Chicago Connection

Despite some solid rain, Connor and Andrea made it out to wait for the bus.  It finally came and Andrea said that Connor was so excited.  He turned to her and said “I can’t wait for it to get here!”  Andrea, soaking wet by that time, said she was thinking the same thing right about then.  So we may have to break down and buy an umbrella.  I called Andrea right after the bus picked him up and she said that he was so cute.  Andrea was so happy for him and felt a little bit sad walking back to an empty house.  She knew that we was having fun though. Connor said he had a great day and he liked his teachers.  The only real memorable lesson he said he learned was that the teachers told them not to use too much toilet paper or it will flood the bathroom.  So, the important lessons have already begun.

Sunday, Connor got up and decided to make cheese and crackers to sell to me.  He was so funny!  He had Andrea help him fashion a little concession tray and charged me $3 a cracker!  (Play money of course.)

And then tonight for FHE, we went over the Samuel the Lamanite story and Connor was Samual.  He stood on the bench and called us to repentance while we threw wadded up socks at him.

Some might wonder what super important test an MBA student on internship would pass.  The CFA? CPA? Six Sigma black belt?  This test was much more important than any of those.  The test I am talking about is my driver’s test!  Due to the fact that I am in the state of Illinois and my Utah license was stolen in Prague, I had to take the written test and the driving test.

The whole thing amounted to a 2 1/2 hour “family experience” at the DMV on Saturday.  Here are a few memories of the experience.

1)  Staci, my driving examiner.  She was a cool black lady who introduced a new route that included some local yard sales.  We stopped and she bought a bike.  Classic!
2) Connor asking if he could be in the picture with me for the license.
3) An idiot driver pulling out of the DMV and almost hitting me while on my driving test.  I asked Staci if that was part of the “Road Rage” test.
4) Me scoring my first 100% on any type of an examination.  (Going back next week for my CDL!)
5) Having to track Andrea down in the Subway next door to get the keys so I could do my driving test.

Anyway, now I am a proud resident of the “Land of Lincoln” and can legally drive again.

Last night my good friend Trevor was in town from Utah.  He talked his friend out of his season tickets so that we could go and have a “Chicago Experience.”  It was great fun and Wrigley was really cool.  I had a footlong hot dog with everything on it.  That would include chili, grilled onions, nacho cheese, saurkrat (?), relish, pickels, and there may have been a few things I’m missing.  Trevor was nice enough to pay, so I felt like I couldn’t pass up that chance!  The Cubs lost, but yes Jamey Moyer did pitch for the Phillies. 

The funniest part of the night was when these two girls walked past the ushers right down to the field seats and defiantly sat down.  The first usher told them to leave and they didn’t.  So the old guy starts yelling at them and trying to make them leave.  When he couldn’t get them to leave, two more ushers showed up.  The girls just sat there for a half inning driving the ushers nuts.  I was pretty funny.  Finally an even more important usher showed up and said something that got them to leave.  Now that I think about it, maybe they didn’t speak English.  There were empty seats all around them too.  Provided some good entertainment though!

Today we went downtown and met Trevor and Jamie Anderson from Utah for lunch. They are good friends and in town for business with Discover Card. We also got to sit and watch the Blue Angels fly over Lake Michigan from Navy Pier.  Connor loved it and we came home and read all about the Angels.  We are thinking that we might have to start doing some airplane models are something together. 

Had a good week and we have found out that Connor can get into a local soccer league!  He is excited and so are we.  Connor also built another very cool rocket and he is very proud of it.  He named it the X51 and we can throw pretty high.  We made it out of a paper towl roll and cut out the fins from cardboard.  I am trying to learn about the things Connor likes and do them together.  Too bad playing catch isn’t real high on his list right now!

The other day I opened my email to get this message from one of my best friends ever Dana Robb!

I did it!  With only the minor distractions of a mission, marriage and two
kids, I finished my bachelor’s degree in English from BYU.  This Friday I
walk and close that chapter of my life.  I’m almost sad to see it done but
now I get to look forward to spending more time with my boys, working as the
young women’s first counselor in our ward, continuing as a victim advocate
with the Sandy police, working on film projects, and free-lance writing in
all my spare time (which I’m sure I will have plenty of!)

Just wanted to share the fabulous news!  Dana

Dana and I were both attending BYU (me night school 3 nights a week, and her day school) while we were living in Sandy as neighbors. We often helped each other out with babysitting while one of us was in class or studying. I can totally appreciate the sacrifices she has made and I am so, so, so proud of her. If I could only be there today to watch her walk across that stage I would stand and clap the loudest!
 
You inspire me Dana! We will for sure go out and celebrate both of our graduations next time I hit Utah which means I’ve got to get going!!
 

Here is a little pic on the shore of Lake Michigan today.