Christmas in the City

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful day and celebrate with family and friends the true meaning of Christmas (which will be my next post.)

These past two days, I was privileged to be able to nanny while traveling with a family to Chicago. It was a lot of fun to be able to walk around the city during the Christmas season. Let me tell you though, the crowds were crazy! Everyone must have been like me and late with their Christmas shopping.

We stayed at a hotel on the 22nd floor and had a beautiful view of Michigan Avenue.  The lights at this time of year are stunning. If you’ve never been to Chicago during the holidays, you need to make it a point to go.

After we unpacked at the hotel, we braved the wind and sleet and walked a mile to Navy Pier. At Navy Pier they have a Christmas village inside. The kids loved it, and I also had fun on the inflatables with the children.(Still a kid at heart…)

After spending most of the day bouncing around on rides, and looking a Christmas trees; we ran a mile through the rain to get back to the hotel.  I don’t think my shoes have ever been as soaked as they were that night. But it was definitely worth it.

After getting out of our wet clothes, the adults headed out to a fancy restaurant, while the kids and I stayed behind and had pizza and salad. I was a bad blogger and didn’t take a picture of the pizza, but it was delicious!

While eating pizza, the kids and I curled up and watched “Santa Clause is Coming to Town.” That brought back so many memories! Did anyone else watch that when they were little?

A little while later, I tucked the kids to bed and made some phone calls for my coffee business.

I also took selfies, because, why not?  After making calls and having my devotions, the parents came back and I fell asleep.

The next morning, we were surprised with bagels from Einsteins. The dads brought them to us: hero status.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a bagel/egg sandwich, but I’m a believer now.

After fueling with bagels, we started our day and walked to the nearest, cutest store. Low and behold: a candy store.

Not only was it a candy store, but when you entered it smelled like you walked into a mass of cotton candy. Whenever a store smells like cotton candy, it is a winner in my book!

After purchasing necessary items (think lots of chocolate), we left and walked a couple of miles to a German Christmas festival. It was such a cute festival, except people were shoulder to shoulder with each other. I’m pretty sure that I smacked at least ten different people with my huge purse. I felt bad, but what can you do?

On the bright side, I found some ridiculously delicious cinnamon roasted almonds.

After stuffing my face with almonds, we walked to Macy’s to see their Christmas decorations.

Macy’s knows how do Christmas. I wish I could hire their decorators to do my room, that would be amazing.

Sometime during all the walking, we took pictures at the bean, just to do it.

Once we found a spot to eat lunch, we walked around and did some more sightseeing, packed up the cars, and headed home.

I fell asleep on the car ride home and I am pretty sure my mouth was open. I am a really attractive person when I sleep.

When I flew through the door, I was engulfed with hugs from my family, kisses from my dog, and an early Christmas present from another family I nanny for.

They know me so well.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel with friends and family and now celebrate Christmas with loved ones.

Many blessings to you and your clans. May we rejoice in our Savior’s birth today and tomorrow, and not only those days, but every day that follows.

Merry Christmas Eve!