Weekend In The City... Part 2

On Saturday morning, Alex and I woke up and got going. We headed up to the executive level to get the powdered eggs that were included in the price of the suite. Then we got ready and headed out to explore the city.

 

We walked down to the lake from our hotel and followed it around until we ended at Navy Pier. Once there were went window shopping. We were sweating bullets. Like we were both so hot and uncomfortable so we both bought Tshirts and took off our long sleeve shirt/sweater. If we didn't look like tourists before, we did now!

 

Before we left Navy Pier, we decided to go up in the ferris wheel and get a view of the city.

 

It's just so pretty....

We were with another couple. They were on an actual date. They weren't dressed like tourists.

They were young and cute.

Then there is us. The old married couple.

Wearing cool shirts.

Then we walked along the lake again. We just kept people watching and walking.

It was awesome!

How crazy that this is in downtown Chicago on a Saturday morning. No cars were on this road. Crazy.

We walked over to Millennium Park. I had never been there.

It was pretty cool :)

 

 

THE BEAN

I spy with my little eye....

Cool right?

I LOVE this one.

The bean was just pretty cool....although there were a crap ton of people there.

There was even a tacjy little wedding party there.

The water park next to Millennium Park.

Alex performed his ALS cold water challenge here.

This was just so cool.

There were protesters/marchers for the African girls that had been taken.

I love the Chicago River. That area is pretty much my favorite area. It looks awesome with buildings on either side of the river.

We walked all over town. We shopped. We walked some more. We ended up at a bar with a bloody mary bar...Alex was in heaven. We got a small lunch and drinks and hung out for awhile.

He didn't mess around with his blood mary...

 



 

After lunch we headed back to the hotel to meet Farooq and Sarah. Time for a our fun filled night out with friends to start!!

Weekend In The City... Part 1

So our trip into the city of Chicago officially began after our visit to Chris, Tammy, and the boys. We headed downtown. We drove on Lake Shore with the windows down and our country white people music playing. It was glorious.  We stayed at the Drake right along the lake. Farooq, Sarah, Jason and Megan were staying at the same place starting the next day. So we got a room for two nights. My salesman of a husband got our room upgraded to some sort of suite. We had to give them our first born child for it but it was worth it for the room. (obviously kidding).

 

Our room for the weekend...

I feel certain the draperies are probably brand new...

Our view of Michigan Avenue from our room. Not. Too. Shabby.

There was also excellent people...and cat....watching in the building there across the way.

We had lunch at Water Tower Place....just a little snack of sorts. Then we hung out and shopped for a bit.

 

We had some sort of executive something so we got to go into the lounge. We got some "free" snacks and my own little Diet Coke bottle.

We headed to meet Jennifer and David at a place of their choosing. David's mother was in town for the weekend so they had free childcare and were wanting adult interactions only. Clearly we were excited about this plan.

 

We went to an Italian "tapas" place. Alex was in heaven to say the least.

It was awesome. We loved just sitting and talking and eating. We all four love good food so it was the perfect place to meet. We had walked and they had taken a cab so we ended up walking back to Michigan Avenue with them.

 

We've been friends for 17 years. How insane is that?

Clearly one of my better looks.

I've never done drugs although you would never know it by this picture.

Group shot!

You want to be a us.

Go Blackhawks....and clever move, guys.

We went to Ghirardelli chocolate to get dessert. I can remember back to a time when those calories and energy would have been used for alcohol and dancing and getting just obnoxious (for me I mean.) Now, we prefer dessert, comfy pants and an early bedtime.

 

Oh these two. 

Deliciousness....the irony of this picture is that Jennifer has worked for Hershey for 9 years. Hershey has moved her all over. Hershey is in the background of this picture BUT we are eating chocolate at a different store. I feel certain that Mr. Hershey CEO man doesn't read this blog of my amazing life so we are good to put it on here.

 

 

After eating our weight in food for the night, Jennifer and David headed back to check on sweet Collin and Alex and I headed back to the hotel. We sat outside of a prom that was happening on the first floor of our hotel and we people watched. Like literally people watched for hours. We didn't really speak either. There were undercover police there and everything. So cool. We listened to the band at the hotel bar. We had fun just the two of us. Then we headed to bed at a decent time....and I even took a sleeping pill so I would sleep.

 

What a fabulous night...

Four Years Of Wedded Bliss...

On August 7, 2009, I married a dashing young man. He stole my heart with his Marine Corps getting deployed story and after a short four and a half months of dating, he proposed to me on a beach in North Carolina. He proposed August 16, 2008 and deployed August 22, 2008.  He returned home safely in March and we were married August 7 , 2009 surrounded by family, friends, and the beauty of South Carolina.

It was my dream wedding...in a place I didn't really know existed in the deep South.

cc

So, for our four year anniversary, I put on my wedding dress, Alex a tux, and we flew to Jamaica for the day. Just because.

Ok, so no, that didn't happen.

But Alex did bring a neat car home from work for us to drive. We went out for a nice dinner all dressed up and fancy. I got him a bag of crap from Target (there was a nice shirt inside with the crap.) We enjoyed a delicious meal at a restaurant downtown while Gigi and Pap watched the babies. Alex had a beautiful flower arrangement sitting at the table waiting for us when we got there.

We didn't have a crazy night and we didn't get to take our honeymoon this year, however, we got to spend time together and that is what is important. We got to gaze into each other's eyes over candlelight and takes bites of each other's steaks.

Alex, Thank you for loving me. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for marrying me and making this family with me. Every day is never the same. Every day has it's own battles. But every day I love you more. Thank you for growing into the person you are and continuing to grow and change with me. We have each other through this crazy life and that is what is so important. Love you more than Diet Pepsi...

PS Thanks for courtesy laughing at me. It really helps complete our marriage.