Spring Break 2017 Day 1 & 2

So, we're getting our hardwood floors done at home and decided to take off to Chicago for a few days to start off Spring Break. It's been so good being with Daddy! Work is a bit hectic (and short staffed) at the moment, so being together right now is really appreciated by all 4 of us. 

We took Lyla out of school for a couple of days (which she had a hard time coming to terms with - she doesn't want to miss a thing!), and started up here last night. We were also glad to escape a near run in with lice at the preschool - 4 of 8 of Cade's class got it. Whew! I'm still checking his sweet little head!

We stayed in Merrilville last night and got up this am to go to one of the worlds best tourist traps, Legoland Chicago. A rainy day and Spring Break made it almost intolerable, but these 2 make everything so much fun:

 

 

Lyla suggested that the master lego builder should build a lego Gardens of Babylon exhibit (a brilliant idea, I thought):

 

 

And Cade enjoyed the Star Wars exhibits:

 

 

We were all super excited to arrive at the Omni on Michigan Ave.,, our home for the next few days. Swimming this afternoon, room service and movies tonight, and Blue Man Group tomorrow.

 

The Jungle Book

What a weekend! Lyla had 4 Jungle Book performances in 3 days!

It was an exhausting experience, but so gratifying to watch her grow with each performance. There were a few trials and tribulations - a missed line at a school performance and a missed bow at the end...the kind of tribulations that made me shed a secret tear or 2 before encouraging this girl to press onward, no matter what. She did a tremendous job, too - closing night was her best performance of all. No hitches, a little voice that belted out every line and a huge smile as she took her final bow. 

I'm so happy that she was able to look out at the audience last night and see so many people standing up, clapping for her. It was a really amazing moment for Lance & I, as her parents. Special thanks to Mimi, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Steven, Aunt Lisa, Natalie, Emory, Aunt Carole, Nan & Nonnie, Kip & Isa, for acting as her biggest fans this weekend. 

Here are some photos of the weekend:

Getting ready to leave:

 

Backstage. Lyla had a dressing room she shared with several other cast mates. It was such a fun place to be:

 

 

 

 

There's always time to pass back there, waiting to go onstage:

 

 

Here are a few play moments. Lyla was the Gray Sister, the oldest wolf cub sibling of Mowgli.

 

 

 

We were so thrilled to have so many Lyla supporters in the audience - I wish I'd taken pictures of them all, but here are a few:

She had several friends come to see her:

 

 

 

 

Her beloved director, Ms. Shannon:

 

So proud of our girl!

 

Cade & Lyla

 

#cademademedoit

#lylaandcadeplaytime

#greatminds

#greatimaginations