The Windy City Lives Up To It's Name.....

Well I made it back safe and sound! We had such a great trip. Here are a few things I learned about Chicago:
1) I was completely under dressed....and not just for the cold! Every person who walked the streets in Chicago looked like a walking magazine cover. Apparently fashion is a must there. I am sure my tennis shoes and wind suit jacket offended most of the people that I passed on the street.
2) 50 degrees in Chicago is WAY different than 50 degrees here. The wind would almost blow you completely over.
3) No one believes in air conditioning. I know this sounds contradictory to point 2 but when you have 5 layers of clothes on to brave the weather outside and you walk in a store, you literally had to shed all your clothes so that you didn't sweat to death. It was unbearably hot in every store. The few taxi's that we rode in were so hot that the windows fogged up.
4) People LOVE to hear southerners talk. We were asked a bazillion times "Where are you from?" and told "I just LOVE your accent!" I had several people tell me they loved my hair too.... maybe no one gets highlights in Chicago....who knows.
5) No one speaks English. Every conversation I heard on the streets was in some other language. Surely not all of those people are tourists. It was neat to hear all the diversity there.
6) There are tulips everywhere. I wasn't aware that tulips could stand the cold but they were on every corner in every single color you could imagine. They were so beautiful.
7) They believe in Starbucks and Walgreen's! Both were on EVERY corner! Worked out great for us.
8) The pizza was unlike any pizza around here. Although it was kinda soupy it was still good.

One thing I can say is although we ate some GREAT food, we didn't gain an ounce on this trip. We walked everywhere we went. It was neat to walk all the streets and look up to see you had walked clear across town. Here are some pics to help give you the full tour!

 A very cold stroll through Magnificent Mile

 Mom and Dad at Navy Pier

 These 3 guys put on a great show for us at Rain forest Cafe

 Everyone told me to be sure to see the "bean" in Chicago. Here it is!

 On the flight to Chicago!

 Emeralds Loop for lunch!

 This was after a 45 minute walk (with luggage) from the train to the hotel. We were give out.

 Our first day on Magnificent Mile. Most of the stores we didn't even walk in because we knew we couldn't quite afford anything from Tiffany's. We found a Charming Charlies the last day and spent two hours shopping in there.

 We went everywhere together. Usually teenagers like to ditch their family to hang with their friends, but Paige stayed with us the entire time. It was so great to spend time all 4 of us.

 Wrigley Building

 This statue of Marilyn was in front of the NBC building. We had to pass by it several times daily. I kid you not, every single time we passed by her SOMEONE was looking up her dress to see if she had underwear on. They were usually snickering and laughing. It was humorous to me so you know we all had to go check it out ourselves. Rest assured Marilyn was fully dressed!

 Here are the tulips! Gorgeous!

 The Jersey Boys were playing.... I sure wish we could have seen them.

 An old cathedral downtown.

 Memorial park.

 Taking a quick break.

 Our whole reason for coming. So proud to be from SJH! These kids did an awesome job. Competition was STIFF but I think 9th in the ENTIRE NATION is still something to brag about.

 Rain forest Cafe

 Freezing but still having a blast.

 Waiting on our flight in Memphis.

 Isn't God's creation beautiful. It was simply amazing to look out the window and see what He has made. Although I will admit flying still isn't on my list of fun things to do, it was an awesome experience. Will I do it again.....possibly but I must admit the entire flight both times I was smiling on the outside and scared to death on the inside. It never got easier for me. Every noise, bump, or drop in altitude we had, I was positive we were about to die.

This little guy was SUPER stoked for his mommy to get home. He gave me one of the best hugs I have ever received and promptly asked what did I bring him. A true man!

With only 2 hours of sleep the night before we came home, once I got home and loved on my 2 guys, I crashed for 4 hours and awoke to Colby saying Mommy please feed me! I was thankful he let me catch a nap.

Highlight of the trip: While in Memorial Park, we saw a girl with a 1.5 foot Mohawk on her head that was blond on one side and black on the other. Instead of just giving her a once over and moving on, my dad....THE TOURIST....walks up to her and says "Can I please take your picture? I am from Mississippi and we have never seen anything like your hair!" Her reply was a hesitant "I guess so..." I quickly walked as fast as I could in the other direction.



A letter to my son.

