Clark Family Reunion 2011/ Chicago

                                                          

                                                  

We spent the entire past week with my mom's side of the family for our family reunion. And it was held, get this...

Here in Illinois!!

A once in a lifetime event to have so much of my family to come to the place I live!

I have one aunt and uncle that live outside of Utah on my Mom's side. And they just so happen to live about an hour and a half away. They are amazing, and they were our hosts. What a fantastic job they did!

My parents, and sister Emily and her family all drove out. They were able to come to our house first, and go to church with us. It was so much fun, and kind of surreal to have them all at my home! We did miss my sister's Shelley and Lauren and their families.

We spent the first couple of days here in the Chicago area, and then the whole group traveled to Nauvoo, Il.

We did the Chicago sights first. It was a packed couple of days, and for the most part our kids were troopers! I will have to split our Chicago and Nauvoo events into two posts. I as usual, went a little crazy with the photos.

After many a bathroom trip. (We did have 18 children ages 10 and under with us.) We hit the Chicago Bean.

                                  Us. With my parents, Aunt, Uncle, cousins, neice and sister in the background.

We are blurry, but this is most of our group with the city skyline in the background.

Our kids were not happy with us because we would not let them go in the fountain. My children don't do well once wet. So, that was a no-go at the start of our day. The looks of dismay!

We went to Navy Pier for just a bit, then headed to Lincoln Park zoo. I really like this zoo. It is free, small enough to see the whole thing and not be too overwhelmed, and right in the heart of the city. Oh, and they have a carousel. Here is Georgia riding her panda.

And Walker on his, prairie dog? I am not sure. Not sure what Del is doing either.

Our kids loved the tigers. In fact, they loved them so much, that every so often, one of them would disappear while we rested on a bench. We would find them back at the tiger window.  Really safe, I know!

There is a really pretty garden the zoo opens up into. We used this location for some of our professional family photos last year. We stopped again for pictures with the skyline. It ended up looking further away than in person. The kids used the opportunity to do some cartwheels and get a swing around by the ankles from the dads.

My Mom and Dad.

My sister Emily, her husband, Mike, and the kiddos, Hailey, Mallorey, Annie, and Jack.

My uncle was so great the entire day, and acted as our taxi cab. We would just call him up, and he would come to our location with a big 15 passenger van he had rented, and haul us to the next sight. He said he might just "give up lawyering" as he put it, and drive a rig! Yeah, I am betting not, but we shall see! Thanks Uncle Scott!

We ate deep dish pizza for dinner at Gino's East, and then went on a Wendella architectural river tour. It was VERY cool! I must admit that when I drive into a city, I don't look at the buildings and wonder what the story behind their being built is. But I will now! It was really interesting to learn the history of the buildings in Chicago. And there is no shortage of good architecture here! Just bring a jacket. Our tour went out onto Lake Michigan for about a half and hour, and it was windy. Great thing to do on your visit to Chicago!

My Dad, concentrating on the architecture.

It was in this building that Abraham Lincoln announced his candidacy for President of the United States. Cool, huh?

Any good tips for growing out bangs on a little girl who won't wear a clip in her hair?

My extended family, enjoying the views.

The next day, we took the kids to the American Girl store, and the Lego store. The lucky ducks, they all got to pick a toy. Georgia got her first American Girl doll. One of the mini dolls. She chose Kit.

Very exciting. The boys did not let their Bionicles out of their sights for the rest of the week.

After our American Girl stop, we decided to walk to the Chicago classic, Ed Debevic's for lunch. It had been so difficult finding parking that was tall enough to fit our cars, that we did not want to have to pull them out of the only garage that we found over 7 feet. 

We all worked for our lunch by walking many blocks in the heat and humidity. 

The kids had so much fun at Ed Debevic's. And we were all good sports about wearing our hats. Even though our waitress kept calling us all "weirdos," and poor Mike "princess." 

(if you don't know Ed Debevic's, you don't know what I am talking about.)

We all enjoyed a "Worlds Smallest Sundae," and the kids were thrilled to keep their glass as a souvenir.

That night, at my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Scott's house, mother nature treated those unaccustomed to the midwest storms to a lovely tornado warning. We all went to hang out in the basement together. All forty of us. But one, by one, everyone was drawn back upstairs to watch the sky, and the weather reports. And for my Mom and my Aunt Jean, it was the thrill they wanted! To hear the sirens, and watch the sky turn green. So glad they were satisfied. Without being blown away that is. 

We loaded up, and headed to Nauvoo the next morning. More fun to come!