Military Lifer Wife: Day 4- Chicago & Independence Day, July 4, 2013

Happy 4th of July-y'all!

WOW! Chicago has a lot going on. I’ll start with the negative, because it’s not very long. Gas $4.45; parking $25-$45 per day; hotels-expensive; traffic-terrible.

Now the positive-just about anything you want to do within walking distance or by public transportation. On the 4 blocks surrounding our hotel you can eat pancakes, Thai, Indian, Greek, all you can eat Sushi (Mon-Thur), Vietnamese, Mexican, Starbucks, Japanese, Cuban, burgers, and a bakery. A 15 minute bus ride will get you to Broadway plays and the Magnificent Mile where shopping could be an extreme sport. Plus any other restaurant I haven’t already mentioned. Museums, Art Galleries, and the public library look like mansions. There are parks and beaches and big sidewalks to walk and bike on.

It is so much better to see a vibrant and populous town with someone who knows how to get around and knows what the best things to see are. Thus, Aldo made the day awesome!

Mouth watering Food-Quartino's

Alyse, Yany, and Kasen-Kasen is wearing a rain hat, because it is sprinkling on us

Tapas (means sharing-my kids are still learning sharing) Italian Food-Aldo got us reservations in his section on the patio-the food was SO GOOD! This restaurant is owned by one of the top 50 steakhouses. It was absolutely packed.

American Girl Doll Shopping

Alyse was in Paradise-she was moving so fast I couldn't get pictures

Legoland

Everyone else bailed on us and went to Legoland

Kasen drooling for Legos

Showed us how to see the view from floor 96 (the Hancock Observatory) without paying

View from the girl's bathroom on the 96th floor

We sat in the Lounge and looked out from the 96th floor. I was glad we didn't pay ($22/adult, $12/kid) to see this because it made me nauseated-thanks MaMa for the vertigo

Awesome Park

There were random sculptures in the park. We have sister bears and brother bears.
Below is a water feature. It is a tower of bricks that water is running down the sides. The digital picture shows up and makes different faces. Smiling- Sleeping-Blowing

Smiling Sleeping

Blowing-the water looks like she spitting and everyone runs under it to get wet. It's a little gross when you think about it, but it was really awesome

Explained the difference between boy buildings and girl buildings

Girl Boy

Let us experience “the bean”

This art piece shows our reflections. In the second picture Haley and Kasen are up close. Aldo, Yany, Laney, Alyse, and I are reflected in the background.

Got us on the right bus

Brotherly love in Chi-town

Help us find the best investment for Chicago- strollers

We walked for about 5 minutes before the crying started-problem solved!

Laney did get a souvenir (Chicago tee, not the fountain)

No explanation-your guess is as good as mine

Haley needing to ride pushed by sleeping Laney

Kasen at rest while awake-a rare sight

Laney doing "photo bomb"

Alyse and Yany got the bird

Kept us out of the ghetto

I forgot the name of the church

Spectacular view of Michigan Lake

Really much better in person-It was a beautiful day and so peaceful

FIREWORKS IN CHICAGO

Happy Birthday America!

Some random guy in my shot-I don't do retakes ;)

God bless our service members on Independence Day; but thank God for our families-so blessed to have mine!!! We had exceptional company, and an impressive time. Thanks Aldo and Jonathan-it wouldn’t have been as good without you guys