A Mini-TR - The Windy City and the Big Apple
Since DH is studying a computer nerd book to get a certification, I have a bit of time before he turns out the light to give you the first installment of my mini-TR.
I will attempt to keep this mini...we had a really great time and have TONS of pictures, so be forewarned.
On Thursday, May 8, DH and I both work from home. Of course work for me is INSANE. We finally get out of the house and on the road, headed for Chicago at 6:21 pm (yes, I looked at the clock). Not too shabby. Henry is doing great in the car, we stop at Babies R Us near Minneapolis (about 1.25 hours from the house) and get Henry a new car seat and we couldn't resist a new toy for him for the ride either.
Here is Henry in his new seat, chillin' in his sunglasses:
We also changed Henry into his pajamas, fed him and changed his diaper in the parking lot of the Babies R Us. He had a looooong afternoon nap, so he didn't fall asleep for quite a while, but was very content in the car. He fell asleep eventually and we forged on through the setting sun, into Wisconsin. We stopped twice in Wisconsin, once for coffee and treats and another for a bathroom break-which naturally also included coffee and treats.
When we got into Illinois and hit our first tollway, I BLAZED right through the first toll. Since I had last been in the state they have changed the tollways and I totally missed it. I made sure to get the next couple, then suddenly we realized we had forgotten to get small bills and change. Since it was in the middle of the night there weren't attendants at some of the tolls and we had no change....so I went through those too. I figured I could pay the tolls online, but when I attempted the next day, you had to know the NAME of the toll you missed! Being an out of stater, I only had a guess to the name. So, my Aunt said not to worry about it, they'll send me a letter in the mail....maybe. Took 2 years for my cousin to get one about the toll she missed!
Anyway, we make decent time and arrive at my Aunt's at about 3:30 am. We say our hellos to my family and then head straight to the basement for our bed. Henry goes right back to sleep and we crash instantly.
We woke up at about 10:00 am, I couldn't believe Henry slept that long!
We got ready for the day and headed to my brother's graduation. He is now an official, certified mechanic! WAY TO GO DAVID!
We were all so proud of him.
Here is the graduate with his little nephew:
Me, DH, Henry and my brother:
My Dad and Henry:
My Dad and brother REALLY loved spending time with Henry.
We all went to lunch and then hung out at my brother and Dad's place for the afternoon. DH, my Mom, Henry and I eventually went back to my Aunt's house. My cousin was there with her little guy who is 15 months.
Here is Henry and Jesse together:
Jesse is SUCH A CUTIE! I hadn't seen him since he was 3 months old. It was really fun to see my cousin, her fiance and their little guy!!
We visited for a long time and then went to sleep, we knew we'd have an early start to make it out of the house and to the airport in time for our flight.
The next morning, we said our good-byes to my Aunt and Mom, my Mom was worried and nervous we'd miss our flight. I was calm-I knew we wouldn't....and I was right! (Don't you just love when you are right?!
) We had over an hour to mill around the airport and eat and early lunch.
Here is Henry checking in for the flight:
DH had an expired ID...oops! He had to get extra scanned on the way in.
After eating and all, we boarded the very empty flight:
The stewardesses noticed it was Henry's first flight and gave him some wings!
Henry was very interested in the Safety Instructions
:
While flying my DH says "There is a cloud that is forming a Mickey head shaped shadow on the ground!" So he took a picture for me!
You see it?
After some Sierra Mist and a nice nap (Henry also napped-did EXCELLENT on the flight!) we arrived safe and sound at New York's LaGuardia airport. Our luggage came quickly and we headed out to grab a City bus that would take us to the subway, to take us to my friend's apartment. It all went pretty quickly-except waiting for a stupid train, that took over 20 minutes, but eventually we arrived and could finally put down our VERY heavy bags.
After visiting for a bit we headed to Battery Park where there was a surprise wedding shower for 2 of our friends going on. I was good friends with a guy named Kosj while living in NYC and he dated and then proposed to a wonderful gal named Jaymi, that I got to know a bit during my last few months in NYC. I was ELATED to hear they were dating and on Cloud 9 to hear they were getting married! I was so, so pleased their wedding shower landed on a day I would be there! It was a small gathering of friends in the park. By the time we got there, everyone was just hanging out and playing music. It was a wonderful start to the trip.
Here is Kosj and Henry-I love this pic!
And Jaymi, Kosj and Henry. Of course all their friends were teasing them that this picture would be their close future!!!
They are such beautiful people, I cannot wait to see their children!
It got a bit chilly being down by the water, so Henry became a "taco" in his blanket for a bit:
We headed back to my friends' apartment shortly after the sun started to set, and got some cheapy Tex-Mex down the street and ate in her living room. We were exhausted and so was Henry. We struggled a bit the first night on where to put him for bed, my friend had no children so she had no crib or anything that resembeled one....we tried a few different things, including this one:
Henry ended up sleeping between DH and I for the week, which worked out wonderfully!
Coming soon...Shopping in "Heaven" and Cowgirl.
We had a really great trip-the day at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens was one of my favorites.
I would do it tonight, but it's almsot midnight already...
I'm almost caught up with TRs and stuff on here though, so it should be soon. 
I wanted to see it one last time before they remove the building and construct a high rise in it's place.
So, I gotta run some numbers and send him an email.
