Rain All Day

I love CHICAGO! I really do. So spending a day there with Jon and good friends is always exciting to me. Every time we go, we try to incorporate something familiar with something new. and it’s a family rule that we never eat at places that we can eat at home.

Yesterday we went with Nelson & Jennifer Bontrager, Julie Weirich and Jake Stutzman. Of course we started the day early, with a necessary pit stop at Starbucks.  As tired as we were, we still managed to stay awake the entire trip there.

We decided to park on the north end of North Michigan Ave, and walked around for a bit as we waited for Giordano’s to open for lunch at 11. Our lunch included breaded mushrooms – to hold us over until the pizzas arrived and 2 medium stuffed pizzas – The Special and The Spinach. Mmm… so tasty, so worth the wait.

We walked back to the parking garage to put away our leftovers and grab extra belongings (jackets and 1 umbrella). After shopping around for awhile we decided to head to Shedd Aquarium for a couple of hours. The 3 mile walk from north Magnificent Mile to Shedd wasn’t too bad. We had a few spurts of rain, and a drink stop at Jamba Juice, and finally arrived at the Aquarium. Some of the exhibits were closed, and it wasn’t too crowded, but still very busy ( it took 40 minutes just to get into the building). 

We for about nn hour and a half, and when we got outside we were surprised. not by the rain. but how crazy cold it had gotten. it went from 70 to 40. or at least that’s how it felt!  so rather than brave the cold or another drizzling, we packed onto the CTA. it has been a LONG time since i’ve been on a public bus, and wow, it’s different.  diverse crowd on that bus for sure.

Jen had never been to IKEA, so we headed out to Bolingbrook (a 40 minute drive to the southwest parts of the burbs). We intended to go to Schaumburg, but Jon & I were so busy trying to get directions from his phone and our gps that we weren’t paying attention to Nelson when he turned on I-55. oops.   None of us had ever been to Bolingbrook, so that was a mini-adventure. Jon’s task was to find a restaurant for dinner, and there doesn’t seem to be too many non-national chain options. since we didn’t get to the area until 7:00, we decided to do the IKEA thing first, then eat dinner (maybe we should have lightly snacked on the way – some were hungry tired and could have used it.)

Every time we go to IKEA I find dozens of items I want for our house. Oo, that chair would be awesome. Oo, how about a new kitchen?  Oh, I’m sure I would use this!  This trip we were very good. I only bought two baby related items and Jon got four Pilsner glasses. But I have added several things to my list of “Stuff I Want When Baby Finally Gets Here.”

We got to the restaurant about 8:45 and were mostly satisifed by our meal choices. I must have been hungrier than I realized since I actually ate my entire meal. that was a first in a long time.

Our drive home was non-eventful, thankgoodness. Nelson was super wonderful as our designated chauffer.  though I’m sure he would have wanted an awake companion to talk to while he drove through the dark night. 

All in all it was a blessed day. Good times with great friends.  my main regret – not bringing enough warm clothes or water-repellant wear for an unpredictable Spring day in Chicago. Never will let that happen again!

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