"I Wish We Lived Here . . . "

(Ethan, age 6, who doesn't always grasp how lucky he is to live where he does)

We had a fabulous family vacation this past week.

Since we live at a camp, we vacation in cities. This year it was Chicago--a fabulous town, and educational too. My boys learned a great deal visiting the museums and landmarks (Ethan can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about German submarines). Here are a few things I learned:

#1

A four hour train ride is not always four hours. It is sometimes closer to seven. But that's okay because, as Ethan likes to point out, you can walk up and down the train (and up and down and up and down and up and down) and you don't have to wear a seat belt.

#2

The Sears Tower is no longer the Sears Tower, it is the Willis Tower. But people look at you funny if you actually refer to it as the Willis Tower.

#3

Hotwire can get you a GREAT deal on a fancy hotel in a fabulous location.

#4

The walls at a four star hotel are not necessarily any thicker than the walls at any other hotel. Oh, and your passionate neighbors aren't any quieter either (but, if you pound on the wall and yell "KEEP IT DOWN!!" they are less likely to come over to your room in their wife beater and tell you to keep it down your own self--so pound away. It worked for me).

#5

If Bill Clinton stays at your hotel, you probably won't bump into him at the pool, but there will likely be a lot of men in dark suits hanging around talking to their watches. Which is pretty cool if you're a kid.

#6

I should budget more for eating out on vacation.

#7

My mission president and his wife are still as FANTASTIC as they were 12 years ago (I am getting old)--they even put up with my poorly behaving 6-year-old at dinner. I wish I'd remembered to take a picture.

#8

City buses and transit trains are more fun than taxi cabs--even when you're tired, but especially when you're driving.

#9

A good babysitter on a vacation is worth her weight in gold, and I still enjoy great theatre, I just don't get to experience it very often any more. You can see a video clip of the fantastic show we saw here.

And most importantly

#10

Vacations are more fun when dad can come.