Chi Town

Matt had a sales meeting downtown this week and Alec and I decided to join him! He was staying at a hotel right on the corner of the Chicago river and Michigan Avenue, which is an amazing spot, so we decided we would do some city sightseeing for a few days. Matt was in meetings the whole time, so we didn't see much of him, but Alec and I had a blast. We shopped, ate out, met an old friend from high school for lunch, and took a boat tour of the river and the lake. It was a nice change of pace for us, and super fun to do some more exploring the in the city, which really is awesome! Since it was mainly just the two of us, I have a whole lot of Alec pics.

Chasing pigeons might have been the highlight of Michigan Ave for Alec

Right across from our hotel

An attempt at a dual photo

From our boat tour, which was fascinating - I'm not big on history stuff, so I was a little skeptical, but I ended up loving it.

Pretty fun date for Alec and Mommy

Thomas Bonanza

We joined what seemed like a few other million parents this morning and took Alec to the traveling Thomas the Train exhibit. It was at an old railway museum in Union Illinois, a random farm town about an hour wes of us. It was actually a nice drive and fun for us to explore some parts of the farm country we hadn't seen before. Alec talked all week long about how he wanted to meet Sir Topham Hatt, and was more that excited about the whole Thomas show. Getting into the parking lot was a little insane, it took us about 45 minutes, but then once we made it in we were able to wade through the people fairly smoothly and there was a ton to see and do. Matt really enjoyed checking out all the old Chicago railway cars, and Alec loved Sir Topham Hatt and his ride on the "real" Thomas train. There was actually way more to do than we had time for, and we had to leave after our train ride b/c Alec was exhausted, but we still had a very fun time.

Meeting Topham Hatt

Alec collected a handful of rocks for Sir Topham Hatt while in line - here he is trying to hand them off.

Seeing Thomas go by

Checking out the old cars

Thomas the train

Riding on the Thomas coaches - there were about 8 of them, but Alec was sure we were on Clarabel.

Checking out the view

All in all, a good day for the fam

Beautiful Colorado

We got back this week from a wonderful stay in Colorado. It was filled with fun outdoor adventures, lots of meeting up with friends and family, 2 trips to the Sungy condo in Avon, lots of eating and an all around good time. It's taken me awhile to post pics b/c I have so many of them and was kind of overwhelmed with where to start. So - here is a little picture montage of our 3+ week stay. We loved being home and already miss the mountain skyline, sunny skies, great company, and lack of bugs (Good lord I had no idea how bad the mosquitoes would be in IL in August - Alec and I both look like we have some kind of strange disease.) Thanks for a great trip everyone!!

At the zoo with Papa Gene, Grandma Susan and Reid

cousins

Playing outside the condo in Avon

Cooking with Aunt Abby

On the top of Shrine Pass

Alec and Liam celebrating at the summit

Sungys, Stewarts and Abby (Ross had to stay at the condo and work.)

Alec didn't really want to be in the backpack and kind of fussed on the way up the trail, but once we fueled him with food at the top he was ready to go and hiked almost the entire way down on his own.

Riding the Georgetown steam engine train

Checking out the awesome views

Playing at Grammy's sand table. Alec literally spent hours a day at this table - he would wake up and ask for it immediately and it's novelty never wore off.

Miles and Alec - they were pretty good pals this trip. Alec especially loved playing rocks with Miles, and by rocks I mean he loved to take rocks and hide them in Grammy and Papa's flower bushes and then laugh hysterically at Miles as he tore threw the bushes to retrieve the rocks. Sorry Mom.

Fixing up Uncle Nate's truck with Reid

Playing with James

Some head bobs in the river at Bellview Park

Some gymnastics with Bub

A boy and a dog

Grammy and Alec

Dinner date with James

On the way to Lake Dillon for a canoe ride

Lake Dillon

Papa Ross, Alec, Grammy and the canoe

he loved it

An attempt at a pic with cousins Quinn and Reid. We miss you all and thanks for a great trip - see you in December!