the opening of Married with Children).  Beautiful! 

 On our last day in Chicago we headed to the Museum of Science and Industry.  Astronaut Madeline here in full gear!

 Madeline playing in the children's room of the museum.

 This was a really old cool cable car that once carried people around the city.

 It's amazing to think of all the stories this car could tell.

 This cool thing was at the entrance of the toy maker room.  We didn't have a toy made but you could buy one and see it made from start to finish.

Madeline aboard the Zephyr (a diesel-powered railroad train).  The Zephyr was one of the fastest trains of it's time with a top speed of 112.5!

 Fast forward a couple of days and we're in Dubuque, Iowa at a Botanical Garden.

 So pretty!

 We loved the big artsy gecko.

 They had a cute Peter Cotton Tail themed garden that Madeline loved.

 And even some little billy goats!

 Madeline just being silly!

 And to finish off the hot day at the botanical gardens we all had some ice cream!

 Back in Cedar Rapids I took Madeline to the Brucemore Mansion for the library's weekly story & craft time.

 Madeline showing off the dream catcher that she made.

 During our stay we also went to the Iowa Children's Museum at the Coralville Mall near Iowa City.

 Madeline's favorite party of the museum is the pizzaria.  She loved serving up a nice pizza pie to mama!

The grand finale was the parade that Maddie got to participate in.  We can't wait to go back next year!