Chicaaaaago, Birthday Style

We typically don't make a habit of traveling on back-to-back weekends, but sometimes you just have to sieze the opportunity!  I was going to observe a Sports Awards event in Chicago for work, and it worked out that AMP could come along for the weekend.  We love paying for just one plane ticket.  Ha.  :-)  I went up there Thursday, and he met me there Friday afternoon.  The extra fun part is that it was also his Birthday weekend, so I used it as an excuse to celebrate him and spoil him in the Windy City!

Unfortunately, I got really sick Thursday night and ended up going to the Urgent Care facility just around the corner from the hotel.  I got a steroid shot and the told me to use a Netti Pot, since my sinus infection wasn't full blown yet.  (Lovely.)  I continued to worsen, but I just went along with it, resting as I could.  It was not going to spoil our weekend!

 

We shopped on the Magnificent Mile one evening.

 

And while Adam studied and met some deadlines, I found a salon across the street that offered Aveda students doing hair for a really great price.  I didn't trust them to actually cut my hair, but I got an awesome scalp and hand massage, as well as a wash and blowdry.  And all this was while AMP studied--our traveling really got in the way of school in January and February!  Oops. 

 

On Saturday, we visited the Willis Tower and ventured up to the 103rd floor.  Whoa.  The views of the city were sweeping and grand, and we even stepped out into a clear box that jutted out from the top floor to look down.  Naturally, I was freaked out by it and Adam just ate it up.

 

 Sunday, I felt really awful and had no voice.  Adam was so sweet to bring me breakfast in bed (a first for me!), and I rested up until about 2 p.m. that day.  We stayed in Embassy Suites, and they offer complimentary breakfast and afternoon happy hour.  I think AMP found his favorite new hotel!

We got tickets to see Blue Man Group, which I'd heard so much about but had never seen, and I thought it was definitely something that would hold AMP's attention.  :-)  It's quirky, creative and constantly changing, and it was really cool.  This was also the day that the ice storm blew in, so not a bad morning to stay in bed and read!  But a really dumb day to venture out in high-heeled boots to walk to the show.  I definitely changed back to my other boots before going to dinner.

We celebrated a night early at Fogo de Chao (another first for AMP), where you have a set-price menu and waiters come to your table with large skewers of meat that they slice right on to your plate.  Monday, AMP's birthday, we ate lunch at Pizzaria Due (related to UNO), and shared our second deep dish pizza of the trip (yes, we went back, it was that good) and a deep dish cookie.  We pretty much ate our way through Chicago!

 

Before heading back home on Monday, we also visited the Shedd Aquarium, complete with 3-D Ice Age movie, a life dolphin and seal show and jellyfish exhibit.  

We rode the subway around all weekend, and completed our trip with a final ride to the airport.  Here we are underground.

It was such a fun weekend of celebrating and being together.  We laugh so much, and I'm so grateful.  Happy Birthday, AMP.  I love you more and more each day!

Ski Utah

Over MLK Jr. weekend, we skied with our church friends we met in Guatemala.  My family friends, the Apgars, invited Adam and I to stay at their home near Salt Lake City, Utah over two years ago.  And we just got around to it!

Adam, Shay, Patrick, Andress, Katie and Josiah

AMP and I packed our ski clothes in one suitcase each to carry on.  We were quite proud of ourselves! We like to travel light :-)

AMP and I met up with the rest of our group on Thursday evening, after our later flight got in.  We made our way out to Sandy, Utah and got settled in and made a plan for the next morning.  

Katie, Josiah, Andress and Patrick renting skis and boots

And it is monumental to note that we also rented helmets...a point of contention in the Paulson household for quite a while!  When AMP and I both learned to ski, helmets were not really even an option, but now it's commonplace to see everyone skiing in helmets.  In fact, some locals we spoke to said you can tell who the tourists are because they don't have helmets on!

The scenery was magnificent and the skiing was so much fun.

Even several weeks after the trip, Adam still talks about my ability to ski.  As my mom said, it's really the only athletic thing I can do.  (It's true.)  We really enjoyed skiing with each other, and I happily matched AMP run for run, ending my second day of skiing on a double blue.  

I was satisfied with my skiing, so when the rest of the crew went out the third day for a half day of skiing, I stayed home and sat by the fire.  As Adam put it, "It's not vacation for Shay unless she gets to sleep in."  So true.  :-)

The mountains were RIGHT THERE, and so were the deer...as in, in their yard.  Amazing.

And while we were gone, we got a few photos from Uncle Troy, who stayed with Rye.  Our pup was well taken care of, and he thought he was so cool riding in the front seat. 

We came back Monday afternoon after a long weekend of skiing, ready to go again! 

Papa's 80th Birthday Celebration!

Papa turned 80 years old on January 9, and we wanted to celebrate him by having all of his favorite people together!  We had a great evening eating mexican food, telling stories on Papa and spending time with our extended family and Papa's lifelong friends.

Yes, you read that right--lifelong friends.  He has a true gift of friendship and has collected quite the assortment of friends throughout his life.  Many he's known since elementary school, which I think is a huge accomplishment and testament to his loyalty.  :-)

We had ice cream sundaes with lots of toppings for dessert

Papa's sister, my great aunt Jenny, had a quilt made for her 80th birthday about 15 years ago.  Her friends and family signed the back.  We did the same for Papa...

A Red Raider quilt for Papa!

We took turns tracing our hands and writing our names in it.  A keepsake, for sure!

Mark emceed the "program," where we told stories on Papa :-)

I got to give Papa a hard time and tell him how much we love him!

Original Dixons!  (Adam was working...we don't like to leave him out on purpose!)

Papa and Jonita with all of Jonita's kids and spouses

Hugs all around

And the clean-up crew--those are some really great friends!

It was such a special evening of celebrating Papa.  In the three months following his party, Mom and Laura have taken him to his childhood home of Harold, Texas to tour the (dwindling) town and see the elementary school.  They also went skiing in Salt Lake City, Utah (yes Papa skiied, too!).  He's had quite the celebration!

We love you Papa!

Weekend Letters

 

Dear weekend, you were low-key and rainy--a great combination.  After celebrating Papa's 80th birthday Friday night, Rye and I spent the night at my parents', and Dad was so kind to bring me donuts.  (Just like when I was little.)  When we got home Saturday morning just before the torrential rain, AMP recovered from up-all-night work, and I finished up our chalkboard wall.  It makes me so happy when I look over and see it.

 

Oh Christmas Decorations, while I'm sad to see you go, I'm also a little glad to have our space back for another 11 months.  Why is putting you away such a beast?  Rye was very intrigued by the attic and ever so glad when Adam returned to the floor.

 

Dear AMP, yesterday we set our 2013 goals at dinner, you made us homemade popcorn for dessert, we read the paper and you crawled in bed with your hat on because you were cold.  You make me giggle...and you are my favorite.  I'm sure glad I get to do life with you!

 

Here's to 2013, staying warm, hoping for enough cold weather to kill the skeeters this summer, friends to love on, and much to accomplish.  Here's to fresh beginnings.