plan was to see the play "Chicago" in Chicago. Unfortunately, she could not get the correct weekend off to be able to make the play.

We went to Chicago, and had a wonderful tour guide for the first day. David Short, Susan's buddy throughout her childhood and into high school, showed us around town. We went out to lunch at a great cafe', visited an organic garden that was under his care, circled Wrigley field just before a Cub's game, stopped into his apartment, and went to the beach on the North side of Chicago for a beautiful skyline view.

Chicago is a great tourism city. The shopping on the Magnificent Mile is fantastic, and with the pier and museums, there is a ton of stuff for the family to do. In this group of pictures you will see us on a huge Ferris Wheel with Chicago in the background, and also see the assembled fossil remains of a several different dinosaurs.

Since we had Natalie with us, we had to stop in American Girl and have her pick out a doll. Several pictures will show the enormous showroom and the variety of dolls, clothes, and accessories. Natalie carried her doll around in her snuggley for the last half of the vacation.

Dave Short gave us the name of a great restaurant in downtown Chicago: Wildfire. We had the best service and the best food. Thank God too. The rain had really dampened our vacation on the second half of the trip and Susan needed a good birthday dinner (with cake, candles, and singing included :)

Our hotel was very near to the John Hancock building. On one of the evenings we went to the top of the the JH Building and watched the fireworks launched from the pier. On the last day of our trip we went up in the morning and got some half decent views of Chicago. I was able to layout on an unfinished beam about 100 stories above the ground and have some lunch. It was windy. The whole family also went outside and washed a couple of windows using the scaffolding. :)

Susan had to end the vacation by buying something in the expensive shops on the last day. Partly to make up for the bad weather. She deserved it. Happy birthday cutie pie.