Lego Lion

Last fall while we were visiting Chicago we were walking down Michigan Ave. and there were a bunch of Lego figurines.  Well, the lion just struck us especially Lucas.

Oprah

So I was able to go to Oprah last week which was so awesome.  It was the show with all of the Olympic athletes, which if you know anything about me I love the Olympics so it was the greatest show to go to.  I pretty much acted like a freak during the show, jumping up and down and waving at the athletes.  It was so cool to see all of the people I have been watching and cheering on for two weeks.  I learned a few things about them Michael Phelps body is indeed weird looking I think his legs are as long as mine, Shawn Johnson could have fit in Phelps pocket, when Shawn stood next to Michael Phelps she hit his elbow, and Dara Torres is so skinny to the point her pants were falling off of her.  I went with some friends, Katherine and LuAnn, and we were only 7 rows back so we had an amazing view.  The show took place at Millennium Park so there were close to 4000 people there we were happy to be so close. 

Here we are waiting in line to get in.  We got there about 6:30 am so we could get good seats.   

Our view from the stage before the show started

The show aired yesterday it was the season premiere (sorry this post is so late).  You could actually see me and Katherine so if you have it on your DVR or it replays we were shown after the Basketball team at about the 30 minute mark.

It was such a fun experience.  It is so great to live here and have the opportunity to go to things like this. I am starting to get sad that Ned only has one more year left.  This city is great.  Also special thanks to LuAnn for letting me know about the tickets.  This is one of those things I wanted to do I have been watching Oprah for years.

Two month Vacation to Chi Town

Everyone keeps asking me if we have any trips planned, and I keep telling them that I am taking a vacation to Chicago. It would seem easy enough and pretty low key none of that pesky packing and flying. Well, it has been action packed, so much fun, and exhausting. Thanks to everyone that visited and went on vacation with me now I am so bored. To anyone that didn't visit you have ten months and since winters are so long you really only have 5 months so get it together we would love to have you and I miss the go go go.

So starting on June 26 we had our first visitors, Mom and Dad and then on August 13 we dropped of our last visitors, Johnny and Louise. In total we had 28 visitors. Here is a list of all the visitors in chronological order of arrival.
1-Mom and Dad
2-Meredith, Mike, Marissa, Annika, Connor, Bronson, and Zander
3-Karen, Ken, Jeremy, Austin, Morgan, and Eric
4-Matt, Emily, Rebekah, Kate, and Ben
5-Karen, Ken, Jeremy, Austin, Morgan, and Eric again
6-John the dad, Lindsay, Sam, and Meag
7-Mary and Nady
8-Darlene
9-Louise and Johnny

While everyone was here we were going none stop here is a list of all that we did.
1-Cubs Game
2-Outlets shopping
3-Aquarium
4-Greek town
5-Field Museum
6-Taste of Chicago
7-Millennium park Fountain
8-American Girl place-Lunch with the dolls (Girls)
9-Lego Store and Museum of Science and industry (Boys)
10-Six Flags
11-Picnic at the point
12-Swimming
13-Beach a couple of times with Emily's family
14-Millennium park Fountain again (Lucas's favorite)
15-Chicago Children's Museum
16-Architectural Boat tour
17-Museum of Science and Industry
18-The Dark Knight
19-Shopping Magnificent Mile
20-Wicked
21-Top of the Hancock tower
22- Architectural Boat tour again
23-Field Museum again
24-Magnificent Mile Shopping
25-Wrigley Field
26-Flea Market and Ikea
27-Antique Stores
28-Museum of Science and Industry
29-Cubs Game
30-Second City Comedy Club
31-White Sox Game

It may be more exhausting writing it than doing it. There are still probably a dozen things I would still like to do in the city. I am just waiting for more visitors. On top of all of this I went to about 20 different restaurants and there are still a ton I want to try. So needless to say it was busy. The first two days after everyone left I just laid on the couch and read. Here are some pictures of the first group of visitors. I will be posting in increments.

Silly Rebekah and Kate with crazy Uncle Ned

My sisters and I. Maybe not the greatest picture, but they are two of the greatest friends I could of asked for so I wanted to post this. I cried when they left. I miss you guys a ton.

This was the only way to get them to look at the camera. Morgan, Annika, Connor, Bronson, and Marissa

At the top of our apartment building. It is 37 stories high so it no Hancock building, but it is pretty exciting for a couple of kids from the burbs. Connor, Morgan, Annika, and Marissa

Play area at Six Flags. Austin was such a great help with Lucas. I am sad that I did not get any pictures of Lucas with Jeremy and Austin. Lucas pretty much followed them everywhere. He thinks they are the greatest which they are.

Bronson, Connor, Zander, Annika, and Morgan

Lucas and Ben. They did not really play together, but whenever they saw each other for the first time in a while they would smile so big and point at each other.

Picnic at the Point. Lukey and Dad.

All the kids. It was so much fun. Lucas loved having so many play friends.

The whole family. Wow we are getting old, but still gorgeous.

I think that we are in trouble when these three grow. Can you believe that Zander is seven months younger than the other two. Glad he can finally sit up. Lucas, Ben, and Zander.

Lucas loves a good slide.

Fountain at Millennium park one of his favorite things to do.

Cubs game with Mom and Dad. I wonder who we are cheering for.

At the Aquarium. Meredith, Zander in the Ergo, Connor, Bronson, Annika, Marissa, and Mike.

Aquarium. Me, Lucas, Annika, and Marissa

Lucas at the water park at six flags. He went down the slide to fast and I didn't catch him. He is not too happy. Sorry.

Brawts, Stuffed pretzels, spiced cider oh my!!

Chicago has so many great things going on during the holidays and pretty much year round. One of which is the German market. It was so much fun there were some great crafts, great food, and great decorations.

Am I in Ned's heaven???

My first Five days in Chicago made me wonder if I had actually moved to chicago or Ned's heaven. First of all we went down town to shop or at least that is what Ned told me but some how we ended up at the ESPN zone for four hours to watch the BYU game. When we walked into the ESPN zone I knew what heaven must look like in Ned's mind.
Then just a few days later we went to a Cubs v. Cardinals game which again helped me form a complete picture of what heaven would look like for Ned. The best part about the game was the fact that Lucas and I got new shirts. Which is what heaven looks like in my mind-buying new clothes.