Whales go SPLASH!

Freeman and I suspect that, at some point, somebody is going to tell Hamilton and Veronica that it is not typical of most childhoods to spend several days a month at an aquarium or museum. But, seriously, it would be hard not to take advantage of the free days, library passes and memberships since the Museum Campus is about 2 miles from our front door. Even us car-less city people can pull that off!


Usually, when we plan to visit the aquarium, we head out in the morning and get there just as the fish are being fed and the tanks are being cleaned. There is usually almost no one there on a weekday at 9 am, which makes taking a toddler and an infant there much easier.

But the other day, it wasn't 9 am...it wasn't even noon...but 2 pm and we needed to get OUT, so we packed up and jumped on the 146 and were at the Shedd right before their last whale/dolphin show of the day. We got to the amphitheater with 5 minutes remaining and were able to sit in the third row!

Here's Hamilton waiting for the show to start. You can't tell from this photo, but he's several feet away from me. He wanted to "sit by myself, mom."

Veronica, on the other hand, was happy to sit on my lap and enjoy the show (well, really, enjoy the audience enjoying the show).

Hamilton's summary of the show: "Whales go SPLASH!"

After the show, we headed down to the Polar Play Zone. Unfortunately, it's not very well-lit and flash isn't allowed, so I have yet to get any pictures that really show what a great area it is for little ones.

Veronica's learning about the climates of different species of penguins' habitats.

Hamilton and Veronica both very intrigued by the boy dressed as a penguin coming out the of "cave."

Usually Hamilton refuses to go through the cave tunnel...you can't see the end and it makes him a little nervous. This time, though, he worked up the courage to follow this penguin boy in on his next round. Maybe it was the penguin costume that helped him get through to the other side (or maybe it was the fact that someone else entered the tunnel after him and he had no choice). In either case, he was pretty pleased with himself.

Veronica, on the other hand, was quite happy to adventure on through the tunnel several times.

After touching the starfish, driving the submarine, sliding down the iceberg, and saying hello to countless sea creatures, it was time to head home.

As we walked to the bus, Hamilton let me know that next time he'd like to go to the dinosaur museum (Field).