Chicago!

So we're here! Well...we've been here for about a week and a half:) Things have been so busy and I am so happy I finally have a chance to sit down and write about what's going on! There's been a lot of trying to settle in, trying to find my way to the grocery store, and a lot of trying the yummiest foods this place has to offer! We sure have been eating well and I can't wait to make a post about my favorite yummy places so far...I'm getting a little worried though I may gain a few lbs while I'm here:)

So far, I love it here! I was really worried how I would do at first because leaving Utah (mostly leaving my family and friends) was really, really hard for me. But as soon as I got here I started loving it. I am really busy which leaves me very little time to get homesick:) The first weekend we got here we went down town and were able to go to my favorite, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and we had dinner at Gibsons. Wow-best steak I have ever had in my life. Ever. I didn't even know steak could taste like that!!

Soon after we got here my best friend from Wisconsin came to visit. We have been friends since we were about 3 and have stayed in touch all these years. It's really fun to only be a couple hours away from each other now:)

We have been really busy since the move, that I think we are all getting a little run down. Me, Micah, and Eleni have bad colds, and last night while I was cutting a grape fruit I sliced through the top of my thumb and even through my finger nail! It was super ouchy, and I am realizing how helpful thumbs are because it is making everything 10x harder today trying to work around it! So I am excited to get over our colds, get my thumb healed, and continue to try and settle in, and hopefully be back to my regular food blogging!

We are going to paint the inside of our house soon, and I have been trying to find the perfect robin egg blue paint. Does anyone have any ideas??

Going to try and rest/get some things done while Eleni is napping. I will be posting again soon! :)

Would you forgive me if I lied to you???

So remember when I said I was going to post about ribolita??? Well, that's not going to happen I decided until I move :) So sorry, but things have been craaazy! Micah's been gone, leaving me to pack pretty much the whole house by myself, with a darling 10 month old baby who wont sit still :) It's been a challenge, but it has been possible because of my amazing mom who wins the mom and yia yia of the year award!!! It seriously overwhelms me with how much she has done, can't put it into words how grateful I am for such an amazing mom who is seriously the hardest worker I know, and who will do absolutely anything for her children.

Packing has brought up a series of emotions. Last night my mom and I took a break to watch some American Idol, soon after we both found ourselves crying, for no specific reason. Just a lot of emotions came up. It's hitting us both that I will soon be gone. But the tears weren't all sad tears, I would say they were mostly not sad tears. I could maybe describe them as tears of something new if that makes sense. A new and exciting part of my life that is waiting. Definitely a new part of my life that will have different challenges, but many wonderful things as well.

My mom and I worked all day yesterday, as we had been doing since Sunday. My mom left around 9:30 and I continued to work until 12:30. After feeling like I had accomplished a lot I got ready for bed and knelt for my evening prayer. After I was so overwhelmed with emotions that I found myself crying again!-this time by myself :) I was feeling something I hadn't felt for a while. I moved a lot growing up, and each move made me draw closer to the things I love most, which are my faith and my family. I had such a gratitude last night for my faith, it is truly the one constant in my life that is there wherever I go. I peeked at Eleni while she was sleeping, she looked so precious that my heart skipped a beat. I know that as long as I am with my little family and draw near to my Heavenly Father everything will be ok.

I had a huge realization last night that if I don't experience change, I wont draw as close to the things that are so dear and special to me. I am excited and grateful for this new chapter in my life. A new chapter that is only 6 days away! I better get back to packing, I think the end is semi in sight :)