Illinois Pictures!!

OK, So here are most of the pictures of our time here so far! There are a ton but they are great! They are actually out of order but thats ok! They go from most recent to most distant. So, enjoy!! Don't forget to read the update below!! it goes along with the pictures!

We went with Dan and Sarah to find a beach a couple sundays ago. It was really pretty. We spent about an hour here relaxing and playing around. IT was a great evening.

We've been golfing a lot lately. This miniature golf course is amazing. Its something like one of the top ten miniaturegolf courses in America?? Something like that. Its called Par-King, It is amazing and fuuuun!!! We have been twice now! The one below with the glow in the dark, was more expensive than this one and ten times more lame!!!!

We went into Chicago on "free museum day" only to find that theline for the aquarium was a 2 hour wait! Right when we got out of the parking garage to walk over there it started pouring. I mean, cats and dogs... We sprinted toward a big tree for shelter... We were all soaked, including Wyatt. haha we decided not to wait in the rain for two hours so we went home....

Wyatt LOOVES Derek.

Derek was a good sport about it. He isn't the biggest fan of musicals... but I will break him in slowly. I think Jersey Boys was a good start!

The six of us, Mom, Dad, Dan, Sarah, Derek, and I Went and saw Jersey Boys!!! I have wanted to see it since i was a Junior in High School!! It was everything I dreamed it would be!!

My parents came and visited for a week and we had a lot of fun! My dad and Wyatt are best buds. This is at the end of Navy Pier. It was a nice day.

Unfortunately, Derek couldn't come with us on the days we went into the city because he was working, but, this is me on Navy Pier.

I thought this was a funny picture..

There are a lot of sea gulls around because of the huge body of water that is located right next to the city... aka Lake Michigan..

The Sears Tower... they actually just changed the name to the "Willis Tower" which is totally lame because no one will ever think of it as the Willis Tower because its been the Sears for how many years? Anyway, it's huge.

It seriously is a gorgeous city with the river running through it.

We were on a topless bus (more about that below). The background is an enormous sculture version of the "American Gothic" painting by Grant Wood.

This picture was taken from the inside of the big kidney bean in the picture below. IT is the coooolest thing ever!

It's gorgeous, you can see the entire skyline when you stand between this and the buildings beyond.

We took a bus tour with Derek's Uncle and Aunt, Liz and Kelvin and cousins Chantz and Kylie. IT was amazing. we saw the whole of downtown Chicago.

This was our first time riding the Metra train! It was fun! Its definately the best thing to do to get to downtown Chicago. Its cheap on weekends, about a third of what it costs to drive and park in a downtown lot. And its fun. AND you don't have to deal with traaaffic!!

This is the station closest to our apartment that runs the Metra on weekends. We have one right by us but it only runs on weekdays. But this one is only 5-10 minutes away!

Pretty cheetah.

We went to the zoo!

Derek was becoming one with nature.

We like taking Sunday strolls when the weather is nice.

Update!!!

Apparently I am pretty bad at this blog thing... You know how I can tell? Derek is the one reminding me that I need to update it! It's not like I don't have time its just that, well, I forget. So here I am! Its been 2.5 months... So here goes nothing!

We are living in Buffalo Grove, IL. It is a nice community to live in so we are comfortable. We are only a half hour from downtown Chicago!! We have gone into town quite a few times and it never ceases to amaze me. It is a gorgeous city, we are very lucky to live near it!

We love our ward, everyone is super friendly and willing to make us a part of their family! The bishopric is great and we feel at home when we go to church so that is a good thing! Derek is supposed to go to the mission prep class to participate and help in the lessons that Dan and another sales guy teach. He has also taught the class and he does an excellent job! I am in charge of the Bulletin (program for sacrament meeting) and the monthly ward newsletter along with my Friend and old roommate, Christine Potter, whose husband is also out here selling. That is a fun calling. It really makes me feel a part of the ward because I am in constant communication with the bishopric and other ward auxiliaries. Also, for the next 3 weeks I have been asked to sub for a couple primary classes! I subbed for Sharing time a couple weeks ago and right after got a storm of people asking to sub their class. Last week and this week I will teach the 11-year-olds and then August 2nd (my birthday) I will teach the 6-year-olds! It is really fun! primary kids are a hoot, it also gives me good practice for when I will actually be teaching my own classes! Derek joined me in my class and the kids were all very taken with him. Of course most kids are (he's gonna make such a good dad someday!). We gave talks a couple weeks ago on Recognizing the promptings of the spirit. We both did great according to each other!

We have been trying, whenever our bodies will allow, to get out of bed in the morning and run or work out in some way. We were good there for a while but then we started sleeping in... We just need to work ourselves back into that habit. We miss the convenience of a free gym and are definitely looking forward to having one in the fall.

