Finally - Chicago Photos!

Well. It only took me a week but I finally got all my photos uploaded. I think there were about 90 total so for your sake I've selected only those that best represent the trip. :o) Our visit was great - definitely one of the best we've had out in Chicago. My sister's boyfriend, Andy, was very generous and let Robert and I stay at his place while he bunked at my sister's and it was wonderful. There was a good mix of visiting, just hanging out and venturing out to enjoy the city's charms so all in all the trip was a big success. Chicago really is a nice town and the weather was very cooperative this time around - no 100+ degree days at all! It was actually fantastic, weather-wise. Plus, it's been almost a year since I've seen either my sister or my nieces, so I'm really glad Robert and I had the chance to visit with everyone!


Robert and I really like White Castle - most likely because we only get it once a year! - and my sister always makes a point of indulging us in our craving. Robert especially loves WC and was SO excited that he got to partake on our first day in town. Michelle laughed when I asked Robert if he wanted me to take a picture of him enjoying his burgers but I knew Robert would want me to. And he did. In Robert's words, the above photo captures him in the "throes of ecstasy." I'll leave it at that.


Sarah and Claudia are really into Webkinz these days, so Sarah took a minute to show us her Webkinz site. In this photo, everyone was very focused on Sarah playing ColorStorm. It was intense, people.


We finally finished up on the computer and were headed upstairs to get ready to go to the park...


When Uncle Robert was distracted by Michelle's Dyson. Holy bejeezus, Robert has wanted a Dyson since the dawn of time. He is in LOVE with those vacuums!!! I'm not kidding. Robert will be a very happy man when we scrape up enough funds to actually buy one for ourselves.


Of course, nothing would do but Robert had to vacuum. And vacuum he did... so much so, in fact, that my sister had to actually ask him to stop when she got on a conference call for work. I don't care how much he loves it - our child will NOT be Dyson McCauley. Mm mmm.


Naturally, we went to the park on the hottest afternoon of our visit. Bleh. So we only stayed for about 45 minutes or so. Still, the kids had a good time challenging Uncle Robert to a few races.


Robert was a good uncle and let the girls win... but I don't think running in flip flops helped his case any. I also raced the girls a couple times and I didn't let them win. They just did. (Auntie Lauren has asthma!! C'mon!!) ;o)


On Friday night, we all headed down to The Hideout to hear the Waco Brothers play. I'd never heard of the Waco Bros. but they put on a very good show - lots of upbeat songs you could dance to (and when I say "you" I mean you - I didn't dance). Robert and Andy geeked out over their love of more independent-minded music and I sat in the corner drinking water like an old lady. Still, I did enjoy the outing and I know Robert really liked it so I was happy to see him have someone to share his love of... let me be nice and just say 'other' types of music. The dude in the photo above is a member of the Waco Brothers' opening act, a Welsh mens chorus. Robert thought the guy's tie-as-headband look was HI-larious so I snapped a shot for him.


Okay, I did dance a little. A very little. And I guess I had fun. Gah.


Ah, now this is more like it. This is my version of Robert's "throes of ecstasy" photo. I have always, always, always wanted one of those frosted cookie cakes from Mrs. Fields but have never had one. Every year I'm tempted to buy Robert one for his birthday (so I can eat it) but at the last minute I feel guilty usurping his special day's treat and I get him something he wants. Bleh. Anyway, the whole cookie cake thing has long been a dream of mine and when we all headed out to the Gurnee Mills Mall on Saturday to buy the girls some school clothes, what did I see but a Great American Cookies stall. And what did they sell but cookie cake... by the slice!!!! Oh, man, I was so on it. I was super excited and ate every morsel of my piece of cookie cake. And it tasted just as delicious as I'd always imagined it would. I was in heaven.


Me, Andy, Sarah, Michelle and Claudia (Robert is the camera man) taking a cookie break at the mall. I'm the slowest eater on the planet so, of course, I'm holding everyone up. Whoops.


Too cute!


And here we all are, post-mall, having dinner at Pete's Pizza. We always have a food checklist when we hit Chicago and authentic deep dish pizza is usually on it. Again, I'm the slowest eater so my piece of pizza is in the shot. Sorry.


Ugh. If you know me at ALL, you know I don't like cats. Blech. They crawl on everything, their hair gets everywhere and it's so fine it feels like it's flying up your nose or something. Brrr. Love dogs. Not so keen on felines. Plus, I have a slight allergy to cats so that probably factors into it, too (Michelle has two cats at present so I was sure to pack my Nasonex and inhalers for the trip!). I was surprised, however, at how much I took to one of my sister's cats - Lovie. He had a lot of personality and once I deigned to pet him, he was a big ol' love bug. Yes, he shed all over me and I had to be careful not to rub my eyes and blah blah blah but he was a sweetheart. My mom - who hates cats more than I do - just about died when she saw this picture. I may never nuzzle another cat so at least now I have proof that I did do it. Once.


This is a photo of me shouting 'cheese curd!' (if you're retarded like me and have seen The Prince & Me you'll know from where that expression comes) while Michelle sorts through the girls' haul of school clothes and Claudia models her new pajamas. I don't know - it had been a long day, I guess.


And here's the final photo of our trip - Robert, myself, Andy and Michelle at a pasty leg convention the Cubs/Giants game on Sunday afternoon. Andy's house is in Wrigleyville so we were able to walk to the game and back - it was awesome!!! And his seats were on the aisle, perfect for a bathroomaholic such as myself. The day was perfect! :o) Plus, the Giants actually won and Robert toned down his cheering and booing a bit so it really was a great day. (Robert is looking sideways at the wife of the man who took the picture - she's saying something about the dude not being able to see without his glasses and Robert was distracted. Oh well.)