Summer, la deuxième partie

Girl's Camp.  Love it.  Can't wait until next year.  

3 1/2 days of pure hair braiding, dancing, laughing, singing, eating, laughing, service, hiking, cooking, climbing, zip lining, girly fun.  I love to watch how the girls unwind from the world and just settle into being themselves.  Oh how beautiful these girls are!

Survivor was the theme.  Allie actually stuck her hand into an aquarium of crickets! That's huge for her.  

I cried, I laughed until I cried, and I made some amazing new friends.  I hope all the girls felt the same way.  

Old Hickory Ward YW & leaders, aren't they awesome?

Yep, that's Allie cleaning.

Allie climbing, she loves rock climbing.

April, our fearless leader.
I love this image.
The reason we are at camp is to bring the girls closer to the Savior.
She was really good at this!

The day after Girl's Camp, we packed up the family and headed to Indiana.  We spent 2 days there, then headed to Chicago with Dottie.  We had tons of fun.


Evan & Allie picked out their dream cars:  

Navy Pier, we took a boat tour on the lake, Evan, Allie, Darin, Drew & Nathan rode the giant ferris wheel.  Dottie & I kept our feet firmly planted on the ground, thank you very much.  Darin, Allie & Evan rode the giant swing.  Again, no thanks on the spinning around in a circle.  Nathan & Drew rode the carousel. 

I waved.

This view is from the top, which explains why I didn't ride it.

I love this picture, I can't explain why.

Skyline from the boat.

The kids climbed (and were pushed) upon the giant macaroni noodle.

Then we saw this:

Um, well, we weren't the only ones.

We went to Wrigley Field, the boys ran the bases after the game.
Not sure who liked it the most, them or me.

The Imax, and the priceless picture of Dottie in her big glasses.
Why does this look so familiar?

We took a fascinating Pizza history walking tour through downtown.

We got to sample pizza at three deep dish pizza joints.  

You can find the information here.  I actually found it on Groupon!  

I highly recommend it (the tour, and Groupon).  

Last, but not least, the Long Family took a quick trip up to the top of the Sear's Tower (I know it's not called that anymore, but it will always be to me.)  Dottie drove around the city putting her life at risk so she wouldn't have to to to the top and.... put her life at risk?

It was beautiful, but I just refuse to step out on the glass.  Can't do it.  Here is my brave little Allie, taking pictures.  

The view straight down:

The boys, out in the glass cube.

This picture makes me nauseous.

Allie's feet.  Again, feeling a bit sick.

I'm stopping there, this post is ridiculously long.  There is more.  You will see it later.
Oh, the title, "la deuxieme partie" means part 2 in French.  I just like to use the handful of French phrases I remember from high school and college on occasion.