Chicago

We arrived in the Windy City around 4 and realized that the quick 5 hour drive from Cincinnati would be the shortest leg of our journey (sigh and alas...). Nevermind that--we had places to go! People to see! But not for another two hours so... We found a coffee shop whose cultural identity swayed between a Tibetan Monk and an eighties teenager who only listened to The Cure. It was great food and drank. We recharged with caffeine and sweets.  

Friends!! Julie, my friend from college, met us outside an Italian tapas restaurant and we had a blast catching up and chatting about her upcoming wedding (!!!!!).

 

Then Corey joined us and he is amazing so it was amazing. He also confirmed my suspicion of our waiter when he said, "you really shouldn't trust anyone with an ombré faux-hawk."

 

Jake-Helena-Jack Time! Seriously, Jack is the cutest little toddler that I've ever seen and I want to play with him and keep him and love him forever. He put on a show for us then rightfully crashed and burned as it was way past his bedtime.

   

The City!! Oh Chicago! How magnificent you are with your architecture and museums and history and views! So much to explore! So much culture to absorb! How could we see all your glory in just one day!?! (Mom and I spent most our our day laying on a couch/bed/floor because we were darn exhausted and you try driving across the country then get back to me) We did venture outdoors once to walk Packer around the park--our first failed Water Sighting (check back for Omaha post where we encounter our second).

 

A final dinner with some impressive burgers and fries for the adults, "special cake" and puréed veggies for the tiny human.

     

8 hours to Omaha.