Chicago

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This past weekend Justin and I took the older girls to Chicago for a long weekend. We decided to do a trip with just the older girl’s months ago. Initially we were going to visit NY but realizing we wanted to have the girls to have their first plane experience sooner than later, we decided we would go to Chicago. I had never been and felt like it was one of those cities I may never visit if I didn’t make it a priority. So…Chicago it was!

We left on a 12:55 p.m. flight Thursday afternoon. It was perfect as we didn’t have to rush in the morning but with the time difference, we still had most the afternoon to explore Chicago once we got to the hotel. Justin especially had done a lot of talking about the flight to prepare the girls so they wouldn’t be frightened of flying and it paid off. The flight was non-eventful and the girls did great!img_3683 img_3686 img_3689 img_3691 img_3693img_3696 img_3699

We took a cab to our hotel (Springhill Suites in River North Area). It was the girls first time a cab and they were without car seats so they thought they were living it up.img_3700 img_3701

We settled on Springhill Suites as the hotel room was a little bigger and breakfast was included in the rate. The hotel room was ready early so after quickly unpacking we set out towards Navy Pier. While we traveled with the double stroller, we decided the girls would walk. They complained some, especially Emerson, but overall they did pretty well walking. First stop was the beach. Seriously, how cool to just go to the beach surrounded by city buildings. The girls put their feet in the cold water._mg_3794 _mg_3800 _mg_3801 _mg_3797

Next stop was Navy Pier. The girls rode the carousal by themselves. Emerson wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel…Avery didn’t. It would have been ridiculously expensive to ride so we managed to divert our attention elsewhere and somehow never made it back to the Ferris Wheel._mg_3807

The Children’s Museum was on the Pier and it was just our luck that the high admission prices are waived every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00…we arrived at 4:45! The girls had fun playing in the fire department area, climbing, and exploring a few other exhibits._mg_3816

We didn’t stay as long as we probably would have had we paid to get in but without having dinner reservations, wanting to get into a good restaurant, and knowing time was against us with regards to the girls behavior being that we had gained an hour, we decided an hour would have to do.img_3831

I had done a bunch of research on restaurants prior to the trip and I identified several top rated in each of the areas I thought we might visit. That led us to Volares, which was excellent Italian food. Great find…we were very happy with our choice! Justin and I shared a kale salad that was excellent. I had salmon for dinner. Justin had the chicken parm. Avery had plain pasta and salami. And Emerson shared a little bit of all of our dinners. Yum…my mouth is watering just writing about it now. And the service was excellent!

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We strolled back to our hotel, gave the girls a bath, and were all in bed at 9:58! Since we were all in the same room we all went to bed at the same time. We all slept great and for over 9 hours…probably not great for the girls, but awesome for me and Justin!

Friday morning we woke, ate breakfast in the hotel, and then headed out for our next adventure. Again, we had the girls walk. We headed to the river as we were planning on taking a 11:00 boat tour; however, when we got there the tour we were planning on taking wasn’t recommended for children. We decided to take the 4:15 boat tour recommended for children (the price was half as much as well). So we decided to head towards Millennium Park. We saw the Bean.img_3720 img_3722img_3728_mg_3851 _mg_3858 _mg_3860 _mg_3861

Emerson wanted to take some pictures as well. She went finger happy and probably took at least 20 of the same shot.img_3726img_3730 img_3738 img_3739_mg_4034_mg_4030

We just walked and explored more including walking past the Museum of Art, which Justin would have LOVED to go to had we had the time to fully devote to it and Avery and Emerson appreciate it.

We then made our way to the Crown Fountain. I had packed bathing suits so the girls stripped down and let loose. At one point they ran into each other and fell and Justin managed to capture it on video. I managed to capture it on camera._mg_3880 _mg_3881 _mg_3886 _mg_3887 _mg_3889 _mg_3890 _mg_3891 _mg_3892 _mg_3894_mg_3895 _mg_3897 _mg_3896 _mg_3898 _mg_3900

While the girls were playing some twenty something workers were doing a random act of kindness for their company and started giving away ice-cream._mg_3902 _mg_3905 img_3908

