CHICAGO

Tom and I just returned from a kids-free trip to Chicago. It was the first time both of us have left the kids for more than a night since Savannah was born. We went with our neighbors Dan and Wendy which made for some really memorable moments, as well extremely smooth navigation of the city (Dan was our unofficial tour guide). We spent five days and four nights eating, sight-seeing, shopping, and sleeping. In fact, our first night there I enjoyed the best sleep I had in over four years!! It was heaven.

We stayed in a condominium on Michigan Ave. just south of the Magnificent Mile and really enjoyed touring the city on foot as well hopping on the "L", the subway, and hailing a cab when we needed a quicker mode of transportation. After this trip, I can safely say that a little piece of my heart was left in Chicago. Cheesy, but true. And as incredible as the trip was, I was so happy/relieved to get home to Benjamin and Savannah.

Here are some of the highlights of the trip in chronological order:

*Second row seats to the musical "Wicked". This was...without a doubt...the highlight of the entire trip for me. I think it was the highlight for Tom too, surprisingly enough. I was even inspired to purchases tickets to see it in Los Angeles in December!

*Going to a Chicago Cubs baseball game at Wrigley Field. Man, those Chicagoan's sure LOVE their Cubbies!!! The game was on a Friday at 1:00 PM and based on the crowds on the subway and the streets surrounding Wrigley Field, you would have thought the entire city had taken the day off!! What an experience.

*Seeing "Mama Mia!" Another good Broadway show. Kind of a last minute idea, and definitely not as incredible as "Wicked" but really entertaining.

*Driving eight hours round trip to spend seven hours spent in Carthage and Nauvoo, IL. I was really excited to go because I had never been, and Nauvoo did not disappoint. It was beautiful, serene, and the spirit felt there was in huge contrast to the hustle and bustle of the Windy City.

*The Riverboat architecture tour of downtown Chicago. If you are visiting Chicago in the summer, I would highly recommend this. The architecturally diverse buildings in Chicago are amazing and you learn a lot about Chicago history as well.

The pictures on our camera were deleted the day before we left to come home so these pictures are from Dan and Wendy's camera. Hopefully we'll be able to recover our pictures eventually. Until then...here's Chicago!

We wanted to recreate the Wicked billboard...how did we do?

It took me a second to get used to the idea that the sauce was on the top instead of the cheese but once I got over that tiny detail it was mmm mmm good!

Wendy and I really enjoyed our girl time spent shopping and enjoying the city while the boys watched the Utah/Air Force game back at the condo. Boy, did they miss out.

Us after a rousing show of "Mama Mia!"

This is the window Joseph Smith fell from after he was shot in the Carthage jail.

The gang in front of the Nauvoo Temple.

The boys

Because I'm the designated griller of the family, Wendy thought it would be cleaver to take a picture of me in front of the Weber Grill Restaurant.

Tom thoroughly enjoying his last meal before we flew home.