It started when Paula texted us all to say she was coming down, lets do something fun. At the very least she wanted to catch a baseball game. Originally these texts included the brother-in-laws as well and it soon got all confusing. Paula’s trip also coincided with the parents 50th wedding anniversary.
Then there was no chatter. A couple weeks later I thought I better open up communications again in case we need time to plan something. At the very least vacation days scheduled.
It was decided that it was sisters only. Cindy already asked for Friday and Monday. Pam was waiting Paula would be here from Wednesday until Monday. I originally said I could pick her up at 5:00 Wednesday but then soon realized it was back to school night on the eve of Hollace’s first day of 8th grade.
Because of my mini-mini sabbatical in July, I didn’t have many vacation days left to spare so I moved things around to get half a day on Thursday and all day Friday. Cindy can take Paula back to the airport on Monday.
So we started the chat up and came up with this:
Wednesday 22nd:
Raleigh picks Paula up from Milwaukee airport at 5:00 (I will be at Hollace’s meet the teachers thing)Thursday 23rd:
I originally had only a half day off but I turned it into a full day. Do something funFriday 24th:
Pam and Cindy come down to Illinois. Depending on when you get here we can go to the Botanical Gardens which is near Ravinia.
Go to Ravinia to see Lyle Lovetts– concert starts at 8:00. We want to get there with enough time to set up our lawn area, some people get pretty fancy with their set up.
Sleep in the camper for a little slumber partySaturday 25th:
Sox game at 6:00
Go to mom’s after game.Sunday 26th:
Celebrate mom and dad’s 50th anniversary some way, some how. Bring big fucking present (still to be determined) 😉
Spend the night. I was able to take the day off on Monday.Monday 27th:
Leave mom’s for home whenever.
Pam and Cindy take Paula to the Milwaukee airport for her 5:30 flight
I realized I needed to take all day Thursday and Monday off as well which I managed to do without scarfing from Xmas week.
On Wednesday RAW picks Paula up from the airport while I go to the school with Hollace with her bag of school crap and met the teachers. Hollace was all meh and a true joy (not) but whatever.
On Thursday Paula and I get on the train to go into the city. The weather is beautiful. We spend a considerable amount of time at the Chicago Cultural Center taking pictures of the ceiling. Paula has become somewhat of a shutterbug with her iPhone and Hipstamatic app and on numerous times she wanted me to take pictures of her, she is not apparently camera shy as she “checks in” on FB an posts her pictures.
Friday morning, Paula, RAW and I go for a walk at a forest preserve then get ready for Pam and Cindy to arrive which they did by 1:00.
We then took off for the Botanical Gardens and looked at all the pretty growing things. After a couple hours there we hit the grocery store for snacks for Ravinia where we were going to go see Lyle Lovetts. I arranged with Bob from work to park in his driveway and avoid that shuttle bus. He lives slightly less then a mile away so it worked out really good. I was amongst the walkers. That day I logged in 16,500 steps on the FitBit.
That night we all went to the camper to sleep where Paula had a strong adversion to sleeping with anyone (me) so she slept on the camper couch. Pam and Cindy slept together on Hollace’s side.
The next day we went out for breakfast and walked around the mall. At 6:00 that night we were buying tickets to see a Sox game. If that was a Cub’s game (which our original plans were) we wouldn’t of been able to just walk up to the ticket window and buy tickets.
I told them I didn’t want to drive there (I was getting tired of all the driving and I hate driving to events like that) so Cindy drove Pam’s Prius and we headed out. Anyway it was a lovely night for a baseball game. The Sox won and we seen fireworks.
That night we were suppose to go to mom’s to spend the night but no one (especially Paula) wanted to actually sleep there so we decided to go to a hotel. The problem was that we needed to tell mom since I already told her we were coming. I didn’t have the nerve to call her knowing she knew we would be in the area and I couldn’t lie knowing that she probably knew I would be lying. So finally Pam grabbed the phone and called. Sweet Pam lied to our mother telling her we went back to my house after the game which makes no sense.
We made a joke that if we couldn’t find a hotel we would look for a manger so when we got to the Comfort Inn Cindy couldn’t contain her laughter over the fact that the guy at the front desk’s name was Joseph. I then lost it when I read the sign of the manager on duty only I read ‘manager’ and seen ‘manger’
Again Paula slept on the couch and I got the bed to myself.
Sunday was the day I ate exactly what Pam ate. She just lost 50 lbs and while I was inspired, it just worked out that whatever she ate, I ate, starting at Starbucks where we had the same breakfast sandwich with OJ.
We went to mom’s house where we both had a cupcake. We were sorely prepared to do much special for their upcoming anniversary especially since dad couldn’t really go anywhere so we took mom out for lunch. We went to Outback Steakhouse where Pam and I had the same steak and side dishes though I believe she ate more of the Blooming Onion then I did ;-).
We concluded our date with mom by going to the mall where we all were on the hunt for purses (which was what the hunt was when Sherry visited a couple weeks before)
We went back to mom’s house and Pam and I had another cupcake. We then sat around and watched TV until it was after 10:30 and the question on whether we were staying or not came up. Paula certainly didn’t want to stay. I didn’t. Pam said nothing. Cindy who was the driver said she didn’t care. I asked her if she was up to it since it was dark and raining. Whatever. I am sure she would of rather stayed but we all left. I kind of felt bad about that. Dad thought maybe we were getting a hotel and would be back in the morning. Nope. Pam and Cindy stayed in the camper that night while Paula and I slept in the house.
Monday another beautiful day. Aside from Sunday in Indiana we had an unbelievable streak of nice weather. We packed everyone up and headed up to Milwaukee for day running around that town. We obviously had to take two cars now.
We went to the Milwaukee Art Museum though we didn’t really. We parked there and ate lunch there and took lots of pictures of the odd building but didn’t see any of the art inside. It was too beautiful out so we walked along the lake.
Eventually it was time for Paula to get to the airport which I did since it was on my way back home.
It was a nice visit where we actually did stuff instead of just sit around. I always feel like the dorky sister when we all get together but it is what it is, if I am, I am.