Kirtland & Chicago

When we got tickets to the BYU vs Notre Dame game back in october, we decided to make a big trip out of it. On the way up to Chicago we made a stop at some church sites.

Such a pretty, simple temple inside and out.

Isn't this view to die for? I love the trees and fresh, green grass. It was so gorgeous!

The next day we visited Chicago!

Our first stop was Wrigley Field. We walked around and even got a peak inside at the field while they had large doors open.

We loved seeing everyone's stadium seats on top of their buildings.

I love myself some hotdogs and isn't Chicago a must if you want a hotdog?! Hot Doug's came highly rated, but I have to say I wasn't too impressed with it. It was good, but not the best hotdog I've ever had.

As we were walking back to the car we noticed this pig with a broken leg. Over the summer when my parents were visiting when Landon was born we went to a local farm. There was a baby goat with a cast on his leg and Beau was so concerned about it! He couldn't stop talking about it and told everyone he met about "the goat with the broken yeg". We even went back later that week when my parents were still here to see the goat again and they had just taken the cast off! He was a little disappointed he didn't see it again. So when we saw this pig "with a broken yeg" we had to get a picture with it.

We decided to do something Beau would enjoy so we went to an Aquarium! He loved it!

This was his favorite spot. Once we found this water feature he was done. He didn't want to see anymore and didn't want to leave. Every time we tried to get him to see something else he would turn around and run right back to it.

After the aquarium we went to Navy Pier. The weather was just getting worse. Cold and rainy. But we were able to get a ride on the ferris wheel, since it was invented in Chicago we had to, before it started raining too hard.

Then in the pouring rain we went to see the bean! I was really disappointed that it was raining because I was looking forward to seeing the bean the most. And all of our shoes got soaked to and from the bean. We had to take hair dryers to them to dry them out in time for the game the next day.

We ate at a famous deep dish pizza, because you can't go to Chicago without getting some authentic deep dish. And it was so yummy!!! I wish I could get more! Chicago was such a pretty place (even in the rain) and I'm so glad that I got to experience a little taste of what it had to offer.

BYU vs Notre Dame

The next day was game day and everyone was excited! We got up early and toured the campus before the game. As soon as we got to the campus after taking a shuttle from where we parked, we realized Travis forgot the tickets in the car. So he headed back to the car while Beau, Kirtsie, Brad and I tried to make our way to the bookstore which was on the opposite side of campus.

Brad had the great idea of catching a ride on one of these rickshaws! Imagine 3 grown adults, one toddler and a stroller on the back of this bike. This guy was awesome and gave us a tour of the campus on the way to the bookstore. Great way to go!

It was so cold and when we put mittens on Beau it seemed like he didn't know what to do with his hands! He just kept them as still as can be on his legs. So funny!

After our trip, we asked Beau what his favorite part of it was and he said the church. It was really pretty inside!

Beau was going to town on Kirstie's popcorn!

It was a really good game and we actually scored!! It was nice to see our flags fly!

Beau enjoying the Cougar Fight Song!

Touchdown Jesus!

Like I said, it was cold! And it just got colder as the day went on. Some nice people gave us some hand warmers to put into Beau's mittens. Now he really didn't know what to do with his hands, but he enjoyed it!

Why are hotel rooms so much fun for little kids? Beau had a blast playing with the phone, still wanting to keep his mittens on of course. He still asks when are we going to stay in another hotel.

We had so much fun! I'm so glad we went to the game and were able to visit Chicago as well. We missed Landon at home, but it was so good to get away and explore a new place!

Rolling Thunder

Travis has an obsession with motorcycles and thinks he's going to own one someday. Not if I have anything to do with it! He planned for us to go into DC to check out the motorcycle gathering that happens every Memorial Day Weekend. We listened to old rock songs on our trip. One particular song struck a chord with Beau, Bad to the Bone, and he kept repeating that phrase over and over (He even kept repeating 'bad to the bone' on our way into church the next day!) Our goal was to count how many motorcycles we saw, but once we got into DC it was clear that we weren't going to be able to keep track, there were so many! We had never seen anything like it. Motorcycles and leather chaps and jackets were as far as the eye could see. Beau even grabbed the rough-skinned hand of an unsuspecting old biker dude thinking it was Travis. They both looked at each other in surprise! The biker said he wasn't sure who was more shocked! We hit up a few memorials while we were there and grabbed a bite to eat at our favorite burger place. The weather was perfect! We couldn't have asked for a better day.

 Beau wanted to ride a motorcycle so we asked someone if he could jump on one for a picture. That turned into asking almost everyone we saw on their motorcycle if he could get on it for a picture. Beau couldn't get enough of sitting on them. 

Landon didn't let go of that flag the whole time we were there. He must have been feeling the patriotic spirit.