The Windy City

Happy Birthday to me!

For a month Jeff kept telling me that my birthday was going to be awesome and that it was going to "knock my socks off". He told me we were going to Cleveland and so I figured a baseball game and...what else do you do in Cleveland that falls into the knock-your-socks-off category? Dunno cause we didn't go to Cleveland.

We went to CHICAGO! The first day was a long one for the boys. Kamden fell asleep before we even ordered our food at The Cheesecake Factory.

Mac was fun and full of entertainment, even after an hour wait.

We didn't know this at the time but we would end up walking about 10 miles over the next few days. To some that might not seem like a lot but with children, a stroller, stairs, heat and humidity...just take my word for it...it is really, really long.

Our hotel was about 2 miles from Cheesecake Factory but we got to walk along Michigan Ave and the Magnificent Mile so there was lots to see and enjoy.

He gave up before we got back to the hotel.
How cute are my children?
We have a double stroller but Jeff thought we should take the smaller one and as you can see, the boys handled it just fine.
What would a trip to Chicago be without a ride on the "L" train and a Cubs game a Wrigley Field?

We specifically got tickets in the shade and it made the game so much more enjoyable.

I love sporting events for the atmosphere and that alone. I don't usually end up watching too much of the actual game but this was an awesome experience that I won't ever forget.

Roof Top Seating

This is across the street from the stadium.

Chicago was packed! There were the regular tourists but to add to that. They were also filming Transformers 3. If you enlarge the pic below you can see the bridge lifted with "crashed cars" and in the bottom right corner it also shows a pile of cars. No, we didn't see Shia Labeouf but we did see his trailer.

Chicago Theater

Chicago LDS Temple

My 2 favorite pics of the trip are next. :)

Those make you smile.

Lake Michigan

It was freezing but so clear and so beautiful.

Too bad we left our suits in the car.

Chicago Skyline

My Mowgli

What baby needs clothes really?

Not Mowgli

What everyone else was wishing they could do.

I really wanted to go on a boat ride. We got to go out on the lake and see the skyline.

The boys enjoyed it too.

Even if it was really bright.

I love this one cause the corner of the flag made a special appearance in the pic.

Illinois has 2 light houses.

The train ride on Thomas was a nice finale to the trip.

This is the first time for Mac that he has done something all by himself, like a big boy.

He just is getting so big and I love watching Kamden and McKay play together.

I really did have such a fabulous birthday. I know this sounds ooie-gooie but the best part was just being with my boys. Jeff went above and beyond what he should have and made me feel so special. He was so helpful with the boys and I was able to really have a great time.

This is a side note about the trip that I don't want to forget. We know that there is opposition in all things. This trip was proof of that. We are put in situations that test our character and our patience. It really seems that everything we did on this trip had something good and something bad. So, here's the list:

We had to walk 2 miles each way the first night to get dinner...but we had an awesome hotel on Michigan Ave.

(Yes, we could have taken a cab but we're el cheap-o)

We only had a single stroller...but the boys slept on top of each other.

We had to walk lots...but we got to see the movie set for Transformers 3.

It took us forever to fine handicap access for the stroller to get on the "L" train... but we got to ride the "L" train.

We got cheesecake for my birthday from the Cheesecake Factory...but the wind blew it off the table onto the ground. :(

Kamden had to go to the bathroom so we went into a pizza restaurant and it smelled really, really good so we just decided to eat dinner there and a lady in a blue shirt stole Jeff's wallet...

still trying to find the good in that.

I had a great birthday! I can't believe how fast the time is flying but I am officially in my late 20's. Yikes. I have heard so many people say that their 30's were the best by far but I'm loving this time of life and I am so thankful for what I do have.

Peace out!