First summer weekend

This was another nice, relaxing weekend spent with the family.   On Friday we went to try a sandwich at Ba Le.  This was one of the places we saw on Check Please.  I thought my chicken sandwich was standard but compared to all the other crazy food in the area it was delicious.   We then took Daniel to the post office and applied for his first passport.    After we came back home I went out to rent the movie Goon.  I thought this movie had its moments but Tanya was not a big fan of all the violence.

On Saturday the family headed out to the Chicago Botanic gardens.   We had seen these gardens from our apartment hunting trip and have always wanted to go back.   The gardens were having a special event so we decided to go and visit.   It was really nice and spacious.   You can see that a lot of care is taken to keep this place in its present state.  The admission is free but parking is $20.00.   I thought that was a clever way of getting around charging no entrance fee.   We had a Subway picnic and spent most of the day exploring.   That Japanese gardens blew me away.   I thought it was going to be something similar to the Japanese garden on Martha's Vineyard.   It was much more spacious and better laid out.  I would go back again as it is a great escape from the city.

On the way back home we stopped by from some Edwardo's pizza and rented the movie Man on a ledge.   The pizza was, as usual, fantastic.   The movie was a bit played out but thought it was amusing the made an action movie from a guy who is sitting on a ledge through the whole thing.   It was far fetched but made for an entertaining evening.

On Sunday the family went to the Chicago History Museum.   I had taken Naty and Valentina here a couple of months ago.   Tanya had been wanting to go ever since she saw the photos of that visit.   Since it was a free day (thank you Bank of America) we paid it a visit.   I was bummed out to see the there is a Magic exhibition that opens next week.   It would've been really cool to see it.   If there is another free day perhaps we will go and pay it a visit.  Then we went to Machu Picchu for lunch.   The food was very good and we brought home some leftovers.

This was another great weekend and now must get mentally prepared for the week..

Tanya and Valentina having a picnic outside the gardens

Entering the Botanical gardens

Enjoying the scenery 

Great layout of the gardens

Valentina walking though the gardens

Tanya watching Valentina and making sure she doesn't fall into the fountain 

Valentina in the train exhibit 

Valentina posing with a replica of Wrigley Field 

Cool monument leaping out of the trees 

Tanya enjoying the day

Valentina taking her afternoon nap 

Beautiful Japanese gardens 

Valentina learning about gardening 

Daniel wandering through the gardens in his carrying bag

Going to the Mexico vs. Bosnia game 

Yaneth and I baring the cold and rain 

Eating the sandwich we saw on Check Please 

Walking to the Chicago Museum 

Valentina walking thought the old city metro trains 

Anticuchos--so good 

Chicago deep dish pizza-so goooood. 

Aji de Gallina-it is a good life

Tanya enjoying the day and meal 

Daniel and I watching the Miami vs. Boston playoff game