Just Blew In from the Windy City

Sure, we've been home for a few days. And sure, we came home to a whirlwind of back-to-school/unpacking-from-a-long-trip/torn-up-apartment craziness. But I'm still living in my blissful post-vacation buzz, which means you get to hear all about it.

Our friends Jacob and Sarah Quinn moved to Chicago a few weeks ago and needed someone to drive their car to their new place for them. Go on a road trip to a beautiful city and help out some friends at the same time, while saving money on a dream vacation? Yes, please.

Here are some high points (but really, what point WASN'T a high one?):

We spent all day at the Shedd Aquarium and really only came out with this one photo. Ryan says we were too busy living to see it all through a camera lens, and we DID see a lot. A dolphin show, a walrus yelling and jumping out of the water, and a crazy stingray thing with a nose like a chainsaw. I did get my camera out for that one, but it was too dark to get a good shot. Dang it.

This is Ryan standing on thin air.

Not really.

It's Ryan standing on a glass case that protrudes from the top of the Sears Tower and makes you feel like you're standing on nothing. He attacked it like a pro. I stood on it too, but I almost cried. 

We went to Chinatown so I could take Ryan to one of my favorite places to eat in the world, but it had been condemned. You know, for health code violations. 

It was that good.

And no trip to Chicago is complete without a trip to the bean. If you've never seen it or heard of it, it's ... just ... a big bean.

Sarah had the day off work that day and came with us into the city. She is a complete delight.

I like this photo.

After walking at least 14 miles in the heat of the day (or half a mile ... whatever), we made it to Navy Pier. I spent most of our time there sitting in the air conditioning and guzzling water bottles. Ryan spent most of his time tracking down drinking fountains to fill water bottles.

But once we'd (ahem, I'd) recovered a bit we went out on the pier and enjoyed the view. It's a beautiful place.

We finished the day with a trip to Wrigley Field with the Quinns to see the Cubs play the Braves. We had never been to Wrigley before and it was a great game to see! There were a few runs from both teams in the second and third innings and we saw Chipper Jones hit a homer.

And for the record, the ivy is more beautiful in real life than I imagined. Wrigley Field is an American treasure.

Still smiling after a long day in the heat.

We went to a lot of museums the next day, and this lovely lady in the picture with Ryan (not the human, the other one) is none other than Sue, the most complete T-Rex in existence.

At one point during the day, Ryan said, "Oh, look. Another T-Rex head."

I think we spoiled him.

We spent our last day in Chicago in the suburbs with Jacob and Sarah. We love the little town they live in. It feels really small-towny, with cornfields and barns a few miles away in one direction and the city less than an hour away in the other. I think they call that "Heaven."

We did a session in the Chicago temple and afterward ate some deep dish pizza that changed my life. I will never look at the west's pathetic "pizza" the same.

Thanks for the memories, Windy City. It's been real. And Jake and Sarah, thanks for the wonderful hospitality —you'd better believe we'll be back!