Chicago visit

My Uncle Derek was visiting from Hawaii and loves the Chicago Cubs. We decided since he was coming all the way to Indiana for a visit he should get to see his beloved team play. We booked a hotel for Saturday and Sunday so that we could all really enjoy the city.

We drove up Saturday morning and decided to take a bus tour of the city. Uncle Derek had never spent time in the city and it is easier to have a guide tell us what everything else. I loathe driving in downtown Chicago, too, so it was nice to let someone else chauffeur us around.

BUS TOUR!!!

Uncle Derek snapping photos on the bus

City views from the bus

The fountain from Married with Children

We rode around the entire bus loop and learned a lot about the city that we did not know before. We also saw some parts of town that we'd not been to so it was really a good tour.

Chicago deep dish pizza

We had to have Lou Malnati's Chicago pizza. It did not disappoint. Each Saturday night in the summer they have fireworks off of Navy Pier so Jackson and Derek went out to see them. I was exhausted and had a busy Sunday planned so I stayed back.

The skyline from Navy Pier

I've wanted to try Soul Cycle for YEARS! Our friend Jess recently moved to Chicago so she signed up for class with me. It is just an indoor cycling class with really loud music.

Morning workout

 It was a fun class, but I prefer CycleBar here in Carmel. After our class Jess and I walked over to meet Jackson and Derek for brunch.

This dog was walking himself! Love him!

Brunchin'

More brunch

After brunch Jess headed out and we decided to do a little more touring before the evening's ball game.

Millenium Park

The Cloud aka The Bean

Touristing 

Uncle Derek and Jackson

The view from our hotel room's shower
AMAZING

We took the "L" train over the Wrigleyville. We grabbed Italian beef sandwiches at a place Jackson had heard good things about called Al's Beef. Those good things he'd heard were lies. HA! It was fine, but nothing to write home about.

Sunset at the ballpark 

Uncle Derek happy as a clam!

Amazing evening

Baseball fans!

Our seats were actually great

We sat near some of the most fun folks ever. The game was an absolute blast. The Cubs won. There was a lot of action near our seats in the right outfield. We had no one behind us so we could stand whenever we wanted. I cannot say enough about how great our seats ending by being. What a relief! We joined all 56,789 of our closest friends for the trip home on the train. It was insane. We eventually got back to our hotel for the evening and got to enjoy our fancy room. Monday morning we got out of town and dropped Uncle Derek off for a day at the lake with Mom before heading back to Fishers. We had a really fun weekend!

Side note about our cool hotel room:

During our trip, there was a mix-up at the hotel. Our first night ended up being Uncle Derek in a suite with double beds (instead of the two bedroom suite we booked) and us in a king room a few floors away. Jackson was beyond annoyed that they gave the room we booked away so the hotel upgraded us to the Royal Suite for the second night. It goes for over $2,000 a night. It was on the 37th and 38th floor of the hotel so the views were just AMAZING.

We still think they should have just gotten things right initially as having to move around the hotel was a pain, but it was pretty fun to crash in this suite for a night!

Catching up

We did not have plans to travel this Independence Day (bummer) so we parked at Susie's and walked the few miles over to see the fireworks at Geist. They were decent and FREE so that's cool.

Geist fireworks

Jackson and Susie

Bill and Liz Trinkle got a new puppy so we went over to meet him. He's a Wheaton Terrier and he's adorable! He's also 100% puppy!! You forget how much work puppies are.

Mr. Copper Trinkle

We had s'mores over at the Porterfield one evening after they thought the kiddos had gone to bed. Jocelin heard us and decided to come down and join the fun. She's a girl after my own heart.

Jocelin Porterfield enjoying an after-her-bedtime-s'more

 We've been home quiet a bit recently so we've gotten into a good groove of eating at home and just kind of hanging out.

These two are my loves

MacK spending time in the office

Walking around Fishers

Family dinner!

Crab cakes, corn salad and green beans- SO GOOD!

 This summer Jackson signed up for sailing lessons held at Geist. He really enjoyed them.

The view from Jackson's sailboat 

Just hanging out

The rest of June was pretty quiet. We went to Marion and Upland to celebrate Father's Day.

The loves of my life

MacK and Grandpa playing ball

My Dad throws the ball until MacKenzie gives up. She loves him for it.

Belated birthday/ Father's Day dinner

What? You don't make your father cook dinner on Father's Day? Weird. :) Guy makes the BEST fried chicken so that's what we had for my belated birthday dinner that happened to fall on Father's Day! ;)

Coffee on the balcony

The City of Fishers always has its summer festival at the end of June so we spent that weekend just hanging around the neighborhood taking it all in. We got fair food (ok, just a lemon shakeup) and watched the parade. MacKenzie was less than impressed with the parade, but she liked that people enjoyed her patriotic bandana choice. :)

Waiting on the parade!

Petefish.

Afraid of the drummers

 We got to have a very overdue dinner with the Bates family. Josslyn is getting SO BIG and she really wanted to show off her biking riding skills. Jackson loves that kind of thing so he was out playing with her as soon as dinner ended. I didn't get any shots of Cameron, but he's also getting big and is not much a baby anymore!!

Learning to ride a bike

Jackson and Josslyn

We made another trip to Upland to celebrate Mom's birthday a little early and to hang out with Ella. She's no Madison, but I do enjoy a good puppy visit!

Ella wants my treat!!

Waiting to play ball

Do you know who does not enjoy a puppy visit? MacKenzie. HA! :)