Chicago Sights: John G. Shedd Aquarium

Ladies and gentlemen, it MUST be a new year, because yesterday we went to the Shedd Aquarium and it wasn’t a total chaos filled place. It was fantastically open and the smallest of the Houseful, and a cousin enjoyed the day of looking at all things water related. But that’s not the kicker – Mr. Houseful is going to do the recap, and a little bit of promising for us! All of my thoughts will be in italics. Enjoy!

New Year’s resolutions commence!  I, for the first time in a long time, have made it through an outing with the family.  I normally don’t like to do a lot of these.  There are various reasons why; none of which are my fault (It’s genetics).  There must have been a divine plan that put my wife and I together because her strengths are my weaknesses.  For example, I’m a home-body, she likes to be out and about.  I need things to be planned out and structured, she is spontaneous and perfect.  If we don’t have plans to go anywhere this week, then I am not going anywhere this week (that’s my father… see, genetics!).  Since my wife likes to be spontaneous, there are a ton of last minute “ooh, lets go here” or “Look, lets take the kids to see…” (I’m  not seeing the problem).  My response is normally, “Take the ladybug and I’ll keep the twizzlers.” or simply, “I’ll stay home!”.  Suffice it to say, my wife doesn’t like my responses or my scrooge-like demeanor (watch it buddy) once she does talk me into, ehem –  forces me to go out.  But a new year is a chance for new beginnings and a fresh start.  The wife and I compromised today.  She let me pick the day we did this outing, and she got to pick the place of said outing.  I’m sure my wife will do something cool like put a link to the outing full of pictures and such. (I’ll do you one better, I’ll embed the photos IN the blog post and WITH a cool Houseful of Nicholes watermark) I’m not that savvy – oh yes you are dear, you’re just savvy in the places I’m not.    The truth is, I like being at home.  I like finding a routine and settling in.  It makes me feel good.  It’s relaxing, even if the kids are crying or yelling or screaming or making a mess.  It’s still a controlled environment.  If I take them out doors, into that concrete jungle, there are too many unknowns (hence, things need to be planned and structured) but they get to mess up OTHER people’s stuff, just kidding, sorta.  It’s not that I don’t think I can handle the challenges, but, rather, I just don’t want to.  I could have stayed home and rolled a ball around.  They would’ve gotten a kick out of that.  Or given them 30 minutes of non-stop “dad is acting crazy and it makes me laugh”.  That to me is easier than crowds and crying in public and chasing the littlest down because he thinks running away in public is the best game ever invented.  Today was good though.  Today the wife and I handled it.  Today we tag-teamed and made it all work.  Today was… good.  Now, I can’t say that I like doing these, or that this will be a regular thing (New Year’s resolution smesolution!), but I do enjoy the looks on the kids faces when they’re having a good time.  That alone makes it all worth it, and makes my perfect wife happy.