Illinois Payne Visit

We had another great weekend of exploring with visitors - this time from Omaha. We wandered around the area here, and took in the Starved Rock State Park Lodge , as well as Washington Square - the site of the first Lincoln/Douglas debate (which Daniela had recently studied), and the Ottawa downtown area.

We made pizza, though it didn't necessarily rival Chicago style pizza, and went out for fish shaped steak. Not really, but doesn't it look like it, seriously? And too bad we didn't take any video of the cheese dance for the pizzas... next time, haha.

Of course, Charlie was paramount - and kept us all entertained - this is the new hairpulling/eating trick she learned (after the nose biting, dear god, ugh, sorry again Daniela), outside the window with g-paw Dennis and sitting like the queen she is... uhhh, *thinks* she is...

We made it to Chicago, and though short, we had a good time!

After a questionable arrival (according to the innocent almost-struck pedestrian and innocent slightly-bummped Beamer) we settled in to the hotel before setting out on the town.

Ventured out for Chicago-style pizza (not California Pizza, as the California tourists pointed us to) and found it - Pizzeria Uno. It had a full layer of sausage - like literally a full layer, like a big ole patty made special just to fit the pan. Hard to eat more than one slice if you can believe it, it's sooo filling.

It was a busy Friday night with a waitlist, so we headed over a block and played games until then. This is a place that you could hurt yourself - physically. Beer + active games = sore body but fun!

The next day was Operation Shopping as we wandered down the Magnificent Mile (great architecture) and around the Navy Pier.