Chicago
Announced our new addition at the cloud gate sculpture in Millenium Park.
“so excited for our new lil bean coming March 2020!”
I had a shoot downtown with a friend and she stopped to take these photos of me right on Michigan Ave. Gotta lot of awkward looks and honks but it was worth it.
Spent the last week of April with our darling friends, Matt, Rachel & Jada. Took them to all our fave spots in Chicago. It was still freezing cold so that was a bit of a bummer.
Lucky for us we also had my mom and dad visiting for my dad’s work. We went to the zoo and MSI. They also babysat. A LOT.
So many beach days ahead of us. Within a week the temperature went from 40 degrees to 80.
I’m obsessed with Jack’s new vans.
Chris’ company recently acquired “Avocados From Mexico” as a new client. He helped with the pitch and that means they will be making their super bowl commercial. Sooo we had a date night downtown to celebrate. Chris is obsessed with Korean BBQ places where you cook your own food. It was fun because at the end you got to roast your own s’mores.
We went to 3 softball games in one night. Jack was a trooper. The championship game ended up going till 11 and had extra innings. However, we will never know who would have won because the park lights turned off and they couldn’t finish.
Mom Visits | Lots of Maggie Daley | The Purple Pig | Daily Walks | St. Paddys | Little Goat Diner Children's Musuem | Cousins in town | Sink Baths | Wicker Park
when chicago breaks 50 degrees in the winter months it is like God is saying being patient spring will come! Honestly, you can get so depressed here with no sun and negative temps. We are in the home stretch!!! This week we had some warm weather and it was amazing. We went to Maggie Daley & hung out with my cute friend Madi and her son, Mason. Side note, I tinted my own eyebrows following this gal's tutorial, Mikelle Kennedy. It was a little scary but I definitely am excited to be able to do this myself!
brunch at the Promontory, quick play in the snow and a fun stay at the intercontinental hotel to go swimming with jack.
I found this quote yesterday & it embodied exactly how I feel love should feel.
That unconditional love is so important in a marriage and in any relationship. I am going to strive to be more unconditional and freeing in the love I give to others. I just want to let it flow from me. I don't want to give them expectations, check lists and impossible demands for them to earn my love. I want Chris and Jack to be them, who they truly are, and see that like our Heavenly Parents do. See them and love them and therefore free them. Jack and I visited our valentine downtown and had a picnic in his office.
my lil sis Liz Sauce came to town this past week! She and her sis in law, Shaye, went and saw hamilton the first night and the rest of the time we just hung with jack and explored. We had a blast.
Core Power Yoga in Hyde Park. Lizzie and I went to the Core Power down the street from us all summer and it was so fun to get to do it again here in Chicago.
A Stan's Donut's just opened right next to Chris' office. uh oh.
We made a stop at second city. OBVIOUSLY. Old Town is so cute and it would not stop snowing. Then on to Jeni's Ice Cream.
Ended up hanging at the zoo with an old friend, exploring the houses in our neighborhood and having a spontaneous fire pit at the lake.
This week was especially hard because Chris had a very busy work week. One night he didn't come home till 5:30 AM!!! Yikes. Anyway, we tried to make the best of it. Did lots of laundry, cleaning and just enjoyed the "warmer" weather.
Walked around little Mexico in Pilsen on a mural hunt. 28th and Hamblin in Pilsen.
whatever your circumstance, you are a product of their love. you were put in your specific place because they need you there. I pray everyday not only to know how to become like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ but also our Mother in heaven. They can make more of us than we can make of ourselves. I feel God’s love as I find my purpose. It continually changes and shapes itself into something different but the love I feel is the same. 💙 also this blue door on my walk home from church made me smile.
just a little leisurely walk around the most beautiful campus. we had to get outside since it got about 30 degrees!
My best friends & their darling men came to visit us over the long weekend. I warned them it would be cold but they still came and we had an absolute blast. Rain or shine I can depend on these dudes for a rad time.
Fun Fact. Since the time I was a little kid I have always gotten a very very very red face after exercise. People would ask if I was sunburned and other crazy stuff. nope. just get red faced.
Second City was probably my favorite thing we did! We saw Super Great Fantastic Numero Uno. We seriously did not want the show to end. Big Fans.
Jen's Splendid Ice Cream is a must. My favorite flavor: Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.
Another fave... any sort of asian fusion food. Korean BBQ tacos & super fresh and healthy Bibimbap. So good. Cop em at En Hakkore.
