The McMahon Family

Nicki, Mom and I went on our second annual day trip to the Windy City.  This year, Nate was out of town, so we were left on our own!  We decided to book a lunch cruise and become ladies of leisure.  It was a fabulous idea.

Despite Mom letting us know we weren’t on a ‘real’ cruise, we pretended and got the feel of what it might just be like. 🙂

After our wonderful cruise, we did a little shopping.  It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Water Tower Place, so I had forgotten all the wonderful stores they have in there! I had so much fun and normally hate to go shopping, but the layout is great.  You actually don’t have to do too much walking to get to the stores you want.  And there are plenty of places to rest often.  If Marketplace would put their stores around the escalator/elevator on seven stories, I might just go more often.

The day was a huge success and not just because I got to leave my children at home. 🙂  Mom and Nicki are wonderful company.  We all thought alike in our attack of the day – relax and have fun.  For a complete tour of the day, please visit the album.

Patrick’s first dentist appointment went…well, it went.  He started out pretty  nervous and unsure of what was going on, but he did cooperate the whole time.  I was very proud of him.

If you know Patrick, you know that elbow up means he’s holding his ear which shows he’s very uncomfortable.  I was so proud that he still let them get his teeth checked and cleaned.

He had a talk with the dentist about sucking his thumb.  He’s been told he has to stop. He knows, but it’s such a habit that he forgets.  He also has the start of a cavity on a back tooth.  Guess he’s not that meticulous brusher his brother is…

Speaking of brother.  For once, he was an angel while waiting! 🙂

Our evening of fun started innocently enough.  We decided to go to dinner.

Then Daddy remembered the boys have been asking to play Putt Putt since Memorial Day weekend, so we made a turn and headed that way.

Two happy boys.

Patrick was a pretty good little player!  He could get the ball close to the hole within a shot or two.  Of course he struggled with the short putts, but he is only four! 🙂

My Hero

And how about his guy?!  I never thought I’d find a guy that not only accepted me for who I am, disability and all, but also would hold my cane while he golfed!  That is a true man. 🙂

Horrid pic of me, but I needed proof I was there. 🙂

Mommy didn’t do too badly!

Then we ended the evening with ice cream cones.

What a perfect evening with my great family.

We first visited The Children’s Discovery Museum in Bloomington when Patrick was a year old.  Mac was just three and very hesitant.  He didn’t want to do too much as everything ‘scward’ him.  Patrick was pretty adventurous and had fun, but was so young he’s since forgotten and didn’t remember going.

We decided to return, this time with friends.

Mac’s response to putting his hand in the ‘blue thing’ the first time we went.

It went much better this time!!

His other fear last time was this cool drum.  You place your hands on the sensors and your heartbeat is beat out by the drum.  It freaked him out last time he wouldn’t go near it.  He actually walked out of his way to avoid it when passing.  He definitely thought it was awesome this time.

Their first time on the combine. Mac did love this his first time.

This time I had to force him up there for a pic. He just had no interest in it.

Patrick’s first visit to the toddler area.

He’s grown up quite a bit in three years!

After the museum, we went to the splash pad.  Jude fell asleep so we had to stick by the van while he napped, therefore, I couldn’t follow the big kids around and take a million fun pics of them.  So here’s the shot before leaving!

Our friends.

And our wacky friends!

As always, a completely narrated photo tour of the trip is here. Enjoy! We did. 🙂

The boys are finally old enough to eat ice cream cones in the car!!