Chinatown

Saturday August 2nd was our last Saturday here in Chicago which kind of meant our last chance to get out and explore. We have done a great job at seeing the sights but we still really wanted to see China town before we left. I'm really glad we went too. It was easy to get to, easy to park at, and not very crowded. It was a nice end of our adventurous summer. I am a little bummed though because I wanted to get a new purse but I just couldn't find one that I loved. I guess I'll have to settle for Amazon.

Okay you know how Provo has a frozen yogurt shop on every corner? Well China town had a smoothie store on EVERY corner. Not even kidding. They apparently love their smoothies. We just wonder now if that is a true China thing or if that is one of the American things Chinatown has adopted.

The sidewalks all had these cool dragon things on them.

After walking around we wanted to get Chinese food. We found a place called the Triple Crown which had mostly Americans in it so we knew that we would like the food there. We were not ready to be adventurous and get really Chinese food.

Kelsey was such a good girl the whole time and LOVED the food...

especially the noodles!!!

I wish you could have watched her eat this. She would put her face on her plate, literally shovel in as many noodles as she could and then come up for air. It was hilarious!

A Visit From Grandma

Gramma Wing came to visit July 22nd-July 26th and it was maybe our favorite week of July. It was just so nice to have someone familiar around. Plus it was fun playing tour guide because we actually could. Its amazing how much we can tell you about Chicago right now.

Diana came with a packed schedule and we were very happy to follow her around. Our task was to find local places to eat and I personally think we did a great job.

On Tuesday, when she arrived, we spent most of the day getting settled and catching up. Diana was a huge help to me because she actually played with Kelsey and kind of took her off my hands for a bit. It was kind of the first break we have had from each other (besides church and running) all summer. After Ethan got home from work we went to Roots Cafe. Roots is a local whole food pizza place. I love good food, but normally wholefood/fresh organic food really doesn't make a difference to me, but this place was amazing! It really tasted like they JUST made it because they did. We loved it. Since it was a cold day they couldn't open the wall and so it was kind of loud inside the restaurant, but the food was still amazing.

Wednesday was another really full day. We took Diana down to the MSI so that she could see the Disney exhibit. While she was there Kelsey and I looked at the last third of the museum that we still hadn't seen. The time FLEW by. We were there from like 9:30-2:30!! It was a very full day followed by a very long nap!

That evening we all ate a place called Lillies Q. Again super loud and SUPER SUPER delicious!!!  It was a small little place which added to the experience. I didn't get a picture but my favorite part were the draft handles at the bar. They were made out of old butcher knives!

It took a while for a food to come and Kelsey wasn't having it. Luckily Gramma has the BEST toys ever in her purse and just whipped out this Tangled magnet board. It kept her entertained for so long. I really need to get better busy toys for my purse. The pen and notepad aren't cuttin it these days.

Lillie Q's is known for its delicious food, but the thing that makes people come are the Pickles soaked in cherry Kool-aid!!! Yup. I typed that right. Pickles soaked in cherry Kool-aid!! Before you judge just know that they are a perfect mixture of everything: sweet, salty, spicy, and crunchy! I don't even like pickles and I loved these. Rephrase. I HATE pickles and I loved these! They were definitely weird and I couldn't eat like a million but they were awesome.

Thursday was a trip for just the girls. Diana has always wanted to go to Greendale WI and so on Thursday we took the 1.5 hour drive up to make it happen. It was the cutest little town with the cutest little shops. We ate at this little diner that had a jukebox and Kelsey danced more than she ate, but it was just so much fun. I feel silly because honestly the only picture I got was of the temperature that day! It was a beautiful day.

 

While Diana shopped a little bit and looked at cookbooks, Kelsey and I played at the park and sat in the shade. It was such a nice change from the city. It was quiet, peaceful, and grassy. Kelsey and I had such a great time. The drive back was no fun though. Traffic was terrible!! It took us an hour to drive 10 miles. A 1.5 hour drive took 3 to get home. Luckily I was in great company though so the time passed rather quickly. 

Friday Diana met with a friend down town and Kelsey and I just relaxed around the house. Ethan brought home a pizza from work so we spent the evening just visiting and eating more pizza.

 

Saturday Ethan and I went on a date in the morning and then drove up north to met Diana's old childhood friend Janey. It was a lovely evening complete with great food and swimming. Kelsey didn't love swimming and will tell you all about how sad she got because the water was cold, but she did love the cat named Pumpkin and will still tell you about him too. She also loved the ice cream cone that she got and all the little friends that were there to play with her.

