Michael's Debut Tour: Chicago

The next stop on our tour was Chicago, our old home-sweet-home. 

I am ashamed to say I took less than 10 pictures the entire time we were in the windy city. Can I say it's because we were having too much fun doing other things? It would be true. Ok - that's my story. :) 

We stayed with our wonderful friends Matt and Amy - they are let's-all-get-comfortable friends (aka: wearing-sweatpants-and-hoodies-is-acceptable friends). Friends of the best variety! :) We had to laugh because the first night we were there (a Friday) we were all exhausted after a long week and ended up going to bed before 10! You know you are in good company when you can be honest enough to say, "I'm tired, let's go to bed." (FYI: We stayed up later the following nights) :) We really appreciate Matt and Amy's hospitality and generosity - opening your home to four people can be a lot of work (especially when there is a toddler on the guest list!). It is always a joy to be with them - we miss living close to them!

We didn't have a lot of plans for this part of the trip, which ended up being good because Lucy got sick! The poor thing was teething (those evil eye-teeth) and had a cough on top of it. One evening The Wonder Pets were the only thing that made her not cry: 

And it happened to be Super Bowl Sunday... lets just say Daddy and Matt were happy that the iPad existed. :) Lucy enjoyed snuggling up with Matt's Penguin (a fun similarity between Matt and Brad - they both love penguins!) and Ellie to watch her show. 

Funny Story: Lu had an adverse reaction to her medicine one evening. I gave her some homeopathic night-time cold and cough medicine to help her sleep one evening. She slept for three hours and woke up jabbering. She kept talking for an hour, she wasn't upset - just very chatty. Brad and I were sleeping in the same room that she was and had the hardest time not laughing. "Wooow, wooow, careful!" "Green...green....chip...chip!" "Night night...sleeping...shhhh...(insert fake snoring here)" We took her to bed with us, hoping that being close would help her calm down and go to sleep. She kept saying, "Bunny, bunny, hop hop!" And Brad asked her, "Sweetie, do you see a bunny?" she responded, "Daddy!" in the most indignant tone I've ever heard, as if to say, "Don't be silly Daddy - the bunny is right there!" She finally quieted down, but would randomly stroke my nose, and say, "Mamma? Nose." We moved her back to her bed so that we could get some sleep, but enjoyed having her cuddle with us for a little while - it is so "not Lucy" for her to cuddle like that, so it was a bit of a treat for her Momma and Daddy. :)

No trip to Chicago would be complete without Giordano's Pizza, Kabuki Sushi and Goose Island! It was strange being in the city and not going downtown - it was cold and dreary and because Lu wasn't feeling well, we stayed indoors pretty much the whole time.

Lucy brought Michael his Moose - He seemed to appreciate it. :) 

We were able to see a number of friends - Brandon, the Fowlers, our old Small Group and my college roommate, Miriam:

She came and had Pad Thai with me one day for lunch - so yummy.

Michael and I really enjoyed visiting with Mir! Visiting in person is always better than visiting over the phone or caching up via e-mail. :)

Next stop: Michigan!

Downtown Chicago for the Last Time

We got to go downtown, for the last time, with two of our amazing friends Elise and Brandon. We went to Millennium Park and listened to "Jazz" music. I say "Jazz" because it wasn't what we expected, but it was very much fun nonetheless. :)

Brad was our Photographer for the evening :)

(We are all iPhone 4 users... we are all addicted. :) )

This couple was practicing inappropriate PDA (Public Display of Affection), or so we thought. We felt bad for being so judgmental when we saw him get down on one knee and propose. :) It was really cute - she was shocked and embarrassed. :) Everyone around clapped - sweet.

It was a wonderful evening.

First Time in the Baby Bejorn

Lucy and I had a few things to get/return to Target the other day and so we took a nice walk south about 11-12ish blocks to the store. We were back home within the hour, got some good exercise (Well, I did, Luce slept the whole time :)), and got something crossed off the To Do List. So fun!

She & Him Concert

Chicagoans love being outside. All one has to do is drive up Lake Shore Drive on a nice day to see about half the city out enjoying the lake and the walking/running/biking paths that run along the shore. The city sponsors free concerts throughout the city during the summer and last night we went to the She & Him concert in Millennium park with some friends.

