Christmas in Chicago: Day 2 Downtown

Last year, we didn't make it to the The Adler Planetarium, so we decided to check it out this time. It did not disappoint, and turned out to actually be the best, most kid-friendly place we visited out of our three days. It was very geared toward engaging the kiddos and giving them a fun, educational experience. In turn, because of this, it kind of reminded Alex and I that we weren't really there for us, we were there to watch Dresden learn and explore, and that took a lot of stress and pressure off of us, too, because we just knew what our focus was.

This was the "Lunar Scale"...We do not have a picture of my weight on the lunar scale, though it was much preferable to that of my earth weight!

Notice Dresden's is, like, 4 pounds, lol!

A cute little robot named Alex

Most of the exhibits and features had iPads that you could manipulate to learn different things and see animations of planets and facts. Dresden was in heaven. Anything with buttons, levers, anything able to  be pushed or touched, he is all over it.

Another iPad experience...I think we were learning about Neptune?

Me and the Sun!

One of the kid-friendly parts was a young explorers tool kit you went and picked up for the kids. They had to complete a sort of scavenger hunt that involved the various exhibits, and use tools from their belt to help them. It was amazing once Dresden had "work" to do, how his demeanor changed from "unruly child at a museum" to "focused student". Loved that!

Dresden and his astronaut kit

Looking at a model of the Mars rover

Shining a light on the moon

Wearing real NASA gloves. So proud!

This was actually the best part...they got to go through a simulated kid-friendly launch sequence and fly a rocket up into outer space to a docking station. Dresden probably did it 10 times. I kind of loved it myself.

Go for launch!

Moving around some moon rocks

Driving the lunar rover

Not sure of the relation to outer space, but he had fun nonetheless...

The cutest little astronaut EVER!

Driving the Mars rover

I think he was landing on the moon or some other planet here...

The "thumbs up" is his newest thing, hehe

 Me and Baby Girl; we found an apropos neon pink wall!

On the steps of the Adler; such a great time!

A view of the cloudy Chicago skyline

Me and my boy

We decided to split the day between the Adler and the Shedd Aquarium to make the most of the day. We didn't take as many pictures at the Shedd since Alex and Dresden went last year. This year, Dresden's favorite thing was a submarine he MONOPOLIZED. He was the bossiest submarine captain (admiral?) EVER. This was also because he was tired because it was the end of the day, but he was barking orders with the best of them. Luckily the little girl who was unlucky enough to be his subordinate was an easy-going, good sport. Sorry kid!

He was telling her to man her post...He did not want to share his controls, try as we did to make him cooperate!

Again with the iPads, hehe

Cute little blue frog

Alex's favorite....

This mama was soooooo tired.

Happy, tired boy, leaving the She'd

Our last day in the city at the Museum of Science and Industry was the next day. Stay tuned!

Love,

Cassie