The water keeps rising.

We've been complaining all winter about it being the worst winter we've had in years...well, we continue to feel it's wrath as we are now dealing with flooding in the area. I've been meaning to take pictures for days but kept forgetting so while on the way home from picking the girls up from school today, I took a few pictures of the areas right around our house. Let's pray that we continue to have wonderful weather to help this water dry up as quickly as it came.
(Our neighbors field which looks more like a lake)
(The water getting close to coming over the highway)
(Looking up our lane)
(About half way up our driveway...the driveway to the neighbors field is completely covered)

Chicago

(The double decker bus)

(New outdoor ampitheater)

("The Bean")

(The Chicago River dyed green for St. Patrick's Day)

(Trump Tower)
Chad and I enjoyed a wonderful 'quick' trip to Chicago as our winter getaway. While it wasn't a beach, and Chad had a conference on Monday and part of Tuesday morning, we still really enjoyed the time away. We arrived in Chicago Saturday evening (13th) which was Chicago's St. Pat's celebration...and how lucky were we that there was an Irish bar right next to our hotel??!!!! We definitely missed one heck of a party because by 9 pm, almost everyone was gone from the bar but a huge mess was left behind. But, I guess if you start at 8 am, you're bound to be done a little earlier than we usually do here in E'burg.

Sunday we decided we would ride the double decker bus around the city so we could see some things we normally wouldn't get to see. SOOOOOOOOOO much fun - we even rode on the top in the cold! I'd recommend it to anyone heading to Chicago. Of course, we had to stop at Millenium Park to see the last day of the iceskating rink, "The Bean" art, the new ampitheater for the Chicago orchestra, and a quick stop for some Chicago style pizza!! Next we saw the Sears tower which now has a viewing deck that is all glass and protrudes from the side of the building...very cool, but I was actually too scared to try it!!! It was very cool though to learn the history of the city and the mob background involved.

I spent the day Monday walking close to 7 miles up and down Michigan Avenue, then over to State Street. It was a gorgeous day though so it was wonderful to be out and about. While walking the block and a half from my hotel to Michigan Ave, I passed a bunch of trailers and security guards, only to find out that a movie was being shot on that location so that was really cool. The security guard said it was mostly up and coming actors but I saw such names as Julianna, Gabriel, Katherine, and Michael...all anmes in which you could add a current actors last name to, so who knows!!! The night was topped off with a walk on Navy Pier (which is pretty boring during the winter but still beautiful) and supper there as well. It was a great ending to a great long weekend and it was even more wonderful to get back home to the kiddos.

That darn cat.

These words are mumbled out of my mouth on a daily basis, if not more than once in a day. Jinxy, who we adopted from my sister and her family is such a wonderful kitty - so loveable, good with the kids, etc. We have loved her dearly since we got her the first part of January, but MAN does she keep us on our toes. As you can tell by the picture above, she's very curious - even watching the washing machine THE WHOLE time it was running the other day! For their birthday, the girls had asked for fish, so we got them 7 fish and put our big fish tank back up and have really enjoyed them...but now we're down to ONE!!! We knew the cat was getting in to the fish tank because the filter cover was constantly at the bottom of the tank - but we thought it was just to drink the water like Lucy, our other cat, does. Well, we have lost a fish almost every 2 weeks or so!!! That darn cat! I also had found a marble from one of Kale's games that she was chasing around on the floor so I set it up on my counter to put away in the box at a later time...next thing I know, she's on my counter with the marble in her mouth!! That darn cat!!!

Like I tell Kale on almost a daily basis..."it's a good thing you're cute" because otherwise, they'd both be living outside!!!!