Happy Monday! We had an action-filled weekend over here. Me and Ishu. Ankur was working this weekend, so he joined us for some stuff on Friday evening, but it was mostly me and my toddler sidekick.

Lots of fun pictures and videos from this weekend, but I’ll share the highlights!

Friday

Every Friday morning during the summer, they have a little concert for kids over at the Navy Pier. We found out about it halfway through last summer, but this summer, we were ready and waiting for it.

Of course, we went an hour early so that Ishu could study all the leaves and bugs and worms in the vicinity.

We decided to head to the Children’s Museum after the concert since it was right there.

When Ankur got home from work, we hung out at home for a bit and then went to try out a new restaurant that opened up at the Navy Pier, Chef Art Smith’s Reunion. Southern comfort food. We got deviled eggs as an appetizer. Ankur got the chicken sandwich and I got the most incredible chopped salad ever. And Ishu’s chicken fingers and mac&cheese were next level.

It was nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the perfect weather. And this restaurant is brand freaking new. Like I’m pretty sure we went on the 3rd day it was open. The decor was great, the food was great, and the service was great.

We’ll definitely go back again.

After dinner, we went to the Riverwalk for a fun OrangeTheory social event at the Tiki Party Hut. We brought our toddler along for the festivities, no big deal.

We were planning to pop in for only 10-15 minutes, but it ended up being much longer because it’s always so fun to see people outside of the studio! Plus, Ishu was enjoying himself with the Jumbo Connect 4 game.

Eventually, we tore ourselves away and walked home. It’s right across the river from where we live, but because we had the stroller, we had to walk down a few streets ’til we could get up a ramp. (Which was probably a good thing to digest all our food!).

When we got home, we all fell asleep real fast. Well, Ishu and I did. But that’s ’cause we had to get rest before our fun morning together!

Saturday

Ishu and I went back to the Navy Pier for a fun event. The Dino and Dragon Stroll! Which is essentially just a massive ballroom filled with humungous dinosaurs that swish their tails around and move their heads.

And the back part of the ballroom was filled with bounce houses and “go kart” type things that looked like moving dinosaurs. They charge you to get in and then they charge you to use the bounce house and ride the “rides.”

Ishu was a little hesitant at first. He’s gotten used to his toy dinosaurs that HE can control. So when he got up close and personal to a Triceratops that was bouncing its head around, he ran back toward me and climbed into the stroller.

Eventually, with enough time and exposure, he was all about it. I think his favorite was the Gigantosaurus. Because, well, it was gigantic.

There was also someone dressed up as a Pachycephalosaurus and they were boppin’ around the ballroom, high-fiving kids and waving with their thick legs. Ishu really liked that dino too.

We stayed for about 1.5 hours and then I decided I wanted to hurry us home to get him in the bed before nap time. He was not thrilled about this decision. And I apologize – again – to everyone in the elevator with us who had to suffer through that high-pitched scream. “ISHU WANT TO STAY WITH DINOSAURS.”

Sorry, bud.

It really was a toddler’s dream. I mean, I don’t even LIKE dinosaurs all that much and I thought it was pretty cool. I liked that they had all the dinosaurs’ names next to them and then had a descriptive write-up.

Ishu was thoroughly pooped after our morning there and we ended up staying at home the rest of the evening. Which was fine by me. I was reading this book all weekend and just finished it last night – definitely worth the read if you haven’t already!

Sunday

Sunday morning, we were still feeling pooped.

So, we opted to stay in (and it was also raining outside). Ishu played with his trains and new stacking stones. And I put together our new bookshelf!

I love that our house is like part home and part classroom. I think it’s the teacher in me, but I am pretty down to live this way ALWAYS. (Might be weird to have a mini couch and a mini piano when Ishu’s a teenaged boy, but whatever).

We think the room looks a bit more crowded now. It’s not terrible. But if you have any recommendations on furniture placement, we’re all ears. It also might be hard to tell from a picture alone.

Here’s a better look at the bookshelf.

We’ve decided that Ishu is the boss of this playhouse/classroom and we are just livin’ in his world.

After his short 30-min nap, we decided to head to the Children’s Museum again.

Right when you walk up the stairs to the museum, they have a Suchomimus dinosaur greeting you at the top. Ishu always gets to the top and screams, “SUCHOMIMUS.” (Yes, he can say it. He can’t say the word “fish” yet, but you can damn well be sure he says “Suchomimus”).

Every time he does this, someone looks over, really impressed, and comments on how smart he must be. And I’m like, “No, guys. We just come here EVERY DAY.”

He probably sees the Suchomimus more than he sees Ankur.

We didn’t have much time to hang out at the museum since they close at 5pm, but we really milked the 1.5 hours we were there.

Every time I think he’s probably had it with the same ol’ exhibits, I am reminded that he freaking loves it no matter how many times he’s seen and experienced everything.

After we left, we headed straight to the fountain outside to splash around. Ishu’s been a little more hesitant around the fountain this year (last year he went ALL IN ALL THE TIME). But, yesterday, he warmed up to it again and was running around splashing with all the other kids.

At one point, he got down on all fours and started lapping up the water like a little dog. I’m a lax parent when it comes to him playing how he wants to. But I was NOT lax about that. No thanks. Get up. You’re not going to drink the water that all these kids have been playing in. No, no, no thanks. I think it’s cause I don’t really say much when he drinks the bath water at home. I knew that decision would come and bite me in the butt later.

Anyway, yes, we splashed around for about a half hour and then made our way home, ate chicken burgers for dinner, and he passed out after reading Edward and Annie for the 5th time today.

Now, our sweet Auntie Bella is coming over today while I take care of some mama things. And then trying to decide between Movie in the Park tonight or Music in the Park tonight. SO MANY CHOICES, SO MANY PARKS, HOW TO DECIDE?!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Questions of the Day:

• What are you currently reading?
  
• What’s a highlight from your weekend?