Christmas in July...in Chicago

in november, my sister-in-law briana and i had planned a day trip to chicago.  life happened, the week got busy and grandpa had some big knee surgery so our plans got rearranged and we took a rain check. yesterday we finally cashed in our day trip and grandma nannen watched all 3 babies (daddy and grandpa are now en route from san francisco to hopedale).  we left around 8:30 and arrived to find ourselves in the midst of Taste of Chicago - and decided that would be a perfect way to lunch. after exploring some shared tasty culinary treats (boneless buffalo wings, spinach stuffed pizza, pad thai noodles, fish tacos and fudge covered frozen bananas) we wandered over to milennium park and i finally saw the famous bean. what a cool park - i loved the fountain - two big brick walls of water with water pouring down them. people treat the fountain like a community pool and its filled with people, mostly kids cooling off in the hot and humid chicago aftrnoon. phew, it was hot and sweaty. then we were on a mission for some shopping and huffed it across town to water tower place. we stopped in a few favorites in the mall and then hit up the north face and lululemon, a couple of our favorites. stopped in the disney store for some surprises for the kids and then more walking to a fabulous and much needed dinner destination - RPM.  everything about this restaurant was perfect and we quite enjoyed ourselves and our incredible meal. then more walking back to milenium park and our car...i had a logistical date with my battery powered breastpump during our drive across town (oh sweet relief) and then we headed into the playhouse to see Rock of Ages - such an awesome production, we had a great time! after an evening of dancing along to the 80's musics and laughing along with the show, we topped off the day with a 10:30 pm stop to pick up dessert at the cheesecake factory.  i was a wimp and was semi-conscious on the drive home and eventually gave in to sleep-thanks briana for delivering me safely home. what a fabulous day!

decadent "meat on a stick".

at the Taste of Chicago!

a little disappointed in the windy city...it appears the trash is full.  no one follows the "if your trash causes it to overflow, you need to take the trash out" rule. bummer

i finally saw the bean!

smile aunt briana! our reflection in the bean

chicago is so beautiful - lots of art and beautiful architecture

by the wall of water - community "pool" in the city?

more city sites. the skyline is just gorgeous.

after enjoying an A-MAZING meal at RPM

san fran in a day

champaign visit

i've known lindsay since 5th grade when we moved to bourbonnais. its been fun to stay in touch with my childhood friends as we've spread out and grown into the adult versions of our silly selves. and now that we are all having babies, its even more fun to reminisce and stay in touch.  we met lindsay and her two littles (and her little sis, shoudln't she still be like 13 or something???) in champaign for a date at jarling's custard cup and some play at the park across the street. thanks for taking the time to catch up with us and spend a little time playing, friend! after our date, my parents took my big babes home and curtis and i stayed to spend the evening with the thompson family. we caught joel's last ballgame of the season, a driving tour of campus to see the latest and greatest changes there, enjoyed always incredible fare at dos reales (what a treat to have friends to snuggle curtis while i ate using two hands!) and spend some time back at their casas reminiscing and watching curtis perform his crawling stunts (he loves to get up on all fours and rock back and forth, this one is a mover and a shaker!). i also was thankful to see some of emmily's latest performance as belle in her school's performance of beauty and the beast. she's off to college soon and i can't wait to see her on even bigger stages in even more exciting venues. she's got big, beautiful things coming her way.

our littlest babes were born one day apart :)

everyone gathered 'round watching the curtis show - he is incredible.

fun in blo-no

there is definitely some finesse involved with taking three tiny children on an endlessly delicious (but exhausting) vacation. living out of a suitcase, sleeping in a new bed each week and not having access to all of our toys and activities and the rhythm of our "normal" is definitely a tiring adventure to be on. nonetheless,  we are soaking up the sun and the fun with deedee and bumpah in bloomington-normal this week.  we have enjoyed a day at state farm park pool as well as a day at the discovery center in uptown normal. between fun outings, we appreciate the air conditioning as the weather continues to be insanity hot, alternating between playing in the cool basement and running in the sprinkler or backyard pool to fill up the hours of the days.  we're loving our time here, missing the rhythm of our norm in san diego just a bit, and realizing that we are about to embark on an even greater adventure - creating a new rhythm to our days in a new home in a faraway land!

enjoying the awesome kiddie pool at State Farm Park with DeeDee - this was so perfect for a hot day!

Baby Curtis has a different idea of enjoying a hot day. :)

Pete on top of the play structure - there is a little water cannon that he loved. So fun to watch momma squirm after getting soaked.

Lady bug got tired out and needed a snuggle with Bumpah

Pete throwing water toys to a friend with DeeDee and my cousin Alison

the snuggle turned into a full blown nap in the sun to warm up

more cuddling with my littles

Pete living large on the waterslides - see him in the blue rash guard coming down the slide to DeeDee?

Betsy and Bumpah rocking the lazy river (in pink rash guard)

enjoying some fresh peaches in shade with DeeDee and Aunt Elle after a romp in the sprinkler

"There is a baby hiding in this mirror!!!!!!"  He is delighted to have discovered this little trick and squeals about it on and on

going for a walk with DeeDee after dinner - she loves that she gets to be a "real grandma" and push the stroller

Fun at the children's Discovery Museum in Uptown Normal

This just made me happy

Curtis was impressed by all the activity at the museum

Making pizzas with DeeDee at the Discovery Center

Feeding the cows so she can "milk" them

watching the inside workings of the combine with Aunt Elle

wind energy exhibit

the star of the show - they have a big stage with costumes

loving the window painting station - what a great idea!