Magnificent Memories (corny title, I know. . .)

What a weekend! (Did you miss me?! I hope so!)

Wednesday morning we were preparing for an open house on Sunday, but then Wednesday afternoon Neil calls me at home and asks "do you want to go to Chicago?" I was like "Huh? Why?" He said, "Well, I forgot that I have a presentation I have to do tomorrow in Milwaukee, so I thought I'd drop you and the kids off in Chicago for the day, then when I got back, we'd have the rest of the weekend". I said, "Ok, I have a wedding album that I must finish and then yeah, let's go, but I must finish the album."

So, I got my album done by 10 Wed night (yippee - huge stressor off my shoulders!), then spent a few more hours packing before we had to get the kids up by 7 a.m. Thurs so we could be on the road, drop the dog off, get Val her Starbucks and then be in Chicago by 12 at the latest so that Neil could then be in Milwaukee by 2 that afternoon.

What a tiring night and morning! But we did make it by noon and Neil dropped us off at the apartment (Neil's dad has an apartment right off of Michigan Avenue which we get to stay at every time we are up there if they are not using it - thanks to their amazing generosity!), then got on his way to Milwaukee to make his 20 minute presentation (seems like such a waste, doesn't it?!) and then was back by 5:00 that evening. The rest of the weekend we spent as a family packing our days full with great meals (here - always a must!, here, here, and here - also always a must), the Museum of Science of Industry, naps, meeting Sara, Seth, Jason & Jennifer for lunch, then off to Lincoln Park zoo with Sara, Seth, Blake & Emma, a walk along Lake Michigan (about 2 miles! but what a beautiful enjoyable walk it was), shopping (of course, um, hello?!, we're talking about Val here!), a walk to a neighborhood park for the kids to play, and much more.

It was just so enjoyable . . . we had the best time, but it went way too fast. We wanted so badly to make time to see Jas & Jo, Katie, David & Rachel, Matt & Anna . . . , but time just got away from us. If it weren't for the melt downs Maia had (meaning we had waited way too long as it was for her to take a nap) and for naps themselves, then we most likely would have had time. But it was hard, too, because we didn't even know we were coming till the day before and so no one else knew we were coming . . . and well, you just never know how an unplanned weekend will go, nevermind how a day will go with small young children. (Sigh . . .) But, our plans (hopes!) are to make a weekend of it again in May or June without our Mister and Missy just to take a much needed break as a couple with some of our dear friends. If only life could just stop for a little while, eh? (* personal note to Jo . . . did you guys know Randy & Amy are home?? Do you think you'll make a trip down yonder here? I hinted to Amy that Randy needs to have a "party" while they're here . . . hee hee . . . maybe we'll see ya? Call me if you're comin'!)

I will definitely post some pictures from Chi-town once I get to downloading them. It was such a magnificent weekend on the "Magnificent Mile" - perfect weather, all healthy, not too many worries . . . so I went crazy with my photography. Nahhhh . . . not Val.