It seems like forever ago that Stephen and I had our getaway trip to Chicago. We just got home from Christmas in Utah and as much as I am so happy to be home I can't help but want to plan vacations to go on before residency starts. So to take a break from planning our way too many getaways I want to do I am going to think back on our amazing getaway in Chicago.
A little back story about the trip. Stephen spent a month in Chicago this summer and fell in love with the city. During this interview season he has been traveling what seems like non stop. I was so excited about his two interviews in Chicago and even more excited that I was able to join him there and see the city that he has talked so much about. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first because I feel like my heart belongs to only one big city and that is New York. But after experiencing Chicago even though it was bitter freezing cold I can now say my heart has a soft spot for Chicago and all of its magic.
Stephen drove there a couple days before me because of his two interviews there which meant I had to fly alone. I have flown with Everett about 8 times and half of that was alone with him. I was ecstatic to be flying alone! I bought tons of candy, downloaded a movie on my ipad, sat back and relaxed my entire flight. It was heavenly. Stephen picked me up at the airport and we headed for our hotel. We picked a place right down town within walking distance to everything we would want to see. It was a cute little studio apartment that is a hotel too.
Our first night we walked the magnificant mile and loved seeing all of the Christmas lights. This city really takes the time to decorate for Christmas. Oh my gosh though it was feezing cold. We ate dinner at the grand lux cafe and waited for our table just so we could look at the street and stores below. It was a lot of fun.
Our first morning we woke up and walked to wildberry pancakes cafe. It was a two hour wait so we put our name on the list and walked around millennium park. We saw the popular Chicago bean and while making fun of all the ice skaters falling and wobbily ice skating we decided it looked like fun. I have a huge fear of ice skating and just falling on ice in general. I did fall twice, once because Stephen lost his footing and almost fell which dragged me down. But I loved every minute of it! It was again magical ice skating in the big city. After that it was about another 30 minute wait for breakfast/now lunch. It was worth the wait though.
Because of this trip I now have a favorite holiday drink...White hot chocolate! Just thinking about it I had to take a break from writing to go make some. So the rest of the day after breakfast/lunch we just walked around the city more and had an early dinner trying some famous Chicago pizza.
As fantastic as our trip had been so far the best was our ballet night. It was opening night at the Christopher Wheeldon's nutcracker. The Joffrey Ballet did an absolutely magical job. Everything was incredible. From it snowing outside and getting all dressed up, to the beautiful theater and beautifully talented performers. It was a performance I will never forget. It was the perfect way to end our perfect stay.
The next morning we headed to Michigan. Our drive was twice as long as it should have been because we drove through a massive snow storm. Michigan got about a foot of snow it seemed like at least. That night we had dinner with a friend of Stephen's and his family. Stephen had an interview the next morning and after it was over we drove 12 hours home. It was a very long drive. We got home around 3:00 in the morning, went to bed, and started real life back up that morning.
I feel so grateful for all of the opportunities Stephen and I have had since being married. Because of this medical school journey we had the chance to live in the Caribbean for a year and a half, live in Atlanta, and travel a little bit in between it all. I try to live my life having no regrets. It is one of my greatest goals in life. I can't say I have many regrets about living in the Caribbean. It was such an amazing experience. Living in Atlanta has been so fun. The closer residency comes the more I get sick just thinking about leaving our home here. But I love adventure and that is what residency is all about. Our next adventure. We will make it fun and get through it together as a family like we have with every other adventure we have had together!
A little back story about the trip. Stephen spent a month in Chicago this summer and fell in love with the city. During this interview season he has been traveling what seems like non stop. I was so excited about his two interviews in Chicago and even more excited that I was able to join him there and see the city that he has talked so much about. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first because I feel like my heart belongs to only one big city and that is New York. But after experiencing Chicago even though it was bitter freezing cold I can now say my heart has a soft spot for Chicago and all of its magic.
Stephen drove there a couple days before me because of his two interviews there which meant I had to fly alone. I have flown with Everett about 8 times and half of that was alone with him. I was ecstatic to be flying alone! I bought tons of candy, downloaded a movie on my ipad, sat back and relaxed my entire flight. It was heavenly. Stephen picked me up at the airport and we headed for our hotel. We picked a place right down town within walking distance to everything we would want to see. It was a cute little studio apartment that is a hotel too.
Our first night we walked the magnificant mile and loved seeing all of the Christmas lights. This city really takes the time to decorate for Christmas. Oh my gosh though it was feezing cold. We ate dinner at the grand lux cafe and waited for our table just so we could look at the street and stores below. It was a lot of fun.
Our first morning we woke up and walked to wildberry pancakes cafe. It was a two hour wait so we put our name on the list and walked around millennium park. We saw the popular Chicago bean and while making fun of all the ice skaters falling and wobbily ice skating we decided it looked like fun. I have a huge fear of ice skating and just falling on ice in general. I did fall twice, once because Stephen lost his footing and almost fell which dragged me down. But I loved every minute of it! It was again magical ice skating in the big city. After that it was about another 30 minute wait for breakfast/now lunch. It was worth the wait though.
Because of this trip I now have a favorite holiday drink...White hot chocolate! Just thinking about it I had to take a break from writing to go make some. So the rest of the day after breakfast/lunch we just walked around the city more and had an early dinner trying some famous Chicago pizza.
As fantastic as our trip had been so far the best was our ballet night. It was opening night at the Christopher Wheeldon's nutcracker. The Joffrey Ballet did an absolutely magical job. Everything was incredible. From it snowing outside and getting all dressed up, to the beautiful theater and beautifully talented performers. It was a performance I will never forget. It was the perfect way to end our perfect stay.
The next morning we headed to Michigan. Our drive was twice as long as it should have been because we drove through a massive snow storm. Michigan got about a foot of snow it seemed like at least. That night we had dinner with a friend of Stephen's and his family. Stephen had an interview the next morning and after it was over we drove 12 hours home. It was a very long drive. We got home around 3:00 in the morning, went to bed, and started real life back up that morning.
I feel so grateful for all of the opportunities Stephen and I have had since being married. Because of this medical school journey we had the chance to live in the Caribbean for a year and a half, live in Atlanta, and travel a little bit in between it all. I try to live my life having no regrets. It is one of my greatest goals in life. I can't say I have many regrets about living in the Caribbean. It was such an amazing experience. Living in Atlanta has been so fun. The closer residency comes the more I get sick just thinking about leaving our home here. But I love adventure and that is what residency is all about. Our next adventure. We will make it fun and get through it together as a family like we have with every other adventure we have had together!
