Family on the road.

[ Chris + Simon on the swings at Navy Pier ]

We've been in Chicago for just about a week now.

We combined a couple of work things (me teaching a class at Windy City last Thursday + Chris attending the Democratic Leadership Council annual meeting this past weekend) with some sightseeing and family fun/adventure.

We embarked on lots of tourist stuff: an architectural boat ride up the river, checked out the Lincoln Park Zoo, Millenium Park, Navy Pier, the Lego Store, the Shedd Aquarium, etc. I think Simon liked the Lego Store the best.

Chicago is a very cool city - I have been here many times but always ended up out near the convention center for CHA (will be back here for that next month) and just not enough time/energy to be able to come downtown and see all the tall buildings and hustle + bustle.

My travel reality: I am wiped out. I think I am much more of a beach vacation person...where there is very little to do except relax by the pool. I think Simon does better with that too - all the coming and going and walking of an active vacation takes its toll fairly quickly (even when focusing on the kid-friendly activities).

We heard a lot of "will you pick me up?" and "are we getting a cab?"

Chris mastered the public transportation system by the second day (the first day included way, way too much walking and whining while looking for the right bus). We spent lots of time on buses and on the train (Simon loved both of those).

Random silly memory: Simon and I ordered room service the last two nights while Chris was in meetings and we had a lady that brought up our dinner and each time she would say, "beautiful order, beautiful order." Made me giggle both nights.

Here's a look at some of my favorite photos from the week:

Simon in the hotel room at Hotel Allegro (got a deal through Priceline - another one of those things that Chris loves to experiment with). Cool, modern hotel with very small rooms.

On one of those great double-decker buses. We stayed on here until we were all melting in the heat.

On the small train at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Checking out the view from the Sears Tower.

Lots and lots of looking up. The buildings here are really amazing. I especially am a fan of the combination of old and new mixed in together.

Playing with goodies from the Lego Store.

I definitely have enough photos and memories for some creative documenting. Looking forward to time to play with the photos + words soon and looking forward to getting back to "regular life." I also have some plans for a couple upcoming series I hope to get underway in the next couple of weeks.

Happy Monday!

Comments

[Nicky Anderson]

Love it Ali - and I agree with Simon - Lego land would be Brodys favorite also (and I think probably mine - because of how much he would enjoy it)
Glad your back and had a great adventure.
We have also had a busy week with our final interview for a service dog for Brody - we are so excited - got some great pictures and that will be my next project!!
Happy day to you all.
Nicky

[asnipofgoodness]

sounds like a fun adventure at the windy city!!! I'm with you on the beach vacation thing, but the city can be fun for an experiance. Can't wait to see your documentation projects....

[Alraynita]

Hey Ali,
So glad that you were able to take in the sites of Sweet Home Chicago...the city is really amazing and there is so much to see and do. There are things that I have yet to do with my family as the city is constantly changing and growning and I live here (LOL)
We really appreciate you taking the time to come and visit us at Windy City Scrapbooking...you are an awesome artist and I enjoyed taking the class with you. You already have me thinking outside of the box and moving out of my comfort zone and for that...I thank you
Enjoy the rest of your family vacation.
See you in July during CHA
Al

[Avital]

I truly love your blog, because it is so real, so genuine. Your life philosophy is shining through your posts (and books) and is very inspiring to me.

I was a "beach vacation girl" myself, until I have met my husband. He likes to squeeze in as much activities as possible and never gives up. The deal is that I am grumpy a little bit when we are climbing uphill for too long, or going to too many places, BUT at the end of the day, my feet would kill me and my back would ache and I will be more than exhausted, however, I'd have a pocket full of memories and experiences that I would never have stumbled upon, had I laid back at the beach all day :)

During our time together I have learned to enjoy the process as well and be less grumpy, as I remember the price at the end of the path.

I believe that somehow it resonates with your life philosophy. Enjoy the process, even when the going gets tough. To remember that life is actually all about living.

Thank you for that.