We partially wanted to go to the Bucktown/Wicker Park area to see a few murals. Unfortunately my fave one by Dallas Clayton has been painted over!!!! SO SAD.
When one of your BFF's has celiac you must find delicious gluten free desserts. DO-RIGHT DONUTS is delicious and they have gluten free donuts. We got there right as they were pulling some out. So fresh. So BLESSED.
Shake Shack & Wicked. Eliza has never seen Wicked it was my 5th time seeing it and Katie's 3rd. I think we had more fun watching her reactions and just enjoyment of the show than actually watching the show. Still. Wicked never ever ever disappoints. Chills every single time.
Lunch with the Olympus High Crew at Plein Air Cafe in Hyde Park
Promontory Point is probably my favorite spot in all of Chicago. The coolest view of the city. It was literally -3 with wind chill but we braved it for ten minutes anyway and it was so freaking worth it. The coolest ice sculptures on the trees and it felt like we were on a different planet.
Saying our goodbyes :(
New Year's Resolutions have been a tradition in my fam since I can remember. It honestly is one of my favorite things we do and I just love the season after Christmas. I love the chance to refocus, gather yourself & get ready to kick some butt in the new year.
What we do:
Trace our hand and create a visual representation of our goals. I have a hand goal sheet that was from when I was 5 with handwriting that was illegible. Jack has them now and it's so fun to see his hand already growing.
You then create a goal for each finger and palm area if you'd like. Each goal should focus on a different aspect of your life. Here are the ones we use generally.
Social | Personal | Academic | Financial | Spiritual | Physical | Spousal
At the end of the year we bring our goals to a family dinner and share how they went, what worked, what didn't etc. My mom and us decide if the goal was completed. If the goal was completed you get 5 bucks. It's awesome.
Here are mine for this year.
1. Spiritual - Read the Book Of Mormon with the #thebookofmormonproject
2. Social - Listen. Talk Less, ask more questions
3. Personal - Make (x) amount of money in freelance
4. Spousal - Go on at least one getaway/vacation with just Chris & I
5. Financial - Create a monthly budget and stick to it
BONUS - Create a focus word for the year. Something that you can center around and keep as a little reminder to help you improve.
My 2018 Focus Word: Outstretch
out·stretch
verb
past tense: outstretched; past participle: outstretched
extend or stretch out (something, especially a hand or arm).
"I walked with my arms outstretched"
go beyond the limit of.
"their good intentions far outstretched their capacity to offer help"
I want to offer more help, go further in relationships & dive deeper into the word of the Lord. I want to go past my limit and do things that make me uncomfortable. Because I know that's where I grow.
We had Christmas early with Jack so we didn't have to haul his gifts back and forth between Chicago and Salt Lake since we will be in Utah over actual Christmas. We had a blast! Having Christmas with a kid is so stinking fun.
Christmas Eve consisted of jammies, the Grinch, putting together our neighbor gifts, Christmas stories, reading Luke 2 and a dance party to our Christmas Cheer playlist.
Christmas morning consisted of lots of claps, laughs, tears, blocks, ribbon and a yummy breakfast.
The Black and White wrapping paper you see I created! I wanted some Christ centered wrapping paper this year. So I made my own with my handwriting! It says “Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord the newborn King!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Date night turned into a mini photoshoot at the park.
The Wrigley Building has such gorgeous Christmas decorations. Lucky for us it was 50 outside that day!
You know those times where you plan to do something and it does not work out. We had one of those moments on Saturday. Tried to go to this parade and it was freezing and couldn't see a thing. We ended up just playing in the subway station while waiting for our train. Still a fun night. Gotta go with the flow as a parent.
Jack's first photos!!
yesterday I felt pretty down. I felt like my life wasn't my life. I started to be angry, questioning why I got married so young and why I already had a child, wondering if laundry and cleaning was my only point of existence. It's hard playing the "what if" game. I have no regrets, but sacrifice can be hard, and that's ok. I'm thankful for the life my Heavenly Parents have blessed me with. When I look for them in my life that's when I find myself. Shout out to all you moms and women who feel like no one notices them. I SEE YOU.
Jack and I took the metra train to visit dad at work. Chris works at an ad firm downtown, Energy BBDO and we love grabbing some lunch with him. The Nutella Cafe is literally right next door to his office and because Chris loves Nutella he has been dying to go. To be honest, the crepe was fine but I would never go again. Do yourself a favor and go to Eataly or anywhere else. At least they had a cool sign. Chris had a few more minutes before he had to get back so we walked along the river and chased Jack. I love my crew.
