My trip in pictures
Last week, I was in Chicago primarily to attend my dad's parents' joint funeral. It happened to also be Easter weekend.
Eggs! And more eggs! Emmie, Steve, Jess and I had a blast coloring eggs Saturday night, and then used them in egg salad, as deviled eggs, and as the table centerpiece during Easter dinner.
The cousins spent part of the afternoon playing on the old play structure and tree swing in the backyard. Mom and Dad's neighbors offered up their trampoline, so we took advantage. It's been years since I was last on a trampoline! So much fun!
Cousins Emmie and Phil
Monday was the funeral. Since Grandpa passed away in October of 2008 and Grandma in December of 2009 (after a decade of battling Alzheimer's), I didn't think the burial would be emotional. I was wrong. There was a rifle salute and a solo trumpeter playing Taps, and it was beautiful and sad. We all went to a delicious lunch afterward and shared memories and stories, and I think it was actually a very fitting day.
Our "vacationy" stuff came later in the week. Steve, Jess and I went downtown to the Museum of Science and Industry (weather exhibit! chick hatchery! crime lab fingerprinting! coal mining tour! Mindball--competitive relaxation--which I lost!), the Shedd Aquarium (dolphins and sea turtles and baby belugas, oh my!), the Field Museum (dinosaurs! mummies! GIANT BUGS!), and the Oriental Theatre to see Billy Elliot (ohmygosh fantastic). All over the span of two days. We also went to the war museum at Cantigny, climbed on the tanks, and walked through the gardens.
Jess and me downtown
Steve and me by the creek
Aaaaannnd... that was about it! There was much spending time with family, and too little spending time with friends, but there's always Christmas.