Rachel and I just got back from.....

Chicago!!

We went there with her choir group, the Clark County Children's Choir, to participate in a choir festival (basically where they get judged).  So there was a purpose for this four day trip, but there was also a lot of fun and enjoyment.  We got to hang out with three of Rachel's good friends and their moms that are also my good friends.  It was a party all weekend long and definitely worth documenting!  So, here's my attempt at narrowing down hundreds of pictures to these, just so we can remember the good times we had!

Here's Carli, Suzanne and Rachel as we left the Las Vegas airport.

When we arrived at the Chicago airport, the bus to pick us up and take us to their rehearsal was over an hour late.  So, they missed the rehearsal, but Miss Holly, the director, was not about to waste valuable time....they rehearsed in baggage claim.  It was awesome!

When we got settled in our rooms, it was time for dinner so we walked around Chicago and found a place to eat.  Then we went home to girl's talk and pillow fights.  That's what we did most evenings.  We even did facials and nails (of course!)

It was fun being right downtown.

The next day, the girls were ready for the adjudication...

They sounded GREAT!

After they sang, there were three adjudicators that came up one by one and critiqued them.  But really, Miss Holly is so amazing, that one of them even said to her, "You just made my day!  I wanted to be up there singing while you directed me!"  She really is that good!  

The man below is the one that said it.  I guess he is really well known in the children's choir world.  But, he reminds me of Jim Carrey.  He is really fun and has a lot of personality.  He made the kids feel so good!

Pictures after it was over....

Even though there were a couple more "choir events," pretty much the rest of the time was free time to play.  And that we did!

Friday night we went to the Navy Pier

Even though it was windy that night, the weather in Chicago was PERFECT the whole time!

It was fun to watch the girls have so much fun together.

They wanted to go into the "Amazing Funhouse Maze."  It was kind of like a maze/haunted house.  Me and Jennie went along.  It was a little crazy.  We went through twice and I came out a little nauseous!  :)

Here's me and Rach with the Chicago background.  It was a really windy!

The girls... 

The moms!  HaHa!  Not quite the right timing, and a little blurry, but here's to document that the moms were having fun too!  :)

Saturday was our last day to play so we went shopping down Michigan Ave.  It was soooo beautiful!  Flowers and tulips everywhere!  I almost thought I was in Holland!

We also ran into the silver guy on the streets of Chicago.  After giving him some money, he did a sweet dance for us and then posed with the girls.

Even though Rachel has never really been into American Girls dolls, it was such a fun store to visit.  

We had lunch on the 96th floor of the Hancock building.  The view was amazing!

By this time the girls were begging me to stop taking pictures.  But someday they will thank me for all the photos they have of this fun trip!

The next morning, Sunday, Rachel's choir, along with all the other choirs there for the festival, got to sing in the service at this amazing Cathedral.

I wasn't able to take pictures during the service, but I took them before while they rehearsed.  

They sang three songs and the adjudicators directed them.  It sounded amazing!

Here's the Jim Carrey look-a-like!  He wrote one of the songs that they sang.  It was my favorite one!

Then we rushed to the airport to head home.  Bye-bye Chicago!

I will definitely be back someday!  Hopefully next time with Mark!  (Sorry, no offence Rach and friends!)