View from the Hancock building
Dessert at Ghiradellis (sp?)
The water tower we had a view of the first night (except we were like 4 stories up)

Eating a Chicago style hot dog
The yummy chocolate lounge
Dinner at the Italian restuarant
Mike cleaning windows (we needed a little extra money =o) J/K

Free, live music in Grant Park
Dinner on Sat night
Riding bikes (notice my pink bike)
Navy Pier (well actually beside it)

Doesn't this look like it could be in a movie!

Looking out the periscope, you could see outside
Mike and I in front of the submarine

Chicago

Mike and I went to Chicago from Friday to Monday this past week. We have both realized how much we enjoy traveling together and seeing new sites and since RUF is all over we have people that are usually willing to give us a bed. It was not to far of a drive and this was the only weekend we could go, so we went and stayed with the campus minister and his wife at Northwestern, Jason and Ashley Harris. Ashley is an intern with Mike and I and I have always gotten along with her really well. We really appreciated them opening up their home to us and showing us around the city. Friday we arrived at about 5 and headed straight to downtown, we parked and walked around for a while until the Harris met us for dinner at Pizzeria Uno (the first place Chicago style pizza was made). Dinner was really good and then we headed to this really cool bar type place downtown. It was very cozy and upscale with sofas and a great view of the water tower. Saturday we got up and headed on the "L" (subway system for Chicago) to the Museum of Science and Industry. We didn't realize how much in the bad part of town we were until I walked into a KFC to go to the bathroom. There was bulletproof glass from the floor to the ceiling and little things like they have in banks to put the food through. It was quite funny but thankfully God protected us and nothing happened. There were so many neat exhibits there, but not enough time to see them all. We did go to the genetics, U-505 (Real German submarine captured in WW2), the fairy castle, old time city, circus, farm, and rode(sp?) segways. I think there were a couple of others we quickly went through but I cant remember them right now. Then we headed back downtown and walked around Michigan Avenue and State street. I needed more time than we had here. Most stores were at least 3 stories and had a ton of clothes. Mikes feet got tired after I spent an hour and a half in the first store. We then headed to Grant Park where they had free live music and dancing. We danced for a bit then went dinner. After dinner we tried to make it to the Navy Pier to see the fireworks, but missed most of them sadly, thanks to public transportation. I have decided that the Subway system in NY is much better done.

Sunday we went to Jason and Ashley's church. We enjoyed their service and we met a girl that was invovled with RUF and UNC. After this we drove downtown and yet again got an amazingly good parking spot for free!!! I woulod have to say this next thing was probably my favorite thing we did. We rented bikes and took them all throughout the parks in Chicago (not all but the main ones). We stopped for lunch at the Navy Pier and found a Christmas ornament there (My mom always got Christmas ornaments from the places they visited and I loved looking at them as a child so I thought this would be a neat thing for us to do). We always went to a fancy street near Lincoln Park and stopped in the little boutiques. There was an actual Chocolate store there that had comfy sofas to sit in and eat chocolate. Talk about an Adams family heaven (since Tiff says we all like Chocolate so much =o). You could also try in truffle form any of the chocolates you were interested in. Mike at first didnt want any but then I gave him some and we were both hooked and had to buy some. Later that night we went to dinner at this fabulous Italian restuarants. It is rated one of the top 15 Pasta restuarants in America but suprisingly cost the same price as Olive Garden. The food was so good and Mike said it was the best lasagna he had ever had. After dinner we went up the John Hancock building and saw all the lights and then went to Ghiradelli for more dessert.

Overall we had a great trip but were alittle worn out afterwards. I think I am such a checklist person that we both just go and go so we can see everything people tell us to see. We are glad we were able to go and are hoping to maybe go back again next summer for the taste of Chicago and be able to stay downtown.