2-23-16 walked around Chicago

Our little kitchen

Walking the pier

Selfie on the pier

The Ferris wheel.  They said there will be a new one opening in the summer.  Is this the new one Melissa?

Selfie....I need to remember to relax and smile ha ha

Our river walk

Thought this was a beautiful view

Bill

Bill and I by the bean

Bill and Charlie

Bill, Sue and Charlie by the ice skating rink 

There were a couple of great skaters.  

My Billy

Our reflection in the bean

Beautiful view 

View from the Willis Tower.  110 floors up.  Only took a few minutes to get up there in the elevator.  2nd tallest building in North America.  You can see 4 states when it's clear like this...Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan 

Bill on the skywalk. Number one attraction in Chicago

Looks like Bills flying...that's what Peyton thought when she saw this

Decided to fly with him ha ha

Looking up at the outside of the tower.  We were on the ledges at the very top

By the globe at the tower

I love these round buildings with cars parked in them

Chuck and Sue at the Webber Grill with us.  Best restaurant meal ever!

Bill wanted me to get the Route 66 sign in a picture 

Big lion by the art museum

We ate a big yummy breakfast at our hotel (Homewood Suites) and the walked to the navy pier.  We walked the whole thing then went to see the bean.  Walked all over.  Stopped at another Corner Bakery Cafe for muffins and coffee. Walked on a nice river walk along the river.  It was warm and sunny down there.  It was a little cooler when we climbed the stairs an walked downtown.  Went to the Willis Tower.  Charlie and sue wouldn't go on the sky walk but we did.  Bill wanted to get a picture laying down so we did.  So cool. We ate at the Weber Grill.  Had a great waitress who even gave us some pretzel rolls to take with us. The hamburgers Bill and I had wee deliciously perfect.  Left there, went straight when we should have turned and we were tired when we finally got to our hotel.  Walked over 14000steps.  Rested and then went to dinner.  Everyone ate a little but me.  I was still too stuffed.  Fun day

2/22/16 took the train from Flint to Chicago

We took this on the train to Chicago

This was Vikki's alarm this morning

 

Lunch at Corner Bakery Cafe

Inside the cute Cafe

Entertainment for lunch has ha ha

One of our window views.  We are on the 22nd floor

Another view from our room. We can see the water through the buildings

Panorama of our bedroom.  Bill relaxing on bed

Panorama of living room and kitchen.  Any believe we have a dishwasher in our room.

Bill got me getting some steps in

Exercise room by the pool

The round building was beautiful.  Cars park in the bottom and there are rooms above

Saw these on our walk

Got up at 4 am. Charlie and Sue picked us up at 5:45.  Went to Flint to get on the train.  The ride was nice.  Glad we had our phones.  We went and got coffee and sat  together.  We ate the snacks I brought at our seats.  Got in Chicago and took a taxi to our hotel.  Didn't know there www two Homewood hotels.  We went to the wrong one.  Walked 6 blocks to the right one.  Yay, I did get some steps!  Good thing since the pool is on the 40th floor and is closed for the season.  Beautiful view up there.  We walked a block to the Corner Bakery Cafe.  The sandwiches were delicious and pretty reasonable.  We found out we get breakfast and dinner every day we are here included with the room.

2/21/16...Met my best friend, Vikki and we exchanged Christmas gifts.

Me and Vikki

Went to church.  Before I left the house, I thought about how I always give Kenzie gum and thought decided to get some out to take to Hailey.  When we got to church, we were sitting and Hailey asked Melissa if she had any gum.  She didn't but I did. I was so happy I had gotten some out to bring.  After church, we went to Olive Garden with Dennis and Amy and got all the details for their August Wedding that Bill is doing.  They are such a sweet couple.  I came home and packed some stuff and then left to take Mocha to Vikki's.  She's going to watch her for me while we are gone.  I went from there to meet Vikki E. at Pizza Hut.  We had good pizza and a great visit.  Of course we made our list to pray for each other's needs too.  We also opened our Christmas presents from each other.  So funny, because it's been so long since we gave each other our lists,  Vikki said oh no, I almost bought this for myself.  I did buy the movie, Old Fashioned for myself and it was on my list and she got it for me.  We must be getting old ha ha.  She got me a wonderful thing to keep my blow dryer and curling iron on the counter in.  Also 4 wonderful cutting mats that are different colors, the DVD, and a beautiful necklace and earrings.  She also made me 5 more sheets of picture pages for my scrapbook display.  I sure am thankful for this wonderful godly friend God has blessed me with.  Had a nice 2 1/2 hr. visit to catch up and then came home and finished packing.  

2/20/16...Walked the rail trail with Vikki. Went to Melissa's

Love this picture of my mom and Kenzie.  Miss my mom and her hugs so much!

Pretty girl Hailey

Max, Jack and Evan

Max, Jack, and Evan helping Bruce pick up branches that blew down from the strong wind

It was in the 50's yesterday and today and my hyacinths are popping up outside

I got some things ready to pack for our Chicago trip.  Went to get gas at Kroger's with Bill.  We filled the car and put lots in the truck (35 gallons) and got our dollar off so only spent 68 cents a gallon.  It came to $35 something.  So wonderful!  We went to Melissa's afterward to take the chain saw to Bruce to use on a broken branch that came down in the wind.  I tried to help Melissa set up her fitbit on the computer, but couldn't get a hold of my Kimmy so decided to wait as I didn't really know what I was doing.  Melissa is sure enjoying getting to see how many steps she takes in a day.  I went to Salvation Army and found some exercise pants.  I had looked and didn't see any and then walked around the store and decided to look one more time and found a really nice pair.  Just the kind I wanted.  Afterward I realized I left my coat at Melissa's when we took our walk outside and then I left after.  It was so nice I didn't think to put m coat on.

I have been walking lots in my basement.  Today was so nice that I called Vikki and we walked 2 miles on the rail trail.  We went to Goodwill afterward and got more steps.  Vikki found a legos for a great price.  I found some Sketcher Memory Foam Shoes for 5.99 and they were new and were marked for 39.99.  Sure am glad we went there.  They had nice adult coloring books for 1.50 so I got one for Vikki and Kenzie.  We went to Panda Express afterward as I haven't been there yet.  I had sweet and sour chicken and rice.  Also an egg roll.  So much food I hardly made a dent in it.  Took it home for another meal.  Vikki had teriyaki chicken and rice and an egg roll.  Yum.  So much fun with you Vikki.  Love you!

2/19/16 Kimmy and the boys came, then Vikki and all of her kiddos came too

Adam and Jacob

Me and my boy, Jacob

Adam and Peyton

Jacob and Kimmy

Nana and her boy Eli.  Kimmy and I took him to get his pictures taken and he loved the escalators.

Isaac loved putting the big floor puzzle together

Adam playing Indiana Jones on the wii

Kenzie and Jacob

Eli, Kenzie, Jacob, and Adam

Eli, Kenzie, Jacob, Adam, Isaac and Peyton

Isaac, Adam and Eli

Adam made a little house while we walked in the basement

Eli, Peyton and Isaac put this Noah's Ark puzzle together by themselves

Kimmy came over and the boys got to come because they didn't have school.  YAY!  Jacob had a dentist appt. to replace a filling he lost.  Papa took him which was very sweet.  Kimmy called and Penney's had an opening for Eli to get his picture taken if we left right then.  We hurried so we could get there.  We passed Vikki on our road and Adam got our and ran to our house to stay with her.  We talked to her on the phone and Vikki was heading back for him.  We got there in time and were the only ones there.  Eli did amazing at getting his picture taken.  He was so cute and funny.  His pictures turned out great.  Kimmy was blessed and happy because she didn't need to pay anything with the $10 off she got and her coupon.  We left and Eli wanted to ride the escalator.  We rode a couple of times up and down. On our way back home, Kimmy treated me to a Capachino and got one for her and Vikki too.  Thank you Kimmy.  Kimmy won a doughnut when she unrolled the top.  Bill picked up tidbits (a box for each kid).  We had chicken, egg salad, bologna and pbj sandwiches.  Kenzie came over for a while and Kimmy dropped her off at Libby's house on her way home.  We had fun walking in the basement to Christian music on my playlist.  Jacob loved singing and knows all of the words.  He is a great singer too.  Peyton and Isaac did great walking around with us.  Adam and Jacob did great at walking too.  We had so much fun and got lots of steps.  My total at the end of the day was 21,900 steps.  I got the Zealand award which is 990 miles on my fitbit.  I have walked the distance of the length of New Zealand.  WOW  It was a fun day and I loved getting texts from Melissa telling me how many steps she got doing each thing.  She is so cute and I am so happy she has a fitbit.

2/17/18...fun at kid's care groups

My kids had fun working together to build a temple.  They all put one block on at a time until they were gone.

I walked in the basement, then later went to the Sports Zone and walked 2 and 1/2 miles.  Getting in shape for all the walking I will be doing in Chicago.  When I get back from Chicago I am starting to go back on soups, salads, nuts, seeds, smoothies, fruit and veggies.  So happy Kimmy, Jared and Melissa have fit bits now too.  We can all get in better shape together now.  Bill went to his first Marine Corp meeting tonight.  He enjoyed himself.  I am very proud of him and his service.  I have been reading Travis Mill's book, "Tough as they Come" and it sure makes me appreciate those who have or are serving in our Military.  

2/16/16 Went to breakfast and gave the devotion this morning

Kimmy's lambs that the boys watched being born

Love this picture of Jacob and Adam watching the lambs being born.  I borrowed it from Kimmy's blog

Celebrated Amy and Ron's birthdays at Care Group.  Ron was sick so wasn't here.

Brian and Stacie came and are going to be in our care group.   

Went to breakfast and shared a devotion.  After breakfast, I went to Kroger's and then Jack's to get some bird food.  Came home and fed the hungry birds and then read my Bible.  Did some walking and some cleaning.  Watched the news with Bill and then we went to Sam's Club to get a cake for care group.  Dad got a bag of candy as he loves giving the kids candy on Sundays.  I got a big thing of animal crackers.  We ate lots of food samples at Sam's.  We came home and I did some more cleaning.   Care group went really good.  Had everyone there again, plus Brian and Stacie, which made 16.  Two couples are still out of state.  It was a great lesson on offering our time to God.  Lots of good discussion.  Amy brought ice cream and toppings to go with the cake.  It was her turn for snack but I had called her to tell her she didn't have to get anything because we picked up a cake.  Sam's cakes are the best we all decided.