It seemed like all of Chicago was there - we couldn't even find a spot on the grass, but made it in time to snag a place on the concrete just behind the grass. More people came after us, I bet there were two lines of picnickers behind us by the time the concert began.

Friends are such a blessing...

Our Jenny - I love this picture!
Jenny
Elise and Christy
My man and me :)
Jenny, Esther, Rebecca and Ethan
Elise

Crazy Chicago Woman - she was carrying her bike over the heads of picnickers.... risky business. Not an activity that I would suggest.

I love Chicago in the summer!

An Evening With the Boys

For the past four years, I have worked for the Fowler family as their babysitter (I like to call myself a nanny - it sounds more sophisticated, and the boys were never babies when I was with them... :)). I have truly grown to love the family - they have a special place in my heart. Pamela has grown from an employer to a dear friend, and Drew and Kyle are my buddies.


Last night, Brad and I got to have Drew and Kyle come over for dinner and to play for a bit. I worked late since Pamela and Dan were out for the evening and since I had to pick up Drew from a golf lesson two blocks from our house, I figured "Let's hang out at our place tonight!" It was so fun. I always have so much to tell Brad after an afternoon with the boys, he has spent some time with them - but not within the past year and a half, and it was fun for him to see how much they have grown and to interact with their little personalities. Dinner conversation revolved around Chloe and her "amazing" jumping skills (the boys couldn't get over her curiosity), Drew's golf lesson that afternoon (Brad and he had a cute conversation going about learning how to do an "Up and Down) and Kyle's baseball game.

I had to laugh when Drew stated, as we sat down for dinner, "Chicken! I love chicken!" I quickly responded, "Hey Mister! Whenever I make you chicken for dinner, you complain, 'Chicken again!?!? We have chicken all the time!' But now, when Brad makes it - it is all of a sudden your favorite? What's up with that?" All he could do in response was giggle. :) Brad had made BBQ chicken on the grill and it was extra good - Kyle asked me, "Can you make sure my mom gets this recipe?" :)

After dinner we played us some serious Mario Cart. Brad now finally understands why I get frustrated playing Wii with Drew and Kyle - they always win. (My competitive spirit is something that God is still in the process of sanctifying :) ) I loved hearing the boys taunt Brad or try to tell him how to race (They have long since learned NOT to give me instructions in the middle of a game - my "humble" spirit can not take direction, especially from a 7 year old), Brad's reply was "Mind your own screen!" I could only laugh, because I often come home and express to Brad how "frustrating" it is for me to play Mario Cart with the boys - it is seemingly impossible for me to win. His always tells me, a little to gently for my taste (I never feel like he truly empathizes with me on this subject), that "it's okay for kids to win sometimes." He got a taste of his own medicine tonight - the boys whooped us. :)

Needless to say, I'm going to miss these boys. A lot.

St Patties Day

Chicago gets crazy on the weekend before St. Patricks Day! There is a parade and the city dyes the river green! The river is usually "green" in the first place, so I wasn't expecting much different. But as Brad and I neared the river, we were shocked!!!

As the news caster said later in the day - "That color green does not exist in nature!"

I agree...

On The Day We Scavenged

Yesterday, the college group from the church Brad grew up in came to Chicago. We met up with them and participated in the group Scavenger hunt. :) Some of the items we had to capture were, a picture of the group with a shopping bag, A picture of at least one group member on a security camera ect... :)

After the scavenger hunt, everyone (20 young adults) came over to our place. They wanted to get Chicago pizza, but because the group was so large (and it was the Lights Festival last night - one of the busiest winter afternoon/evenings here in the city) they all came to our place, and we ordered the Pizza. :)

To say the least - We had a full house. But it was so much fun! There were people playing Wii Tennis and BS (the card game - aka bologna, liar, ect... ). And perhaps the most amazing part of the whole evening is that parking worked out perfectly! (a rare occurrence at our place) Lol, Brad had double parked in front of our apartment building earlier in the day, to hopefully save both spots for the huge church van - and it worked out!

We had a great time - and now feel as if our apartment is huge! :) We know we can have 20 people over. And that 22 fully grown humans and 1 cat (not fully grown yet) can spend time in our apartment together. :)

Thanks for coming everyone! :)