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July 20, 2010

Chicago Trip!

My girls and I returned from our trip to Chicago for Sunshine's 14th birthday a little over a week ago. We had way too much fun. We had been looking forward to this trip for quite a while and I can't believe that it has already come and gone.

We took the train.

It was our first time on an Amtrak train and we actually enjoyed the 5.5 hour ride from St. Louis.

The train station in St. Louis was VERY tiny, but Union Station in Chicago was huge and beautiful!! One thing that surprised me.....nothing, no luggage, no person NOTHING was scanned thru any kind of security.

There was a snack car on board, where you could get drinks, snacks even a sandwich or pizza. The snack car has tables, so occasionally we would sit in there and play cards.

Each seat on the train had a power outlet, that was nice for plugging in a computer, DVD player, or even charging your phone.

Like airline travel, purchasing your train tickets in advance is cheaper, and train tickets are much cheaper than airfare. An adult ticket round trip from St. Louis to Chicago was only $56!

We shopped the Magnificent Mile

Enjoyed GREAT food!!

Our favorites were Ed Debevics, Carson's Ribs and Bubba Gumps. Fantastic food and service at all of them!

Carson's Ribs is where we ate for Sunshine's birthday dinner, and she said it was her favorite part of the whole trip!!! The girls both had ribs and I had chicken.....all of it was incredible!

Shedd Aquarium did not disappoint!

Lot's of photo ops

We went up in the Sears/Willis Tower and Sky Deck, we took a Fireworks/Architectural cruise and we went to Navy Pier and took the water taxi over to Shedd Aquarium.
We LOVED Chicago

And I think the girls had a fabulous time!!

I can't believe it is over.

If you want to see all of the pictures I took (most have not been edited) but they're all in a flickr album here

Back to reality and house work!.........because

BRIDGET is coming to visit on Thursday!!!

pop over and read this NEW article about Bridget here!

http://www.ultimatewoodlands.com/system/files/images/4806422796_f96f7167df%5B1%5D.inline.jpg

Photo by David Hopper

Baking by Blog in Bridget's Kitchen (by Kim Morgan)

SOOOO......How about you?
Have you taken a vacation this summer?
Any fun visitors?
What has been the best part of your summer?

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Labels: Blog News, Family Fun, Nikon D40, photography

31 Comments:

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...: LOVED the pictures. I can't wait to take this same trip, someday, with my daughter. What fun. Thanks for sharing your experience and so glad the train trip did not disappoint.; 7/20/10, 8:36 AM
Anonymous said...: What a beautiful picture of you and your girls. We too just returned from Chicago and loved it! Great shopping. Great food. What more could a girl ask for? :); 7/20/10, 8:44 AM
Amanda said...: Your trip looks amazing!!! Your pictures truly captured moments in time... beautiful and full of a deeper story and just assembled so beautifully! This post made me tear up, and its not even sad! :)

Be blessed-
AmandA

P.S. Your girls are GORGEOUS!!; 7/20/10, 8:45 AM
bridget {bake at 350} said...: Your trip looks like SO much fun! You have the prettiest family!!!

PS...you'll recognize me on Thursday because I'll be wearing that EXACT SAME outfit on the airplane. ;); 7/20/10, 8:49 AM
TidyMom said...: Lisa - thanks for all of you train help!

Kim - yes, Chicago was GREAT for a girls weekend!! - we don't really travel, so this was the perfect trip for us.

Amanda thanks you're too sweet!!

LOL Bridget that is so funny!!!.....I will probably have on the outfit in the top picture here, but it's black and white...the shirt is purple! lol; 7/20/10, 9:04 AM
Paula said...: I thoroughly enjoyed viewing all the photos of your trip earlier on flickr and this was a sweet post. What a super birthday present for a 14 year old and what beautiful daughters! You are all so photogenic. Sweet of you to link to Bridget's article and like the curious on-looker...I can't wait to hear about your get-together. I know you and your family will have a wonderful few days with her. Enjoy!; 7/20/10, 9:05 AM
TidyMom said...: Thanks so much Paula!! I can't wait to share Bridget's visit with all of you!!!; 7/20/10, 9:09 AM
NoDebtMomma said...: I love Ed Debevics! Looks like you had a great time!

Sam
Mom.Undecided.; 7/20/10, 10:01 AM
Cookbook Queen said...: Love your pictures, they are beautiful!! Looks like you guys had a ton of fun, I'd really love to head up to Chicago sometime....mainly for the shopping, but I'm also dying to see all the stuff from the World's Fair.
I'm gonna have to check out Amtrack...that sounds like the way to go!!; 7/20/10, 10:40 AM
Jenny said...: That looks like so much fun! However: "nothing, no luggage, no person NOTHING was scanned thru any kind of security."

YIKES!! You are brave!

I'm going to go check out your Flickr pics now.; 7/20/10, 10:52 AM
Amy @ Living Locurto said...: Oh how fun! Your photos are spectacular. I want to go to Chicago now! Haven't been there in years. I love the foot shot:-) Glad you had such a wonderful time!; 7/20/10, 10:54 AM
Petie@inspirednesting.com said...: What a fun trip with your girls! Looks like you guys had a blast. Great photos/great memories!

