The Windy City

So, like I said, a few days after getting back from Yellowstone, John and I left for Chicago. My sister and her husband and baby live there now and we had been wanting to go visit them. We planned to go later in the fall when the weather wouldn't be so freakin ridiculous, but then Tanner threw a wrench into our plans. You see, my little brother decided to get engaged to a girl we had never met, and they were going to Chicago in August, so to save them a trip to boring Utah, we changed our plans to be there at the same time.

To be honest, even though I was looking forward to time with John, and fun in Chicago, I was so not ready to leave our kids again. I felt like I JUST got back from Africa, and I knew it would be really hard on them. We even played with the idea of taking them at the last minute. We didn't, and they stayed with John's parents. They had a great time and so did we, but our phone calls home were heartbreaking. Boss would be fine for the first few seconds saying "hi, I miss you" but then he would start to cry and say "mommy, hold you?" It was the worst. Every couple needs time alone without their kids, I'm a firm believer, but that crap is hard. I would wish we brought them for the next 3 minutes, then I would imagine hauling them all over downtown Chicago, in and out of cabs, pushing my monster truck double stroller, and eating at nice restaurants and I would no longer regret our decision.

John and I stayed in the city at a hotel right on Magnificent Mile, and Tiff, Randy, Tanner, and Josie (and sometimes Madden) would come into the city and hang with us. We did tons of fun stuff:

Shopped Mag Mile

Took an awesome food tour with Tanner & Josie

Sweat our a**es off - well that wasn't that fun, but we did it!

Took a few water taxi's

Ate some incredible food

Took an Architecture Boat Tour

Walked Navy Pier

Laughed harder than ever at Gino's East at the text Tanner sent Tif

Cooled off in the Millennium Park fountain

Caught some of the Air & Water Show that was going on all weekend

Laughed our a**es off

Went to a comedy show called Second City. I would highly recommend it if you are going to Chicago, but not to all of you - so ask me first : )

Ate way too much, but walked it all off
See it was a blast!

Madden came into the city with Tiff and Randy and spent the whole sweaty day in his stroller like a champ. It made me miss my kids, but then I remembered they would NOT be acting like this angel, so once again, I was happy they were home in Utah. Madden was fun to have around. He is a total mama's boy, but I got a few kisses at Millennium Park.

Then on one night, Madden was with a sitter and us 3 couples went to a nice dinner and walked along Navy Pier. It was so hot all day, and then all the sudden we were at the end of the longest Pier in the world in a torrential down pour. For reals. It was fun for a few minutes, we got drenched, but then the wind was making us cold so we ran for cover. Well, all of us except 2, who thought it was the perfect moment to pretend they were in the movie The Notebook. I won't name names, but you know who you are.

Before the rain storm, we took these pictures of the Pier with my camera timer. I think they turned out awesome. And you fools wanted to ask someone to take it for us...

These photos probably deserve a little explanation, but I don't exactly have one. After Tif and Randy took the train home one night, the 4 of us were killing time on the beach before we headed to the 11pm show of Second City. Things got a little crazy.

It's ok to laugh at us, we were being weirdos and these pictures make me laugh out loud.

So clearly we had an awesome trip. It was so damn hot and humid that I feel like I took half the pictures I normally would have. John would say "don't you want a picture of this?" and I would say "no, I'm too hot" and it was true. We (I) look so sweaty and gross in these pictures. I don't think I sweat hardly ever, but you wouldn't believe it by looking at these pictures. You especially won't believe me after you see pictures of the half marathon that was the next weekend. Two words, hot mess. Literally. Even though I wouldn't change anything about this trip, I will never go back in the month of August. Remember it.

Tanner and Josie left one day before us. We won't see them until the wedding in December. We loved Josie. Like true love. I couldn't be more thrilled to have another sister. Tanner is scoring big time, and we are happy to reap the benefits of having her in our family. Way to go little brother, even though I can't ever accept the fact that she is older than me : )

Saying goodbye to Tif and Madden was easy because they flew to Utah to stay with us for the half marathon the very next day. We usually have long gaps between get-togethers, so it was weird to say "see you tomorrow, sister!"

John and I have decided to make this an annual tradition. Last year it was Portland, this year was Chicago, so help us decide what city to visit next year. We are thinking Seattle or Boston.

Up next, my first half marathon with my sister and dad. See, August just went on and on and on...