Chicago (Part 3)

Here are a few pictures from Mary's camera from our wandering around Chicago!

We love to get pictures with random sculpture.
(The moose reminds me of my summer in Norway!)

These street performers were fun and had some mad skills. You should see the video Mare got on her camera...I will see if I can figure out how to post that!

Here is that weird fountain-thingy in the park.

Now on to the wedding pictures...

Mom and I, dressed up and ready to head to the wedding!I LOVE this shot of Mare and me!
We are on the double deck bus they had for us to go from the hotel to the church.
(The tour-guide on the bus was entertaining us on the way over by asking some questions, and made fun of Mare & me for shopping at not one, but TWO Payless shoestores while we were staying right next to the famous shopping on Michigan Avenue!!)(I didn't realize my camera was zoomed in, but I think this is actually a fun picture!)Dad on the bus, with the Knickerbocker in the background.
(This was where we stayed, it was CRAZY expensive, but it was nice to be right there where the reception site was!)
The wedding party got to ride on a trolley!!

The Beautiful ChurchGoofing around while waiting out front
(the ceremony was in-between to Mass services, so we had to wait for it to let out before we could go in, and there were people ready to go in for the next service while we were coming out after the ceremony)
The amazing details inside the church (reminded me of our trip to Europe)The Wedding Party at the alterMare and I decided to walk back to the hotel after the ceremony
(and stopped for a bit of shopping as well!!)The reception Hall at the Millennium Knickerbocker.The tables (there were 18, plus a big one for the wedding party!)The place settingI made a bracelet out of the ribbon on the chocolates (which Mare ate right away because it was already 8:30 at this point...9:30 at home) and the flower from my napkin!Mare and I at our tableMom and DadThe Cake (there were two flavors, white and carrot cake...yum yum!!)Couple's first dance...her dress was custom made!!!Marcia and Mom!Me and Ellie (Elizabeth's little bundle of joy!)Elizabeth and meThe dinner (served around 10:30-11:30 our time)The walls were mirrors....Mare and I had fun with this!On the dance floor!Me, Christina & Mary

Chicago (Part 2)

We tried to spend our 24 hours in Chicago wisely, and after checking into the hotel we set out for some lunch, shopping and touristy fun!

After eating pizza at the suggested famous eatery (it looked DELISH!!)We headed out to find a map (I am my father's daughter, and love to be the "map" girl!!) and see some sights.

The main thing mom wanted to see was the American Girl Company Store, so we all went there first, then after browsing for awhile (and picking out everything I am going to want my little girls to have someday-because I am positive I WILL have little girls someday!!) Mare and I split off from mom and dad and did some sightseeing on our own. Here is a picture over view of our afternoon...(well, from my phone, Mare took some great pics, but she hasn't emailed them to me yet!)

Can you find Mare & me in this picture?This was taken after Mare and I had walked 10 blocks in the wrong direction-not because we were lost (hello, queen of maps here), but so that we could get to another Payless and pick up a pair of cute sandals that were on sale...yeah, we are Binkley's!! We go to Michigan Avenue in Chicago and shop at not one but TWO Payless Shoestores! (Bargain shopping is what we do!!)

SYTYCD

We interrupt your regular programming for this

You MUST check out this video!

It is no secret that I LOVE SYTYCD,
and this was a FANTABULOUS performance!

This one was good to!

Y'all go check it out now. I'm serious, you will not be disappointed!

(I will write more about our Chicago trip soon, but I had to post this ASAP!!)