Chicago: Day 2

Tuesday, we headed out to the city early to get in as much as time as we could! We got a GOChicago card, which allows you to pay a certain price and you can go to any as many of their 25 attractions in Chicago as you can fit in before 5:00. So needless to say we had a PACKED day!

We started out at the Sears' Tower Skydeck.

We even stood over the edge! GASP!

Next we had lunch. Kenna and Andrew went to a little French Market and Landon and I ate a cafe near Millennium Park.

Then on to The Art Institute of Chicago. No, I am not engaging in criminal activity here. Much to my surprise they do let you take pictures in the museum, just no flash!

Then to Shedd Aquarium.

Then to dinner at one of Kenna's finds- Gino's East. We did have deep dish pizza.

After dinner, we took the River Architecture Cruise. It was one of our favorite things we did the entire week! I am so glad we took it at night. You can't beat this view.

Needless to say, we were SPENT by the end of the day!

Chicago: Day 4 and 5

After the storm of the century (at least thats what Yahoo! thought it was going to be) came through the night before, Thursday was CHILLY people. No wonder they call it the Windy City!

We planned on going swimming in Lake Michigan, but just pictures in front of it was enough for us!

After our little photo session, we just took our time and walked around the city. I went shopping at H&M. I could have bought the whole store, but I walked out only spending $25.00. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. We went and ate another pizza place. It was fun just to take our time eating, have no plan, and just talk about life.

We went to Navy Pier Thursday. Honestly, it was kind of a disappointment. More for kids if you ask me. We did ride the ferris wheel though!

After Navy Pier, we went back to the Condo and chilled out a little. Then we went back into the city for our last night! We went to a restaurant called The Hub. It was so good! The owner or manager (not sure which) even came to meet us and gave a a huge piece of carrot cake which was gone in 2.5 seconds. On the way to the restaurant, we had the most hilarious bus driver. All the bus drivers we had through out the week seemed like they hated their job, but she was just having a good ole time! 

After dinner we went to a Jazz Club. A live band was playing 40's Jazz music. Landon and I were going to get out there and dance, but the people who were dancing seemed like professionals, so we just watched from a distance!

Day 5 was just driving home, so nothing really worth nothing!

We had so much fun with Andrew and Kenna! I even dreamed the other night we were going back for a "weekend" trip! Yes, please!

Chicago: Day 3

We started out Wednesday kinda slowly. First of all its vacation, and second of all we add an EXTREMELY busy day the day before.

We went out to breakfast at Ann Sather's. How do I put into words how good this place is? I would drive up to Chicago right now to eat here again, but then again I'm pretty partial to breakfast foods.

Look at these Cinnamon Rolls. They are SLAP YO MOMMA good people. And get this, they were ONE of my two sides to the entree. 

After the breakfast Landon and I ran to target to try to find him a rain jacket because rain was in he forecast for the baseball game we were going to that day. NO where in Chicago sells rain jackets. What do people in Chicago do when it rains?! Anyway, no luck there but I did get a compliment from a guy that I had pretty feet. I think he was trying to hit on me, but EW!WEIRD.

After our target escapade, we headed to Wrigley Field for the Cubs game. If my husband could have his way and we had lots of money, we would visit every baseball field in America. So heres to starting.. only 28 more to go! 

They lost, but we still had fun! And honestly I think the true Cardinal inside Landon was okay with that!

Notice Landon is wearing his Cardinals hat to the CHICAGO game.

After the game we went back to the condo for some R&R. That night each couple went their separate ways for date night.

 There was a horrible storm brewing outside so we didn't go far. Andrew and Kenna were much braver than we were and ventured into the city. We ate at a little fancy restuarant a few doors down from our condo. Cool atmosphere and my food was good. Landon's on the other hand.. not so much. Lets just say we aren't fancy people.

Chicago: Day 1

So I have been slacking on blogging, like REALLY bad, but I decided to start back up. I know no one really cares to have a play by play of our Chicago trip, but thankfully I blog for me, not you. My sister-in-law made a book of all her blog posts from when they were in Budapest and she said she is going to try to keep doing it so that it can be like a family yearbook. I think thats a great idea; hence why I started back blogging. Anyway, I digress.

A fun part of having all our friends married is that we get to take vacations together. When the Grice's and us (improper English, get over it!) started planing a vacation, we immediately thought of a city. We are kinda city folk (well at least the girls are :) ) We didn't really have the funds to fly anywhere so we had to pick a city within reasonable driving distance. So naturally, we picked Chicago. Nine hour drive. Tons to do. Wrigley Field. (Thats how we sold it to the men folk!)

So Mid-June we headed to Chicago. The trip was Monday through Friday (the joys of having men in the ministry- no vacations involving a weekend!)

We left SOOO VERY early Monday morning, but no one cared. A nine hour car ride is just that.. a nine hour car ride. The good company made it alot better. Thankfully it went by fast because we were so ready to get there!

We did take a brief lunch break at Buffalo Wild Wings. I don't know what it is, but hot wings are my favorite lately.

We got to Chicago, checked into our Condo and got ready to head out to the city!

Check out our awesome Condo...

One of the awesome parts of visiting a city: no driving anywhere, which means no parking fees. We got a 3 day public transportation pass for $9 each! Boo yah. 

I don't know if y'all know this but Kenna was a hospitality major, which has its major perks when you are on vacation with her! She scoped out (and by that I mean, spent hours researching ;) ) all the best places to eat and things to do for the little time we were there! 

This little find was a FREE concert at Millennium Park! Kill two birds with one stone: see the park and get a taste of Chicago. I have no idea who the band was, but they were talented. He was Irish (so it was fun to hear him talk) and he had practically every instrument in the band! 

After the concert we went and took pictures by the famous "bean"

Thankful to be in Chicago with great friends!