The Chicago Not Chicago Trip (aka The Wedding)

Rowan and I took a weekend trip to Chicago (well we flew into Chicago) back at the end of March for my friend Marisa's wedding. I've known Marisa since we were sophomores in high school, and have kept in touch throughout the years. I hadn't seen her in probably 10 years, so I was super excited to be going to her wedding. I actually had no idea where the wedding was being held though, or really any other information other than we were staying at a lake house and that Marisa's friend Bien would be picking me up. I had met Bien back when I visited Fallon, NV with Marisa when I was 14 and hadn't seen him since. Surprisingly he looked exactly the same. Crazy Filipino genes! So, he picks us up and informs me that we will be staying in Michigan City, IN which is about an hour and a half drive from Midway airport. On the way we decided to stop and pick up lunch. We spotted a White Castle, and since neither of us had eaten there before, we thought it would be fun to try. Harold and Kumar thought it was delicious, so would we...right? NEGATIVE. This was the most disgusting food I have eaten, possibly ever. Bien agreed. We couldn't even finish one of their small sliders. The Taco Bell next door saved us.

Here we are all ready to go to the airport at 4:30am. It is Rowan's first airplane ride. I was super nervous, not only about Rowan screaming the whole flight, but that I had to carry her and our luggage to check-in and then get us through security all on my own. It ended up being fine and Rowan did amazing on the flight. She slept half way and the other half she spent giggling and cooing at anyone who looked at her. Such a good lil traveler!

The view of Lake Michigan from the lake house.

The house was gorgeous. I loved the huge kitchen, coffered ceiling, and beautiful wood floors. It was such a large house with four bedrooms upstairs (all with their own bathrooms), a foyer lined with books and pictures, and a laundry room. On the main floor, besides the kitchen and dining room, was an office/bedroom and a nice open floor plan with lots of windows. There was a full basement totally set up for kids. There was a huge sectional with a large TV, a ping pong table, cupboards full of board games, another kitchen and laundry room, and two bedrooms with four bunk beds and two twin bed inside. Outside there was a sailboat, jet skis,  wakeboards, and other water play/beach items. I would love to go back during the summer. It looked like it would be a blast!

Rowan was such a happy girl the whole trip. Thank goodness!

We went for a stroll on the beach. Surprisingly the weather was fabulous while we were there. I had been so worried that we were going to freeze, but that weekend was nice enough that I barely needed a jacket. Two days before we arrived it had snowed, and the day after we left was suppose to be cold again. I guess we brought the San Diego weather with us and took it back too.

Rowan loved watching the waves and feeling the wind on her face. Her cheeks and nose turned rosy and cute. I found a bunch of cool rocks on the beach. So many flat ones just begging to be skipped.

The beautiful bride and me. Marisa looked fabulous. She wore her mom's wedding dress that she had altered to her liking. It turned out gorgeous.

Rowan was passed around a lot since she was the only baby at the wedding. She looked so cute, who could resist! I was totally surprised that she didn't get sick after this trip considering she went on two airplane rides, was held by everyone and their mother (seriously), and had her sleeping and eating schedule all messed up. 

Marisa and her dad, Tom. Doesn't she look lovely?

I'm so glad that Dan (her fiance, now husband) contacted me and convinced me to attend. His friend Jay and he used their Southwest miles to get me a plane ticket. Originally they had planned to marry in Truth or Consequence, NM and I was going to drive out there, but they had to change everything when Dan's mother was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. It was moved so that she could attend since she was having aggressive treatment, and she lived in Chicago. Unfortunately she passed away, so extremely sad, just days before the wedding and they ended up making funeral arrangements and attending her memorial instead of working on wedding plans. Luckily Marisa's parents stepped in and took care of all the wedding details. They also had a civil ceremony at the hospital with his mom when they found out she didn't have much time.

Such a great couple. I just love them so!

She did equally well on the flight home. The last 20 minutes or so she was ready to get off but only cried briefly and went back to trying to eat the safety card in the back of the seat. She seriously gobbled up a corner of the pamphlet before I noticed!  

I have to say, we had a pretty great time, even if we didn't actually get to visit Chicago. I got to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a very long time, made new ones, and even scored some awesome Spornette professional style hair brushes (they gave them away as party favors inside pint glasses from a brewery, called Cumbre, in which Dan is a partial owner). I also got to eat some delicious food after the White Castle fiasco. I had perogies (drool), fried pickles with sriracha ranch, BBQ ribs, and awesome biscuits and gravy from this total dive diner that I loved. I did miss out on a Chicago dog and poutine (I tried order this but they didn't have any gravy left!) but that's ok. Next time!