Hi there!
We got back from our midwest trip last night.....wow, what a trip. Mannie and I ended up battling some major bug Monday and yesterday which made for a tough trip home! But we made it and today I feel a little better but poor Mannie had to get up early and go to work. I feel bad for him!
We lucked out on the weather in Chicago and Indy. Although, yesterday was absolutely freezing in Chicago and that along with feeling sick left me dreaming of home and my bed!
Highlights of our trip......
Eating.....we ate at Spiaggia (one of the Obama's spots for date nights!)
It had a lemon flavored popcorn appetizer that I liked and a great salad:
, Lou Malnati's was a good italian restaurant, Giordanno's was good as well..
, Eatt (my favorite spot of all) had delicious pretzel buns!!! I got a great chicken sandwich, Capi's had good pizza too and we also tried chocolate covered popcorn at Garrett's! OH and JJ's sandwiches in Indy....LOVED that place too! Look at the great sign in it....LOVED IT!
One bummer is that we never got to Dunkin Donuts which are my favorite donuts in the world!!! Mannie was happy about that! ;) And overall, NY still WINS in the pizza department!!
Checking into our hotel.....one of my favorite parts of traveling is the moment after you check in and see your room for the first time. Then everyone settles in and this is when I am at complete peace!
Flying......my least favorite part of traveling. But Jet Blue always goes above and beyond to make it as enjoyable as possible!
Seeing.....so much to see and do.
We checked out Millenium Park and the famous sculpture, snow on the ground was a favorite for the kids....
We went to Navy Pier and hit the Children's Museum......then the Shedd Aquarium.....We drove over to the Obama's house and got chased away by the Secret Service....We saw Soldier Field and Wrigley....and went on a little scavengar hunt for Wizard of Oz characters at Oz Park...
and my celeb sightings included seeing one of my favorite crushes, Steve Young
and Sherri, the Pres. of Harpo Studios!!!!!! (That was cool to see her at the airport! If you have watched any of the Oprah behing the scenes you know who I am talking about).
Superbowl....we stayed an hour outside of Indy and drove into the city on Saturday night and Sunday for the whole day. Can I just tell you how INSANE Indy was on Saturday night!!??? Oh my gosh, it was so crowded, I couldn't believe it. I think the Altanta Olympics were similiar but I was 26 and single at the time so my feelings on crowds were different!
We hit the NFL Experience on Saturday night which was awesome because it was indoors (it was raining on Sat. night in Indy) and it was warm and lots of things for the kids to do! Cara made a field goal!!
Sunday was the big day and this picture says it all to me.....
I could have used the ticket for myself being a loyal Giant fan my whole life, why wouldn't I? Well, I wanted my kids to experience the thrill of the Superbowl and Charlie won the coin toss. Cara was very bummed but he won fair and square so I was happy for him. I want my kids to understand a part of me and my love for the Giants...it is a family thing and being that we are so removed from NY, it was special that they get a little understanding of who I am and things that are dear to me. So much of me will never be revealed to them in the way they know Mannie being that we live in California and are constantly surrounded by all of his hometown things. Not sure if that makes sense but it does to me. Seeing this picture of Charlie let me know that my decision was perfect!! He gets it! Also, lots of my family were at the game and although I did not get to see them, Charlie and Mannie did which was cool. I did get to see my sister, Katie and her hubby, Mike, briefly before the game so that was nice.
The girls and I watched the game from the Hyatt which was right in the heart of the Superbowl Village.
They had a dj in the lobby blasting all this great music....it seemed like the perfect party atmosphere....everyone all hyped up for the game......Then, with an hour or so to go until the game, the dj packs up and leaves. The atmosphere totally changed and the girls and I ended up watching the Superbowl with all these guys who sell counterfeit merchandise on the streets! LOL.....I couldn't believe it! They were really nice guys but they didn't appear to be rooting for anyone at all, just sort of waiting for the game to be over so they could get to work. They cleared out during the 3rd or middle of the fourth, can't remember exactly...It was amusing and a bummer that I wasn't somewhere with a ton of FANS. Then after the game about 7 blocks over as we were leaving, I saw one my buddies from the hotel tucked under an awning of a building selling....I said, "Hey, my buddy from the hotel!!" He smiled and said hey back!!
We left Indy on Monday and made our way to Chicago....which was freezing for the last 2 days of our stay! I just can't imagine raising a family in that cold weather...I know, I grew up in NY but oh my gosh, just keeping track of the gloves, hats and mittens was a nightmare....Cami, Charlie and I each lost a glove at one time or another and Cami actually left her winter coat (of all things) back in the hotel on Superbowl Sunday and we didn't realize it until we drove an hour there and parked. Luckily it was a warm day so I let her use my coat and I was fine without one.
Can you believe I never dragged my family to Harpo studios??? No, I spared them that trip! But we did go to Wrigley....I like this picture I got. I can't wait to go back to Chicago in the warm weather when all the trees are in bloom.....must be AMAZING!!!
I liked this picture too..
Overall, an awesome trip! So happy we made it!
I guess that is all for now....time to start printing and adding to my PL! Hope you are having a fun day! 1/2 way to the end of the week!! ;)
