We started planning for our anniversary a lot earlier than usual this year.  With the holidays and Sloan’s birthday – we didn’t want to be gone at the end of November.  So we planned to go on a trip, just the two of us, a few weeks early to celebrate.  Chicago it was.  Zach wanted to fit in as many sporting events as possible and I wanted to shop and eat 24/7.  I nicknamed the trip our “Sportsiversary”.  Three games in three days.

Before we left, I was a hot mess.  So excited to have some alone time with Zach, but a total basket case about leaving my baby.  That’s another thing I said I would never do – be a freak about leaving my kids on vacation.  Maybe it gets easier the more you have?  Or maybe for some it never gets easier.  Either way – it was much harder than I expected.  We dropped Sloan off at my mom’s house Thursday and then hustled to the airport.  Zach caught me looking at photos of Sloan on my phone – 28 minutes into our trip…

The flight was a breeze and went by really quick.  By the time we got in we were starving.  We ditched our bags at our hotel and walked on over to Gino’s East for some deep dish pizza.  It was Zach’s one request [food wise] of the trip.  

Friday we slept in, I went for a run on Michigan Ave, and we had an early lunch at the Velvet Taco.  If you ever go – get the tater tots.  With the egg.  Afterwards we shopped.  For hours.  Zach didn’t complain once.  We went in and out of stores all up and down the Magnificent Mile and Rush Street.  Then we stopped at Sprinkles to refuel, obviously.
We walked back to our hotel so we could change for dinner at Joe’s. 

They found out we were celebrating our anniversary and sent us two glasses of champagne to our table.  To spare an awkward conversation – we gave our glasses to the couple in the booth next to us to toast.  For dinner we shared an order of the Alaskan King Crab.  I am not a big Crab [or shellfish fan in general] but this crab is beyond amazing.  And they make eating it enjoyable – they cut it and crack it for you at the table.

After dinner we changed our clothes and made our way over to U.S. Cellular Field for our first Sox game.  Our last visit to Chicago we went to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs – so it was only fitting that we saw the Sox this trip.  

Besides – I got to channel my inner Ice Cube and get a Sox hat [much classier than a Raiders hat, in my opinion].  It hasn’t really felt like fall to me quite yet in Salt Lake – but on that crisp evening at the ball park it got me all kinds of excited for the season.  At the end of the seventh inning there was even a romantic moment with Southpaw, their mascot.  The real mystery that Zach and I couldn’t figure out is why the poor guy is green??

The next morning we slept in, I went for a run by Navy Pier, and we got ready to go out and about.  It just so happened that Zach’s brother Sean, who is currently living in Ohio, was taking his boards in Chicago.  He was staying in a hotel right across the street from a Shake Shack – so meet up for lunch with him was a no brainer.

We spent the next few hours catching up with Sean and then sent him on his way with good luck wishes.

Even though we were cutting it close, I dragged Zach into a few more stores before we had to make our way over to our dinner reservation at Bandera.

We had been there before when the Hendo girls visited for our Girl’s Trip a few years ago.  I decided to take Zach back to try it and we both left agreeing it was one of our favorite meals of the trip.  Their cornbread is out of this world.  We’re going to order it next time for dessert instead of an appetizer…

After dinner we took a cab over to the United Center for the ice hockey game.  We took a risk and decided to wait to get tickets until 45 minutes before the game started.  There weren’t any seats we liked for the price – so we kept waiting.  Thanks to Zach’s perseverance, he bought great tickets while we were at dinner [on the 12th row!] and I convinced the concierge at a nearby hotel to print them off for us.

The facility was incredible.  I mean, I know Jordan won a billion championships and the Blackhawks have had their Stanley Cup victories…but I didn’t expect the place to be that nice.

The fans were in a league of their own, as well.  I think hockey fans are some of my absolute favorite when it comes to sporting events.

The place was absolutely packed – and the game did not disappoint.  Patrick Kane was so fun to watch!  It’s alway more fun to leave the home team with a win.

Sunday morning we slept in until they almost physically kicked us out of our hotel.  We checked out and stowed our bags so we could catch a cab over to Soldier Field.  The crowds were crazy.  This trip made me realize how devoted and true Chicagoans are to their teams.  It was so packed that we rode a bike taxi to the entrance of the stadium.  We got ourselves some warm fan gear [and Sloan a stuffed bear] and settled into our seats.  With popcorn and pretzel in hand, we witnessed all the gore (and glory) that comes with being a Raiders fan.  We got amazing seats (again, to my husband who manages to finagle his way into a win-win situation always) on the second row.  They were located on one of the end zones and it felt like we were surrounded by Raiders fans.  Luckily, we made some fast friends…

After the game we had very little time to grab our bags and head over to the airport.  The weekend went by very quickly.  Although we were both in our own little world – sleeping in, staying up late talking for hours, shopping, eating at fancy restaurants, and just spending time together – we both missed Sloan beyond our expectations.  The flight from Midway to Salt Lake seemed like it took 12 hours instead of 3.  I am so grateful to my parents who watched Sloan and gave her the weekend of her life while we were away.  It’s hard enough to leave your baby behind – but to know she was well taken care of was the greatest relief.

Even though it’s an early celebration – seven years with my best friend feels like a blink.  Time flies when you’re having fun!