Chicago Weekend!

FRIDAY:
Well I made it to the airport with plenty of time. By the time I walked to my gate I was feeling hungry. I saw an organic salad bar in my terminal, so I got a salad. Friday’s #cleanstart2013 challenge was to fill your lunch plate with at least half veggies. So I got pretty much all veggies on my salad. It was really good, and I am glad I was able to get it.

Of course the flight was delayed. They kept saying we are going, nope, we are staying, we are going now, just kidding, we are staying. Ok, we are finally going now. Ha the joys of flying.

Arrived safe and sound in Chicago and it is COLD!!! I forgot just how cold it can get here.
After all my flight delays my plans for meeting friends for dinner were pushed back a bit, but I finally made it and met up with a few wonderful friends from my college days! It was so great to just sit and chat about life, memories, and the new adventures we are all on these days! These are the moments in life that I really cherish the most 🙂

Saturday was a been BUSY day!! I got up and drove up north to meet some of my cohort from grad school. Most of the group I have not seen in about 6 years!!! It was so great to sit, chat and catch up while eating at an amazing breakfast place that I have missed while being in Texas. I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a while. We were the 4^th group to go through the program, so there were certainly still many kinks they were working out. Looking back and remembering all the funny/challenging stories of what we went through together certainly was fun and reflective.
Thanks girls for meeting up! We better not wait 6 more years to do this again.

After breakfast I drove back to the H house and waiting for my lovely friend Kari to arrive. She was so sweet and drove several hours from Indiana just to spend a few hours with me. It was really sweet and I am so glad I was able to see her gorgeous face! We went to lunch and Target. I am so thankful for her, and the friendship we have had the past 12.5 years! These are the kind of friends that everyone needs to have 🙂

Love you Kari!

We had a fun lunch and the food was amazing! It was one of the best salads I have tasted in a while 🙂  Although I was a little bummed when I looked up the nutrition information.

 

Since I have been blessed to stay at the H house several times, I took the opportunity to babysit the 3 H kiddos while mom and dad had a little party to go to. We had so much fun. We made pancakes and all 3 kids helped me make the batter. After making each kid a pancake in the shape of the initial of their first name, they think I am a professional pancake maker! It was hilarious 🙂
We had a nice dinner, and then played shoots and ladders before we headed to bed. It was such a fun evening! I was so glad I had a chance to hang out with A, C, and K 🙂 They are such fun kids!

Sunday was wedding day! I woke up to some wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. Katie had prepared this amazing looking french toast on Saturday afternoon to bake Sunday morning. Everyone helped prepare breakfast and with setting the table. It was a small feast. The AMAZING french toast that pretty much melted in my mouth, yummy eggs, turkey bacon and orange juice! It was such a treat to sit down to breakfast with an amazing family!

I went to church with Katie and little A and helped out with the Sunday school lesson. After church I had to get my stuff together to head out to get my makeup done and to get some different shoes.  Katie and the kiddos were leaving soon after I did, so I had to say goodbye to them before I left for the wedding!

I was just going to try to pick up a pair of non-flats at Payless. I plugged the info into my GPS and headed on my way. Little did I know the GPS was taking me to Payless Liquor, NOT Payless Shoes. Ha! Oh well. I didn’t have time to be driving all over creation looking for the right place so I happened to be driving by a Wal-mart and just ran in and grabbed a pair. Looking back, I should have just skipped that thought all together and just stuck with my flats!
I finally arrived at Angela’s house and started to make her and her hubby some of my famous mashed potatoes! I used to make them all the time for her when we were roommates back in the day! So she had been waiting a LONG time to have this tasty treat 🙂
While the potatoes cooked A went to town on my face! I have come a long way with wearing makeup. I still don’t have a clue half the time what I am doing, but now I own eyeliner and black mascara, so I guess I am making steps in the right direction 🙂
Of course, Angela did an amazing job. She is a rock star 🙂 I am so thankful for good friends who can help me look my best for important events like this wedding.

Wedding Time!!

Well it was SUPER cold out on Sunday and my winter coat didn’t really go over the dress and shall very well, so as I walked from the car to the church I was freezing! Of course this is usually the coldest weekend of the year in Chicago. The weather on Saturday was actually not to bad, and was almost 50 degrees and sunny. On Sunday it was 15 but felt like 3 degrees. I can not believe I managed to live in this weather for so many years. I am so not made for cold weather!!!!

The wedding was beautiful! I am so thankful I was able to be here for this special day for one of my best friends! The only awkward part was besides the bride and groom, I didn’t really know anyone except for a few family members of the groom. At the actual wedding, I didn’t talk to anyone except the groom who I saw for a few minutes before the ceremony started. It was short and sweet and to the point. I really liked the bridesmaid dresses and what they were carrying. The were holding little mini lantern like lights with some flowers inside! So pretty and in all the weddings I have been to, I have never seen anything like it before 🙂

  

The reception was a lot better. I was able to connect up with the groom’s family and we chatted and caught up. I have not seen them in years, so it was great to see everyone 🙂

   

I hung out for a while and then decided it was time to go back to the H house so I could do a load of laundry and pack. As soon as I was packed again I took a shower and went to bed.
Got up about 6:30 and finished getting ready. It was even colder out than it had been on Sunday. I can’t remember the last time I was in below zero weather. YUCK! I am so glad I don’t have to deal with that kind of weather on a daily basis. There was also a dusting of snow on the ground. Enough snow and cold for me for a LONG time.

The flight home was delayed for maintenance issues. I was not really surprised. I think I can count on one hand the number of times a flight has had no issues. And I have flown a LOT!

Finally made it home and back to my babies!!! I missed them! As soon as I walked in the door they were reaching for me and wanting me to hold them. What a blessing to have such a great job!