We then made our way to The Gage for lunch. It was excellent. I had an heirloom tomato salad and Justin had the NY Strip sandwich special. Emerson was thrilled because she got to have her own mac and cheese and Avery ordered (but didn’t eat) chicken tenders and fries.img_3749 img_3748

After lunch we headed back to the hotel and rested for about an hour before we went back out again.  Again, Emerson took about 30 pictures of Justin and me. img_3756 img_3757 img_3763 img_3765 img_3766 img_3767 img_3770 img_3771

We left the hotel a little after 3:00 so we could get to the boat tour early. We decided to bring the stroller since we knew we could store it on the boat and the girls had already done a lot of walking that day. The boat ride was great….it was 90 minutes but went by really quickly.img_3775 img_3777 _mg_3911 _mg_3914 _mg_3965

Chicago is just a really cool city and it was neat to hear about the history of the city. Avery fell asleep about halfway into the trip.img_3937 img_3949

We didn’t get off the boat until 6:00 and we knew the girls were tired and hungry so we decided to go to Portfillos, which was a well-known “fast food” restaurant in Chicago. Based on the reviews I knew it was an order at the window type place. I anticipated it to be small; however, the place was huge and a little overwhelming. We got hotdogs, burgers, and chili. It was okay…definitely cheap and I’m glad we tried it out, but that type of food always leaves me feeling blah. For dessert Emerson had a smoothie (she barely ate her dinner as I think she was saving up for the smoothie) and Avery had a chocolate cone. Justin and I shared the vanilla and chocolate custard…it was cheap and delicious!

We took a few selfies on the way back and pics by the canal before heading back to the hotel.img_3786 img_3787_mg_3994 _mg_4001 _mg_4003 _mg_4004 _mg_4007

Saturday morning we headed back towards Millennium Park with the girls in the stroller. We hadn’t seen everything we wanted the day prior. We walked past the Art Museum and took a picture with the Lions that was part of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off…I only vaguely remember the famous sight after Justin telling me._mg_4010

We then headed to Buckingham Fountain. Again, Emerson wanted to take some pictures and probably took about 30…some of me and some of me and Avery. When she was taking one of me and Justin, a man offered to take one of the four of us.img_4013img_4018 _mg_4022_mg_4024 img_4015

We then walked along the river and past Cubs Stadium, where a pre-season game was about to start. We headed to Lou Malnati’s for some deep dish pizza, which was pretty good. After lunch we headed in the direction of the Lincoln Park Zoo via a quick stop through the Crown Fountain._mg_4027

We walked for a bit before deciding that while the trip was walkable, we would waste too much time and energy if we walked there. So we hopped in a cab and saved about an hour of time and energy.

Since the zoo was free, we probably didn’t explore as much of it as we would have had we paid an entrance fee, but we saw a few exhibits and the girls got a kick out of watching the gorillas.img_4035 img_4041

When we exited the zoo, this was the view…just gorgeous._mg_4045 _mg_4048 _mg_4049 _mg_4050 _mg_4052

We walked back to the hotel from the zoo. We were planning on going to the beach area right across from the zoo, but somehow missed the path to cross the highway and had we turned around, we most definitely would have had to get a cab ride home. We stopped at Portfillos on the way home for custard and a smoothie for Emerson. The day was very hot and we were so sweaty so Justin and I took showers in the hotel while the girls played together and colored. For dinner we went to Frontera Grill. The wait was an hour…we strolled around trying to buy some time…passing by the firehouse._mg_4057img_3867 img_3871_mg_4056

Then Avery fell asleep before dinner and Emerson sat at the bar with me complaining that the wait was taking too long.img_3875img_3873 img_3874

The food was good quality but not superb….as I expected it would be.  Again, Emerson was practicing her photography skills.img_3876 img_3879

Sunday morning we took the girls in the stroller and just started walking. We headed along the canal and the river and just kept walking for about an hour….it was a hot day again….we came upon Maggie Daley Park, which was an awesome outdoor playground. Avery had some trouble and kept crying so we didn’t stay for too long. For lunch we headed back to The Gage since it was so good and we knew we could expect one last good meal in Chicago.img_3884

And after a quick walk back to the hotel, our trip in Chicago was coming to an end. Our trip was great. The weather was great. The food was great. Our adventures and the sights were great. The girls were overall well behaved. It was busy but relaxing at the same time. While we sure missed Harper, Harper was having a great time being alone with Papa and Grandma. I don’t know when, but we will go back to Chicago again!

