Chicago

After the Reunion in the Black Hills, we drove to my aunt and uncle's farmhouse outside of Sioux Falls. It was a fun stopover before heading to Chicago. We spent 3 days in Chicago staying in a "fancy, fancy" hotel (Samuel's words). We went to the aquarium, Natural History Museum, and the Sears Tower. We spent the 4th of July with Bruce Tria & Julie, finishing off our trip with fireworks & a Ferris wheel ride on the Navy Pier (our camera batteries had died by this point :-)

Samuel holding Boots at Uncle Philip's farmhouse. If we lived closer we would have adopted this little kitty. Her personality reminded me so much of my favorite cat, Thumbelina.Minnesota Campground on our way to Chicago. Stephen took the kids on a dusk/nighttime nature hike.

Maya liked sleeping in her favorite little cave.

Julie, Bruce, Stephen, Me & Samuel (Maya chose to opt out of the picture) in a cool old El Station downtown. The kids wanted to ride in a taxi and on the El. Maya was really impressed with how fast the taxi went-I was very scared.

Stephen hung out for a few hours with Bruce & Julie at the Taste of Chicago while the kids & I rested up for fireworks.

The kids really enjoyed wrestling with their "big friend" until...

The whole trip was great, but we were WORN OUT!

After 2 more nights of camping on our way home, we made it back to Austin with no money and lots of great memories!