Chicago Summer 2010

 

 

 

A few weeks ago we all tagged along with Richard on a business trip to Chicago. We had such a great time. I really wanted to make sure we did NEW things. And so we did.
We dropped Maddie off in Plainfield to spend the day with her friends and then headed for Des Plaines. Richard had a meeting there, so the other girls and I spent some time in their beautiful library reading stories and playing in their cool jungle themed reading area. When Richard was done we went for a walk to find some lunch and happened upon "Choo-Choo Burgers". It's an old diner and was totally packed. Richard didn't really want to wait, but I was thinking that anything with a 20 min. wait on a Thursday afternoon must be worth it. So we waited and we're so glad we did. Not only was the food great, for burgers and fries, the food comes to you on a train. The kids LOVED that. We will probably always remember our lunch there. So cool.
Then we went to the movie just to kill some time. Richard and the little girls saw Despicable Me and Emma and I saw Toy Story 3. We all thought the movies were great. I love the fashion show part of Toy Story. Hilarious!
Then kill time, kill time, kill more time, and finally pick up Maddie. We wanted to make sure she had her fill of fun. Then it was off to Chicago. We stayed at a nice hotel in the city with a great view of the river. Woke up early to take a walk in the city and happened upon the filming of the new Transformers movie. They had one of the city streets looking all torn up with crashed cars on fire and stuff. No, we did not see any of the actors, but they were there somewhere. We missed Shia Labeouf by "that much".
Then we headed up to Northwestern University to see a production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". The kids didn't really love it. I just think they aren't familiar enough with the characters to really understand why some of it was funny. However, Lauren really picked up on the entire meaning of "New Philosophy" and has been using that line regularly since then. eg. "Lauren, it's time to get out a book and do some reading." "Why you telling me? That's my new philosophy." Then we were going to go to the beach there in Evanston, IL and they wanted $8/person to go to the beach. We just couldn't see doing that, so away we went with two crying kids.
Then it was back to the hotel room to get ready for the big gala event for the painter group. We took a cab and he let us off at the top of Navy Pier. Well, of course our event was at the very end of Navy Pier. I don't know exactly how far that is, but I'm guessing at least 1/2 mile, walking, on uneven boardwalk, in heels. Well, we made it and stayed a while at that thing, but that is when my already painful legs started really hurting and swelling.
Next day we walked to the beach in Chicago(free of course), to let the girls play. I limped all the way. We walked to an art show. We walked to the American Girl Store on the Magnificent Mile, and my foot was swelling more as time went on. Yikes! More on that later.
We ended with Chicago style pizza at Exchequer. Love it!
Everyone got to do what they wanted. Success!