Kidless Chicago Trip

Charles and I left Ella with my parents for a day and a half and then his brother Clark and wife Cindy. I think everyone was happy. Grandma and Grandpa for the time with Ella, as Clark and Cindy - Ella for being with someone other than 'Mom and Dad' and us for being without Ella.

We left Saturday morning and headed downtown to do some shopping in Michigan Ave. A trip to the Disney Store, NikeTown and a $25.00 parking bill later - we headed to IKEA, my favorite part of the whole trip. We bought a shelving unit and a glass cabinet for Charles' tractor collection. Then to supper with cousins Gary and Edie Anliker at Maggiano's, where someone else named Alyse was celebrating their Bat Mitzvah. Congratulations!

Saturday night was spent at Uncle Boyd and Aunt Lois' highrise condo in downtown Chicago - nice view! Two blocks from Lake Michigan. Got up Sunday morning and walked by the lake for a while - man was that windy, then headed to the Cubs vs. Nationals game. Cubs won 6-1; Grandpa Bud would have been so happy!


A condo top oasis -- ahhh!






View from the Boyd and Lois' condo


Waverunner on Lake Michigan - are you guys crazy?

Brian Billick on Michigan Avenue...





A nice dress made from Coke cans - again on Michigan Avenue
Charles, Alyse, Edie and Gary at Maggiano's




The next bike we'll purchase. 4 people pedal and then two kids can ride on the front...

Pupcakes...

Just a funny thing - a few weeks ago, I told Ella we were going to make cupcakes one night. All excited, we got everything ready, poured the batter into the cupcake pan and put them in the over. I set the timer for about 15 minutes and Ella said she needed to stay and keep an eye on the pupcakes. 15 minutes later, she was still in the kitchen patiently waiting for the pupcakes to be finished.

To this day, she still calls them pupcakes....