Chicago and Michigan Trip

My uncle Richard passed away last year.  Most of his living family was still in Michigan so my Mom organized a time for people together to celebrate his life.  We requested aligning it with Greek Easter because my kids have been wanting to go out to Chicago to celebrate Greek Easter with George’s Greek Family.  We started out by flying into Chicago and meeting up with Mom in George who also flew in straight from their Japan trip.  

We stayed at my Mom’s friends’ condo in Chicago.

Saturday we stopped by Geroge’s brother’s home to see them prepping the lamb for the easter celebration. 

Then, our family rode the L into the city and took the kids to a Cubs game.  We got them all Cubs gear and watched a great game.  They had Chicago dogs, we sang the 7^th inning stretch with Harry Caray leading us, and the Cubs won! 

That night we introduced all the kids to Chicago-style pizza and they all decided they like NY style better. 

Easter Sunday, Carter got up early to help George and the Greeks get the lambs going on the spits in the park.

  Then we picked him up we went to church at my Mom’s old Wilmette ward she still had some friends there.  Then, we met up with the Greek family for a very rainy Greek Easter celebration.

 All my kids ate lamb brain (gross)- Greeks claim it give you wisdom.  

The lamb was great and of course a highlight for everyone is Despo’s pita. 

Monday we drove to Michigan.  We stopped in downtown Chicago to show the kids the Bean and some views of Lake Michigan. 

Then continued out to Michigan, we stayed at Rick and Kate Nyquist’s beautiful home.  That evening we met up with the Nyquists, Ronnie’s family and some of Mom’s childhood friends for a big birthday dinner for my Mom. 

Their portion sizes were huge.  Camden and Derek ordered fish which was served as an entire fillet and took up the whole plate. 

Tuesday, Derek, the kids and George drove out to the Ford museum which was really cool.  They had model Ts, the actual bus that Rosa Parks sat in, the Kennedy assassination car.  

Aunt Julie, Mom and I helped Aunt Jan and Craig set up their church for Uncle Richard’s celebration of life.  It went well all Mom’s cousins came.  It was fun to visit with them a little.  It was great to see my cousins Scott and Craig. Us younger cousins, my Mom and Aunt Jan all shared some memories of Richard.  We had dinner all together.  Liv sang Amazing Grace.  My kids were all so great at helping clean up the dinner and bring all the stuff back out for Aunt Jan to pack into her car. 

Wednesday we drove back to Chicago.  We stopped at Notre Dame campus on the way home.  We walked past the stadium, the boys tossed a football in front of touch down Jesus. 

We toured their chapel.  

We visited the grotto and lit a candle for Uncle Richard.  Then, continue to the airport.  We made a quick stop near the airport for White Castle Hamburgers (my Mom’s fav).  No one liked them. 

Then, it was back to home.

Spring Break in SE Utah

For Spring Break this year we decided to head to SE Utah to take the kids to 4 corners and Mesa Verde.  A few weeks before my Dad called to see if he could come stay at our house on his way out to Nathan’s to help with baby #3.  I invited him to come on our spring break trip with us.  We made Blanding, UT our home base and took day trips from there.  We stayed in a neat little hotel called the Stone Lizard.  My dad brought his dog Ruby who was fun to have along. The kids all got along so great.  We thought they had a pull out couch to share (and we had brought along one sleeping bag and pad).  Turns out it was just a regular couch.  So one kid slept on the couch mattress springs, one slept on the couch cushions, and one slept on the pad an sleeping bag.  They handled it like champs.  

Friday, we drove through Bear’s Ears National Monument and did a little hike to some cliff dwelling ruins. 

Then, we hit Natural Bridges National Monument.  We did the 9 mile driving loop, stopping at the outlook for each bridge and hiked the short hike down to the 3^rd bridge. 

Natural Bridges was really neat and I would have liked to spend more time there hiking.  Next, we drove down the Moki Dugway which was a breathtaking drive.  

Then, we hit the Goosenecks which was really neat.  

We drove through Mexican Hat (where I bought a sun hat), then on to Monument Valley.  We took a picture at Forrest Gump Point.  

Then, it was on to Bluff.  In Bluff, we found a historic park run by senior missionaries that told about the pioneer missionaries who settled there and traveled through and made hole in the rock.  That night we had dinner at Patio Diner in Blanding.  They had the best onion rings any of us had had in a long time. 

Saturday, we checked out Hovenweep National Monument.  They had a neat 2 mile loop hike that took you past several pueblo type houses.  

Then, Dad went back to the hotel with Ruby and the rest of us continued on to 4 corners. 

We had Indian fry bread- Navajo Tacos.  We didn’t end up going out to Mesa Verde because it was so cold and snowy and we thought most of the trails wouldn’t be pleasant to hike.  That evening, we helped Poppi make fillet steaks in a dutch over (and we got some more onion rings from patio grill to go with it- because they were so good).  

Then, we watched the NCAA final 4 basketball games.  Then, because why not everyone hit up Patio Diner one more time for Utah style shakes. 

Sunday, we got up and introduced Poppi to Arches.  We did several short hikes and drove through the park. 

Then, we all ate lunch at Pasta Jay’s in Moab and said goodbye to Poppi who went from there out to Colorado and we headed home to Orem listening to General Conference on the way home!