Uda's in Chicago: Photo shoot, Pedicures and Singing in Church

 Since so many of the Uda kids were together in one place, and since Chris and Pae were on a rare visit to the States, we decided to have a photographer come and take some family pics. I don't have the big files (I think Naomi has them on CD) but here are some of the proofs.

 It was really windy, but I think this one still came out cute. 

 We moved to our entryway to avoid the wind and I love the pics we got there.

 Chris and the Uda girls

Pae and her Uda sistas! (she totally blends right in :)

And we snuck in a few shots of the Rigg fam

Cam looks like such beef cake in this one.

Later in the week we took the little girls out for Pedicures since they didn't get to come with us to the City.

 Chicago Cousins!

 Gettin' fancy

The pampered life

Cute little tootsies

 Before we left to church on Sunday Chris and Pae got out a map to show the girls where they lived. The girls were amazed and sad to see how far away they really were. I think it helped them appreciate how special it was to have them here.

The highlight of Church was being able to sing in sacrament meeting with my sisters. Singing with them always takes me to my happy place.

 Outside church with my sisters

 And the icing on the cake was having my Dad there to hear us! He was on an extended layover so he got to spend Saturday and half of Sunday with us before he had to go home. I love my family and am so grateful I got to have them here for such an awesome visit!

Uda's in Chicago: A Day in the City!

One of the coolest things we did while my family was in town back in April was hit up Downtown Chicago for a little sight seeing. 

The big thing on the agenda was check out the Navy Pier and catch an architectural boat tour of the city

Rachel, Liz, Dad, Sarah and Manti at Navy Pier Park

The whole crew about to get on our boat, the Sea Dog. 

And I totally bought this ridiculously expensive photo because it was a rare pic with all of us in it and everyone looked good so yeah, had to do it!

The boat tour was really cool. It was about 90 minutes long and you got to hear some really cool facts about the architecture and buildings downtown. Our tour guide was a little...interesting, and definitely had some TMI moments but it was fun and I'd do it again.

After our boat tour we walked several blocks down to Millennial park to check out the famous Bean statue.

 The Bean is cool, and we took lots of pics.

 Also practiced a little "Vadering" while we were there. 

 Don't mess with the dark side!

Cool shot underneath the bean with my man

 Naomi and my adorable sister in law Pae.

 Group shot at millenial park

 And one of Chris and all the Uda sisters. 

It was an awesome day and especially awesome having Chris and Pae here all the way from Thailand. It was the first time I'd met my sister in law and the first time I'd seen Chris in 7 years so we were pretty happy to have them here. 

Uda's invade Chicago: Sister Time!

Last month all of my sisters came out to Chicago! I was the happiest girl in the world. 

 On our first day together we left the kids with a sitter and went out to lunch. I could hardly eat I was so excited to be having lunch with all of my sisters together, at the same time, in the same place! It was just awesome!

I had a perma-grin the whole time

 After lunch we went over to a little salon to get our eyebrows threaded. It hurt like the devil and I may or may not have cried...

 But afterwards our eyebrows looked so fabulous it was totally worth the torture. :)

The next day we took the kids to downtown Geneva and hit up Graham's for some yummy chocolate and homemade ice cream.

Later that night Taber watched all the kids (including Sarah's little baby Manti) So we could go to Kohl's. (best husband ever!)  We did some serious clothes shopping, which I NEVER do unless it's with my sisters so it had been a LONG time! It was so super fun having my fashionista sister Liz pick out clothes for us and have us all try them on. We all crammed into the same dressing room and just swapped clothes and tried things on an modeled for each other until everyone had found a winning outfit. It was awesome!

 After shopping till the store closed, we went to TGIFriday's for appetizers and desserts

I was so happy I just kept pinching myself to see if this was really happening. Having my sisters in town was seriously a dream come true. (Not to sound cheesy but for real, I love these girls!!)

A bully, a Suzy-Q, and a birthday cake.

Once upon a time, when cute little Taber was in elementary school, his mom packed him a lunch and lovingly included a Suzy-Q for dessert. To Taber, Suzy Q's were the crown jewel of the hostess kingdom, and he was so so excited for his special treat. 

When lunch came around he carefully pulled out his snack cake, mouth watering in anticipation, but just as he was about to eat it, some punk bully kid snatched it right out of his hands.  He begged the kid to give it back but instead the boy sprinted off across the cafeteria. Taber ran after him, as he closed in his hope of retrieving the Suzy Q grew stronger. But just as he was about to catch him, the boy turned around, ripped open the package, looked Taber in the eye and LICKED the Suzy Q! Defiling the cake with his big fat disgusting tongue. 

Taber burst into tears. 

It was a moment that would haunt him for decades. 

How could anyone do that to such a cute little boy? 

I have no idea. 

All I know is Taber told that story to his HR team one time and they thought it was so hilarious that they surprised him on his birthday with a very special cake. 

His very own, giant homemade Suzy Q.

The best part was, it was completely bully tongue free. :)

Props to his HR team. They totally made his day. 

Half way to 70!

Last month we celebrated Taber's 35th birthday.

I excused him from work half way through the day so I could take him out to lunch

And a movie! 

We went and saw Oblivion at the IMAX. 

There's just something awesome about skipping out on work to hit up a matinee.

 I also baked him his favorite German chocolate cake, from scratch, because that's what you do when you're in love :)

 We had a little family party (plus a few friends to help us eat the cake) Taber loves to get a picture of him with the kids and his cake every birthday so he can compare each year and see how the kids have grown.  It's always fun to look back:

 Taber turning 31 with toddler Teya and baby Brin

Taber turning 32, baby Brinley is now toddler Brinley

 Taber turning 33, Cam is on the scene!

 Taber turning 34 (Cam is much bigger and now we've moved on from strawberry whipped cream cake to German chocolate)

And Taber turning 35! (notice he's upgraded from goatee to full beard since his last b-day)

We had Naomi and Kevin and our awesome neighbors Jess and Henry over to help us celebrate.

 After the kids went to bed we played a few rounds of Bonanza, ate lots of junk food and laughed till our sides hurt. 

It was exactly what Taber wanted. Low key, simple, good times, with good friends. 

Happy Birthday Love, you make 35 look GOOD! 

The wildest animal at the Zoo...

We have a year pass to the Brookfield Zoo 

 We love meeting up with our cousins there to look at all the wild animals

 But the wildest animal of all is usually the one we bring with us.

 He can't be confined to a cage, 

and other animals run in fear at the sight of him.

When he's upset, there's no telling where he'll end up throwing his wild animal fits

People usually stop and stare, but I try not to feel too bad, because everybody stares at wild things when you're at the zoo.

The first hints of Spring: April 2013

When the snow finally melts after a long winter, and nature gives you that first hint of Spring, it's magic. 

 The grass is still brown...

The wind still whips through your hair

 But Spring is near and you can just FEEL it! 

And oh how sweet it is!

Soon the ducks will be back on the water

 and your days will be filled with outdoor adventures

 Afternoon walks will replace being cooped up indoors

And everyone will be flying high, because Spring is in the air.