This year was different. There would be no Irish bar. There would be no Irish Car Bombs. However, there would be fish, just without the chips. Fortunately for me, several years ago, I found a long-sleeved shirt that I can wear every St. Patrick's Day (as I long as I keep my weight in check). There was no thinking. I knew exactly in which drawer to find my hibernating green reminder of my PT days. No lounging around with coffee this a.m. This St. Patrick's Day morning was about efficiency! We had three little ladies who were about to make their first visit to the aquarium, specifically, the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago, and we needed to get them ready to go.
We had tried the zoo last fall, but it turned out the girls were just a little too young. I remember pushing them around for what seemed like miles, which they liked, but also remember them not really looking too far past the fences and guard rails at the animals who were waiting to catch their eye just beyond. This almost-spring trip would be different.
Plus, we needed to get out of the house. The winter seems like it's lasting almost half of the year and, besides some weekly classes that serve as a welcome respite from the confines of home for Meg and the girls, we're all just cooped up in the house. Bring on the sun! Bring on the warm weather! On this day, we at least had the former.
On a side note, I'm getting really used to people who continue to gawk and comment on our triple-y blessed status.
"Yes, we sure do have our hands full."
"Yes, we're probably 'done' now, but it's amazing how intuitive you are to know that we may not be having any more kids even though you've never met us." and,
"Yes, I'm also thankful that you didn't have three babies because I definitely wouldn't want you to kill yourself."
One final note on the photos. I shared the girls' St. Patrick's Day photo last week, so these are from the rest of the day. Sophie was the last one to get in the car, so I grabbed a quick photo of mom and daughter as we were hurrying out the door. Glad I did :)
Three sisters checking out the gigantic aquarium. They were incredibly cute as fish after fish swam back and forth in every direction. You can't tell from the picture though. I guess fish are camera shy.
Meg and Izzy (though Izzy looks like she's ready to move on to the next exhibit)
Sophie is pretty big into sharing kisses these days. Who am I to stop her? I'll wait for that until she's a teenager and it's not me she's wanting to kiss any longer.
Everyone learning about coral
This was only their second time in public having lunch in cafe-provided booster seats. We had an educational trip to Panera Bread in January where we learned that our girls loved to throw their food on the floor immediately after having it handed to them. This time, we were a little more prepared and they were a little more experienced. Don't let me fool you, I would've hated to have been the clean-up person at the cafeteria who came behind us. Though, they've probably seen worse.
L to R: Izzy, Maddy, and Sophie
Sophie, making faces at one of her sisters
While it's way beyond the scope of this post, Izzy actually WANTED to drink some of the PediaSure by mouth!
Maddy
I tried to capture it on video, but missed it every time. "It" being that whenever Sophie would put down her food to take a drink, look at the people passing by, or pay attention to some other distraction, Maddy would ever so nonchalantly slide her hand over and quietly take ownership of Sophie's temporarily forgotten, and forever lost, treats. Toddlers must have short memories. Sophie didn't seem confused, she just asked for more like she finished what she was just working on.
Sophie made the connection: fish = seafood = see food
We were pretty much on the go, trying to keep our little ladies entertained, but I did get to catch a little bit of the sea-life.
I think my favorite exhibit, even though I was stung by one several years back and contemplated having a friend pee on my leg to make the pain go away, was the jellyfish exhibit. It was incredible. I know the lighting had something to do with it, but they were truly magnificent. And, no, I decided against having anyone else shower my leg in urine, in case you were still wondering.
Probably my favorite one. I swear that I keep going back to look at this photo. It's beautiful. Almost like an orange bouquet of flowers near the top. Truly exquisite.
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