Chicago Trip

While my mom was visiting for Bladen's graduation, we decided we'd better go see Chicago before we moved.  We rode the Amtrak train up since Bladen had never been on a train and we had a great time!

We got a sweet deal on a room that was right on Michigan Avenue off of Priceline! B was in heaven because he LOVES staying in hotels!

Right when we got off the train we headed down the busy streets to a boat for a river and lake tour.  It was so cool to learn about the different buildings on the river and then to go out on Lake Michigan and see the Chicago skyline. 

After the boat tour, we walked over to Navy Pier and had dinner at Bubba Gumps and then sat and watched a concert and the fireworks on the pier! 

The next morning we woke up and jumped on the bus (us sitting in the bus stop) and headed to the Shedd Aquarium. 

We got to see so many different fish, coral and other creatures.

Our favorite exhibit was the Jellyfish.  I never knew there were so many different kinds of jellies! 

We got to watch Dora and Diego in 4D!! 

Ugliest fish at the aquarium! 

Our hotel - the Palmer House

After 2 days of walking over 10 miles we were pooped and ready to go home by our 3rd day.  The morning we were leaving, we took our time getting ready since we had time to spare before our train departed.  My mom happened to turn on the TV as we were walking out the door and saw on the news that 2 trains had collided at Union Station and they had halted all incoming and outgoing trains.  Needless to say we spent ALL DAY, I think almost 10 hours, in the station waiting for our train to leave!  My mom got to experience a lot of NEW things on her last trip to Champaign!

The night she got there we had a tornado warning with the sirens going off and the house about ready to blow over.  We ended up taking cover with all 4 of us stuffed in my closet!  The tornado ended up touching down really close to our place.  Poor mom was shaking and so nervous!

Then there was the train crash and us waiting for hours on end with thousands of other travels at the Union Station

Then to top it off she woke up the next morning with a black eye! 

Champaign was like my mom's 2nd home - she came to visit so often.  She really loved the city and knew her way around so good.  I'm sure she will miss it as much as us!