Was It a Sign or Was It the Wine

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Winery sceneryThis afternoon Justin and I put our normal weekend “chores” behind us and took the girls to Barrel Oak Winery, a kid friendly and pet friendly winery near Middleburg. We decided to stick with our plans despite the major thunderstorm and flood warnings that were in the afternoon forecast. Thirty minutes into the forty five minute car ride, the sky was ominous and it looked like we were riding into a tornado. Ten minutes to go and we were riding in a torrential downpour.  The girls had all fallen asleep in the car by this time and were still sleeping by the time we got to winery, so we were able to wait the storm out why the girls finished their naps.

Justin and I did a wine tasting and then I did something that I have actually never done at a winery before surprisingly. I ordered a glass a wine, followed by another….I actually had my college mentality…I had a good buzz and I didn’t want to lose it.  What better way not to lose it, then to have another!

There was a cover band playing and Emerson and Harper were enjoying being center stage. The forth song into their set, the lead singer says they are going to do a Beatles cover.  The girls all know and LOVE Black Bird.  So I’m thinking to myself  how cool would it be if they sang Black Bird while at the same time thinking that the Beatles had so many songs that there is no way that the song they were about to cover would be Black Bird.  Seconds later….Black Bird….seriously, what were the odds!  I even got Avery, who was being pretty moody and only wanting to sit in the stroller, and Justin to come sing with us.  Then a few songs later the Lead singer proceeds to tell the crowd that he has four daughters, the oldest two of which turned 29 last week.  Oldest two…twins and four girls…I told Justin it was another sign! I truly probably think about having a forth every day and most days I’m able to realize that four at this point would totally change the game.  But there are times (like today) where the signs are in full force that I wonder…was it a sign or was it the wine?!?!winery - E and H

Backyard Birthday Party

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This year we celebrated the girls 5th and 3rd birthdays with a big backyard party complete with moon bounce, swings, ball pit, food, drinks, family, friends, and a heat index of 107 degrees!  I was so worried about rain in the forecast…I didn’t think I had to be worried about excessive heat.  It was HOT!  Our outdoor party turned into an indoor and outdoor party, but I was totally okay with that as it was hot…too hot for some folks.  We had 59 people…25 kids and 29 adults….family, family friends, neighbors, and school friends.  With the size of our backyard and the various rooms indoors people were hanging out, it really didn’t seem like that many people.  I took some pictures for documentary purposes but it wasn’t my priority as I was trying to play hostess and socialize at the same time.

Avery and Emerson had a great time hanging out with their friends. Harper was content hanging out with Ludmila and Karolin.IMG_3660 IMG_3684IMG_3699 IMG_3707IMG_3711IMG_3680IMG_3694IMG_3706IMG_3770IMG_3746IMG_3715IMG_3763IMG_3765

Karolin made each girl a cake and Ludmila made the chocolate balls!  Both were delicious!  We sang Happy Birthday to each birthday girl!  Harper did not like the attention._MG_3727 _MG_3726 IMG_3723_MG_3731_MG_3733 _MG_3734 _MG_3737

Karolin and Lumdila also made sugar cookies (cupcakes and trains) for favors that were decorated and plated so beautifully and I completely forgot to take a “before” picture of them.  By the time I remembered, there were only a few left and this picture hardly does their art work justice.IMG_3775

Many escaped the heat inside.  While they may look like they aren’t having a good time (I mean just sitting at a party), I think everyone who went inside was actually enjoying the cool air condition and not moving.IMG_3709 IMG_3710IMG_3748IMG_3779

Despite the excessive heat, we all had a great time! Happy 5th and 3rd Birthdays Avery, Emerson, and Harper!

Harper Turns 3

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Happy 3rd Birthday Harpee!  Playing with the big kids now!

Harper 3rd B-DAy

Note: Random kid that the girls befriended at Meadowlane.

Also, on a side note, you stopped sucking your thumb cold turkey last week.  You really are growing up!

5 Years Later

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Then….

AandE - Baby2

AandE - Baby1

Now…..

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Happy 5th Birthday to my first born little ladies!  I seriously still can’t believe that you are five!  It really seems like just yesterday we were bringing you girls home from the hospital. I hope that you’re relationship together continues to grow strong with each passing day and that you always remain the best of friends.  I hope that you always have a passion for life.  Reach for the stars my “baby” girls!

Baltimore: A Girl, A Boy, and Three Little Ladies

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We spent this past weekend in Baltimore where we stayed at Mike and Susan’s condo. Ludmila was off for a few days so my original plan since we didn’t have childcare Wednesday through Thursday last week was to go to Baltimore mid-week and stay through the entire weekend. But I had previously signed Avery and Emerson up for dance camp that week and I chose not to reschedule it. That meant we couldn’t leave for Baltimore until Friday afternoon. Friday evening we went to Federal Hill for dinner and ate at a Mexican Restaurant called Blue Agave. We actually went there three years ago and the girls loved the salsa and rice and beans the first time. It wasn’t so great that I felt we needed to go back, but many of the other options were bar type food and I prefer a fish taco over a burger and fries any day. Anyway, the girls ate…it was reasonably priced and we were in and out of there quickly…so a win in my book. We walked for a while and since we couldn’t find an ice-cream place for dessert, we ended up going into a restaurant and sitting at the bar Mother’s (a restaurant that Justin and I went to once pre-kids) and the girls ordered a scoop of ice-cream. Vanilla ice-cream for Avery, chocolate for Harper, and lemon sorbet (fancy, fancy) for Emerson. Emerson also told her famous joke to the waitress: “What did the pencil say to the other pencil?  You are looking sharp today.”  That caused Avery and Harper to attempt to tell a joke, which wasn’t funny, but they were cute.  The waitress in turn told the girls a joke: “Why did the banana go to the doctor?  Because it wasn’t peeling well.” Justin and I were both super proud of Eme for her courage to tell the joke to the waitress. After dinner and dessert, it was bath time for these girls at the condo. All three girls took a bath in the master jetted Jacuzzi tub where they were all giggles. Yes, that is a glass tan on Avery’s face!   And YES that face is SO Harper.  Isn’t she so stinkin adorable?  This is seriously how she looks 75% of the time making me just want to constantly eat her up and making it so easy for her to get away with everything!!!  She knows she is that cute!_MG_3458     

Saturday morning we woke up early and made our way to Port Discovery. We debated walking with the strollers, but the forecast was calling for rain so we decided not to chance it. We arrived at 10:30, took a lunch break at The Shake Shake (our first time with the girls). Harper slept through lunch so we stopped in Panera for a coffee and to buy a little more time for Harper to finish her nap. While we were in Panera, it started storming….the rain was literally blowing sideways. We awaited the storm to pass (Harper had woken up in the meanwhile and eaten her hot dog and fries) and then headed back to Port Discovery where we stayed until closing time! IMG_0379

We ALL had an awesome time playing on the three story urban treehouse (a.k.a. massive indoor playground), making art, role playing in the gas station/convenience store, cooking and serving food in the diner, exploring the temporary Korean exhibit, playing on the train, reading, exploring, and playing all the random other games. I didn’t know how long the girls would last…I was thrilled we made it to closing time! The girls were exhausted by the end of the day!_MG_3468 IMG_3476

Sunday morning we decided to go for a walk….the destination was a coffee shop but Justin and I wanted to walk long enough to get a “workout” in. With both strollers, we headed towards the inner harbor. I’m so glad we walked as we saw so much more walking the harbor from the condo. We realized that some more trips to Baltimore were in our future as there was so much more to do (paddle boating on dragon boats, touring submarines and ships, the science museum, and more!) We took a break from the heat for a few minutes. IMG_3490IMG_3500_MG_3509 _MG_3513 _MG_3506

And we rode the carousel. We were the only ones on it and the girls were all loving life. _MG_3521_MG_3517Justin and I both rode it with them….I swear every time I am on a carousel with my girls for a few minutes in time, my mind forgets everything and the only thing on my mind is pure joy. Seeing and hearing the excitement in my girls faces and voices when they are on a carousel is so amazingly innocent and beautiful. It really was a great weekend. I love getting away because while at home, I always have the best of intentions to stop and smell the roses, I get caught up so easily in the never ending list of things that need to get done.  In Baltimore, there was no list…we didn’t have a set agenda or a schedule we were trying to meet…it was just a girl and a boy and their three little ladies.

Don’t Talk To Me

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Another vacation in the books. We got back from a week in Nags Head, NC with the Brophys and the Nidays.  The girls had a great time and it is so awesome watching all the kids play together. The girls don’t have cousins (at least ones their age and ones that they see) so it is really neat to have such great friends that are our extended family. Avery and Emerson are the oldest kids by almost a year and a half so we told them they had important jobs to do in helping with the other kids and being the sharers of the bunch. They really are growing up before my eyes…and I just watch in awe of these precious little human beings that they are becoming and I am so blessed to call mine.

We spent a total of four mornings at that beach._MG_2993_MG_2995 _MG_2985_MG_3000IMG_3565IMG_3575IMG_3573IMG_3578

None of the girls truly love the ocean but Harper and Emerson did make good strides this year and even waded in the water a few times with an adult on one of the calmer ocean days. Avery is fearful of the ocean…the sounds of the waves crashing send her heart racing if she thinks she is close to the water and she runs away from the ocean. She does enjoy playing in the sand, building sand castles, and being buried as a mermaid. One day I got her to go for a 20 minute walk with me on the beach…I was trying to get her close to the shore….she wasn’t having that but at least I got her to go for a walk.

Two days we switched up the order and went to the beach in the afternoon instead.IMG_3558_MG_3327 _MG_3323 _MG_3312_MG_3316 _MG_3302IMG_3602 IMG_3597

Two mornings were pool days. This year we had a pool at the house and while the kids still can’t go in the pool by themselves, it made a big difference and allowed for more time to be spent at the pool without too much schlepping.  The girls have been taking swim lessons weekly for a few months now.  Emerson is doing great and is officially a swimmer.  Avery is making great strides as is Harper. Both do great in the water with their floaties.IMG_3264 IMG_3283 IMG_3282IMG_3287IMG_3256IMG_5315

One afternoon we took the girls miniature golfing for the first time. We went at 4:00 so it was still crazy hot outside but it also meant that crowds were small which was perfect because I didn’t want to feel rushed.  We made it to the 13th hole before we were in complete meltdown mode. Overall, it was a lot of fun.  We talked about going miniature golfing last year…in fact, we were on our way and then it started to rain so we ended up not going…so I’m glad we finally went with the girls and also think it was worth waiting the extra year for the girls to have their first mini golf experience. IMG_3551 IMG_3552 IMG_3550

One afternoon we went with the Erin, Hannah, and Quinn to the Nags Head Pier. Avery was scared off the pier.  I think a lot of it had to do with the visual and sound component of it.  Sounds are intensified for Avery and I think she fears we are in danger by walking on the pier as she feels we are so close to the water. _MG_3019_MG_3034IMG_3041 IMG_3049 _MG_3053 _MG_3056 _MG_3054 _MG_3065

One afternoon we went to Jockey’s Ridge, which are sand dunes. We had gone two years ago and Justin and Karolin had taken the older girls on the dunes while I walked around in the stroller with Harper. They were not big fans two years ago, so my expectations this year were low.  We were going right around snack time so I wanted their bellies to be full and happy so that hunger wasn’t the cause of their dismay.  So….we before going to the dunes we surprised the girls with ice cream at Booty Treats.  They were pleasantly surprised! IMG_3560

To my surprise, we climbed almost to the very top of the dunes and the girls overall were fairly good troopers. We got more complaints on the way down but by then we had already reached the half way point and were headed home. I am actually still shocked at how well they did…in a great way!_MG_3096 _MG_3103 _MG_3105 _MG_3108 _MG_3109 _MG_3115 _MG_3124 IMG_3129 IMG_3133 IMG_3139

One morning Justin woke up early to watch the sunrise….and what a beautiful sunrise it was!_MG_3182_MG_3207

