a weekend in chi-town

We drove down to Chicago for the weekend to celebrate the end of the semester. We stayed with our friends Nate and Missy. We did take pictures with them but all the pictures are on their camera.

We started Saturday out with Kimball and Liz at Obama's favorite breakfast cafe. They then took us for a tour of Hyde Park- Obama's House and a Frank Lloyd Wright house, and the University of Chicago.

Liz and Kimball dropped us off on the Magnificent Mile.

We stopped at the Lego store, which was completely awesome.

The American Girl Store. Where was this when I was little? I still loved it.

Hancock Tower. I decided to save my tall building tour for the Empire State Building this fall, I didn't think I had a prayer of getting Jackson up more than one in a year.

The Tribune Tower, also amazing. I just finished a Mark Twain class so it was among the two stones we had to get a picture with.

Waiting for the bridge to go back down.

We met Nate and Missy at Millennial Park

You can't tell but that is Ashlyn and me playing with in the water.

Grant Park fountain

Deep dish pizza. Oh boy.

freedom

Finals are over!

The evolution of the post final jump

I got it in two frames!

Looks like Jackson needs some more experience with the camera...

revolutionized

Jordan and Camilla gave Jackson a Ute frosty mug for Christmas. You keep your mug in the freezer and when you use it, if you are lucky, you get slushy lemonade or Gatorade. We went and bought me my own this week. Our lives have been revolutionized by the frosty mug.

finals

Jackson and I have both been working on finals. Hobbes apparently felt left out.

Jackson is getting after me for procrastinating. I am a champion procrastinator.

Happy Birthday Ali!

Today is Jackson's sister Ali's birthday. We had a small and quick party for her in a hotel room (I had to run to class almost immediately after the singing.)

Ali and her kids decided to join Jackson and I in Northern Michigan this weekend so Jackson can have company while I am in class.

Happy birthday!

the winner

For the first time ever I beat Jackson in the March Madness brackets. The big number 1 is next to my name this year, at least in one pool. Although I probably would have preferred having Butler win. My niece and nephew filled out their bracket and had Butler and Duke in the finals. Jackson got his yearly "One Shining Moment" fix (I never even knew what it was until I married him) and was having flashbacks to Utah in 1998.

easter brunch

I bought some flowers for our Easter brunch.

The beginnings of the container garden, to be finished in May.

Easter family portraits.

We had lots of friends over for Easter brunch.

For the record I gave everyone notice before taking their pictures, for the most part.

The spread. I tried a new asparagus tart recipe for my contribution. One of the rare easy and delicious recipes.