[Marcia Bettich]

Hey Ali! Next time you are in Chi-town, we have to meet up! If I would have been there (and not in France), I would have brought Lukas and Noah down on the train to show Simon our favorite spots :)) You are a brave women to be traveling so (don't I know it!). We are having great fun in France, but I TOTALLY know what you mean about the hectic travel stuff. It's pretty hard with (and on) the little guys, not mention us! Talk to you soon we we get back, I have several traveling/food questions for you - hehehehe :))

[Sandy]

I'm glad you enjoyed the windy city! I've lived here my entire life and I think you saw more of the city than I have in my 30+ years here. It's a sad reality that a lot of suburbanites have never really journeyed into the big city.

[Rachel Greig]

I love that photo of you & Simon together. You both have such amazing eyes!

[Jeanne]

Glad you enjoyed your stay in Chicago, and thanks for a great class at Windy City. Hope you found Paper Source OK.
Jeanne

[Wendy Kwok]

The first pic is amazing! I love it... glad you had a good family time

[Jen]

Sounds like you had fun. This may sound silly but even though we don't know each other I missed you while you were gone. I missed reading your daily entries. I've grown accustomed to getting up and getting my breakfast and coffee and sitting down and reading your blog. I was a little "lost" without it. Since I've only been reading it daily for a couple of months now it got me delving into other parts of the site. I found some great things I hadn't discovered. So I guess in that respect it was a good thing! Welcome home!

[Kay]

What great fun! You are so blessed to have the opportunity to travel/work with your family in tow.

Cute pic's!

[josie]

Thanks for the great class at Windy City!Glad you have enjoyed your Chicago vacation

[mary rogers]

sounds like a fabulous time ali - love the pic of simon with the star wars lego ship (I am sure we have that one somewhere)....

have a great week!

[Steph H]

okay, this is how much of a nerd I am. I thought that was your arm in front of you and simon in the double decker bus pic and I was going to yell at you for not wearing sunscreen and getting all sunburned.

And then I remembered your mole removals. And I looked again at the picture and realized it was the seat in front of you :)

I'm glad you had a great time in Chicago, and even happier that you'll be there again next month for CHA!

[Becky]

Oh wow, it looks like you guys had such a great time! I'm with you though, I get exhausted from site-seeing vacations like that!
:) Becky
http://www.stinkylemsky.typepad.com/

[homedotmade]

*looks around*

There are so many Chicagoland people here! I'm waving to all of you from just a bit farther north. I can say that I am officially more bummed than ever that I didn't find out about the Windy City Scrapbooking class until it was already sold out. And bummed that CHA isn't looking very likely either.

Love seeing "my" city through someone else's eyes and glad that you and Chris and Simon are enjoying it.

*hugs you all*

[Rachael A.]

Glad you like Chicago. I was born and raised there, and worked at Navy Pier so I rode that swing ride a dozen times; plus that's where I met and married my husband, so it's a sentimental destination. Love WC Scrapbooking too, was there the other weekend when I was in town. There's a lot of cool scrapbooking stores in the northern suburbs too, next time you're in town.

[Emily]

We just returned from Chicago & my son is talking about going back to the Lego story--was a certain favorite for him, too! Isn't that city amazing? I am always so inspired when I visit there--although I also had the feeling this year that for next year's vacation, I want to sit on a beach & do nothing. It totally wiped me out too!

[Barb N.]

Had a great time at your class on Thursday. Cannot wait to fill my fun album with July photos and words. Thank you so much for making the trip; glad you could combine it with some family fun.

Barb

[jenn]

Sounds fun! We love priceline.com too :) Thats what we used for our overnight adventure this pass weekend!

[Heather V]

OMG...that looks like such fun!!!

[sara]

Chicago is one of those places I'm so glad I visited when I was able to travel. The city just has a cool vibe to it. I have to say that Simon is so much more courageous than I am... I think I would have been a little dizzy on those swings! I love seeing his adventurous spirit in the photos, even if the walking part got mundane :)

[laura kate]

ooh - you stayed at the allegro! i heard it's been remodled. hopefully they didn't change the funky bright colors and shapes and slight out-of-proportion aspect of the interior design - it reminds me dr. suess or perhaps something out of a tim burton movie, but brighter!

it's great w/the wine tastings every night and being right there in the theatre district. great choice. i'll bet simon really loved it!

[BethBG]

Love love love that first photo. And giggled a bit at Chris doing the standard parent-with-child-on-ride pose :-D XX's BethBG

[sue Treiber]

great photos of family vacation! Chicago is a wonderful place to go if you l ike hustle + bustle vacations. I agree with you though-sometimes a relaxing beach trip is the best thing ever!