Have I mentioned I am terrified to fly? Although going places like Greece, Rome and Bora Bora are all on my “Bucket List”, flying to get there was not. Flying is just something I have never had a desire to do. When the opportunity came for me to accompany my parents to Chicago to watch my baby sister perform in the National Show choir competition I was so excited. I am such a sheltered child…… remember Disney World from a previous blog ;)  I do have a little anxiety about the flight but I keep telling myself that terrorists like to sleep in (we have an EARLY flight) and it will be too early in the morning (hopefully) for the pilot to be drinking. As morbid as it sounds, I got to thinking “Just in case something was to happen I would really like to write Colby a letter so he would have it forever.” I didn’t want to write something to make him sad, but something that would actually be helpful throughout his life.  I thought I would share it with you as well.

To my dearest son,

In the event that mommy would ever have to leave you, there are a few things I wanted to share with you. I have big hopes and dreams for you, bigger than you can even imagine. Since I won’t be there to help you along the way here are 11 tips I would really like you to live by to guide you through life.

1)     Always look both ways before crossing the street. Actually look both ways then take one more glance both ways. After that take one step then look both ways again…..better yet how about just don’t cross the street. Just stay where you are ok.

2)     Pay attention in school. I know most of it is boring and you will say at least a thousand times “Where in my life will I ever use Algebra”, it is still important. Suck it up and learn it.

3)     Play a sport, but preferably one that balls do not fly at your head at a fast rate of speed... Learning to be a team player will get you further in life than that algebra will. You don’t want to be the co-worker that everyone hates one day. That one person who doesn’t know that anyone else exists in the world but themselves….. That person is annoying and ungrateful and that will NOT be you.

4)     Be nice to everyone…..yes everyone. Don’t be that obnoxious boy who makes choo choo train noises when an overweight kid comes in the room or makes fun of someone for having different interests than they do. That overweight kid may turn out to look like Jennifer Anniston one day or that kid with different interests may be Bill Gates. Wouldn’t you hate to miss both of those gravy trains son? In all honesty how you treat others not only molds who they will become one day, but also who you will become. I see grown men today and although they have grown and matured into adults (well some of them are still stuck in the 10^th grade) they will always be bullies in my mind. Don’t be that kid. You are better than that. You are above that. Treat everyone how you would expect to be treated.

5)     Go to church. I don’t care if you don’t want too. The best thing your nana and poppa ever did for me is drug me to church. Mold your life after the men in that church rather than a celebrity. Those men aren’t perfect, but their roots are tapped into the right source. I promise one day you will be just like me and look back and say “Wow I am so glad I went!”

6)     Date a decent girl. If her face book profile picture is a kissy face, a duck face, a pouty face, or she is throwing up her fingers in some sort of gang sign that really is just the good ole peace sign with her wrist bent, LEAVE HER ALONE! Find a girl who likes to read, is respectful of others and is the type of girl you would never have to go get from the club at 2 in the morning because she lost her purse, and her dinner in the bathroom and needs a ride home. I have been praying for this woman since they day I found out I was pregnant with you. She has received just as many prayers from me as you have. Make me proud on this one ok.

7)     Never do drugs. Ever. I will come back from the grave and give you the worst hallucination you have ever had in your life.  

8)     Be optimistic. Even when it is hard to be, see your glass has half full. Pessimism is the most annoying trait any person can have. You are given one life. You will never get tomorrow back. Don’t live your life worrying or criticizing every little thing or you will completely miss it.

9)     Think before you act. This includes (but is not only subject to)  bungee jumping, impromptu Vegas trips, riding any 2 or 4 wheeled object your daddy has inspired you to ride, piercing anything, tattooing anything, sky diving, flipping the bird during a fit of road rage, and throwing the first punch.  Remember the most valuable lesson I have taught you thus far, take a deep breath and walk away.

10) Be smart with your money. Don’t let it burn a hole in your pocket, don’t try living a champagne life on a Kool-Aid budget, and don’t put unnecessary strain on your wallet. Also don’t burn through the insurance money I leave you….. It is meant for your education.

11) Mind your manners. This doesn’t just mean to say please and thank you, this means to act like you KNOW you should. Respect the elderly, watch your tongue, hold doors open for women, control your temper, and always show your parents the respect they deserve.

You were the best thing I ever did. Now go be the man I prayed for you to be.

                                                                                    Love,

                                                                                   Momma

Now that’s done. I will be sad to leave my little family for 4 days but I am so excited for this trip. I am sure I will have plenty to blog about once I get home!

Easter pics

This is strictly just a photo blog! Happy Easter!

Easter Egg Hunt EGGstravaganza!!!

Here are some pictures from our Easter Egg Hunt today! WEBC Ladies feel free to share this blog to your family if you want to share the photo's of your kids! Enjoy!

 How stinkin cute is that....

 hahaha look at that face

 that is better....

 Aunt Paige was the Easter Bunny

 Monica here is your one picture that Blair would look at the camera

 My sidekick for the day :)

Happy Easter everyone!