Around Chicago

After we arrived in Chicago, we headed out to wait for the Go Airport Express Shuttle that I had reserved in advance. This was NOT a successful experience and I would NOT ever recommend this company. We waited and waited...and waited. Shuttles came for the north end of downtown -- shuttles came for the south end --- of course, we were right in the middle and .... NO shuttles came for us. We waited some more. Did I mention that I reserved this in advance?? THEN, we went down and got a taxi in about 5 minutes. I am very thankful for the pic below as it will always remind me how patient my children were during this whole time. There were many smiles and very little complaining ... at least from the kiddos. I know for sure that I was not as patient as they were when I was a kid (or now) ...just ask my mom!!
We finally got to the hotel, dropped off our bags and headed out for dinner at Giordannos(http://www.giordanos.com/). Stuffed Pizza -----yuuuummmmmmmy! I forgot to get a pic of the pizza, but here is Allison enjoying some Sprite -- which was a treat from their usual H2O or milk.

On Saturday of Crystal's Birthday Celebration Weekend we spent most of the day doing the touristy things. This is us on the top of the Double-Decker tour bus just moments before it started to rain and sleet on us:

We passed the hotel that we wanted to stay in, but they were booked by the time we got around to making reservations.

After getting totally drenched on the way in, we went to the Shedd Aquarium. Here are our little penguins:

Later, we sent John and Allison back to the hotel for a nap while the rest of us went up to the Sky Deck of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower). Rhonda and I refused to venture out, but Crystal, Sophie and Jason all step off the solid steel part of the building out onto the glass ledges. I held the queasiness in check to take these pictures.

Then, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the last part of our celebration! Check back tomorrow.