Survey

Please take a second and vote for your favorite name for the blog! I am ready for a new name & if you have any other suggestions, let me know!

Coming Soon: A week of Pastry Camp! Yes it is as good as it sounds - Yummy!

New Name!?!

Now that we are living in a new city, I feel that it is time to come up with a different name for my blog! I would love to hear your suggestions. Here are a few I've already been given:

* Deep Dish
* In the Loop
* Illy con Queso

Any others?

From Chile to Chicago

Alright, it has been a long time since I have been posting regularly and I'm sorry! Throughout the last few months I have wanted to post things, but then I feel like I can't because I'm not caught up - it is a vicious cycle!!!!! So here is the last few months in one post starting back in February!!!

February '08
All of our stuff in the Santiago Airport! This looks like a lot of stuff, but we were there for 9 months!
India is in her red bag on the top of the pile!

February '08
The welcome kit provided to us on the flight from Chile to the U.S! Everything was so cute!

February - March '08
It was so great to visit our family and friends in Kansas - we missed everyone so much! When we left Chile, it was at the end of summer down there & it was great to come back and catch just a little bit of winter!

March '08
After visiting in Kansas for a couple of weeks, Brad & I flew up to Philly to gather all our earthly belongings out of storage. We visited friends from Tenth, I saw friends from my old job, and Brad met up with a few law school friends. We were also able to spend a few days with our dear friends & former roomies, Joe & Carolyn & take a trip together up to Jersey City to hang out with Laura & Kevin.

March' 08 - Heading out in the Moving Truck or Album Cover?
In this photo, you'll notice that Brad is quite bearded! He stopped shaving a few days before we left Chile and by the time we arrived in Chicago, he had a pretty full beard. A few days after we moved into our apartment, Brad was asked by someone in our elevator, if he was "in one of those Rock Bands". That comment was a great endorsement for the beard! Anyway, I think this photo would make a pretty good album cover. The beard may become a winter tradition & there is talk about growing it again in July while Brad is studying for the Bar.

With the moving truck all loaded up, we headed out to Chicago!

March '08
Overnight stay in South Bend, Indiana. We toured the Notre Dame campus in our moving truck!

March '08
Brad's parents, brothers and India met us in Chicago & helped us move into our new place! It was so great to have all the help! We're looking forward to them all coming back to Chicago for a real visit, not one where they work the whole time!!! A few days later, Matt & Erika, came for a visit. We had a great time together and watched lots of college basketball!

Room with a View!!!
Our apartment is on the 17th floor, north of the Chicago River. The view is amazing and we can watch the new trump tower being built!

March '08 - Wrigley Field
Thanks to some of Brad's relatives & people from his office, I was able to go to the Cub's Season Opener and another game later that week! It was so fun, but super cold!!!!!

Fukudome up to bat! These seats were so great!

Inside Wrigley!

March '08 - March Madness!!!!
The KU flag stayed in our window from the Sweet Sixteen all the way to the National Championship!!!!
Rock Chalk, Jayhalk!

April '08
On April 3rd, my brother & sister-in-law had another little boy, Jack Ronald.

April '08
Luke checking out his new little brother!

April '08
View of the Wrigley Building from our window the night KU won the National Championship.

April '08
Just in time for Spring, Kevin & Laura come for a visit!

April '08
Tulips on Michigan Avenue

April '08
Tulips were everywhere - it was beautiful! This picture was taken a block from our apartment and has Marina City in the background!

May '08
In May, I went to Kansas! Man, the flight was so quick, just 1 hour and 20 minutes. I spent an evening with my friend Katy, spent a few days with the Wethingtons in Lawrence, which was so great. I saw each girl play a soccer game and was amazed at how grown-up they each were! Then I spent a week in central Kansas, helped my mom paint her porch, visited family, & saw my nephews. In the above picture, one can see how Luke likes to be on the move! I also had lunch with Brad's parents & then rode with Carola up to Lawrence. Brad flew down to KC for our friends, Pat & Kristen's wedding. It was a beautiful occasion and such an encouragement to our own marriage! Since we returned to Chicago, Brad has begun to study for the Bar Exam, which takes place at the end of July! Also, my dad came to visit for a few days & we had a great time exploring the city together!

June 8, 2008 - Six years of marriage!
It is hard to believe that we have been married for six years already! Though, to think we have lived in Lawrence, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Santiago and now Chicago in that time period, it does make sense! Thank you to all our friends and family for the wonderful encouragement and examples you are in our marriage.

My Big Break?

Alright, I'm finally going to post something on the good ol' blog! I've been avoiding the blog because I feel like I have to do a huge catch up post covering the last few months, but I'm scared I may never post again if I don't start soon! So I'll try to catch you all up in the coming days or maybe I'll just start from today & move forward!

But first I wanted to share what I stumbled onto today.........the set of the new Johnny Depp movie, Public Enemies! They have been shooting the film around Chicago for the last month, but we seem to always find out locations after the fact. Well, today I watched them film a few scenes! The scenes were shot over and over again and it seemed like very tedious work. My friend, Kirsten, was able to get some pretty good pictures!

Johnny Depp is in the middle of the picture in a black vest & white shirt

Depp between takes seemed very focused on his John Dillinger character.
Notice the extras in their 1930's costumes!

Up Close!

I know what you're thinking, Who is that guy in the red shirt, drinking pop?
Does he know that Johnny Depp is right over there????

The filming took place about 6 blocks from our apartment in the River North neighborhood. Three blocks were blocked off for the filming, but only 1 block was actually being filmed. When a scene would begin, the police and security would stop all regular traffic (which was pretty substantial at noon on a weekday!) and the old fashioned cars would drive around and then pull a U-Turn and head the other direction. This way, cars were always going by in the shot.

Kirsten & I posing in front of one of the old-style cars.