Taking Chicago By Storm

Let me just tell y’all…last weekend *might* have been the most fun I’ve had in a LONG while.  I *finally* got to put voices to these sweet faces that I’ve been chit- chatting with for months now!! 

Cheryl from Primary Graffiti

Abby from The Inspired Apple

Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants

Kim Adsit from The Kinder Gals

Lindsey from the Teacher Wife

Deedee from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten

Kathleen from Growing Kinders

Michelle from Fabulous in First

Sarah from First Grader... At Last!

Deanna from Mrs. Jump's Class

Amy from Step Into Second Grade

Hope from Second Grade Shenanigans

Erica from Erica Bohrer's First Grade

Amanda from One Extra Degree

Hands down, some of the sweetest, funniest, most INSPIRATIONAL women you’ll ever meet!!!  These ladies knock my socks off with their creative ideas on the daily.  They are even more precious in person than they are on their blogs!!

We decided to throw our sweet friend, Amy, a *surprise* baby{ish} shower somewhere in the middle.  After a few back & forth discussions…and me insisting that Texas is DEFINITELY in the middle…we decided on Chicago :)  My kind of town, for sure.  I must love these ladies somethin’ fierce because I flew.  ALL.BY.MY.SELF.  I try to stay out of the air as often as possible.  I asked Mr. Spouse if it would be possible for me to drive and he looked at me like I lost my mind.  But I was totally being serious.  Flying and frogs are two fears I’ve yet to conquer.  Anywho….

Here are just a few snapshots of us taking Chicago by storm.  I’m sure the folks who lived there were all, “Dang tourists!!!!”  I’ve never seen so many cameras!  HA!!!  But there’s no such thing as too many memories :)

We started the weekend showering sweet Amy.  She was surprised to say the least.  She is beyond precious!!!   I wish I would’ve gotten more pictures!!!!  The cookies were insanely amazing and the sole reason I gained a good 20lbs. on this trip.  Sweet Lindsey made those darling favor boxes with her Silhouette, y’all!!  SO cute!  And sweet Sarah made those little wishes for baby girl.  Presh. 

     

That’s one big ‘ol couch full of cuteness & creativity right there!

FINALLY got to meet THE Sarah Cooley!!!!  I was beside myself!  Hers was the first teaching blog I ever read.  She is DARLING!!!  LOVE this girl!!

Cuteness around every corner.  These girls are just as fun as they are precious!

 

HOPE!!!  My cute little necklace twin :)

After Amy’s shower, we headed out to walk the streets of Chi Town and do as many tourist-y things as we possibly could fit in.  I kept telling everyone that I felt like such a “big girl”…y’know, being in a big city all by myself without Mr. Spouse.  Kinda awesome.  We did as much standing around as we did walking :)

  Could The Teacher Wife BE any cuter?! {said in my best Chandler Bing voice}

Of course, no momentary pause in walking could end without a token group pic…

left to right, TOP:  Amanda, Kathleen, Abby, Rachelle, Kim, Hope, Michelle, & DeeDee;  BOTTOM:  Sarah, ME, Cheryl, Deanna, Lindsey, Amy, & Erica

 

After LOTS of walking…and too many photo ops to count…we headed to Millenium Park to see the “Bean”.  Fun stuff, people!!!  I’ve been to Chicago a few times before, but I had NO clue this was here!!!  I gotta say…being a tourist is pretty dang fun!

    

Free Diet Coke?!?!  Yes, please!  Alright, alright.  Truth be told, I was thirsty as all get out. About 3 sips in, I was BEGGING for a regular, sugar laden COKE {from Sonic, of course!}  No such luck…shoo!!!

As precious as these ladies are, PLEASE look at the trees behind them.  Y’all..they’re PRETTY!!!  Like, REAL fall trees!!!!!!  Ohmiword..I’ve NEVER seen a REAL fall tree before!!!  SO many different colors!!!  Here in Texas, our fall trees are either green{ish} or dead brown…crunchy and not cute.  Chicago in the fall is BEAUTIFUL!!!!  And so are these pretty girls ;)

Love these girls!

After a quick little rest, we headed in the direction of Navy Pier…and got lost.  But quickly found our way…after a run-in with a scary elevator.  Oh my.  I fell in LOVE.  I’ve never been to Navy Pier!!!!  I’m gonna need one of those here in Texas…STAT!!

McDonald’s fries and ice cream?!?!  Don’t mind if we do.  There might have been some dipping action {fries into the ice cream} goin’ on…just sayin’.  Best.day.ever!!!!!  So happy Hope was my partner in {food} crime ;)

We were pretty much spent after a day FULL of walking…and eating. So it was back to the hotel for a little rest…and then more eating {of course!}  The next day was our last day.  Pretty fast & furious!!!  So we ended our trip with a nice, big breakfast together and then parted ways…SAD!!!!!!!!

Aaaahhhh!!!  Deedee & Kathleen!!  Love, love, LOVE!!!!  I walked the catwalk with my roomies, Abby & Michelle….LOVE them, too!!!!

Rachelle, Abby, & Amy…a trifecta of amazingness!  And ohmiword…I LOVE Kathleen!!!  She was SO fun to talk to!!!!  And y’all…she goes to recess in ZERO degree weather!!!!  Wha?!?!?  I’m freaking out if I’m outside when it’s below 80!  HA!!!  Bless her heart ;)

 

These girls are the CUTEST!!!  I could’ve talked to them ALL dang day!!  And I’m pretty sure I talked their ears off…I’m sure they’re happy to be home and away from all my *chit-chat* :)  Rachelle was a hoot! SO stinkin’ cute!!  And Erica is about the tiniest, cutest little thing…her accent made me smile!!  She could totally live on the Jersey Shore {minus Snooki & The Situation, of course}.  LOVED her!  And Kim…y’all...KIM.  She is a GENIUS!!  I wanted to put her in my pocket and bring her home with me!!! Just precious!

I thank the Lord every day for blessing me with these friendships.  These ladies have become an ear to listen {they just *get it*, y’know?!}, a shoulder to cry on, someone to laugh with {and about!  HA!}, and someone to pray with {& for, of course!}.  Can’t tell y’all how much I cherish these women.  God is pretty awesome like that, isn’t He?! 

I think Mr. Spouse was pretty jealous.  Notsomuch because he missed out on all the girl bonding, but that man LOVES Chicago.  I sure am grateful he decided to opt out of this one and stay home to help my mom take care of the boys.  And not to make any of you jealous, but I definitely got these little pretties as homecoming gifts from my boys…bless their sweet little spirits!!!!!  HA!

OH gosh…do I have OLD hands?!??  I promise I’ll be back with an educational post this weekend!!  Thanks for letting me relive my weekend away from reality!  Hope y’all have a great rest of the week!!!