Visitors of the Minnesota kind

Last weekend Nathan's sister Janus and her hubby Grant and their daughter Alexis came for a quick visit.  We had a good time, but I didn't take many pictures.  So all these are borrowed from her.  You can see her post about the visit HERE.

We visited the Jelly Belly Factory.  Janus was brave enough to try the skunk spray jelly bean.  Poor Janus, she smelled like skunk spray for hours.

We got to be a part of the Three Wheeler's maiden voyage on the L.  Janus thought it smelled like pee.  I thought it smelled pretty good...well, for the L. 

 The second day they were here we got all the way to the Museum of Science and Industry and saw this line for tickets.  We didn't stick around to wait in it.

Nathan found this outside the museum.  He loves R2D2.  Janus thought it was a garbage and threw her gum inside.  We had a nice chuckle over that. 

We waited in line for popcorn at Garretts, we visited the American Girl store, we ate sushi (Alexis did too!! Go Alexis!!), walked a ton, had sundaes at Ghirradelli.  We also did all the tourist stuff in Millenium park.  The Bean, Crown Fountain, the funky Chinese art, etc, etc.  I thought I'd hop up on top of this ledge for a cool picture...turns out I lack the upper body strength.  Nathan tried to help me, much to the amusement of any passers by.

And although they were the visitors, I had a "First" on their trip.  My first authentic Chicago Dog.

Now I have had plenty of hotdogs in my day...I love a good BBQ'd dog with ketchup, relish and onions.  But I had never been brave enough to try an authentic Chicago dog.  What's on it?  An all beef frank, onion, neon green sweet relish, mustard, tomato slices, a pickle spear, a couple pickled peppers...all topped with celery salt and thrown in a poppy seed bun.  SO YUMMY.  I don't know why I was scared, hotdogs this way are incredible!  (Don't believe me?? Come visit and we'll take you to Poochies...you'll see)  Oh and this picture - the hotdog picture is the only one of these that is mine.  Yep.  Family came to visit and I snagged a picture of a HOT DOG.  What can I say, I think food is pretty. :)

Anyway, back to the visit.  The last night they were here we went to our storage unit and pulled out my barbies.  (Yes I still have all my barbies!)  Alexis, Janus and I then had fun dressing them up and brushing their hair.  I think Nathan and Grant were surprised at how fast their wives regressed to a pre-teen state.

 It was fun to have them here, we laughed a lot, ate even more.  Can't wait til next time!