Chicago Part 1

About a week after we moved in to our apartment here in Michigan, it was time to take off for a week in Chicago!  The purpose of this visit was, of course, Abby and Neil's wedding (and Jeremiah's ring-bearer debut), but we were able to fit in lots more stuff and a whole week of family time!  This will be Part 1-- sorry, the wedding, etc will have to wait until part 2 (blogging has become a lot more of an ordeal for me now that I have no Macbook.... had to return that to my school.  Boo.  So I have to do any computer stuff when I can use Adam's work laptop.  Big pain in the butt!!).  Anyhoo...

We left Monday the 16th after Adam got home from work, and arrived in Chicago about 7:30, I think?  We had an apartment rented in Bucktown with my parents and my brother and his family.  Monday night it was just us and Grandpa and Grandma in the apartment.  Jeremiah was SO EXCITED to see that our building was right next to the EL tracks!

He did a lot of train watching during the week!

Unfortunately, our first night of sleep in the apartment was not great, thanks to those lovely trains.  But amazingly we did end up adjusting to it!  Or else we were so tired, they didn't wake us up anymore.

On Tuesday, Matt & Cheryl and Josie & Evan joined us at our apartment.

Grandma and the kids in front of our place.

For the life of me, I really can't remember what we did on Tuesday..... sheesh.  Pregnancy brain?  I think before the others arrived, we walked to Ehrler Park, which was only a couple blocks away.  We went there a couple times over the course of the week.  It was nice to have a place for the kids to play, and to hang out with all the nannies.  Interesting.

On Wednesday, we tried out Adams Playground Park in Lincoln Park, which had a playground AND a splash park.  We got to enjoy it for approximately 20 minutes, before dark clouds and cooler temps sent us running for our cars with the threat of rain!

Playing in the sand at the splash park, of course!

We met Abby and some of her friends at Art of Chicken for dinner that night.  Cool place and great food!

The bride and Evan talking about the Art of Chicken.

This place was within walking distance of our apartment, too, which was great!  Except we got caught in a torrential downpour on the way home. :(

Check out my dad-- we were moving fast!
 

J and pants-less Evan representing.

Thursday I had obligations with the bride-- basically a whole day of bachelorette fun with the bride and bridesmaids!  While I was gone, everyone else headed downtown on the train (the highlight for J, of course!  Seriously, just  today he said to me, "Mommy, I miss those fast trains that went by our apartment.").

They went to Millenium Park and saw "The Bean" (I know it has a real name, but I don't remember it.  Ah yes, Cloud Gate!  Thanks, google), and Grant Park to see Buckingham Fountain.

Evan is super strong!

Meanwhile, I was being forced into brunch, pedicures, and other bachelorette fun with the bride and other bridesmaids. :)

 

 

We also had time in the afternoon to help Abby with some last-minute wedding details, like sign making, and paper airplane making!



Busy busy!

We also worked on preparing food and drinks for the bachelorette party, which was that evening!  All of the credit for the delicious food/drinks goes to Abby's wonderful OTHER bridesmaids, as I contributed very little.  They had great ideas and everything turned out wonderfully!



 

Then it was time for Abby's friends to arrive for the bachelorette party!  There was the delicious food and drinks, plus gift-opening and a game.  So fun to take time to celebrate Abby!

 

After the party, the rest of the group headed to Violet Hour for drinks.  Being old and pregnant, I was a party-pooper and opted to head home to bed (when did THAT happen?!?!?  Sigh.). :(

 

Friday was the day of the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, but that was not until the evening.  So we had a good chunk of the day to do something with, and we decided to head to the Lincoln Park Zoo!  The kids had a great time!

 



 

Grandma sprung for carousel rides!

Grandpa and Grandma and the kids.

I love this city!!!!!!

Josie and Jeremiah hanging with some cows.

Stopped for a bit to play at a park!

That evening, we headed over to Covenant Presbyterian Church for Abby and Neil's wedding rehearsal.  No pics though, sorry-- I was busy doing my matron-of-honor duties! :)  Rehearsal dinner was held at Pequod's Pizza-- somewhere I had always heard about when I lived in Chicago, but never made it to.  Glad I was able to try it-- great pizza!!



2 stars of the wedding waiting for some pizza!!

And then Saturday was the big day!  Stay tuned for a post about the wedding and the rest of our vacay! :)