Saturday, July 16
We were up super early this morning for our 7:00AM flight from LAX to ORD, and encountered a few more hiccups than usual. The plate and screws in my arm didn't set off the scanning x-ray, but a zippered pocket in my shorts did earn me a pat-down. And both boys' backpacks were pulled aside for a search. I guess TSA must find giant bags of gummy bears and sour patch kids highly suspicious!
After we picked up our luggage from baggage claim and the rental car from Hertz, we headed straight for Rosemont because it was the closest place to get...
From Rosemont, we drove around the backside of O'Hare to get to Elmhurst because J thought it was important that we visit K's grave first. Miss you, K!
Then it was off to Park Ridge to find a Trader Joe's to pick up some raw cashews to bring down to my mom later this week. Needless to say, all of this local driving was a big hit with our two Pokémon GO players! Haha!
While we're here in Chicago, we are staying with R's aunties on his mom's side. R's parents came over to see us, and we ended up eating dinner at...
Sunday, July 17
After church this morning, R's auntie (on his dad's side) hosted a lunch for us and all of her family (35 of us in all!) at...
Of course, we had ice cream afterwards at...
Then R's cousin's son, D, came over to hang out with M and J. He is just a few months older than J, so they always look forward to spending time together when we come back to visit. R took all three of them over to an open gym in Niles to shoot hoops. Happy boys!
We went to the grocery store to load up on snacks/supplies and then picked up the last of our Central Illinois favorites to take with us on the road at...
Too bad there weren't enough meals during this trip to have Buffalo Joe's (Evanston) or Monical's (downstate) or to try any new places. There's always next time!
After we picked up our luggage from baggage claim and the rental car from Hertz, we headed straight for Rosemont because it was the closest place to get...
Then it was off to Park Ridge to find a Trader Joe's to pick up some raw cashews to bring down to my mom later this week. Needless to say, all of this local driving was a big hit with our two Pokémon GO players! Haha!
While we're here in Chicago, we are staying with R's aunties on his mom's side. R's parents came over to see us, and we ended up eating dinner at...
Sunday, July 17
After church this morning, R's auntie (on his dad's side) hosted a lunch for us and all of her family (35 of us in all!) at...
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| Meet the newest member of the Chicago clan! |
Monday, July 18
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| Six Flags Great America - need I say more?! |
Having ridden what they wanted and not willing to wait in any more lines, we left the park early and drove back to Chicago. Grandpa and Grandma took the three hungry teenagers out to eat Japanese at Renga-Tei in Lincolnwood, while R and I met our good friend in Skokie for Middle Eastern at...
Tuesday, July 19
This was our last full day in Chicago, so I wanted to visit Pullman National Monument on the south side of the city. Read more about our visit to the 407th unit of the National Park Service here.
We decided to have lunch in more familiar territory, so we headed back up to the North Side for split pea soup and sandwiches from...
And for our last meal in Chicagoland, R's parents took us out for gyros at...
Wednesday, July 20
R, M, and I got up early this morning to return the rental car to the airport and pick up the minivan we're driving one-way back to California. It would have been cheaper (relatively speaking - renting one way is pricey, regardless!) to keep the sedan, but R is bringing back some of K's things and the back seat passengers are more pleasant travelers when they have extra space. The Toyota Sienna that Hertz originally assigned to us wouldn't start, so they had to give us a Chrysler Town & Country instead. Leather seats, satellite radio, rear entertainment, and a navigation system - woohoo for dead batteries!
Then it was back to R's aunties' place to load up the covered wagon for our journey west. Thankfully K's guitar, photos, framed prints, and LPs all fit! Hopefully they won't melt in the heat!
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| Thanks for taking care of us, Auntie A and J! |
Two and a half hours later, we met my parents for lunch at our favorite local diner in Goodfield...
And Mom fixed a feast for us for dinner! Good thing we had to go for a walk to find some Pokémon around town!
Thursday, July 21
Since M will be starting his junior year of high school next month, we figured we should start off his college visits with the best one of all! This way all of the other schools he checks out will have to be measured against the University of Illinois! Read more about the tour of our alma mater here.
To say that it was hot today is an understatement. Ugh. But frozen custard with friends makes everything better...
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| Great to see you, A and D! |
Because my company gives us a week off around Independence Day, we usually come back to Illinois for our summer visit at the beginning of July, which is too early for sweet corn. Not this year! Mom and Dad picked up several dozen ears today - fresh from the field straight into the pot! So good!
Friday, July 22
My parents have been telling us about this restaurant in Peoria for awhile now, so today we finally got to have lunch at...
Gigantic breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches and homemade ice cream!
We went to the grocery store to load up on snacks/supplies and then picked up the last of our Central Illinois favorites to take with us on the road at...
Too bad there weren't enough meals during this trip to have Buffalo Joe's (Evanston) or Monical's (downstate) or to try any new places. There's always next time!
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