Thanks for stopping by my blog :) I love your "about me"....it sounds very familiar. I'm looking forward to exploring your blog more.; 7/20/10, 11:00 AM
Aaron Burdorf said...: LOVE the photos! Gorgeous! I'm new to your blog and was wondering where you get the templates from for you beautiful collages? Thanks!; 7/20/10, 11:17 AM
TidyMom said...: Thanks everyone!!.....I use Picnik premium to make the collages...you can do some in the free Picnik, premium just offer's more!; 7/20/10, 11:29 AM
Teresa said...: Oh how much FUN!
You and YOUR girlies!
The pics are beyond FABULOUS!
I can ONLY imagine all the laughing...giggling...memories that were made...never to be forgotten on that trip to Chicago!
So FUN to take the train!
When we go to Europe...we travel everywhere by TRAIN! Love it!
You and YOUR adorable GIRLS Cheryl...
together...FOREVER....through THICK and THIN!
Just like my mom and sissy!
And DON"T EVEN get me started on BRIDGET's visit!
How amazingly exciting for you and Bridget!
Can't WAIT to hear all about the visit!
xoxoxox; 7/20/10, 11:39 AM
Sue said...: What a blast to take a trip with your girls! Great memories!
We had all our kids/grandkids here for a couple weeks this summer, and we did lots of fun stuff, culminating in a visit to Disneyland! :) I STILL have to post it all on my family blog!?!; 7/20/10, 12:04 PM
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting said...: You gals look like you had SUCH a fun time! Gorgeous pictures, and girls, oh my! :); 7/20/10, 12:25 PM
Diane Schmidt said...: Looking at your wonderful photos made me think I joined you on your trip :) sadly no vacation planned, we enjoyed three sets of company in the last week as well as three separate parties, surprisingly not on the days we had company-it's been busy here and now I'm really thinking I'm in much need of a vacation...hmmm...where to go???Today I'm off to the beach, and I'm sure I'll be thinking of a trip the whole time :)
I'm so excited for you and Bridget to be getting together-it's so great that you both are friends!; 7/20/10, 1:14 PM
Amanda said...: Ed Debevic's ROCKS! When I worked in Northbrook we used to go to lunch there every couple of weeks - so fun! Glad you enjoyed yourself :); 7/20/10, 8:10 PM
Donna said...: Thank you for a lovely photo essay! I can see that you had a great time with your beautiful girls! We'd love to go up to Chicago for a visit sometime and do all the tourist things!; 7/20/10, 9:14 PM
Amy {The Idea Room} said...: So fun! It looks like it was a great success! I would love to do a fun trip with my girls when they get a bit older too! Thanks for sharing all the fun pictures with us!; 7/20/10, 11:13 PM
Amy K said...: What an awesome trip for you & your girls. Beautiful photos! TFS.
Have fun with Bridget - I know how excited you both are about her visit!; 7/21/10, 4:57 AM
Lynn from For Love or Funny said...: We just returned from Williamsburg, and I discovered that cute little ducks can ruin a sex education talk!; 7/21/10, 8:15 AM
Gina Trexler said...: I'm so glad you and the girls had such a good time in Chicago. I enjoyed the beautiful pics of three beautiful gals!

Now I'm missing Chicago and have to book a trip!;); 7/21/10, 10:21 AM
Janet said...: Your trip looks like it was a BLAST! I have always wanted to take AmTrak, so thank you for sharing your impressions about it!

Your girls are as beautiful as you are and I'm so happy you got this time together.

No summer vacation for us this year - I used up a week's vacation a couple of weeks ago waiting for our son to return from his deployment. The real vacation begins THIS WEEKEND while he's home on leave for three weeks. I am going to ENJOY every minute with him!; 7/21/10, 1:37 PM
HoosierHomemade said...: What a fantastic trip and awesome pics! I'm sure you will cherish them forever!
~Liz; 7/22/10, 9:21 PM
Self Sagacity said...: Thanks for sharing, you did a great job with those mosaics. The red head daughter looks a lot like you. Can't wait until Trinity is old enough to shop with me. :-); 7/23/10, 1:26 AM
Kim said...: I live about 3 hours away from Chicago (in MI) and would love to take this trip with my two adult daughters sometime. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.; 7/23/10, 9:28 AM
mandi@itscome2this said...: How fun! What a great way to celebrate! And your girls are so pretty too:); 7/23/10, 7:47 PM
dining tables said...: All the pictures tell everything. It seems that you both have a very good time in Chicago. I love the entire picture that you post. The picture with those sea creatures is what I love most.; 7/24/10, 4:00 AM
Lori said...: I just came back from Chicago! Three days was not enough time, your photos are wonderful and inspire me to go back; 7/26/10, 3:38 PM

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Tidymom

July 20, 2010

Chicago Trip!

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