 

Sadly Diana had to leave Sunday morning. It was such a nice break to have Diana here. It also helped that week go quickly for me. I was really starting to feel homesick for something routine and having Diana here helped me get that fix so I could suck it up until the end. 

Chicago Riverwalk

While Diana was in town she offered to babysit Kelsey the morning of July 26th so that Ethan and I could go downtown by ourselves. It was AWESOME!!! Chicago is so much easier to navigate without a stroller holding a two year old. (We love you Kelsey are so glad you are in Chicago with us!!)

We decided to go downtown and just walk the River Walk. It as a beautiful morning. Very warm and overcast so it was very pleasant to be outside. Originally the plan was to take the architecture river boat tour but it was super pricey and we kind of have seen every thing. The River Walk was a nice compromise.

 Apparently you can kayak the river too which sounded way fun, but they have to kayak around all the riverboats and river taxis and everything else. We didn't know if we seemed up for such a task. We decided to pass.

We're not even  natives but we have been here long enough to see the Trump sign go up on the Trump tower and even we think its tacky. Bad move Trump

 After our stroll, we grabbed breakfast at the Corner Cafe and my goodness. I forgot how peaceful going out to eat can be when you aren't trying to entertain someone the whole time! I could get used to that!

Chicago July

July was good to us here in Chicago.

When we were locked out of Seminary....

We rock our bathing suit most days. Mom's too lazy to care

 

I'm not sure if this is sad or just cute. Kelsey often runs to the gate and yells "Daddy where are you?" We all get along but Kelsey and Ethan are like best friends. There is no one she's rather be with than Daddy. Recently she has started calling him Ethan or Dad. Its awesome.

A day when the swimming suit was justified..

The conveyor belt slide in Oak Park

 

Another kiddism that grosses me out. Kelsey loves to lay in the grass at the park. It would be cute if it were actually grass but it is in fact the weeds around the park full of trash and who knows what. I make sure to help her find a "clean" spot but it still grosses me out. I mean its not like the slides are clean but still.

It was raining and Kelsey set up her own picnic. I love this even more because we didn't help her at all. She did this all by her self.

 

The last couple of Friday date nights have been low key and delicious. One Friday we got Eli's cheesecake and watched a movie. 

Another Friday we ORDERED pizza!! Would you believe me if I said I can remember one time in my life where pizza was delivered to my house. I kind of forget its an option.

 

And another Saturday we got West towns famous Hoosier Mama Pie. 

Sunday fort fun

 

A newly discovered trick. Its amazing what you can do on a walk when ever body on the street has a front fence.

After some World Cup game we went the park to play soccer. We don't know where or when Kelsey learned how to kick but she's getting pretty good at it. My favorite part is still when she tries to pick it up with her hands but kicks it instead. She will do this like 4 times in a row before she figures it out. Its hilarious.

And last but not least, who said Zion was only in Utah?!

Dolche

When no one is renting the apartment above us our landlord lives there and when our landlord lives there we are allowed to play on her back patio as much as we want. She even set up a tent for Kelsey to play in. The upstairs apartment is super nice. Its huge and just so much better because our landlord lives there a lot. She said she didn't want to show us because it would make us think less of our place. She was right :)

This is Dolche. He is our landlord's dog and sometimes she just leaves him in the back room while she is away. When this happens we get to play with Dolche as much as we want. Kelsey loves animals and I'm pretty sure she thinks Dolche is hers.

Kelsey wanted Dolche to go in the tent with her so badly. She tried everything. I think we only got him in there like one time, but she still had so much fun chasing him around.

Surprise!

 

They even shared toys which grossed mom and dad out way too much. We took a picture and then hid the lion. 

Ethan is the best dad!

Birthday Party

July 12th we went to Gabby and Nathans' house for Lehyas birthday party complete with an inflatable water slide, bubbles, the most annoying kids music ever, and some delicious barbequed meat. It was a really great time. Kelsey could have stayed all day.

She was pumped about her swimming suit and pumped about the slide (she loves bounce houses) so as soon as she could she ran to the stairs. When she got the top and realized that there was water on the other end, she climbed back down the stairs as quickly as she went up. She hates water so much.

After some coaxing (throwing her in the pool) Kelsey realized that the swimming part at least could be really fun. She only went down the slide once but did love swimming with the balls.

Next to the big pool was a kiddie pool and Kelsey definitely took her sweet time hogging that thing up.

We have met some really great people here in Chicago. They are so quick to include us and for that we are so grateful.