Chicago Kaskade Weekend!

Grammy and I left at 6:45 a.m. on Friday morning for an 8:40 flight out to Chicago.  We got all loaded and then they found a mechanical error on our plane.  I thought we were going to be stuck in the SLC airport all day but luckily they found a replacement plane and we ended leaving only 40 minutes late, pretty impressive.  We flew to Chicago. In the Chicago airport we grabbed a Chicago Hot Dog before getting our rental car.  I drove mom and I down to the city and we checked into our hotel, The W.  Rich and his family were staying there and they came in on Thursday for the Chicago Bears Game.  Mom was going to meet up with them by herself and then about 3 weeks ago she offered to have me go with her. I jumped at the chance. Luckily Shawn was a good guy and willing to stay home with the kids. Shawn saw one of Ryan's big shows last summer at the Staples Center.  We dropped our bags off and then walked to Michigan Avenue to do a little shopping before meeting Naomi and the girls at the Ritz. We took a cab with Naomi and the girls to Restaurant Hub51 for dinner.  Naomi knows the owner of the restaurant and it was really yummy.  Ryan was off playing in Austin, Tx and in Las Vegas that night and then flew back to Chicago on Saturday morning. He was only going on 2 hours of sleep for the show on Saturday night. Crazy!!!  On Saturday Naomi, Elly (she flew in Friday night to help Naomi with the girls) and the girls and Rich and Katie and the kids (minus Ezra) and grammy and I met up at The Original Pancake House on Rush for some yummy breakfast.  We all then went our separate ways. Grammy and I did some power shopping on Michigan Avenue and Rush. We also went to Millenial Park and saw the Bean. That is new since I lived there. It was totally cool. There are also some really cool fountains there too.  We shopped till that last minute and then came home and got ready to go to the show.  We went over to Navy Pier at 5:00 p.m.  Ryan was doing sound checks, meet and greets, and meeting some VIP people.  It was fun to kind of hang out and see ALL that goes on for a big production.  Late Night Alumni and then DJ Amtrax went on before Ryan and then Ryan played from 8:45 until 11:00. It was a pretty awesome show. There were 10,000 fans there and they filled the entire place. It definitely had a very rave feel, no seats, just standing and dancing.  I think Ryan and his crew were really happy with the show.  Grammy and I went home after the show. Luckily it wasn't so late so that was nice for mom.  We were in bed by midnight.  Grandma and I woke up the next morning (Sunday) and checked out of our hotel.  We drove down Lake Shore Drive to our old ward house in Wilmette.  It was fun to go into our old church building and to see familiar faces at church.  The Hiltons, the Juquinos, the Watkins, the Ruiz's, Tom Emery, and Judy Adams.  It was fun to be there.  We then drove through Northbrook and looked at our old houses on Greenview, 2649 Kingston, and Maple.  We went to Stella's for lunch and it was fun to see her.  We picked up some smiley cookies at Sunset before heading to the airport.  We made it back home safe and sound around 8 p.m. last night.  It was such a fun trip.  I am so glad I went and I think mom enjoyed having me with her.  It was so fun but I am glad to be back home with Shawn and the kiddos safe and sound!!!

 View from our room looking out at Lake Michigan and Lake Shore Drive

 Looking at Navy Pier from our Room!

 Grammy and Sasha with their matching glasses!

 The Bean

 The fountains that spit!

 Sasha and me in the green room!

 The kids set up a massage center, $2 for a 2 minute massage

 THE SHOW!

 Jenny Maloney came to the show and Stephanie got her VIP passes and a backstage pass so she could come say hi to my mom!

 Grammy and I (up top looking down at Ryan)

 The last 2 numbers were so awesome and the crowd went crazy and then all this confetti came streaming out!  It was incredible!