David's Birthday and the 4th of July!!!!

When we got back from Chicago on Thursday, we literally ran home, dropped our bags, and changed for David's b-day celebration at the Fountain. Afterwards, we were off to the Eagles concert. The Eagles are hands down one of my favorite bands.  Yes, they are before my time, but they amaze me with their musical talent.  It's amazing to me that they are 60+ and still playing and singing just like they did almost 40 years ago.  No other band ever opens for them, and they played for 3 and a half hours Thursday night! Below are some pictures at the Fountain (we weren't allowed to bring in cameras for the concert, but it was AMAZING!!)

Shelly, Me, Sarah and Corie

The birthday boy, DAVID!!  Love the flashing tiara!

David and Me (with Rock in the background :)

Kyndall and David

Matt, Kyndall and Shelly

Not a good picture of me, but I love this pic of Matt!

Friday we packed up and left for Monroe.  Matt's parents had a BIG Fourth of July party on Saturday.  There were around 25 family members there and we all had a great time.  I took a lot of pictures of the kids and tried to get pictures of some of Matt's family that we don't get to see on a regular basis. 

L.E., Olivia Kate, Sam Wyatt, Jack Henry, Isla, and Carter

Sweet Olivia Kate hugging on Sam Wyatt

This is what the kids played in all afternoon.  The grandparents BOUGHT

it for them.  And don't think for a second that Matt and I weren't in there later that night with the kids after everyone left.  It was a blast!!!

Sam Wyatt loves that water!

Jack Henry was my buddy that night...he loved the big slide.

What's the 4th of July without watermelon?!

Even the little guys were devouring it.

Olivia Kate

Jack Henry

Aunt Ceil and Uncle Jim (87 and 91 years old)

Uncle Clint and Aunt Saundra

This is one of my favorites.  I love this little guy so much!!

The dock at Matt's parents house where we went fishing

after all the festivities

Waiting on Poppi to come down with the fishing poles

This is my other favorite picture...Sam Wyatt is not even 2

years old yet and he was casting that pole on his tippy toes.

It doesn't get any cuter than this!!

Jack Henry and I were sitting on the dock, drinking grape sodas

and talking about the alligators in the bayou. He had the

best purple mustache.

Overall, we had such a great weekend filled with family, fun and lots of food. It's back to work this week but at least it's just a four day week.  Matt and I go back to Monroe this next weekend for Curt and Sara's engagament party that we are hosting. It should be a great time!

Chicago 2010

As most people know, we had to bypass the beach this year (due to oil spill and hurricane) and decided last minute to head to Chicago for the week.  WHAT A GREAT DECISION!!!  Matt and I had such a great time!!  We decided this would be one of those places that we would love to go every year, if just for a long weekend.  We ate well (Cape Cod's, Harry Caray's Tavern, Sushi Samba, Tavern on Rush, etc.), enjoyed lots of shopping, spent time at the Shedd Aquarium, hung out down on Navy Pier, and went to a Cubs game. It was a jam packed couple of days but it was really relaxing not to have any plans and to be able to do whatever we wanted. We even found time for our afternoon naps! Below are tons of pictures!

This was the hotel we stayed in, right off of Michigan Avenue

Our first night we ate at Cape Cod's in the Drake Hotel.

I ordered crab legs (my favorite). I had the bib & all.

They were by far the biggest and BEST crab legs I have ever eaten!

My handsome husband...

They asked us if we were in town celebrating anything...

We told them our anniversary was in a month, and look what they brought us!?

They were so sweet!!

Full and ready to go back to the hotel and crash!

We spent the next day at the Shedd Aquarium and then down on the pier.

I loved the view, it was a beautiful day.

It was around 75 degrees everyday!

Inside the aquarium, the live coral reefs.

Gigantic Octopus

Sting ray

There were so many sharks

This is a spider crab...the picture doesn't do it justice, it was HUGE.

Cute little fellas!

A part of the aquarium had a glass bottom (you can see two

sting rays to the left of my feet)

This big guy was Matt's favorite. One of the biggest

sea lions I have ever seen.

Beluga whales

Matt and me in a 4-D showing of Happy Feet at the aquarium.

After the aquarium, we walked down to Navy Pier for some lunch.

We ate a Harry Caray's Tavern (they had an awesome drink

called the Wrigley Crush that I LOVED)

Waiting to ride the giant ferris wheel

View of Navy Pier from the top

The ferris wheel was one of my favorites

Tuesday night we went to the Cubs game.

We had great seats, 6 rows behind first base.

Cubs are beating the Pittsburg Pirates 3 to 1.

Everyone singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

We had a great time. It was my third major league baseball game to go

to, but being at Wrigley field for this one was the coolest part.

The next morning we went to eat lunch at Tavern on Rush

I was trying to get a picture of the area, it was right by our hotel, when

Matt pointed out the lamborghini right in front of me.

Matt was such a good sport. We spent most of the day

shopping on Michigan Avenue.  We found him some new jeans and

I found a couple of adorable dresses. 

Wednesday evening we went up to the top of the John Hancock

building to have cocktails before going to dinner at Sushi Samba.

We were there right at sunset and it was absolutely gorgeous!

Navy Pier from the top of the building.

We didn't get any pictures of Sushi Samba, but the food

was amazing (thanks Jules and Jason for the recommendation :)

This is where we came every morning (it was right by our hotel)

for breakfast.

Michigan Avenue

We had such a great time last week and I can't wait to go back.  It was the perfect little get-away since the beach didn't work out for us.  We flew back in Thursday afternoon because we had tickets to the Eagles concert and a get together for David's birthday on Thursday night.  (pictures to come soon)