Chicago 2012

My last trip of the summer came and went and we had THE BEST time! I felt like we packed 1000 things into two very short days. We went with my friend from college, Donna, and her husband Jeff. We had never traveled with them before, however I think after this trip.....we just might find ourselves traveling more together!

This is year number 5 for me doing this summer trip to Chicago and even though I have been there that many times, there is still so much to see that I have never seen.

I forgot to take my camera. I regretted it. As much as I hate hauling that thing around, I hate it more when I get home and have nothing to edit and post. So, all pictures were stolen from Donna's cell phone!

We flew out late morning on Spirit airlines. This is a new airline and I didn't quite know what to expect. I can tell you, expect lighter luggage (they only allow 40 lbs as opposed to 50 lbs on the other airlines) and we had quite the turbulent flight on the way down. Still, it was fun to fly with each other. We are used to meeting friends when we get there.

We stayed at the Millennium Knickerbocker hotel. We pick the hotel based on where we get the best deal off of a website that sends us updates weekly about the greatest deals around the country. There always seems to be some deal on a hotel in Chicago. We liked the hotel a lot. Super comfortable and good location. I always like a hotel with a nice lounge so we can come back and sit in some comfy couches and visit with a cocktail. This lounge was huge.

Jeff and Mike

We had dinner that night at J Alexanders. I had canceled a reservation at an Italian restaurant I had because I had read some recent bad reviews. I made this new reservation and hoped for the best.  The place was huge and there wasn't anyone eating when we got there so I was a little nervous. We all had good food though. Mike and Jeff both ordered prime rib and had excellent meals. I ordered margarita pizza and Donna had chicken. The cocktails were flowing and a good time was had by all!

Then we headed to the play Rock of Ages. We ALL loved this play. With it's 80s rock music, it was perfect! I am anxious to see the movie now because I have heard people really liked that too.

Donna and I sneaking an illegal picture

That night after the play we hung out in the comfy couches and talked and talked until a late hour! So nice to relax and hang out without worrying about time, kids, or getting up early!

The next day we headed out and explored the city. You can't do Chicago without a visit to Navy Pier. We browsed, bought souvenirs, and snagged a bag of Garrett's popcorn. I had woken up with some vertigo that morning, so I needed to take it nice and slow. I tried not to let it wreck our trip and it lasted the whole rest of the time (and still this week) so it was pretty exhausting.

It rained some that day and we got stuck in it when we stopped at Sprinkles cupcakes to partake in a few treats!

That night we were supposed to go on a progressive dinner. Mike and I had done with the year before with our other friends and had such a great time, we wanted to do it again. However, two days before leaving I got a call that it was canceled. Not enough people. After frantically searching for plan B, we decided on a dinner cruise with fireworks!

Again, we had a great time! The food was good, there was dancing, and of course who doesn't love fireworks!

I was glad we tried this as it was something I had wanted to do. Although I didn't love it as much as the progressive dinner, it was still a nice evening!

The next day we took a later flight so we were able to check out, leave our luggage at the hotel, and have some lunch and explore some more. Jeff and Mike took a little tour at the John Hancock Observatory and were able to check out the city from up high. I guess Chicago's own David Schwimmer from the TV show Friends does the narration and you can see everything from the 360 degree views.

Donna and I chose to shop! We walked around and got sucked into a cosmetic spiel from some 20 year old trying to make us look like teens. It was cute, but the $300 price tag was a little too much for us.

Then it was home again, home again jiggity jig! A short trip but packed with lots of stuff.

Until next year Chicago.......

Smooches,

LB

Nashville

Cross another off my bucket list!

My BFF Tammy and I headed south and visited the city of Nashville. Tammy only lives 4 hours away and I flew on a puddle-jumper into Music City. To be honest, I actually liked the smaller plane. Nothing was different than a large commercial plane except the wait to get on and off. Went much quicker with only 20-some people.

We stayed at the Hutton Hotel. It was such a great place. I think they thing that stood out the most to me about this hotel was the staff. They were all so helpful, kind, and fun. They even gave us slippers!

Day one was spent settling into our hotel and then we hit downtown Nashville for Sushi for Tammy and chicken for Lee Anne. This man saw us trying to take a picture of ourselves and he stopped with his wife to offer to take it for us. Although that picture turned out horribly, the one his wife took of all three of us turned out pretty good!

Of course the highlight of the weekend was the Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw Brothers of the Sun concert we went to. We ran into someone that had been to the concert in Miami three weeks prior and he told us the concert started at 4:30 and ended after 11:00. That is a lot of hours! Considering it was almost 100 degrees and the concert was at LP Field which is an outdoor stadium, we opted to skip Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Jake Owen. We shopped a bit and then headed down to the field around 5:00.

Luckily, after walking and walking trying to find how to get to level 2, we entered two glass doors into air conditioning! Unbeknownst to us, we had seats in a club level with carpeting, eating places, tables, and cool air! It was heavenly. We sat and ate a snack and watched Grace Potter on the TVs they had there.

We had planned to get seats in the shade which was such a good move. Even though it was incredibly hot, the seats were fine. Not uncomfortable at all. I felt bad for those in the sun.

Tim McGraw started the show.....

Even though we were about half way (so half the people were closer, and half the people were further away) we still had a great view with the large screens.

Tim gives a great performance. He makes sure the songs sound like they are supposed to, which I appreciate. Nothing worse than going to a concert and the songs sound nothing like they do on the radio.

The highlight of his set was a little visit from his wife....