We hang out with Dan, Sarah and Wyatt basically every weekend so that is fun. Wyatt is getting so big! he is definately not a baby anymore. Sarah and I hang out more than every weekend. We are usually trading off cars because Dan and Derek need it more than we do! For the first part of the summer I was just hanging out literally doing nothing of consequence except for keeping Derek healthy and the apartment clean. I applied to about 5 jobs all of which didn't want anyone looking for temporary employees. That was frustrating and a little disheartening. I talked to my relief society president and told her that if there is any work that needed to be done or service or anything I could do to make myself useful to let me know. She got right on that and asked if I would be her weekly babysitter! So I have been babysitting for her for the past couple of weeks and that has been going really well! MY original intent for that money was to buy a new computer with it because mine stopped working BUT Derek my amazing husband decided to look at it a couple of nights ago and guess what I am using right now to write this blog?? yeah. my computer. He is amazing.

So, I guess I can't say that i have been doing nothing. I absolutely love to bake (don't worry I haven't gained a pound since we got out here, Derek...hasn't gained a lot...he is stiiilll hot) So I have been trying out new recipes. My latest success was Baklava!!!!! It was incredible! We went to the taste of Chicago on the 4th of July and we had some so we decided that I should try to make it! We shared it with everyone and they all liked it so it was a success!

Derek has been doing a great job selling. He a really good salesman and he works really hard. This job isn't easy and so he comes home tired every night and we hibernate after lunch on Sundays. we have really enjoyed living in Chicago but it isn't hot enough for there to be a huge bug problem, but Derek is doing well regardless. Also, people here in this area all have something up there butts and Derek has been kicked out of so many areas because he is a solicitor that it is starting to get ridiculous.

last month I was doing laundry when I got a call from a local number. So I picked it up thinking it was going to be the Bishop or something and it is the chief of police in a village about 45 minutes from here and he said that he has Derek and Brandon in custody and I was to hurry out there and pay 100 dollars each to get them out or they are going to jail. Ridiculous right?? Nice looking guys in white Polo's and khaki shorts.... hmmm.... So obviously I was freaking out I told the office not to take them to jail, and I borrowed Sarah's car because Derek drove that day and "hurried" to go get them. I sped, thinking the whole time that if I got pulled over I would tell the officer that another officer told me to hurry so what was I supposed to do?? So on the way I called my mom to have her calm me down because I was shaking like a leaf.. I pull up to this hokey police station (which I passed the first time because it looks like a barn) and I knocked on the door. I walked in and there are Derek and Brandon HANDCUFFED to the wall!! I said, "I promise they aren't dangerous officer" and he chuckled. I gave him the money (cash only hmmm) and he let them go. Apparently he pulled up right as Derek was walking back to the car, Brandon was already inside. He had Brandon get out and he did a full arrest he was yelling at them being a jerk not listening to a thing they were saying (they got permission the day before to be there) and he had them put their hands on the car and and cuffed them and took them away! I mean talk about strange... maybe he was bored or something. I doubt an officer like him has a lot to do when there is only one street to police. When they were waiting for me to come the officer was on the phone with a buddy talking about their up coming golf trip.... We laugh about it now, especially since we got reimbursed by the company for the 200 bucks we spent getting them out.

The thing about this situation is, this never happened when we were living in Fairfax! Derek never ran into police troubles. There were threats but nothing this bad. We will probably go back to Fairfax next summer. Its warmer there anyway, more bugs.

Oh! We have now been married a year! Well, since June 7th but still! Its cool that we aren't new newlyweds anymore. It is true what they say though, your love grows more and more each day. even through all the habits and oddities that we didn't know each other had on the day we got married.

My parents came to visit at the beginning of June. That was really fun. We toured around Chicago on boat and on bus and on foot. (Derek and Dan couldn't come but luckily Derek and I had already done a bus tour with his aunt and uncle). The last night they were here we went and saw Jersey Boys on Broadway in Chicago! I have always wanted to see it and it was amaaazzzing!!!! That, Derek and Dan could come to. Derek was a good sport about it, not being a huge fan of musicals, so it was delightful!! It was a blast having my parents here. we can't wait to see them, and Derek's parents in September!

We have ridden the Metra Train into Union station twice now and that is an experience. Its cheaper and easier than driving and parking. The last time we did it was the 4th of July when we went for the Taste of Chicago. It's a festival tradition that Chicago has had for thirty something years. They block off like two city streets by Grant Park and line them with booths of food. local restaurants come and bring some of their menu items. Its free admission but menu items cost a certain amount of tickets so if you want food you have to get tickets from a ticket booth! 12 tickets for 8 bucks! It was great. We had a lot of interesting tastes.

Like I said before we have had a lot of chances to see downtown Chicago in many ways. IT is a gorgeous city and it is really cool to learn its fascinating history. I know I am forgetting something but when I remember I will write another post!

PICTURES WILL BE COMING SOON!