The Windy City

I just sat down to write a blog post about my fabulous trip to Chicago with some great friends and then noticed one of those said friends wrote a much better post about everything we did...so if you want details check it out!

Carly is right the last time we got together we were all very pregnant and all we wanted to do was sit around, chat and eat food. It was nice to not be hindered by large bellies this time! It really was supposed to be five of us, but Jules and Mel both couldn't make it. A few things about the lovely ladies I spent my weekend with.

Me, Carly and Margaret at the John Hancock Observatory

MARGARET: I first met Margaret when she moved to Belmont just before the start of our Junior year of High School. Margaret quickly became a great friend and we spent a lot of time together. She called me "Jenberly" in High School as a joke...I think it's a mix of Kimberly and Jennifer. (Margaret, you're going to have to remind me why you chose this nickname...) I have a special place in my heart for Margaret. She instilled a lot of confidence in me during high school just by being my friend and loving me. Margaret is a wonderful artist and graphic designer and her creativity and sense of style is amazing.   She also has a very free spirit and isn't afraid of spontaneity. She is also the mother to three beautiful boys and a wife to Clark.

CARLY: Carly's family moved to Belmont when we were 3. Carly is only one week younger than Julia and I and we had many joint birthday parties growing up. Carly didn't go to our elementary school when we were young, but we did go to church with her, so we always considered her our church friend. Over the years we were always friends, sometimes closer than others, but I don't think it ever mattered. At the end of High School we all went to BYU together. Carly and I both studied sociology for our bachelor's degrees. Then, unknown to each other, we both decided to apply for the MPA program at the Marriott School after graduation and both got in! Then the second year of our graduate program Phil and I moved into an apartment right next door to Carly and her husband Daniel. Up until graduation we led pretty parallel lives. You can always count on Carly for a good time because she is spontaneous and very creative. She is now the mother to two beautiful and spunky girls and is the Financial Coordinator for the UVU Library. She's one smart and capable cookie.

I think the best part of the weekend really was the talking and catching each other up on life. It felt like no time had passed since we'd seen each other. I'm so grateful for good friends, especially these two lovely ladies!

So now onto the pictures: (disclaimer: these are all iphone pictures...I forgot my real camera)

The ceiling of our hotel lobby. We got a great deal on Priceline at the Palmer House Hilton. Great location in the loop. 

The view to the North at the John Hancock Observatory 

Carly at brunch at Yolk. If you're ever in Chicago I highly recommend it. Very yummy.

The Bean!

Obligatory Bean reflection selfie

Our architectural tour and tour guide (highly recommend this!)

View from the Willis Tower Skydeck

This is far as I would go...I'm deathly afraid of heights!

Very delish deep dish pizza at Giordono's 

Natural history museum. I mainly took this pic for Felix to see Mommy with dinos! 

Shadd Aquarium 

Beautiful jellyfish

Beluga Whale

Churro at XOCO. Very yummy.

Sticker manicures, inspired by Margaret

Our hotel room, which was much larger than I expected. Plus it had a walk in closet!

The Art Institute of Chicago:

(this Mary Cassatt hung in my home growing up and I will always feel a bit sentimental about it)

Thanks Carly and Marg for such a wonderful weekend! And thank you Chicago for being such a fun city to explore!

I'm a Mother

I've been a mom for two years now, but sometimes I still can't believe it. I can't believe my Father in Heaven has given Philip and I the responsibility to care for this little human being. What a responsibility, but what a blessing! Felix has been such a joy in our lives. Not only do we get to see him experience this world and explore everything his hands touch, eyes see and ears hear, but we as parents learn so much about ourselves in the process. There's been a lot of growing going on in this household and I'm not talking about Felix. 

Becoming a mother has given me more confidence in my abilities as a human being. There's something refining and uplifting about doing hard things and realizing your potential. I now know that I am capable of caring for a newborn/baby/toddler/little man even though the process is sometimes hard and there seems to be no end to the challenges that pop up. And I've also learned it's ok to fail sometimes, as long as you pick yourself up again and keep on going. Its the hardest job I've ever done, but the most rewarding overall. 

Before Mother's Day a friend asked if I wanted to come with her to the park to take pictures of our boys to send to their Grandmas. I jumped at the chance. I felt it was also a Mother's Day gift for me, since I don't have any nice pictures of Felix. These are especially awesome. His smile is to die for. 

Thanks Felix for making me a mama. I love you. 

A Trip to the Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa

While Clem and Rita were in town in early May Felix had his first trip to the zoo! I would say it was quite a success and it was even better to be there with "Papa" and "Nanny" (Grandma and Grandpa seem to be a bit hard for him to say right now). We drove down to the Toledo Zoo and had a great time!

Grandpa and Felix checking out the African animals

Grandpa and Felix particularly liked the Elephants

hippos

One of the big draws for Felix were the many benches throughout the zoo. He loves a good bench.

Apparently his Dad loves a good bench too!

One of the rare family pictures we have!

The Lion was hiding so I had to stand up on a rock to get this picture. I wish Felix had been able to see him.

The monkeys were so fun to watch. Its hard to tell, but that white monkey there has a baby monkey wrapped around her. The baby was climbing all over the netting and and exploring and seemed to get stuck at the top. The mommy monkey had to go rescue the baby. 

Another good bench

Once Felix saw the playground, there was no stopping him! He loves going down slides. 

There were four gorillas at the zoo, but ALL of them were sleeping when we were there. I wish we could have seen them walking around. 

Thanks Clem and Rita for taking us to the zoo!