Disclaimer: Seeing as how we think our computer is about to explode soon, this blog post-ness will be kind of journal-ish because I don't want to lose my pictures when our computer does indeed, explode. And our trip was AMAZING so who doesn't want to hear about it? I know. You do.
The participants: Emily Jones, Amy Hamblin, Greg Smith, Jordan Hatch, John Crismon
Chicago: Day/night 1
Yes, in this dark realm is where our hotel was. Let's just say we didn't take off our shoes, should have had an egg roll on our pillow instead of a mint, and we were the only white people staying there.
Apparently, "suite" in chinese must mean 2 twin sized beds. Because that hotel loved their twin beds.
I know. I should be a bed model.
Rolling into Chicago at almost midnight and being greeted with this is kind of sad. But, on the other hand, we did eat some tasty/authentic/slightly scary chinese food that night. The place was open until 4 am, how classy is that?
Even though our food was extremely questionable and we could hardly understand what our lady was talking about, did all the boys clean their plate? Of course. Boys=human garbage disposals. John loved his food so much, he made it known even with his leftovers.
Another thing about traveling with boys? They have no discretion about what pictures they post on facebook. Amy, me, and our friend Greg loving/hating our dinner. Yeah, it looks like Amy and Greg are praying over their dinner. That was a good idea. Lots of prayers needed to be offered for some of the food we ate while there. Yikes.
But, somehow the hotel hypnotized us into liking staying there, hence Amy and I's happy faces. Bad thing about Chicago: the humidity. This picture was CLEARLY taken at the beginning of our day because at the end, we had sweat off all our makeup, wanted to take 10 showers and our hair was little french fry sticks covered in grease/pollution. Just how you wanted to look around your friends and their unforgiving picture taking..
Like I said.
Day 2:
Architecture boat tour
So this had come highly recommended to us by several people. And it rocked. Who doesn't want to sit on a boat and listen to a guy talk about interesting stuff while not having to walk around? Awesome. Only thing that would have been better is if I did all this while eating candy corn and/or drinking a diet coke.
Greg and I loving our boat tour
The rest of the group, Amy, John and Jordan loving life.
But, sad face, it got really foggy.
Next stop: delicious Chicago pizza. Seriously, Chicago, you have ruined me. There is like 10 inches of cheese on their pizza. Life changing.
Amy could not control her excitement for the cheese on our pizza. And we asked our server if people asked for extra cheese on the cheese mountain they call pizza? They do.
Then we went to this really cool metal thing called The Bean. It just looks like a bean and is made out of shiny metal. It was awesome.
All of us taking pictures of us taking pictures of the bean. I know, amazing.
Next, I forced everyone to go to the Art Institute. It is one of the coolest art museums I have ever gone to (and I've kind of gone to a lot). And we needed some culture in our trip. From these pictures, you can tell who did and didn't want to go:
John and his girlfriend.
Us being awesome.
Inappropriate.
So, here's a little spoiler about Amy Hamblin. She kind of h8s art museums. Like medium to a lot. Amy next to her favorite painting.
I, on the other hand, am obsessed. And I made my art students, Jordan and Greg, be obsessed too.
Yeah, this is how we roll. We take pictures of awkward people. What would have been better? If anyone would have agreed to spoon next to him like I wanted.
Next, the Married with Children fountain. Awesome.
We love to ride the trains.
Look, it's me again. Apparently huge white sunglasses are meant only for summer/pool time.
This was sold out. And we were ticked. Note: the world goes to Chicago the second weekend in September. The WORLD.
Yeah, fyi, Navy Pier is lame.
Also lame? The Navy Pier ferris wheel.
Then we walked around more. Like we needed the exercise. And ate this for dinner.
Yeah, it was nasty. Chicago food + Emily=not friends.
Be excited, that was only day 1 and 2.
This is how far away our seats were. But did I mention they were free? So who cares.
My camera struggles.
Casey invited me to go with her to this wondrous event. We need practice taking our own picture.
Luckily, a security guard who apparently had never seen a camera in his life, was able to take a decent picture of us. Bono rules!
John, Amy, Erin, and me.
Dierks Bentley. Yes our seats were so close we didn't even have to zoom. And yes, we bought them like 4 months ago. If you're going to do something for the first time, you've got to do it right!
Forced awkward concert cuddling by Erin and John. Nice.
John going in for a feel-skee. Seeing as how heavy petting was going on EVERYWHERE around us, John had to fit in!
Erin trying to grab Brad Paisley's bum. Nicely done.
Don't be jealous how close we were. And yes, to all those girls out there wondering, Brad Paisley smells dang delicious.
Pinhead.
Drunk witches. Yeah, I'm a little bitter.
So, we wished our seats were this close to the field. But, some ticket website the night before gave us these:
I know Wrigley Field is supposed to be all old and stuff, but give me Chase Field any day. There's air conditioning, a sterile environment, snow cones, backs to the chairs... the list goes on.
But we found some seats in the shade which rocked. And Amy and I are perfecting taking pictures of ourselves. However, I don't know who's Relief Society arm that is attached to my body is taking the pictures. More push-ups, Emily.
Yeah, and this was us most of the time, kind of ADD. We were sitting under the scoreboard and there was no jumbotron, so we were kind of bored. Sorry, Cubs.
Us again. We had to ask 2 different strangers to take this picture for us because the first guy was an idiot. Come on, people. It's just a camera, not rocket science.
John being one with the karate kid. This was the theme for Sunday's pictures.
At least the guy was honest?
Then we went to the "beach." Weird that because the beach was on a lake, it didn't smell nasty and you didn't get sticky when you went into the water. Me and Amy on the bridge to the beach.
Like I said. The 80's would be proud.
I know, almost falling in the water pictures are always hilarious.
Then we found a huge statue of "American Gothic." And loved it.
Chicago is pretty.
And so are we.
Yeah, Young Women, you think doing trust exercises off a picnic table at Girl's Camp is scary? How about over an electrified train rail. That's some serious trust.
I know. I should be a bed model.
The rest of the group, Amy, John and Jordan loving life.