[tami]

I like your room service story. Once when I was traveling for business my sis came with my then four year old son. Sam thought it was so great to have a phone by the pool, he could pick it up and ask for fries and a drink and they would bring it to him. He was the only child by the pool and with his little voice they of course knew who it was for. He just thought it was so great.
Lego stores, FAO, Toys R Us and out of the way toy stores were always mu guys favorite part too.

[Samara Link]

Hi, Ali. I've been a fan of your blog and ideas (your scraproom and storage ideas are so lovely) for some time. Just popped in to say how much I appreciate all your posts and thoughts. These pictures from Chicago are great -- it's such a fantastic city, and it sounds like you did just about everything! p.s. Simon is darling, darling, darling!!

[Angi Smith]

Loved all the pictures and it's great that you and Chris could combine trips into a mini-vacation. I esp. loved the picture of Simon looking out the window. He is so cute in all his pictures though.

[Slacker Mom]

I had forgotten how gorgeous the view is from the Sears Tower! I wish I could find my pictures from my trip to Chicago many, many years ago!

Luv your blog :)

[young c-m]

Looks like fun! I visited Chicago a lot growing up in the midwest. Looks like you hit all the fun stops!

[sharon]

Looks like a great trip and I heard FABulous things about your class...love how you've documented the trip. It's like we're right there!

[alexandra]

Sounds like a full vacation - you did SO many things. I can see how a beach vacation would be more relaxing - hopefully that will happen soon for you all.
My favourite photo is the one of Simon in the hotel - I wonder what he was thinking? Looks like a nice quiet moment.
Peace,
A.

[Anne Alley]

Those are great vacation photos! It always seems the more fun the vacation, the more you need a vacation from your vacation :)

[Cheryl]

I loved meeting you at Windy City Scrapbooking. Thanks so much for coming to our store!!! I think the best part was seeing your actual work (rather than the photos online). I didn't think it could get any better!

Thanks for sharing your art with us!!!

[Diane]

Welcome to Sunny Chicago! It's so nice to see you and your family enjoying the city. A nice, gentle reminder to myself that I need to take my son downtown and just be a tourist for a while ... just change our perspective a little on where we live and what is on our doorstep.
Namaste!
Diane

[Dawn McVey (dawnsing)]

Hi Ali! Isn't Chicago just a blast?!! I love it there! I'll be there for CHA next month too! (my first CHA) Hope I get to meet you!!

Have a great day!

[jessica]

Ali,

WOW - I LOVE the photos.
It's such a great experience for Simon to be in the big city.

See you soon!
love you,
Jessica

[Julie]

I am glad to hear that you love Chicago! It is one of my favorite places in the world:) Loved the photos!!

[Crazy Daisy]

Chicago IS a great city! If you have a chance, find out when Navy Pier is shooting off fireworks and then watch them from the top of the Hancock building! Totally amazing experience!

[Maria Resendiz-Magnine]

Don't forget da taste of chicago.. you can't leave without EATING everything...

Happy you are enjoying my kinda town..

[Kimberly]

How fun to get out and see so many things!! I can picture my 6 year old daughter asking to be picked up to....she still insists on sitting in shopping carts and she dosen't really fit anymore. Oh mercy on the back!! Thanks for sharing Ali!

P.S. I hope you don't mind, but I put a link to your blog on mine under inspiration!!!

[kdgirl]

Glad you are back to blogging. Missed you last week!! Sounds like a fun trip. My son loves the Lego store too!

[jennifer]

great shots - i especially love the swings. welcome home and get some r&r....looking forward to a new series... :)

[kellyv]

Hi Ali,
It is so great to have you back! But, I understand your need for a break. A little birdie named Tricia told me that she thought you might be teaching in the Toronto area? Is it true?
Kelly

[Julia]

Sounds like a fun trip! And now I think I know where the cover to Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was shot :)
http://www.amazon.com/yankee-hotel-foxtrot-Wilco/dp/B00005YXZH

[Jean]

The shot of Simon on the bed at the hotel captures so well the feel of the city, of staying in a downtown room, of this type of travel in general {including the need for some "down time"}. Really liked the room service story as well.

