Griffin is 2!

My favorite two year old little boy got to have his birthday party at our house yesterday! It was a fabulous time of pool and trucks!

Best friends!

Aunt Sarah and Griffin being silly!

Present time!

New trucks!

Buzz with baby sister Ezri

Aunt Megan and Baby Ezri

Happy birthday Griffin! We love you dearly!

Chicago + Bryson is 30!

Bryson turned 30 this week! I wanted to give him a special present, so I planned a trip to Chicago for him this year! We had so much fun seeing all the sites and just spending time together. Lots of memories made!

Right at the airport, Bryson got to see his favorite movie characters! We flew into Midway early Monday morning.

The view from our hotel room on the 13th floor! The hotel was old and kind of run down, but it was a great location for lots to do.

First United Methodist Church, Chicago! It is in a skyscraper. We toured it later in the week.

Pastor Bryson goes to church on his vacation.

We went to The Second City on Monday night. It was hilarious! This is where so many comedians have started... Tina Fey, Dan Akroyd, Amy Poehler, Steven Colbert, Steve Correll, John Candy... The list could go On and on!

"The Bean" in Millennium Park. We had breakfast here watching the people Tuesday morning. 

Our reflection in The bean.

Reach out and touch!

Oh hey there... You come here often?

We went to the science and industry museum on Tuesday. On display there is a U boat captured during World War II by the US from the Germans. It was huge! Bryson loved seeing it.

Also, there were some great planes on display. Every little history nerd's dream! He is so smart... I got a big history lesson while we were there.

Dinner on Tuesday was at House of Blues Chicago. One of Bryson's favorite restaurants. Lots of fun!

Some down time waiting for our boat.

We went on a sunset boat tour on Tuesday night. There was a lot of great architecture and history of Chicago we learned about. 

View of the city out on Lake Michigan

It was so pretty when all the lights came on. It was a nice time to just sit and marvel at the grandness of the city.

On Wednesday we went to Navy Pier! We were not even really planning on going there, but weather kept us from doing the Willis Tower that morning so we decided to go. It was fun to look around, but not super exciting.

We did not go in the Ferris Wheel, but it was cool to look at.

Wednesday afternoon, we did the tour of First United Methodist church in the sky scraper. It was huge! It is the highest elevated place of worship in the world. This is our homeboy, John Wesley.

The small chapel at the top.

We got to go out on the parsonage terrace and see the view. Maybe someday this will be our future view from our parsonage??? :)

Wednesday night we got to go to Wrigley Field. Bryson loved this and it was his favorite part of the trip.

Watching the game

Sadly, it started to pour in the middle of the 6th inning. We were tired from all our adventures, so we left after the rain stopped and didn't get to see the rest of the game.

Thursday morning we finally got some sun! Looking out our hotel down at the L. We did not rent a car but took public transportation and walked everywhere. We got very proficient at reading bus and L schedules (thank you Google maps!)

Thursday morning, since it was finally clear, we went up in Willis tower! Highest building in the Western Hemisphere. The view was magnificent!

Looking right into the heart of Chicago

There is a part called "the ledge". It is a glass enclosure you can step out on. I went, but was freaked out of my mind! Bryson didn't feel the need to try.

I was freaking out pretty bad but wanted this picture! A guy waiting to go out said "what is the worst that could happen?" To which I replied, "it could break and I could fall and die!" Everyone laughed.

Can't go to Chicago without getting a Chicago hot dog! It was taste-o-riffic!

It was an amazing trip full of fun. It was so nice to get away and spend time enjoying each other's company. I am so thankful for my 30 year old husband!

And now, in keeping with tradition, the 3+0 things I love about my husband! (See here and here for the last two year's list!) I got off easy this year!

3. I love how he keep me laughing all the time. We laughed so much together at our trip in Chicago. It was fun just to see each other's smiles and laugh together. We both have been getting so caught up in stress lately, we haven't been laughing together as much. What a blessing laughter is!

2. I have loved this year seeing Bryson grow into the role of pastor. His last year as an associate and now as the "lead pastor" over Wellington, I have been struck by how caring he is for people, how he is relaying the messages of God and how amazing he is at filling this role. God has truly blessed me with such a wonderful man of God.

1. Over the last few months of Bryson being injured himself, I have been truly thankful for how much he does around the house so I don't have to exacerbate my pain levels. He usually takes care of most of the grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning as those things are so hard for me to do due to my chronic pain. I am so thankful for how he has kept our house running over the last three years when I physically could not. I am glad I was capable enough to keep the house semi-running while he was down and unable to, but it has made me appreciate completely and totally how he takes care of us.

+0. I love you, Bryson Lillie! I am so thankful for you as a husband, a best friend and my companion.