We headed to Chicago Friday morning at 8:40. The roads here were slushy, snowy, but good enough for us. We got to K’s about 11:30 and after some parking space juggling got parked & unloaded!
This box holds a Jiffy Steamer… one a normal person would use for steaming clothes or one a hat maker uses for hat making. 😉 Gma M sent the little Christmas cactus in the front….
and Grma R sent the jade plant here in the middle. I sent home the mini Christmas tree after Thanksgiving. She has 3 sets of windows across her living room and the plants make a great window covering!
Out for lunch at Flat Top Grill in Evanston… our first time there and it was good.
Our next plan was to head downtown but K took her brother on a side-trip so we could stop at the new Tiger Direct store near K’s old neighborhood.
Our credit card could have been in DEEP trouble but the one thing JP hunted for is available $50 cheaper online and would be shipped for free so he waited. I was ready to bring home a 42″ TV but it wouldn’t fit in K’s car. haha!
Next stop was her school neighborhood to see the German Christmas Market. We had gone there 2 years ago for her birthday, too. The temps were in the high 30’s, not too breezy, and sunny! Imagine that! I think we chose the best day of the month to be outside in Chicago.
We shared a plate of German battered fried apple rings. OH MY GOODNESS!! Yummy & they melted in our mouths…. after we burned off the first layer of skin…. Delicious!!
While I waited with Phil for the apple rings, the kids were off to the side out of the way waiting. I thought I’d snag a pix of them unaware. K spied me… I love this picture!! 🙂
We headed back to K’s place by taking Lake Shore Drive north. Just the beginning of rush hour…. but really it went all right.
peek at the Art Institute
Lake Michigan
Navy Pier
We spend just a few more minutes in her apt and then headed home about 4:20. Our rush hour traffic was full but we kept moving. We arrived home at 7:30 after having a short stop at a plaza for supper.
A fun-filled and tiring day! Happy 25th birthday, dear K!
and sew on... 
Looks like a fun birthday for Miss K! Those apple rings sound delish 🙂 Love JP’s face in that pic—I bet he’s thinking of at least a billion things he’d rather be doing than standing out in the cold at a market!
Loved your post, and the pictures. Are you sure you and K aren’t twins?
Yes, Michelle, I’m sure. I do remember the 3 contrax I had for her arrival. 😉
Fun day! We need to find that German Christmas market sometime. Love the collage!
Such joy being together to celebrate an eventful birthday!
She is BEAUTIFUL!
Chicago at Christmas time, there is NOTHING like it anywhere. My kids still talk about all the things we would do in Chicago at this time of year. Your day spent there looked wonderful. So glad you were able to share the time with K.