I knew the minute he started singing "I Need You' center stage, we were in for a treat...

There was also a visit from the Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck who came out and threw some footballs. I only caught him from the back.....

After about a 30 minutes break, it was time for Kenny.....

Kenny started in the middle of the field, which was closer to us. He then road in a swing to center stage....

Kenny's performance was totally different. He spent a lot of time talking about each song, interacting with the crowd, and running around like a crazy nut. I think his shirt was drenched in sweat, front and back, within 15 minutes of being on stage.

Both guys sang for about an hour and a half each. No special guests came out for Kenny.

After about a 20 minute break, they both came out together and sang four songs.

Boy did we get our monies worth! It was such a great show!

We also visited the Country Music Hall of Fame...

Every stage set-up from Taylor Swift's last tour was there. It was really neat to see. There was a story for each set which was interesting to read about.

Our last day there we toured the Grand Ole Opry...

The tour included video of people actually being invited or inducted into the GOO and those were really neat to see.

Such a fun trip! Thanks, Tammy, for having Nashville as your #1 pick for places to go and spending some girl time with me!

Smooches,

LB

Light the Nights

JC park now has lights!

Due to the fact that Noah's team is coached by two baseball board members, the team had been featured in most ceremonies having to do with this fund raising effort.

When the BIG NIGHT finally came, they planned it around one of Noah's games. It was kind-of neat as they fed all the people, played music on large speakers before the game, had TWO umpires for the game, sang the National Anthem, and brought in all kinds of bleachers for extra seating.

Many, many people spoke at the ceremony. I felt a little bad for the visiting team. I am sure they just wanted to get on with the game!

The Atkinson's own Taco Johns and they were the baseball fundraiser this year. The baseball association makes an amazing amount of money thanks to their generosity.

Mike is also on the baseball board this year. Luckily he didn't have to speak!

Ray Tuelson gave $25,000 to this effort. Amazing.

After the singing of the National Anthem.....

It was time to play ball!

Doesn't that light shining on my boy look pretty?

LB

Summer, Glorious Summer

Here we are! We have made it to summer. I am settling into the long lazy days of this lovely season, each year patting myself on the back that I chose the perfect profession. How do people work all year round and past 3:00? I can't imagine.

Summer brings with it one thing......baseball. We spend two nights a week and most weekends at the ball park. This year the kids' schedules conflict and they have baseball on the same nights. Not a good thing. With Noah traveling it makes for some very interesting scenarios. Thank goodness for my parents. They are saving us this weekend by taking Noah to his away tournament as neither Mike nor I can bring him (saving that big news for later).

Two weekends ago Noah had a home tournament. It was 100 degrees and brutal. Thank goodness for the wind, as that saved us. It was super hard for the boys in the sun all day though. You could see it on them. They were exhausted.

They ended up taking second place!

Today I decided with the ungodly heat, the kids needed to be in the pool. I offered for them both to grab their neighborhood buddies, I would fix them all lunch, and they could hang out in the pool for a few hours.

After pizza, strawberries, chips, and carrots....they were ready for some competition.

They play this game where they throw footballs between the pool and the trampoline. When you miss, you have to switch locations. I am not sure, but I think there is some kind-of rule about the ball touching you and then you are out. Sounds boring, but they ALWAYS play it so it must be fun.

This goes on and on. No wonder they eat constantly and are little scrawny things. Ahhhh to be a boy.

I have been very busy. On Pinterest. For hours. Looking at the educational tab. Getting sucked in. It's an addiction. So bad.

I leave Friday for Nashville to be with this woman......

Man, anytime I complain about my hair growing slowly have me take out this picture from a year ago!  I have been growing it out for about 7 months and it's about 4 inches longer than this.



I am very excited to see her. Not so excited to fly alone. I don't like maneuvering airports alone, and this time the only straight through flight (because I can't handle switching airports) was a little 26 passenger plane. EEK! I looked up some info about that type of plane and I should not be worried. But, I am.

We are going to see them.....

I know. Be jealous. Jason Aldean is opening for them too!

And the rest of the five days, lots of shopping and wine drinking. We are staying at a nice place (love being able to split the bill) that serves wine for FREE every afternoon. Hmmm....may never leave the lobby.

Summer + older kids was supposed to mean more time for me to do stuff. I remember thinking, "Oh my kids are little, but once they are older....I will have all kinds of time to do all kinds of things!"  Um, yeah not so much. I feel like all we do is run here and run there and I never have time to take a picture, let alone blog about it. My camera can be such a hindrance as I am not in the moment when I am behind that thing. It's heavy and tough to carry around all day, so mostly I don't. But, I am going to try and start being better about it.

My goals this summer:
1. Paint my bedroom and nice creamy white. It will make my bedspread pop.

#2. Make a plan for my classroom using all the inspirational stuff from Pinterest. No more manufactured posters. It's all going to be student centered and things we add to as we learn. I am excited about it! I have a new room for the first time in 15 years and I figured this was the year to start fresh.


#3. Finish Downton Abbey so I am caught up when season three starts. I am going to probably get this one done first as I am taking it on the plane with me in a few days.

#4. Get certain closets and cupboards organized once and for all. Even if it means throwing stuff away and purchasing pieces to keep those areas neat.


#5. Take and frame pictures of my kids. Why are all the frames in my house filled with pictures of my kids when they had baby teeth? Considering the equipment I have, I should be so much better about this. I will get this done!

I hope your summer is starting off well. I am off to do laundry and pack!

Love,
LB