Monday, August 22, 2011

Chi Town!

In July I spent a few days in Chicago with Mom, my sister, my sister-in-law, two aunts, and a cousin.



We were there to celebrate Mom's 70th birthday which was last year, and my aunt's 75th which is coming up.

Mom and Aunt Ruth had already spent some time in Iowa, Aunt Corrine and my SIL, Gay, flew in so we could ride together. Our first stop was IKEA.




Most of us had never been to IKEA. A lot of my co-workers love it, so I thought we should check it out. Who knew they sold fabric???!!!!




           I'm thinking these may end up as backing for some kid quilts!
I also bought this toy for our toy box. It reminds me of one my kids used to have, except of course, there are more plastic parts.



Once we got checked into our motel we went down the street to check out the martini bar, Knickerbockers.

My sister and I tried to keep the ladies occupied while we went back to meet up with our cousin, Alyssa, who was flying in from AZ to surprise her mom. Thank goodness for Gay who did a good job herding them after a flurry of texts! Aunt Corrine was very surprised!

Navy Pier was our highlight of the evening. The fireworks were great! The Chicago skyline was beautiful after dark.




We spent the next VERY hot and humid day touring on this:




Its a great way to see a city unless it is your tour guide's second day of work,, he doesn't know much, and he keeps using "frickin"!!!!! ( Right, Gay?)

We toured downtown, China Town....
and Little Italy.

That evening we went to the Cadillac Theatre to see....



The theatre was very ornate and beautiful, and the musical was excellent!  I think everyone enjoyed it.




We also had an Architectural tour on the river.



Wouldn't you know it rained from the time we pulled out until we pulled back into the dock!!!!

Some of us were brave enough to step out on the Skydeck at Willis (Sears) Tower, some of us.....not so much!




Of course there was some shopping on the Magnificent Mile!


It was the first time I've stood in line just to get INTO a store. Wouldn't you know it was for food!--



One of Oprah's Favorite Things, 2010!

Of course we had to eat! Gay had a list, so Chicago style deep dish pizza was on it. As were Italian beef sandwiches, and of course Chicago style hot dogs!

We, of course, had all three! Yummmmm.

We dropped Alyssa at the airport and headed back to Iowa for the night. The Texans(Mom, Gay, Aunt Ruth, &Aunt Corrine) left brit and early the next day. I know I had a great time.

Now, off to plan next year's trip!


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6 comments:

Alyssa said...

The pictures brought back great memories...what a fun trip! Thanks to the goofball tour guide I learned way more then I needed to know about the Great Chicago Fire and "Upper, Upper Whacker and Lower, Lower Whacker!" What a Whack Job!

Ruthie said...

Enjoy the pictures. It was lots of fun, even tho it was hot.

Anonymous said...

I had a great time. Think we shoulod go every year as time is running out for old ones. I didn't mean Corrine. LOVED it all even tho it was warm.

Kath said...

Had a great time! Didn't know much about the Chicago fire until the frickin tour guide told us about it. Alyssa got felt over and Brian wasn't even there!:) Loved spending time with my mom, sister, sister in-law, aunts and cousin. Hope to do it again next year.

Josie McRazie said...

I only live a few hours away and yet have not been to Chicago since High School! Have driven through many times on my way from here to there! And the theater... Saw Miss Saigon and Phantom there!! BEAUTIFUL!! You have put yet another thing on my must do some time soon list!! Thank you for sharing!!

Gay Graham said...

Had a great time. I guess you didn,t find our pic with the big blue sky(wall?)behind us.