The Windy City

Libby at the top of the Sears Tower. I will not be referring to it by it's new name...How can you rename an iconic American building after a Brittish firm? Nonsense:)

I had no problem with the concept of stepping out onto this glass box that sticks off the side of the observation floor, but when it actually came down to it, my body was nervous. My foot had to test the surface as if I was stepping onto a wobbly stone on a creek.

Libby at the Navy Pier.

The Bean. One of the advantages of traveling with an early riser (okay, I can't blame it on Libby, we're morning people) is that you hit the tourist sites before the crowds. This place was mobbed later in the day.

Jer and the Bibber in Millenial Park.

Okay, so you can tell from his expression that Jer is not a fan of the crazy curves in the designs of architect Frank Gehry.

In contrast, here are the clean lines of Renzo Piano's addition to the Chicago Art Institute. Had we had our camera inside the new wing of the art institue, Jer would have taken hundreds of pics of things like fire extinguisher boxes, stairwells, fabric ceiling panels, cable hung light fixtures...and on and on. The attention to detail was amazing.

We took a three hour bus tour that stopped at some famous buildings around the city. As we were boarding the bus someone remarked to another traveler, "Who would bring a baby on a tour like this?" I thought, "Alright, Libby. Game on. Let's show them what you've got." She is an awesome traveler and such a sweet little thing. By about half-way through the tour, people started to comment about what a good baby she was. Then at the end, the same lady that made the first comment came to tell me how "well behaved" Libby was. I don't think you can call it "behavior". That's just the way she is. Easy as pie.

Jer and Libby with the Robie House in the background. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Totally awesome.

College of Architecture at the Illinois Inst. of Technology-Crown Hall by Mies van der Rohe, with student work on display.
And from the outside.

We loved our trip. It was awesome to take a get-a-way. The boys were home with family, having a blast. We did miss them throughout our trip, although the amount of walking we did would have been impossible for them. When I saw a firetruck or train go by, I had to remind myself not to point it out. Jer and Libby don't get so excited about that kind of thing:) I thought of them often though...especially on the moving sidewalk at the airport. Little boys eat that stuff up!