A week ago, I talked with Bryce about how Stake Temple Day (it had been awhile) and Chicago's St. Patty's Day celebrations (never been) happen to be the same weekend.... SO we should go!
Discussions to stay downtown Chicago were talked about (any excuse for me to stay in the city!) and we named our own price on Priceline.
AND landed a 4 star hotel (for a 2 star price, of course!), right at the tiny portion of the river that will be dyed.
Of all locations, I couldn't believe it!
Thursday night came and Cian started to not feel so well.
He became cuddly, clingy, runny nosey, and coughy. At dinner, he asked to sit on my lap (a very very common occurrence--that can drive me crazy).
Having pity on him for being sick, I picked him up, and then I leaned in for a bite--resulting in him leaning forward and he sneezed right into my food.
Motherhood can be so gross.
He fevered most that night but it broke and he seemed to be doing okay the next morning so we continued on with our plans.
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| On our way to the temple. Cian had fallen asleep and woke up super grumpy. You know it's true love when (without even thinking about it), you sacrifice your only bag of Funyons for his happiness. Man, I love those things. Why are they never on sale? It was my first purchase of them in years. Of course it was too much to hope that he wouldn't like them. He LOVED them and ate every last one. |
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| As much as I love kids napping, my neck hurts just looking at them sometimes. |
After the temple, I drove into the city. Bryce and I both hate driving but he almost always gets stuck with it. He especially hates city driving. So to help with the atmosphere of both the car and trip, I drove.
Bryce agrees, it was much more enjoyable.
The hotel was super nice.
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| And Giordono's happened to be a block away, sure love when that happens. |
That night, Cian and I both fevered. I could feel sickness settling deep in my lungs earlier in the day, it was all just a matter of time. Our little homebody Cian, just asked to go home over and over.
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| Our view of the dying of the river the next morning was perfect while we ate breakfast. |
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| See all the people lined up to see it? I don't feel too bad for missing out on that. |
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| When we were ready, we headed down for pictures. |
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| Attempt 1 |
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| 2 |
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| Haha! Gotta love it. |
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| Shade and a photographer helped get a family picture. |
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| Brycen loves picture taking. |
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| It was awesome to see. |
Next was to make our way to the parade.
I read somewhere that a million people attend.
So we basically followed the crowds.
The public drinking and intoxication was so sad.
It totally littered my beloved city with bottles and trash.
Meanwhile, my lungs were burning. Whatever sickness was setting in, it caused me to be very short of breath while exerting energy. Not fun.
We made our way to the parade and found one of the last, smallest spots that we could find.
It was near the end, never a place I want to be in.
However, this parade had the shortest route I had ever seen (3 blocks) so I thought it would work out.
After 25 minutes of being pushed in like sardines, it started.
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| The bagpipes were one of the best parts. |
Having been in Marching Band myself, it was cool to see some. However, 38 bands (maybe a exaggeration?Totally lost count)--not so much. The parade seemed to be going on forever; especially after the wait, not being able to really see or move, it being lunch time (okay okay, huge factor!), and after 45 minutes in to it, not seeing really anything
too exciting or different.
Brycen apparently came under the assumption that he would be getting candy. He asked and asked about it. After 45 minutes, that changed to
anything. The one flyer that came his way, he was ecstatic! However, he kept wishing for candy. Cian was not feeling too hot and didn't want to be held or stand any longer (we had to fold up strollers so that we could see over heads).
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| When this float came by, we knew something was off. They could've been handing out samples! Just like so many people before them, they all seem "out" of whatever they came to do and didn't know what to do, so for those looking on--it really wasn't too exciting. |
Crowds started to thin out about 45 minutes to 1 hour into the parade, so we thought several times that must mean that the end was coming soon. As time went on, Bryce and I discussed several times if we should leave. I had planned on for sure, not spending more than an hour to see the parade. But at the same time, I felt we would miss something if we left early. People come to see this for a reason, right?
However, Cian was done so I told Bryce that I would push him around in the stroller to try to get him to nap. I decided to walk along the parade route in hope to see the end. As I walked, I didn't see the end, but did see that the crowds that had left, had opened up bigger spots to stand than what we uncomfortably fought hard to hold at the end of the line.
So I went back and fetched Bryce and Brycen. Bryce loved the idea of seeing the parade in "fast forward". We walked and occasionally stopped to watch and then continued on. The further we got to the start, we found that people were giving things out! Tons of things but of course with 1 million people, they were running out long before they had ever reached us at the end.
Yes, people at the start had Lucky Charm samples.
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So we found a new spot and enjoyed the parade a whole lot more. The new floats that were coming had waited just as long to be in the parade as we had been watching, so they came on excited and full of goodies!
Brycen got beads after beads. Candy after candy. |
What truly saved it (and for a bit, my belly) for me: H and R Block gave out full size chocolate bars from Ghirardelli. It was heavenly and not around near long enough to warrant a picture.
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| Our sick Cian had room to sit in the stroller, warm, and still see the parade. A few parade people made sure he got beads too. |
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| Some of the goods. Brycen was given a ball from the street hockey players. He loved that. |
The parade lasted for 3 hours! I would've never guessed that it would. If we were to go again, I would pack a sack lunch. Go up towards the front of the parade, stay back behind the crowds and have a picnic in the park that surrounded the parade and after the crowds thin out, then go up and enjoy the last 2 hours on a full belly and crowd free.
Having said that, would I go again? Not sure. It was fun to see it once but all the drinking really bothers me so I'm not sure I would sign up to attend this particular weekend again.
Even though, I do love Chicago!
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| On the way back to the van, I saw the outdoor ice skating rink that closed for the season 6 days before. Just missed it!! |
The trek to the van was another painful one with my lungs, I was near tears by the time we arrived :(
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| Poor Cian desperately getting his nap. Again, the neck thing... |
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He LOVES driving!
He did happen to stumble across this awesome underground street that carried us from downtown Chicago to the highway with no stops, lights, or pedestrians, all in 4 minutes. As much as I missed being able to see my city out the window, it was pretty amazing. |
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| At home, the beads have been a favorite! Cian loves being home. |
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Sorry for the angle of the picture, I was laying down and not feeling well.
10 minutes after taking the above picture, I went to the immediate care to get checked out. I hurt so bad. My chest ached with every breath and burned with every cough.
They diagnosed me with Bronchitis.
Cian and I have had quite the weekend (of shows).
Not much sleep. Lots of coughing and staying in bed.
Who knew two people could go through so many tissues?
Cian sneezes about every 3 minutes and depending on what direction he is facing, the contents could be found on the opposite wall.
So so gross.
If not sneezing, he snuggles up to me and then coughs into my face.
My favorite. |
