the 'cago

adam and i went to visit my lovely sister and brother-in-law in "the 'cago" (as graham says). it was the first time we have left all three kiddos without one of us and we missed them so much. adam has just finished some intense months on the job and this trip was very timely for us. even just the time on the airplane was so restful and refreshing. there was uninterrupted conversation, sleeping in, no hurrying, running and walking together without strollers or backpacks, a concert, a museum trip, time with another couple (one of our favorites!), good food and drink. we decided we like our normal chaotic life best, but our weekend was certainly a welcome treat. we are so thankful. and also, adam and i are still best friends and actually enjoyed just hanging out, without too much agenda. sometimes in the midst of craziness with kids and wild schedules it feels like we are business partners who live together, so we are so thankful for a few days to remember who we really are. my parents rock because they acted like half their age and parented all three of the little tornadoes we love while we were away. thank you thank you! here are a whole lot of pictures of just two days...such blessed fun!

Saturday:
Jeremiah showed us the way to a scenic run while he studied for finals. this is the library where jeremiah studies, right on the lake!

adam: "i'm freezing and i have sand in my five fingers!"

loyola university...where jeremiah has been in school the last year

a freezing, but beautiful run on lake michigan

museum of science and industry was fascinating and enormous!

took this picture of incubating chicks for the kiddos, but i really wanted to hold one of those little fuzzies myself

tornado exhibit...the storms section was way cool

i couldn't get the whole real submarine in the photo because it was so long, but the wwII U-boat exhibit was adam's favorite

still freezing at the bus-stop (i was not prepared for the weather at all, but it was a nice break from the sunny and hot south!)

a house in hyde park i would like to buy

char arranged these lovely flowers from her shop

their apartment is really lovely and charlotte's decorating style is so so wonderful! i'm always trying to be more like my artsy sister...

bleu is a great study-buddy. we were so glad to meet our niece-kitty

we stopped in at the flower shop/cafe where char had to work sat to eat dinner and watch her in her element

she served us paninis, soup, pie, coffe and here we are finishing off some leftovers as she was closing up shop...scraping the bottom of the "vanilla storm" ice cream and finishing off a chocolate malt. yum.

and then, we headed to the over the rhine concert. seasoned i-phone users helping us navigate an unfamiliar city

this is my favorite band, but we haven't been to a show in several years. what a treat! it was the best i've ever seen them...all acoustic

excited!!

so close

we could read linford's set-list...

Sunday: we enjoyed visiting their church that meets in a nearby school

in the afternoon, we enjoyed turkish coffee and a raspberry/chocolate crepe. another yum.

then we did some more meandering, shopping, conversing, before heading home for traditional sunday night popcorn and smoothies.

love you guys! thanks for the hospitality. it was so good to see you doing well and we miss you already.