"Dexter's Riding a Bike" video

And just like that...it happened...

Zip-Lining For Your Birthday

For Todd's birthday, Momma surprised him with zip-lining then dinner...

Here we are at the top of one of the trees with our instructor showing us what to do.

Ready to zip.

"Chicago Trip" video

Chicago in motion...

Cousintime

We spent our last two days with Aunt Shelly, Uncle Mike and all the cousins!

 Cousin party.

Nancy helps Maya work on her cartwheel.

Cousins in transit.

Cousins walk around a pond.

Grown ups.

Ice cream stop.

Witnessing the official moment when Matthew got taller than his mom.

Looking for fireflies.

More fireflies and flashlight tag.

Sad goodbyes.

San Francisco bound.

Cubs and Cousins

The time had come for the end of our stay in the heart of Chicago.  We were excited to meet up with Shelly and crew and see the Cubs play...

 Breakfast in the city.

Now it's time for the Cubs.  Welcome to Wrigley field and our seats in the last row.  No joke.

Superfans don't care where they sit.

The good news is that when you don't feel like looking at the field you can check out the construction across the street.

The stadium is packed for this game against Cardinals.

And they they arrived.  Hooray for cousins! From Left: Maya, Nancy, Ryan, Andrew, and Matthew.

Shelly hanging with Momma in the back.

Nancy and Maya.

Brother and Sister.

At the end of the game.

The Cubs lost which brought back fond memories for these two.

After the game, we took the El back into the city to meet everyone for dinner.  After dinner we took a cab to the Metra station and got to ride much larger Metra train to New Lenox where we got picked up by Shelly.  Dexter was having a day full of fun transportation.  On the Metra he was quite excited about the conductor checking tickets.

Skyscrapers and Beaches

Today involved high buildings and old friends...

Welcome to the top of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower).  It's the highest building in Chicago and it has amazing views.

Looking down on the world.

They've added these two pushed out windows which let you really feel like you are floating over the city.

Maya and Dexter practice for the next Die Hard movie...

Another angle.

Kids in the sky.

Parents are here too.

See.

In honor of the 30 year anniversary of Ferris Bueller they put mannequins of Sloane and Cameron looking down the way they do in the movie and Momma joins them.

We're old.

Then we we headed to the Northside to see Mele and crew.  This is not Mele.  This is a delicious Chicago style hot dog that we ate with her.

Here is Momma and Mele.

Happy kids at a Chicago beach.

Mele buries the kids.

Perfect summer day.

Wave jumper.

Soon it was time to pick up Mele's very cute one-year-old, Everett.  No we didn't drive like this.

Love this guy.

XO.

Millennium Park

After the art museum, we walked to Millennium Park on this HOT day...

The crazy spitting fountains.

Maya gets cool.

Of course, we had to stop at the Cloud Gate.

Hello, kids.

Add a dad.

Ma and Pa.

Mirror fun.

Look who's there.

Reflections.  After this we had fun at Maggie Dailey Park and Playground.  What a great spot for kids.

Heading home we passed the less famous, but super tall Aon Center.