Grandpa and Grandma Butler Come to Visit!

Last Saturday, my cousin Tessa got married in Atlanta, Georgia. My parents flew out to go to the wedding. On their way home, they made an extended layover in Chicago so they could come see us for a few days. We were so excited to have them come visit. On Sunday, we ate a dinner and enjoyed one anther's company. On Monday morning, we got up early and took the train into the city. First we walked to Millennium Park to see the Cloud Gate Sculpture (aka The Bean). We walked around the fountains and the park and then went next door to the Art Institute of Chicago. We toured the museum and saw many famous works of art from all over the world. After the museum, we walked through Grant Park. There happened to be an Italian parade going on so we watched for a minute. We stopped at Buckingham Fountain then headed up Michigan Avenue. Then we loaded onto a boat tour at the base at the Wrigley Building. We went on an architecture river boat tour. It was fascinating. We learned all about the buildings on the Chicago River including the North and South canals. We had been on one other boat tour before, but this was much more in depth and we learned a lot about the history, culture, and architecture of Chicago. The weather was absolutely beautiful that day and we had a wonderful time. After the boat tour, we walked down Illinois Avenue to eat some Chicago style pizza at Lou Manatis. It was delicious. After dinner, we ran across town to catch the train back home. It was a fun day.

The Cloud Gate

Just a few of our favorite paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

Sam and Tom on the boat tour

Willis tower....formerly known as Sears Tower:)

My mom and I overlooking the Chicago River at night

The next day, Tom and my dad both had to work so only my mom and I headed into the city. We spent the entire day shopping! It was a blast. We walked to Michigan Avenue where we did some souvenir shopping. Then we hit some of the major retail stores along the Magnificent Mile that caught our fancy. Of course we had to hit H&M, Gap, Ann Taylor, the Lego Store, and the Disney store before we reached our final destination....the American Girl store. Those that know me best, know that as a child I was an avid American Girl fan....still am. My friend Steff and I played with our twin American Girl dolls all the time. When we were in high school, Steff's mom went to New York and went to the first American Girl store. When she came home, she told me about it at church and joked that if Steff and I were still young girls, she would have flown us out there to take us to the store and eat at the cafe with our dolls. Ever since then, I've always wanted to do it. So my mom treated Ainsley, Sam, and I took lunch at the American Girl Cafe. We brought Ainsley's Bitty Baby doll who sat in a high chair attached to the table. We had a little tea party and I felt like a kid all over again. It was fun. After our late lunch, we shopped a little more before heading home to meet up with Tom and my dad again.







On their last morning here, I took my parents to Oak Park to see the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway and home and studio of Frank Lloyd Wright. We toured the Wright home and went on a driving tour of many of the homes he designed in the area. There are about 20 in the Oak Park area that he designed. It was neat. Afterwards, we headed to the airport and dropped them off for their flight. It was a short trip, but we had so much fun. We hope they come visit again soon!

Grandma Butler, Ainsley, and Grandpa Butler in front of Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio