Chicagoland and Thanksgiving

Over the Thanksgiving break, Steve encouraged us to post more on our blog besides just our travel logs. Jonny has been busy with law school, so that leaves me to try my hand at blogging. Jonny has done such an outstanding job at writing all of our blog entries that I am hesitant to take over the reigns!

I guess a good place to start is our move to Chicago. During the 3 months that we have been here we have discovered a lot about this “Windy City.” We are slowly assuming the title of “Chicagoans.” We have:

*Had brunch, lunch, or dinner in many of Chicago’s distinctive neighborhoods at places like Toast, Uncle Julio’s, and the Rosebud Steakhouse

* Sought out Chicago’s finest pizza at places like Giordanios and D’Agntonios (we’re still looking!)

*Visited some of the great museums (our favorite without a doubt is the Chicago Art Institute – Van Gogh, Monet, Seurat, etc.)

*Watched fun, and not so fun, shows downtown (mom can attest)

*Chewed on sunflower seeds at a White Sox game, and taken in Chicago’s architecture on a boat tour with Dad

*Scrambled for a spot at a holiday parade and fireworks show on the Chicago River with Kimball and Liz

*Walked past fine shops along the famous Michigan Ave (a.k.a. the Magnificent Mile)

*And, to Jonny’s great excitement, went to an Oprah Winfrey taping where Patrick Swayze’s widow talked about his final days

It is fun to be living in Chicago and to enjoy all the events, festivals, and diverse culture that a big city has to offer. Jonny and I have been impressed by how friendly Midwesterners are. Everyone greets us with a smile and offers helpful tips when asked. We are making lots of friends in our ward and neighborhood, but it is also nice to have two great friends from Salt Lake out here too. We live just down the elevator from Kimball and Liz, and we enjoy going out on the town with them or just hanging back in our apartments and playing games some evenings.

Last weekend we went up to Boston for Thanksgiving and to surprise Jonny’s family. Only Camille and Steve knew we were coming. We laughed at all the different responses: Gretta and Dave gave us faces of shock; Mike (in an unenthusiastic, monotone voice) said “What are you doing here?”; and the kids greeted us as if we were coming all along – thinking maybe they were just out of the loop. The surprise was fun, and the weekend was even more fun. Thanksgiving Day was spent around the house. It began with breakfast – a loaf of pumpkin bread with honey butter. For the rest of the day, everyone was chatting, playing football in the backyard, cooking, and playing board games. Camille outdid herself by beautifully decorating the dining-room table and preparing a delicious meal. We had sweet potato casserole, corn-bread stuffing, orange rolls, cranberries with orange slices, stuffed mushrooms, cider with cream, salad, soup, pomegranate Jell-O, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a turkey that had been brined for 24 hours! Oh yes, and dessert… a pumpkin-chocolate cheesecake. It was so nice to sit around the table as a family and hear everyone talk about things they were grateful for this year. Family and jobs were mentioned most frequently.

That evening we all went to the movie “A Christmas Carol.” On the drive to the theater, Annie and Sophia asked me to share stories from my childhood. I instantly thought of my fun Thanksgiving celebrations growing up. I told how my parents would always pull out the camcorder and interview each child one by one about exciting things from the previous year, and how we often put together a big soccer game with my uncles and cousins. The girls were satisfied with my memories, and I was happy to reminisce. The next day I went to Plymouth Plantation with Dave, Gretta, and Mike, while Jonny stayed back to get some studying in. I had been there 3 years before in the busy fall season, but it was fun this time to go back in the off season, when the crowds were smaller. I felt like we got a more realistic feel of what the Pilgrim’s and Wampanoag’s winters might have felt like. Then, after exploring a replication of the Mayflower, we made our way over to a restaurant on a pier for some New England clam chowder and lobster. Other exciting things that took place over the weekend were: the first meeting between Jonny, myself, and Miriam (the newest member to the family); painting and sewing sessions with the kids; late night chats with the adults; Ticket-to-Ride games; a downtown walk around Faneuil Hall complete with a tuba concert, Kielbasa, and corndog; and the Utah/BYU rivalry game.

While Thanksgiving and our time with the family were the purpose for our trip, Jonny and I also made 2 stops on our drive up to Boston. Our first stop was at Niagara Falls, and the other in Palmyra, New York. The Falls were spectacular and reminded us of Iguasu Falls in Argentina/Brazil (although Iguasu is much bigger). Great natural wonders like these never fail to amaze me. Our second stop, in Palmyra, was wonderful too. We climbed the Hill Cumorah, walked through the Smith farm and Sacred Grove, saw the new Palmyra Temple, and visited the Grandin book store and printing press. I was touched by the simplicity of the Smith family home and the peace that the surrounding farmland evoked. Jonny and I look forward to visiting other Church history sites during our time in the Midwest, such as Kirtland and Nauvoo.