Lincoln Park Zoo & North Ave Beach

Warning - Picture Heavy Post!

**Friday Fun Day **

My friend Julie & I decided that we needed an adventure... so we decided to head for the city! If I haven't mentioned before... and I probably do it again... I live in suburb of Chicago called Yorkville, Illinois. It's about 1.5 hours away from Chicago, so we don't get there much... but when we do it's like we're on vacation. It's so different from where we live. Totally city!!

First stop... The Lincoln Park Zoo.

 

The whole time we were there all we heard from the kids was, "We want to go to the beach!" But then when we came up to a really cool animal they were all like, "This is so awesome!"

 

We found time to be silly!

 

 

And, athletic!

 

and, amazed!

After spending some time at the zoo we walked a bit -- over Lake Shore Drive -- to North Avenue Beach.

It made my stomach a little woozy to see all that traffic speeding under my feet!

But, this was the gold at the end of the rainbow, Glorious Lake Michigan! The sand was like powder on the bottoms of my feet, the temperature was perfect, and there was a slight breeze blowing of the lake. Without any time to waste, we immediately found our spot and began doing beachy things!

 

Sand castle building was high on the list.

As the sun began to set, the long shadows reminded us that it was time to pack it in and head home.... but not without objection from four little beach goers!

Thanks for spending time with me today as I share some of my adventures. This is what I love most when reading the blogs of others and thought, "I had better add to the pool of fun with tales of my own!" Good times.

Next stop... The Lake Geneva Wedding!

xoxo,

Nicky

Vacations Are Good for the Soul

 

 

Vacations are good for the soul!

 

We had a lovely time in Florida. It was our first "family" vacation. My kids and I went with my sister and her kids -- there were eleven of us all together -- to Disney World. Look out Mickey, here we come! It was truly a trip of a life time. And you know what... with all the exciting things to choose from, my favorite part of the trip was when all eleven of us would reconvene at a restaurant for dinner. Seven kids, four adults... it was a mad house, and I loved it! We were all sooo excited to talk about our adventures of the day... and, after dinner there would be more to come, fireworks over Cinderella's castle, Fantsasmic shows, and Electric Light Parades. We didn't hit the hay until midnight most nights! It was awesome! The clock doesn't count when your on vacation!

On our last day we drove to Cocoa Beach. I love the water. I live on the Fox River here in Illinois, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Atlantic Ocean. Something about the ocean just calms me, brings out my inner hippy and makes all the the worry disappear. I came home a better person. I realized that I need to get back to the root of things... do what makes me happy, instead of worrying about what everyone else is thinking about what I do or don't do.

It's funny how easy it is stray from the path of life that I want to lead?!?

The new me... reinvented!

Back to nature, the simple things, and re-enlist my focus for school. Only one year left of grad school -- I can do it!

xoxo,

Nicky