Chicago

We decided that since we were so close to Chicago, that we would go to Chicago for the weekend and see the Sears Tower, Navy Pier, and a few other sights. We left Friday after Marshall got out of therapy and it took us about 6 hours to get there. On our way, somewhere in Papa Michigan, we ran into bad weather and the windshield wiper decided that it was going to hang on by a thread. So, I pulled off of the interstate and couldn't find a windshield wiper, so Mark tied a knot around it with a Wal-Mart sack. We knew we brought those along for something. Meanwhile, everyone in Papa Michigan is standing outside the store saying that there is a tornado heading our way. We always find a way to add excitement to our trips, always!! Needless to say, we made it through the storm without seeing the tornado and made it to Chicago safely.
We left the hotel after dinner and headed to Navy Pier, and let me tell you, it was very windy, but beautiful. It was nice because the last time Mark and I were there it was during the winter and it is nothing like it was this time. There were so many vendors open and people walking around and so much food to eat. Since it was windy, they weren't running the farris wheel, thank goodness. I really didn't want to get on it, but I knew the kids would enjoy it and lucky for me, it was too windy! Yeah!
We had fun walking around and there was a really neat stained glass exhibit that was very interesting. This particular piece was in a very wealthy house under the staircase. Absolutely beautiful.

After we spent a couple of hours at Navy Pier, we decided that we were going to try and go to the Sears Tower. The last time Mark and I came, we went up at night and it was so pretty. So, we raced over to the Tower and parked without feeding the meter, and it may very well have not even been a parking place. I'm not used to parking in the city and it was crazy. So we hurry and unload the stroller and wheelchair and get the kids buckled up and run to the Tower as it was 8:55 and the latest you can go up is 9:00. We get in and a lady inside tells us that the Tower is closed because it is too windy! Wow! All that work for nothing. So we had to come back the next morning. Well, the next morning we had to park in the parking garage, which if you've every parked in one in a big city, they aren't condusive to a lot of space. I swear, it looked like we were going to scrape the top of the truck and get stuck. It was so crazy! I was so afraid we weren't going to fit and get stuck. Wouldn't that be great. But, we made it and made it to the tower. Jordan, of course slept the whole time, so she won't remember doing anything this vacation, because she slept through all of it.

This is a view from Sears Tower and Mark, Marshall and Becky posing while inside the Tower.