Summer vacation

We returned Monday night from a three-week vacation to Wisconsin and Illinois. Though normally Alaskans don't like to travel "outside" during the summer months, saving those trips for the dead of winter instead, we made our vacation plans around the Robyn's brother's wedding. John and Gina tied the knot in Milwaukee. Here the happy groom and bride are making their grand entrance at the reception.



We must be getting used to the Arctic climate here, because Wisconsin was a lot hotter and more humid than I remember it. What better place to chill out than the hotel pool?



After a couple of weeks in the Dairy State, we spent a week in Wheaton, Illinois. One special treat was taking the train downtown to check out Shedd Aquarium. The kids loved the train, and I'm sure the commuters were equally thrilled to have them as their fellow passengers that morning.



Knowing we were going to be in Chicago for months now, Robyn and I bought tickets to a Cardinals-Cubs game at Wrigley field way back in February. Despite our best efforts at cheering the Redbirds on to victory, they lost to the Cubs in extra innings. On the way back to the train station, we were heckled by some gloating Chicagoans. Cubs fans get to boast only once every century, so we didn't mind too much.



The next day I went back to Wrigley with three friends from high school. The four of us haven't been together in twenty years. Except for a few extra pounds, a few more gray hairs (or in my case at least, a few less hairs), we look just like we did in 1987.



We sat in the bleachers and watched the Cards pound the Cubs. Funny, the Cubs fans didn't have much to say to us that day!

It was a busy vacation, and at times actually relaxing. But, it is good to be home again.