Welcome Winter!

We woke up today and checked the weather, -3 degrees (yikes) with the high at 1 degree!

Brad & I actually like cold weather, but this may be too much........

Where's India?

Hey, did you all know that Chicago winters are pretty cold?!? India spends much of her day curled up asleep - these are some of her top winter spots! One thing is for sure, she likes to be warm & cozy!

My favorite chair and India's favorite too! India has never liked this chair until this apartment - it is right next to the window, sunshine and heater!

This is hardly ever allowed, but I had to get one picture! She likes to get up there after I've taken the tea kettle off the burner, a little scary!

Sitting on the swim towels in the Linen closet. She often gets shut in here accidentally!

The DVD player is India's great love!

Closing!

We officially closed on our first home today!

The feeling of home ownership is both exciting and a little scary! This weekend we are going to paint and make an IKEA run for new kitchen cabinets! We are doing a few renovations and are waiting to move in until after the New Year.

I think this is the biggest birthday gift Brad has ever received!

Happy Birthday, Brad

Obama Rally

This post is pretty late in coming, but we wanted to share some pictures from the Obama Rally.

On Election Day, we were fortunate enough to get tickets for the Obama Rally at Grant Park. It was an amazing evening, in regards to the weather (perfect fall weather), the size of the crowd (over 250,000) and the history that was made.

Ever since we went to Chile, I've realized how lucky I am to be from the USA. I'm thankful for all the opportunities, freedom and blessings we have here, but, most of all, that we really do live in the melting pot of the world! I remember talking to so many people in Chile and one Argentinian border guard in particular, that kept saying the United States would never elect a black man to be president - they thought it was ridiculous. We kept saying to those people that the U.S. could have a black president. Looking around us on Election Day, I saw people of all different colors, backgrounds and ages and was so grateful!

I don't know how an Obama presidency will go, so many things are unpredictable, but Election night was probably one of the most memorable nights of my life (I know that sounds dramatic, sorry)!

The buildings around Chicago were all dressed up for the occasion!

The Main Stage at Grant Park!

The huge crowd with the skyline in the background

Kailey & Amy waving their flags, waiting for the Big News!

If you would like to see more pictures please visit our flickr account

Happy Thanksgiving & Goodbye Fall

The weather is turning colder, the farmer's markets have all left the city squares and evergreens and tulip bulbs are replacing the cabbages and mums in the flower beds. Ready or not, here comes winter!

Pie Night!!!

On Saturday, we had our First Annual Pie Night! This is an idea borrowed from the Kirkland clan and we are doing our part to make it a National Holiday!

We had lots of people and 10 Pies!

Pumpkin
Peanut Butter Chocolate
Jack Daniels Chocolate Pecan
Raisin Cream
Toll House
Key Lime
Banana Cream
Apple
Cherry Cheesecake
Bananas Foster

Family Visit!

My family came to visit us last week! Brad & I both love having people visit and we had a fun time showing everyone around Chicago! A huge thank you to my family for making the long drive with 5 adults, 1 toddler & 1 baby!

A delicious Korean BBQ place up in the North side of the city.
Sorry for the smoky picture, the meat was cooking at our table!
Bob (stepfather), Brad, Harmony (Cindy's mother), Baby Jack (in stroller), Corey (my brother), Mom, Cindy (sister-in-law), & Luke (nephew)

Luke is not big on naps, but he was worn out by the end of the second day!

Joys of the Trump!

We live right next to the brand new Trump Tower and have enjoyed watching all the activity that is taking place there. The building is almost complete & in a few weeks, the top portion will be added (supposedly by helicopter - stay tuned) that will make it the 2nd tallest building in Chicago!

One of the cranes lowers and raises numerous items right outside our window. However, we were surprised to see these going up......

and being lowered later on in the week! It makes a lot of sense, but, man, I hope nothing falls on the way down! Gross!

I'm A Mac & I'm A PC

The other evening Brad & I went and saw John Hodgman at Second City, where he was promoting his second book, More Information Than You Require. He is most famous for portraying a PC on the Mac TV commercials, but we went to see him because we loved his first book! By the end of the evening our stomachs and sides hurt so bad from laughing - it was hilarious! If you are interested look him up on NPR and This American Life.

Brad....Esquire

It is official! Brad has passed the Illinois Bar Exam!

What a blessing and a relief!

Also, in other huge life changes...we are in the process of buying our first home! Who knew that we could be both so excited & terrified at the same time!?!

Knock, Knock, Who's there?

This has to be the worst job ever - Window Washers! We are just on the 17th floor, but our building has 52 floors!

Andrew Bird Concert

We haven't listened to this native Chicagoan very much, but we went to his concert a couple of weeks ago in Millennium Park with some new friends! We were really grateful to experience this "multi-instrumentalist", pan-folk whistling stringster. If you haven't given him a listen, do!

End of Summer!

It has almost been a month since I've last posted, so we have some catching up to do! The month of August and beginning of September have been so beautiful here. We've enjoyed spending time outdoors and sleeping with the windows open! Yes, fall is in the air!

A few weeks ago we went to the taping of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me a NPR quiz show. It was interesting to see something that we usually listen to through the radio.

I often take walks along the shore of Lake Michigan! This was a particularly beautiful morning!

I've spent some of my days visiting the museums in Chicago! This photo is of Sue, the world's most complete t-Rex, in the Field Museum! A nice older museum volunteer told me all about her! I like to take advantage of the free museum days - I try to get there early and avoid the hoards of school children!!!

These next few photos are from the Chicago Air and Water Show. In the above photo, there are a bunch of skydivers (which you may not be able to see) in the middle of the spiral contrails. Anyway, Bill Murray, is among the people that skydived that day! Fun!

These Blue Angels were practicing for a few days before the actual show and were pretty loud. Brad could see them from his office & I saw/heard them from our apartment. I went to the zoo one morning and the animals were freaking out from all the noise - especially the huge silverback gorillas. Have you ever seen a 350 lb gorilla run as fast as it possibly can? It was kind of funny, but I felt so sorry for all the animals!

Perfect Formation!!!

We went to a Sunday afternoon Cubs game with the KU Alumni Association. Good thing that KU and the Cubs have the same colors - we could support both our teams! It was an amazing day (please notice the blue of the Lake in the background)! Also, John Cusack led us in the 7th inning stretch!

Wrigley Field, Home of the Cubbies!

San Diego Bar Trip!

Welcome to the new blog! We had a great time in San Diego - pure relaxation! This was our first time to California (though I guess I went there when I was an infant, but that doesn't really count, does it?) Erika compared San Diego to a feather pillow and this seems about right. The weather is perfect, everyone is so laid back, yummy Mexican food abounds, beautiful white sand beaches are everywhere, and flip-flops & t-shirts are considered formal attire! We had such a great time and look forward to going back again!

Hotel Del Coronado - One of my favorite places!

Posing by the Bougainvillea at Hotel Del Coronado

Brad & Matt playing Bocce Ball on Pacific Beach

Erika, Sarah, & Amy looking casual at Hotel Del Coronado

Can you find the boys? *Hint: they are all wearing black shirts!

First time to In-N-Out Burger - Fresh California Burgers

Erika and niece Claire - so cute!

Brad's July project, besides studying for the bar, was growing a full beard. This is something he likes to do to mark time. While at Matt & Erika's, Brad shaved his beard off in stages! This stage wasn't the last one!