Summer Vacation: Chicago!!!

With Paul having summers off, we decided to take advantage and head up North to visit family and friends! First stop...CHICAGO!!!

We fell in love when we visited with Eric in the past, so we were all so excited to show Sara what it was all about!

Since we were on vacation, and the rented car seat fit best facing forward, we decided to let Sara check out the town in style! She got to sit forward for the first time and couldn't have been happier!!!

(Eric asked me to take a picture of this fountain, he loved it!)

AUNTIE!!!

We were so excited to see Auntie!!! This has been her home for the past year, so we couldn't wait to see her new place, her school, her favorite places, and most of all, her!

After checking into our hotel...

we headed to Auntie place where we got to see another someone special! RUBY!!!

It didn't take long before we headed up stairs to check out her roof deck! Such a great view!

Afterward we headed to the dog park so Ruby could run around with some friends! We also thought it would be fun for her to run out into the water to retrieve the ball, but fun wasn't necessarily the word she'd use for it :)

A DAY IN TOWN!!!

Rise and Shine! After playing a game of hide and seek, and taking some quick photos in the courtyard, we met up with Auntie to spend the day in the city!

We were excited to hear we'd get to ride on a city bus!

And to hear we were going to visit Auntie's school where she'll soon be receiving her Doctorate!!! Yes, I said Doctorate!!! :)

Eric was especially happy to hear that we'd be able to get another look at this favorite fountain...

However, he decided it was best to dream about it instead.

Everything was so beautiful! Even the newly renovated floors that we got a special private tour of. That was until Sara decided to accidentally flip her Pringles crumbs all over the newly laid carpet!

It was so great being able to see where Auntie has her classes and spends some of her time!

Next stop...THE BEAN!!! The kids had an absolute blast with their reflections!

And Sara Bean got to meet The Bean!!! :)

Afterward we decided to check out the huge water fountains! After we showed up it more so looked like a toga party than a splash park! :) In the end the red togas worked out for the best since it made it easy to keep an eye on them!

Once we were all dried off, we hoped on another city bus. Destination...The Navy Pier!!!

The Mrs. thought this would be a perfect time to make a phone call! The way she looked all grown up as if she was really talking to someone was too cute, I just had to get a picture! Turns out, she was! Hours later I found out that she in fact called Uncle Paul and carried a nice little conversation with him! Hahaha!

Eric and Daddy had a blast each time they'd drop and get that silly feeling in their stomachs!

Sara was excited to jump on a ride and went around and around on the carousel!

These swings bring back such childhood memories! Auntie and I just had to give them a try again! Weeeeeeee!

How they let me on with my camera I'll never know. No worries though, I was gripping that thing, and my swing, so hard there was no way it was going anywhere! Hahaha!

And since we had just a few tickets left, we decided to give the drop ride another go around! Eric was an old pro the second time around and rode with his arms up the entire time! He LOVES this stuff!!!

Sara being a bit to small to ride didn't stop her from having fun! She participated in the ride from her stroller! It was hysterical!!!

LINCOLN PARK ZOO!!!

After a good night sleep, we decided to check out the Lincoln Park Zoo! Though we've been to Chicago twice before, we were never able to make it here. So we were all excited to visit for the first time!

This was such an amazing zoo! Not only was it free, but it was so wide open. You had all the space in the world to run around in!

Like all zoo's, the kids had a blast seeing all the different animals!

And it was here that we will never forget Eric's famous question...

"Mama, Dada, why isn't the Zebra's poop falling?" A classic moment indeed! Hahaha!

I couldn't help but think of Auntie Ally when seeing the flamingos were behind a fence and not walking freely! Hahaha!

Later that night we relaxed with Ruby and watched some NBA Finals. A perfect way to end a perfect day, however, we'd have three perfects if the Celtics decided to win...but...

SAY CHEESE!!!

Auntie is always so thoughtful with her gifts! Once again she proved that to be true when she surprised me with a family photo shoot for my birthday this year!!!

The photographer was super nice, super talented, and best of all, we had such a great time going out and having some fun with some photos!

*Whistle Blowing* That's about all we caught of Auntie's basketball game! Such a bummer! Eric was super excited to see her play, but after their naps and driving to the game, we only caught the last whistle blow :(

YUM IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!

Each day we'd walk from place to place, we'd see this breakfast diner. On our last day there we figured we'd give it a try! Boy oh boy are we glad we did!

The are famous for their huge and delicious cinnamon rolls! One bite, and it was easy to see why! They were insanely good! As was the rest of the food we ordered! It was all huge, and delicious!

With very full bellies we walked over to a hat shop to pick a Fathers Day gift out for Grandpa! While we were there, the woman working put this hat on Eric, and it was as if he was born to wear the hat! He was hysterical in it! So with that, he has a new hat!

We may be smiling, but we were extremely sad to say goodbye to Auntie! Though we feel very fortunate to have been able to spend time with her out in Chicago!

Each time we've been to Chicago has been a completely different experience. Each one being one that we have loved. This proved no different! Thanks for the wonderful time Auntie and Ruby!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Next stop...Massachusetts!!!