chicago!

Nathan and I spent a couple nights away in Chicago several weeks ago. We stayed at The Essex Inn downtown and walked to almost everything. I had forgotten how cool Chicago was. I loved everything from the skyscrapers to the landscaping to the food to the lake. After walking around in Millennium Park the first night, enjoying the gardens, fountains, and of course the "bean"...

We headed to Intelligencia, a grungy coffee snob cafe. My husband had the best black coffee he's ever tasted, but I am not so hard core and enjoyed a vanilla latte instead.

The weather was a bit rainy all weekend but at least there was a pretty rainbow.

Next we headed to Lou Malnati's and had the best deep dish pizza of our lives.

 The next day we went for breakfast at The Bongo Room. I have never had pancakes like these. Red Velvet on the left, and lemon blueberry something or other on the right. The lemon blueberry was the best pancake I have had in my 28 years.

Next we rented bikes and rode along Lake Michigan...

...stopping briefly at Navy Pier (mostly to see the building where Ira Glass works since I listen to his show multiple times a week)...

...and eating lunch at Grand Lux Cafe before returning the bikes.

Loved the random art exhibits everywhere.

 Nathan then kindly humored me with some shopping on the Magnificent Mile.

Next day we ate breakfast at a French place called "Brasserie" (don't misread that word like I did the first 10 times), took the El to Wicker Park and enjoyed a leisurely time reading at a cool coffee shop called Filter and lunch at Antique Taco before stumbling upon a quirky little shop called The Boring Store that had all kinds of strange knick knacks.

I have to say...my husband did a phenomenal job planning this trip. It was so much fun to explore the city together and was the perfect blend of activity and leisure. And of course, the food was a major highlight for us. It was so good to get away together for extended time and reflect together on how we are doing as a couple, how we are doing as parents, and how we are doing in our relationships with the Lord. So thankful for this man, who makes me laugh like no other person can, gets me like no one else does, and points me to truth consistently. Love him!