Last week we took Preston on his first road trip out of state. In fact, we visited 2 states and traveled through 4!
We went up to Chicago for the purpose of a job interview for David (the potential job is not in Chicago--it's in Houston) and we decided to make a road trip out of it instead of fly (crazy with an 11 month old--I know). We left on Friday 6/19 and drove a total of 8 hours through Arkansas to Tennessee where we stayed overnight in Memphis. We ate at Corky's which, by the way, is seriously the best BBQ I've ever had. It was soo good! Then on Saturday 6/20 we drove a total of about 11 hours (it usually takes about 9...but we took a lot of rest stops that day!) back up through Arkansas then through Missouri up to Illinois where we made it to Chicago. Neither one of us have been there before and when we first arrived to see the downtown skyline in all it's glory it just seemed endless! I mean, I know Chicago is the 2nd largest city in the US, but seeing it in person was another thing altogether. Especially compared to the Dallas skyline it is at least 5 times the number of buildings. Not to mention the traffic. It is horrible! Anyway, it was really cool to take in the city and it was bizarre to me to see the subway traveling right in the middle of the major highway...even though I know it was there first.
Anyway, so the weather was great (the high was low 80's) and we got to have real Chicago pizza and hot dogs while we were there. On Sunday 6/21 we went to the Navy Pier and had fun walking along the lake (which makes you think you are by the ocean b/c it is soo massive!). We also walked around some of downtown and had a fun day for as long as Preston would allow us. :) No, really he did great as long as we were moving along or keeping him entertained or giving him something to eat. On Monday 6/22 David had his interview which went well but he won't hear anything back for sure for at least another 8 weeks (it's the government so it's an insanely long process!). We also went to Sears Tower where I snapped some random view pictures and tried to get Preston with the view behind it, but I could only get Preston with a window behind him. Anyway, that evening we were all exhausted and lazed around to prepare for the drive home.
So we left Chicago on Tuesday 6/23 and drove back to Memphis where we stayed overnight again and ate at Corky's AGAIN (it's seriously that good!) and then drove all the way back home on Wednesday 6/24. It wasn't that long of a trip but honestly long enough to be away from home and the animals and all. Preston actually did much better than I expected in the car for that long even though I pretty much had to sit back there with him the whole time.
Abby stayed at the doggie hotel and the cats stayed at the house. Our neighbor came and checked on the house and cats every couple of days to make sure they didn't knock over their water or somehow run out of food from the self feeder. The pets did fine and Abby was insanely happy to see us (esp David). While she was in the dog hotel she had daily doggie group playtime and got a much needed bath and grooming. She did well and didn't get sick or anything.
So next, we would really like to take a trip to New York, but I'm hoping it will be soon so we can all fly and not have to pay for a ticket for Preston. It was so much fun and so nice to spend all that time together away from the "real world". Now it's back to business as usual and David back on the dreaded night schedule. Even if David doesn't get this new job, he is planning on rejoining the rest of the world on a day schedule (yay!) as soon as he can.
Enjoy a few random pictures!
We went up to Chicago for the purpose of a job interview for David (the potential job is not in Chicago--it's in Houston) and we decided to make a road trip out of it instead of fly (crazy with an 11 month old--I know). We left on Friday 6/19 and drove a total of 8 hours through Arkansas to Tennessee where we stayed overnight in Memphis. We ate at Corky's which, by the way, is seriously the best BBQ I've ever had. It was soo good! Then on Saturday 6/20 we drove a total of about 11 hours (it usually takes about 9...but we took a lot of rest stops that day!) back up through Arkansas then through Missouri up to Illinois where we made it to Chicago. Neither one of us have been there before and when we first arrived to see the downtown skyline in all it's glory it just seemed endless! I mean, I know Chicago is the 2nd largest city in the US, but seeing it in person was another thing altogether. Especially compared to the Dallas skyline it is at least 5 times the number of buildings. Not to mention the traffic. It is horrible! Anyway, it was really cool to take in the city and it was bizarre to me to see the subway traveling right in the middle of the major highway...even though I know it was there first.
Anyway, so the weather was great (the high was low 80's) and we got to have real Chicago pizza and hot dogs while we were there. On Sunday 6/21 we went to the Navy Pier and had fun walking along the lake (which makes you think you are by the ocean b/c it is soo massive!). We also walked around some of downtown and had a fun day for as long as Preston would allow us. :) No, really he did great as long as we were moving along or keeping him entertained or giving him something to eat. On Monday 6/22 David had his interview which went well but he won't hear anything back for sure for at least another 8 weeks (it's the government so it's an insanely long process!). We also went to Sears Tower where I snapped some random view pictures and tried to get Preston with the view behind it, but I could only get Preston with a window behind him. Anyway, that evening we were all exhausted and lazed around to prepare for the drive home.
So we left Chicago on Tuesday 6/23 and drove back to Memphis where we stayed overnight again and ate at Corky's AGAIN (it's seriously that good!) and then drove all the way back home on Wednesday 6/24. It wasn't that long of a trip but honestly long enough to be away from home and the animals and all. Preston actually did much better than I expected in the car for that long even though I pretty much had to sit back there with him the whole time.
Abby stayed at the doggie hotel and the cats stayed at the house. Our neighbor came and checked on the house and cats every couple of days to make sure they didn't knock over their water or somehow run out of food from the self feeder. The pets did fine and Abby was insanely happy to see us (esp David). While she was in the dog hotel she had daily doggie group playtime and got a much needed bath and grooming. She did well and didn't get sick or anything.
So next, we would really like to take a trip to New York, but I'm hoping it will be soon so we can all fly and not have to pay for a ticket for Preston. It was so much fun and so nice to spend all that time together away from the "real world". Now it's back to business as usual and David back on the dreaded night schedule. Even if David doesn't get this new job, he is planning on rejoining the rest of the world on a day schedule (yay!) as soon as he can.
Enjoy a few random pictures!
2 comments:
Sounds like ya'll had a really good time. Chicago is a beautiful city. Remember, when I went when I was senior. It was cold. The wind coming in off that lake can be frigid. I am glad you had so much fun. I hope Caden is as good on his first trip.
Corky's IS the best. That's something I miss about Little Rock. If I had known you were going, I would have told you to get their Spinach and Artichoke dip appetizer - it's the best I have ever had! Good pics of Chicago - it is totally huge lol. I like the picture of Preston in the Sears tower btw! =)
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