One afternoon the entire crew went to Jeanette’s Pier. We attempted some family photos, some group photos, and some obligatory photos of the kids…it always seems there is one kid who won’t cooperate each time…this time it was Harper…she refused to get in the picture.  I even tried to bribe her…nothing worked._MG_3331_MG_3342 _MG_3353_MG_3358_MG_3364_MG_3368_MG_3371_MG_3380_MG_3382_MG_3384_MG_3398_MG_3417_MG_3443_MG_3444_MG_3448_MG_3451

That same evening Justin and I went out to dinner just the two of us to Blue Moon Café. That is our one spot that we must visit each trip.  We were supposed to go the night before but Justin had some 24 hour bug and wasn’t feeling well so we put it off a night so that he could thoroughly enjoy.  We got there around 6:45 and the wait time was 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Luckily there were two seats open at the bar so we took them.  I have never ordered a full meal at a bar but everyone at this bar was doing the same so it was actually kind of a cool experience.  We started off with a mozzarella and heirloom tomato appetizer.  It was good but not to die for.  Justin got the shrimp and grits and like always it was mouthwatering pure deliciousness.  I got the bronzed corvina special.  It tasted and looked very much like sea bass and it was served over butter beans, sweet corn, Idaho potatoes, grilled andouille sausage, sweet onions, heirloom grape tomatoes, and garlic and fresh herbs and it was mouthwatering.  IMG_5312 IMG_5313I savored each bite and had my don’t talk to me face on as I took in each bite of pure goodness.  Seriously, the food was amazing and I look forward to this experience each year. The food is so good that it doesn’t even warrant conversation with each bite because that would just take away from the total mind body experience.

After dinner Justin and I went back to Jeanette’s Pier since our tickets were good for all day. We leisurely strolled the pier three times since I was so close to hitting 15,000 steps again for the 5th day in a row.IMG_3589

In between all the outings, there was time spent hanging out….kids playing puzzles, pretending to be superheroes, reading books, relaxing, dance parties, and simply enjoying time off from work and making life long memories with our family and friends._MG_3077 _MG_3234

And to top it off my step count and activity minutes for the week was insane!!

Happy Birthday America

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This weekend was July 4 weekend.  We went into the weekend have less “things” and commitments to do than normal and it felt so wonderful to be able to truly not rush through every event and enjoy the ordinary moments.  In between the few “things” we did do, we watched the girls put on dance performances in “The Pit”, spent time doing flashcards, played on the swing set, swam in Papa and Grandma’s pool, went for a walk/bike ride in the neighborhood, and watched High School Musical.  While the 4th was actually on Monday, the girls also wore their 4th of July dresses on Saturday.  Justin hadn’t taken his camera out in awhile so he wiped the dust off and attempted to take a few pictures of the girls before we headed to the gym Saturday morning._MG_2891 _MG_2931_MG_2894_MG_2935_MG_2920_MG_2886_MG_2915

Monday, July 4, turned out to be a total wash out, even the neighborhood parade and fireworks were cancelled. While it was a little disappointing not to have the normal 4th of July activities, it was really nice to be able to enjoy and not rush through the simple activities 

That Time We Saw Paul Simon But Didn’t See Paul Simon

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Justin and I have come to the realization that if we don’t see certain musicians that are on tour now, we may never get the chance again as some of these musicians are getting up there in age and have been touring for decades and decades.  Anyway, so we jumped on the chance to see Paul Simon at Wolftrap.  I’m not the biggest Paul Simon fan..in fact, I probably only know a handful of his songs well, but again I wanted to be able to say I saw Paul Simon in concert.  So we dropped the girls off at my parents and headed to Wolftrap.  It was misting so we decided to tailgate in the minivan for one beer before we headed into the show.  I have been to Wolftrap dozens of times and although I like to get there early, the truth is it is usually pretty easy to squeeze into a spot for just two people.  Well not tonight…waiting in the rain out in the car was a big mistake!  It was packed!  We found a spot high up on the hill and this was our view!  

So we decided to take some selflies! 

And we moved a little closer some songs so that we could actually “see” Paul Simon…okay, see the stage….sort of…

Cheers Paul!  

We decided to enjoy the show by laying underneath the stars…except we were literally in the last row by the fence that we were underneath the trees!  

All kidding aside, we had a good time and I’m sure we will remember this show and the time we went to “see” Paul Simon.