[Kristi]

The corn cob buildings are my absolute favorite buildings I've encountered in my life. I just adore them. Chicago is my favorite city after San Francisco. Not that you needed to know all that, but I told you anyway, lol. I'm jealous you get to go twice in such a short time!

[tara pollard pakosta]

hey ali!
so glad you enjoyed my wonderful city! you have seen more of it than i have ha ha!! i REALLY need to get my girls down there (we are about 35 miles from there) this summer! i am more of a beach kind of person too! LOL!!!!!! can't wait to see how you scrap this vacatiON! mini books are mY FAVE thing to do~
tara

[Donelle Macey]

Hi Ali,
I just wanted to say we thought your class at Windy City Totally Rocked, we LOVED it!I have a special request I was hoping you would post the book you had forgotten. I would love to see it.
P.S. Once I let go of the "instructions" and made the album my own it went together very quickly.
Thanks again Donelle Macey

[beth]

how fun!
so glad you got to get away as a family (even if it wasn't at the beach).
have a great week, ali.

[Lusi Austin]

What a wonderful trip Ali!
Love the photo esp of you and Simon.
Welcome back :)
Lusi x

[Lindsay]

Hi Ali,

I love your pictures! I lived in Chicago for two summers and LOVED it!! It looks like you had a wonderful time.

[Amy Dow]

Hey Ali! Sounds like you had fun in Chicago...I did get a call the night of your class that there was an opening but it was too late to get a sitter and drive the 45 min to Chicago to see you....maybe next time! Looking at the photo of your hubby with Simon on the swing made me remember when I rode that swing last Labor Day weekend with my son...I pretended to like it but I was white knuckling it the entire time...it scared me to death and my son thought it was awesome! (I think I am getting old!) Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed your stay and again, I hope I get to visit a class of yours next time you are in town. (I have to say the people at Windy City Scrapbooking were really nice and called many times to keep me posted...I can see why you like it there.) Have a relaxing week!

[Nan]

Hi Ali! It was so great meeting you and attending your class! I am glad you liked Chi-Town so much! Now we need to get you to a cubs (not sox!) game!!! Hugs! Nan

[jenn]

What an awesome picture of your guys on the swings! Chicago is one of my favourite places ever - glad your family had such a great trip :)

[sue]

I'm sorry I didn't know you were going to be at Windy City for the class or I would've driven into the city for it. Oh well. Glad you and the family enjoyed Chicago. We live 75 miles away but love to come into the city when we can. Go Cubs!
Sue

[Holly T]

Fun...the lego store, I know my 6 year old boy would LOVe that too.
Blessings,
Holly

[Jen K]

Thanks again Ali for teaching your amazing class at Windy City! I think my favorite part of the night was after class was over and cleaned up, we all just sat around and chatted. I relly enjoyed getting to know you better. Looking forward to filling my album with pictures from this month. I just hope I remember to take pics everyday :) See you in a couple weeks at CHA!

[Laura]

How I wish I knew you were going to be in Chicago!! I was born & raised & now am raising my kids 1 hour north of the city. My kids love Chicago & yes the Lego store is a must!!!

Laura

[Heather]

My family went to Chicago last summer. We did a lot of the same things, and reading your blog was a wonderful reminder.

Heather

[Nancy]

Adding my Chicago welcome... glad you've enjoyed our city! Did you take the archtectural tour with Wendella? My husband works part-time for them - only on Sundays, though. Enough that our three-year-old thinks Lake Michigan is actually "Daddy's Lake," LOL.

Thanks for reminding me about the Lego store. I'll have to take my lil' monkey down there - it's just down the street from Wendella. :)

[Mindy Drexler]

Hey Ali! Thanks again for coming to WC to teach during your vacation. It was really eye opening for me. I gotta start looking at all of those different size page inserts!!

Also, Susan (WC) used to live in the Marina Towers you have pictured above. We had great fun going to the top on the 4th of the July with Evan and my kids. Did you know there are no right angles in those buildings?? Well, ok, the elevators have right angles.
And, ya, Susan could actually park in those things! I'd be afraid that I would fall right off!
Anyway, thanks again!
Mindy

[Paola Norman]

Sounds like a fun family trip. Love that photo of Simon by the window..beautiful@

[Lizzy]

Ooh we love the Allegro! Such a cool place in a great location. TFS your vacation pics.

[Andrea Larsen]

I Love that first picture!!