Weekenders and Anniversaries

My husband, what a guy. He told Sam and me to pack our bags because we were going to Chicago for a the weekend! He booked a room at the Palmer House because he knows I'm an old-fashioned girl who is a sucker for Art Deco and Grecian frescoes.

Jason and the boys met us up there. We spent several hours at the terribly expensive and super marginal Shedd Aquarium, where a "snack" cost each party $30. I kept asking where the big sharks and some whales could be seen. No such things. Such a big city rip-off.

We grabbed drinks in the Palmer House's lobby, and had an amazing dinner of Spanish tapas at Mercat a la planxa, a restaurant that Matt had discovered through being a total foodie. It was really a sight to see the three young boys devouring filet, lamb, scallops, sausages and flatbreads. We loved it, until the bill came. ;0

Liam and Finn gave at least 10 dollars to the homeless on our walk back to the Palmer, and we were scolded by a little Chinese man when we brought our 3 little bulls into his china store after dinner. Jason even said, "You look really nervous, sir." He had no idea what that meant; he just kept saying, "No touch...no touch!!"

In the morning we toured Millenium Park, which is far more inviting in the summer, grabbed breakfast at the West Egg (sweetly reminiscent for me and my many hung-over mornings after concerts back in my singlehood) shopped at Burton and Jonathan Adler, and ate pizza at the ever-famous Gino's East. Sam fell asleep at the restaurant, which he never does - those little legs were tired.

It was a perfect trip, and I'm so glad that Jason made the effort to join us. The real treat: Matt's and my anniversary! Let's toast to that!

There is definitely a saving-of-one-another involved in marriage. I was so independent that I never wanted to be saved, never thought of it that way. I never in my life "looked" for a husband, but I see more and more how Matt swooped in and took me into his life, and I'm so very grateful. And I saved him, too. Oh, how I saved him. When we talk about it, Matt just wipes his brow. ; )

Happy Anniversary, sweet Matt.