This is an amazing story that I read through dooce.com and I couldn’t help but post it, please read it:
The Cab Ride I’ll Never Forget

Nick’s mom turned 50 two weeks ago and she wanted to take the family to Chicago and do the whole touristy thing. I was super excited love Chicago and I have never done the touristy things (other than Shedd).

Thursday
Meet the fam at Deb’s house. Lexie rode with us, while Evan, Deb and Bruce in his car. We got to Aurora around 2pm, where Kari had pizza for us. She so kindly offered to take us into the city so we wouldn’t have to pay parking. All seven of us with luggage got into her Sequoia and headed downtown. We stayed at the Silversmith hotel on Wasbash on Jewelers Row, which was a perfect location and the service was great. We got two suites next to each other, which worked out perfectly. That night all of us except Bruce and Nick went and saw Wicked. Love it, even the second time. The theater was crazy cold though and we were shushed in like sardines. The show ended around 10pm, we were starving, so we hit up Subway, where Lex and I jammed out to Cher on the Subway radio.

Friday
Early start to hit up Dunkin Donuts/Starbucks, I don’t get the hype on Dunkin Donuts, they were just ok. Anywho, jumped over to Millennium Park to see “the bean”, first time I’ve ever seen it. Then saw this awesome video art fountain. Moving on to Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain (photo op!). We ended up at Shedd Aquarium. Oddly enough we finally ended the Great Height Debate, Nick is actually 5’8 and I’m 5’7. Which blew me away considering I tell everyone I’m 5’5. Saw some penguins, whales, dolphins and an awesome Komodo Dragon. Afterwards we headed next door to the Field Museum. Love it except for the creepy dead animals they had everywhere. It was just kind of weird. However, they did have Sue the largest, most complete dinosaur skeleton. They had a fantastic Egyptian exhibit, recreation of a tomb and full of mummies. For dinner was pizza at Pizanos, which was full of drama with an extremely drunk girl causing commotion because they refused to serve her. Pizza was good, but I still love Giordanos.

Saturday
Headed to Navy Pier for the Architecture tour, which was so cool. Then to Magnificent Mile which was nuts and full of people, stopped by Tiffany’s for some ring shopping and browsing. Lexie got a sweet necklace for her birthday. We headed back to our hotel, split up, some of us did some more shopping and then met back up for a amazing dinner at the Brazilian restaurant, Brazzaz. It is sort of “all-you-can-eat” deal. It had this awesome salad bar, with cheeses, risotto, variety of fish, sushi, vegetables, etc. Then men with huge skewers of different meats (shrimp, top and bottom sirloin, lamb, pork tenderloins, ribs, etc.) come around a give you as much as you like. The service was phenomenal. Also something interesting is they keep bringing you fried bananas and mashed potatoes. I don’t know why. It was super great and hope I can go back again.

Sunday
I decided since we have more bags (from shopping) that Lexie and I would ride the train to Aurora and it would be a more comfortable ride for everyone. The train was good, other than we got off at the wrong station (miscommunication), but it actually worked out fine. We did some more shopping at the Premium outlet and then headed back home.

Had a great time! Took about 400 photos and only bought one handbag, I rock.

The Pictures.

Grandma Rose: Even if Jesus Christ himself was in London I still wouldn’t go.
Mom (Julie): What about Bob Barker?
Grandma Rose: I might consider it

This is awesome, watch Samantha’s commentary on Palin: