Chi Town's Finest

Two weekends ago I went to Chicago for the weekend. I had a conference there on Monday so I flew out on Friday to spend the weekend with Marshall and Lindsey Lunt! They were nice enough to let me crash at their lavish apartment in downtown Chicago. My Lindsey was flying out on standby later on Friday, but didnt make it there because there were a bunch of cancellations. Needless to say we were both upset because we were really looking forward to the weekend in Chicago since neither of has had ever been there. Below is a picture of Marshal and Lindsey along with Mike and Chantele Lunt, who came up from South Bend, IN. It was great to see all of them, but as you can tell, there is an empty space where Lindsey should be!

Reenacting the scene from Ferris Buellers Day Off when we went to the Sears Tower!!View of Chicago from the Sears Tower.
With Marshall and Mike Lunt.



I love how the Chicago River goes right through downtown Chicago. I loved Chicago and how clean the city was. It is now one of my favorite cities in the U.S., if not my favorite.

Big Apple

Who doesn't LOVE New York!?! We were lucky enough to go for the weekend with the Neumann family. We had such a fun weekend. I don't think it would have been possible to pack more into the three days that we were there. Here are some of the highlights of the great weekend....


The first night we got in late so everyone in the group was a little sleepy... that is besides Whit and I. We were obviously a little excited!! I love all the lights and the crowds.
Any of you chick flick lovers out there might recognize this place. It was used to film part of "27 Dresses". This is the cute restaurant where the main chick's parents got married, and then her bridezilla sister wanted to steal the idea for her own wedding. Not that you can tell, but we're attempting to hold up the numbers 27. It was amazing how many different movie scenes you could pick out just walking around the city. Ok, so I'm semi obsessed with the Today Show! And so is Justin's sister Whitney. We almost got a tour of the studio by a guy cleaning it at night but everything was all covered up in white tarps while the cast is all gone in China. SO CLOSE! "That's what's going on around the country, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods".



I have been hearing about the play Wicked for ever. I was so excited to finally get to see it! It was even better than I expected. I don't like very many musicals but I LOVED this one. It was hilarious! "Toss, toss". Even the boys liked it a lot.
We did a boat tour around Manhattan, Ellis Island, and The Statue of Liberty. It was so pretty to see everything from the water.


Rockefeller Center. Serendipity anyone? I haven't even seen the whole thing but I've seen the scene here. Awww, the glove.This is at Tavern on the Green. It was the most beautiful restaurant I've ever been to. It was right in the middle of Central Park. The whole back of it was glass looking out on the park. Seriously, I must have looked like such an idiot because when we walked in I just stood there with my mouth open.
Wall Street. Had to jump up on the bull!
The whole Neumann clan. We had so much fun with them! We're sad to see Whit, Sean and Cambria go back to school in just a week. Don't do it guys!!! School schmool, who needs it:)

White House Tour

Tonight we were really lucky to get a tour of the West Wing of the White House from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt. It was great to see the West Wing, where all the action happens. We are so thankful to Secretary Leavitt for taking time out of his busy schedule to give us the tour. It was so hot and humid out tonight that you can probably see the sweat dripping off of us! Here are some pictures of Lindsey and I along with my family and Secretary Leavitt.

Us in the Rose Garden

Here are some pictures of Lindsey and I along with my brother and sister taking questions from the Press!

Some of Lindsey and I in front of the White House.

We think we are so cool with our passes to the White House!

We also went inside the West Wing to see the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, etc but weren't allowed to take pictures in there. It was amazing to walk in the same hallways as so many great men who have lead our country!