Chicago

I'm back and ready for action. On my Mommy Vacation journey this past weekend, I came to a conclusion: Aside from my family, and all that living for them and loving them entails, aside from the logistical food, and shelter, and water, if there were just three things I needed to be happy and feel like myself despite any and all circumstances, they would be, in nor particular order, the ability to

1) Take pictures
2) Sew
3) Write

And that is not to imply that I fancy myself extraordinarily talented in any of those areas. But on this trip I was pleasantly immersed in number 1. That is one of the perks of traveling sans kids. I felt like I had my camera around my neck an awful lot. And having the ability to stop mid-sidewalk and point my camera way up towards the beautiful Chicago skyline, and not worry a second about whether my baby was going to let go of my pant leg and get hit by a car, that was nice. (Not to mention that I actually got to wear pants on this trip. You have no idea how long I've waited for that. No idea!)

And I have the pictures to prove it. But beyond the pictures and my first tour of that beautiful city, I am most happy about the time I get to spend with the people in this one:



I understand how parents can say they love their children equally but differently. And it didn't even take me becoming a parent to figure it out because that is how I love my siblings. I love them all the same amount, but differently.

Ian and I enjoy the same kind of funny. As a little girl he always told me I was beautiful but made sure I knew that he was more beautiful. He trained me to say things like, "I'm glad you got to see me today." He taught me to shoot a lay-up. He perfected the art of dating. When I was 10 he dressed me up, set me on the porch of a girl he liked, with a dozen roses and a note asking her to a dance. He had (and still does) the ability to explain the most complicated things to me and make me understand with ease. I could pretty much say anything I want without fear of repercussion because he doesn't even read this blog, but I'll just say he always made me feel special.

So Ian, his boy Oliver, Leah, and I walked all over the city of Chicago. I had been strictly following a no sugar regime diet for the past few weeks, but Ian, in his truest fashion, talked me out of it. And we spent the rest of the day walking and eating and taking pictures. Pretty perfect if you ask me.

I loved seeing the old and modern architecture blended throughout the city.




There was the Hancock tower and it's obliging views.













There was Memorial Park and The Bean.


















There was an Aston Martin and Lake Michigan.






There was the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago River.






There was a giant Marilyn Monroe and a quite a few men not too embarrassed to take pictures up her dress.




There was the Trump tower and the Wrigley Building.



And there was deep dish pizza. Man, was there ever deep dish pizza. Totally and completely worth the wait.










After we stuffed ourselves, we walked back to the car through some sprinkles just before the real rain hit.

And we spent the remainder of the evening at Ian's new home with the rest of the family.



I hadn't seen Cristina's parents since Oliver was born back in Boston, almost 11 years ago. So that was fun.


And after sugar-filled brownies and good conversation, Leah and I rode off into the sunset towards Milwaukee.