Window Office Livin'

A running joke with Chris and I is my "window office" aka closet-converted-temporary office. Still. It DOES have a window.

Chris has a friend who flies for American Eagle. A month or so ago I was supposed to be surprised with a flight to Lake Geneva and a flight over the Chicago skyline....but the weather rules the skys and it had to be postponed. So Ryan called us up the second week of July and we planned on a flight for that Thursday. We had a delicious summery dinner at Ryan and Kristinas house and then made our way to Chicago Executive. We got into a little Cessna and flew to Lake Geneva in just 15 minutes, landing on a tiny runway for the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa. A trolley picked us up and took us to the resort where we enjoyed some delicious dessert! We also walked around the resort a little. It was a blast! The resort used to be the Playboy Mansion which is kinda cool. It would be awesome to spend a fall weekend there.

After a confused trolley driver took us back to our car....or plane...we hopped in, took off, and made our way towards the city. We flew over the skyline, seeing the Hancock building, Sears tower, and Navy Pier. We also spotted Wrigley Field....and some people being busted by the police on the streets! It was such an awesome experience to see the skyline at night from the air. I did get a little nauseous at the end but it was worth it. By the time we got back home that night it was 2AM and I was zonked. What a night to live the high life.

LMAX

Windy City Summer implies Chicago....but hey the lake is my second home and it's kinda windy at the lake so this post is being dedicated to LMAX and some of the summer weekends that we've spent there!

Weekend after my Birthday:

Mom made a delicious ice cream cake and I got some great gifts (I still need to write thank you notes.....my manners escaped me this summer)

Fourth of July weekend:

Chris and I both took off the week after the fourth so it was more like a mini vacation which ended up being awesome since the weather was so perfect. We celebrated the Sunday before the fourth at the Point with some friends. We all had a ton of fun....maybe a little too much fun. Which resulted in early bedtimes and hangover cures to follow. Parade that night was awesome. It was great to see all the cousins and Peter especially, in the parade. He looked AWESOME.

Weekend after the Fourth:

Peter was able to be checked out of camp for the first time. He seems like he's having a blast and doing really well. Everyone is impressed at how still he can stand for so long. His marching is great and he seems like he has already matured a ton at camp. I'm so glad that he's enjoying it. I asked him if he is going next year and he said "maybe." Lets turn that maybe into a "DUH! of course!" Oh and news travels fast at camp. Everyone seemed to know that fun was had at the Point the previous weekend. I thought that was pretty hilarious!

Lake Fest Weekend:

Ohhh Lake Fest. How do you manage to get smaller and smaller every year, yet every summer there is never an increase in the amount of parking spaces to be found in town. There's nothing at Lake Fest people! It's the same EVERY year....yet smaller. Chris and I enjoyed our annual Lemon shake-up and elephant ear. And then we got out of there fast. The one great thing about Lake Fest is the fireworks. It was the most incredible fireworks show on LMAX yet this summer. Beautiful! It was a perfect night on Chris' boat, with drinks, family, conversation, oldies and a plethora of ooing and awwing at the fireworks above. A perfect lake evening. Nothing gets better than that.

Birthday Weekend

The big 2-1. Finally I can enjoy a drink, walk into liquor stores, and sit at the bar in Indiana. FINALLY.

The night before my 21st Chris and I went to a wedding with a bunch of his friends. It was a beautiful wedding with some modern twists which was pretty neat. During the reception it was announced that the centerpiece lantern would go to the person at your table with the closest birthday. HEY! That's ME! (It happens to match the lantern that is currently in my apartment!) Dancing and drinks were enjoyed at the reception. Chris and I left early because Chris had to be at O'hare the next morning early to fly to Puerto Rico for the WF mission trip. I think we were both kinda bummed that this was happening the same day as my birthday, but that's life!

Sunday morning, my birthday, I woke up a little excited and a little sad. I was missing celebrating my birthday with my family. I would just have to wait until next weekend when I could be at the lake with them. That evening I went to Cheesecake Factory with Chris' parents to celebrate my birthday. Thank you!!! I ended the day talking to my mom and just wanting the week to begin so the weekend would come quick! Chris came back friday night around 7. It was amazing to see him and hear all of his stories about Puerto Rico. It sounds like quite the beautiful place! Chris is amazing. He was exhausted and yet followed through on his promise to drive to the lake Friday night. We split the drive and eventually made it to the place which is both so special to us...Lake Max! This is the weekend that my little Pete would be going to Culver Woodcraft Camp for 6 whole weeks. Man....I'm gonna miss him!