Halling Go To Alaska

Sunday 9/18 Wearing my Tough Mudder "bling" and shirt.  Monday 9/19 Purple toes!  Tuesday 9/20 Casted!!  No surgery needed! Wednesday 9/21 Chicago! Thursday 9/22 I love the ivy on the old brownstones.  Friday 9/23 A needed drink on the plane home.  Saturday 9/24 Went to a birthday party for a 6yo.   He wanted a Tiki-themed party.  His mom pretty much rawks as she did this without a template. Linking up with Elaine this morning!

June 27 Walking on Navy Pier. June 28 No idea what this building is called, but I love it.  June 29 Look out! Low bridge! June 30 Seagull looking for handouts on Navy Pier.  July 1 Early morning+spilled coffee+travel = no picture July 2 Last day of VBS performance July 3 Sweet Pea at her first T-ball practice! I may have a runner yet. Check out that awesome stride!

So Tuesday morning found me getting up and ready for day 1 of the conference.  You know, that whole reason why I had come to Chicago in the first place.  The keynote speaker this morning was Bill Gates.  Honestly, I'm horrible about quotes and retaining specific things from speeches.  Especially when I'm tired and haven't had to use my brain in over a week.  Bill Gates is not the most energetic speaker, but he essentially said that charter schools are a good thing.  But if a charter school is not performing, it should be shut down.  That was the underlying theme of the speakers.  Which is true.  Why should the public be paying for schools that don't perform.  And that goes for traditional schools as well. That evening our parent company took everyone who was a part of one of our schools our for a river dinner cruise.  It was delish and so much fun.  This is one of my favorite pictures.  This is the Sears Tower (Willis Towe...

Bari and I started the day with a run along Lake Michigan.  It was so pretty despite the humidity.  Which wasn't horrific, but it reminded me of San Diego.  It was nice to run with someone though.  After our run and getting cleaned up, we headed out for Starbucks.  And then hit up the Lego Store.  Check out Bari and her boyfriend! We both decided that this shirt needed to come in big sizes.  Then it was time for lunch and then Bari had to head home.  (Boo! Hiss!) After Bari left I hung out in my hotel room just relaxing for a few hours.  I knew that my board member friend was coming in early evening and we'd get dinner together.  Jamie and I headed out for the Sears Tower.  I will admit that I didn't spend enough time looking at a map to get my bearings straight in Chicago.  After all I'm used to mountains telling me which was is west.  I took us 10 minutes in the opposite direction of the Sears Tower.  We ended up st...

So my trip from Manchester to Chicago was done as a family.  T and the girls continued from Chicago back home.   Bari picked me up at the airport. I know I've said this before, but I love that meeting people from the blogosphere isn't weird.  It feels like seeing an old friend...because really we are.  :)   Our first stop, after checking into the hotel and handing over the keys to valet parking was to get lunch.  And I didn't take a picture of the place, so I don't remember the name.  I had my first taste of Chicago deep dish pizza.  It was yummy.  Bari and I shared a little-in-diameter pizza and got salads.  She was being so good drinking water and I sucked away at Coke.   I had to take a picture of this.   "The Purple Pig" "Cheese, Swine, and Wine" We walked the Magnificent Mile aka Michigan Ave. Saw the Chicago River. The Bean!! Our feet in The Bean Navy Pier (obviously) Road the big-ass ferris wheel at Navy Pier.  My ...