Since we were going to be gone for nearly two weeks we needed to get in some skating before we left. Theo and I have been skating almost every night that we can since we've put the rink up.
Theo got really into ice skating this year.
On the Saturday before we left we had our family Christmas. Once everyone was awake the kids got to open their presents.
Meadow made Theo a blue scarf and a Looney Tunes pillowcase.
We got Theo the Bowser Lego set.
And Heely's for Meadow.
She's been wanting these since 2nd grade apparently.
Brooke's coworker got the kiddos gift cards from the nearest hobby shop.
I made a cinnamon roll bundt for breakfast with eggs and hash.
This was even better than the run-of-the-mill cinnamon rolls.
Theo got right to his Lego set and finished it before we knew it. These action figure Legos are pretty rad.
I had one last present to wrap before we left for Christmas vacation. This year Scott digitized my grandmas home videos. We had the DVD's in a regular case when I said it should have been in a nicer case. Scott said to just get one from the thrift store. Meadow and I walked over to the Salvation Army and bought a movie for $1.99.
I spent the night creating a cover for the box. The template I used worked perfectly.
I can't wait to watch these with my parents.
We ended our Christmas night with a family skate.
The rink has been so much fun so far for Theo and I. Getting Brooke and Meadow out was a Christmas miracle.
The next day we started our Christmas road trip. On the drive down to Chicago we stopped at a Pizza Hut Classic.
We've been wanting to hit one of these up for years. The one in Black River Falls was perfect.
It's funny because I haven't been to a Pizza Hut since I was probably a kid so I have no idea what a normal Pizza Hut looks like.
Salad bar? Heck yeah.
It's so beautiful.
Brooke wanted to get a stuffed crust, but I thought we should stick to the classic pan pizza.
Our waitress asked us how it was. We said, "Great! We haven't had Pizza Hut in years!" She was flabbergasted.
Hours later we arrived and lo and behold my sister and the Wrobelski clan had already arrived.
I didn't know our room would be on the top floor with a courtyard to the lobby below.
Was a bit scary when looking down.
While the kids and Brooke had fun catching up, I had to get to our parking lot on the other side of the Chicago River.
Oh, we also got a roof rack installed this week. The trunk space in this car is bigger than we had before so hadn't really needed the roof box until this trip.
The walk was a bit creepy (no souls in sight), but the view was worth it.
This place caused major vertigo.
Meadow has really grown since her cousins saw her last.
She's almost as tall as her auntie.
After catching up for a bit most of us went swimming while Brooke stayed back. Well, I went swimming with the kids and the Wrobleski parents watched me try to corral Theo. He kept on swimming to the deep end! He's getting better, but not quite ready for that.
Hotel shenanigans.
He's Super Theo!
Sadly the hotel buffet was closed for a reshuffle. Boo hiss.
Oh, yeah, we were staying at voco Chicago at junction of the North and South Branches of the Chicago River. The lobby had a giant Christmas tree.
My sister's room had great views looking towards the lake.
The kiddos loved imagining what was happening in all the buildings. Oh, to be a kid visiting Chicago again. TBH it's pretty cool for the adults too.
Since there wasn't breakfast at the hotel, we went to Meli Cafe just to the north of our hotel. Good stuff. Theo got a banana bread french toast.
Then we meandered back to the hotel.
We checked out the kitties at the Anticruelty Society. Many years ago my sister adopted her two cats from there.
Theo wants to live at this rad post-modern condo building across the river from the hotel.
The kids played hide and seek in the lobby while waiting for my brother and his wife to show up for our next adventure. Poor Brooke was working while we had fun.
This is our busiest two weeks of the year.
All tuckered out from hide and seek, I guess.
Then we walked to Maggie Daley Park near Michigan Avenue. (Not sure why every little addition to Grant Park needs a new name.)
We took the riverwalk.
Theo and our nephew, Cameron, parkoured all the way down the river.
My sister was excited to pass by her wedding venue.
The kiddos just wanted to run up the stairs.
After a quick vow renewal we continued on our way.
The destination: the Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon.
I'm a little jealous I missed out on this.
My poor brother found out that ice skating was not like riding a bike. But at least he made it around one lap.
Theo, Meadow, cousin Simone and I made it around the most times.
Well, Meadow and Simone really.
Those two are speed demons.
We briefly stopped by the playground to end all playgrounds.
Of course we had to stop by the Bean. (Again why is Millennium Park not just a part of Grant Park?)
Chicago's Loop still has that old school glow.
Just fun to walk down State Street (better than Michigan Avenue) and enjoy the architecture and people watching.
The former New Yorkers (my brother and sister-in-law) insisted we stop at Magnolia Bakery.
I just took this pic for Brookie.
It is pretty rad.
My brother really, really wanted to go to Trivoli Tavern for our Christmas Eve, Eve dinner. Definitely has an old school, pre-WWII, supper club vibe.
Now this is how the lighting should be in every restaurant. Cool it with the fluorescents already.
I think it's LEDs in 2024, Brookie.
Our kids shared a few apps.
The very fancy take on a Chicago-style beef sandwich and scalloped potatoes were heavenly.
Think everyone was pretty happy with their meal (at least until the bill came. lol.)
Uncle Colin was clearly excited to see his nieces and nephews.
I don't care what anyone else says, these were amazing.
Technique, sure. If you love meringue, absolutely. Needed more substance and butterfingers.
Batman legos for Theodorus.
Nice, an Indiana Jones book for Cam.
We got a butterfly puzzle a horse figurine for Simone.
Meadow got a pack of 160 colored pencils.
Theo got tossed around.
I'm not sure what I'm talking about here. But I look very serious.
This is how you always look when you talk.
This year for the first time in Tuska family Christmas history, the adults exchanged gifts.
Then I might've cried after opening my secret Santa presents from my brother.
Matching Packers hoodies for the brohams.
Of course the big sis had to join in on the fun.
More video games for this Nintendo loving guy.
These two.
Or should I say these three.
Theo couldn't wait to play his new game. Good thing Scott opened his Christmas present early.
I got a Covert Dock Mini for the Switch from Chelsea and accidentally opened it a few days early. Now we can play games whenever we're at a hotel or even the cottage.
The next morning Meadow and I played with her new addiction, Cat's Cradle.
The next morning we got Breakfast House with my brother. Had to get a big breakfast for a fun-filled last day in Chicago.
My hash was so good.
Theo got nutella french toast. This kid loves french toast.
He was sad after he ate it all because he wanted more.
Then we walked down the street to check out the store Jen works at.
She's working at very cool artist curated store near their house: The Center of Order and Experimentation.
Currently there's a pop up shop in the back for Camp Wandagwega out of Wisconsin.
When we came in, she mentioned making sure to check out the candles. I was kind of like, okay. Until we saw what the candles were.
These are absolutely insane. Look like the wax fruit my grandma had lying around.
With our science museum membership we got access to the 1893 Worlds Fair, I mean the Museum of Science and Industry.
I think Brooke's saying the building it is in was built for the World's Fair.
Haven't been here since I was a kid. Could've went to the Field Museum or Adler Planetarium, but this was at the top of my list.
Theo loved all the photos ops. We waited for another family to take pictures, then when it was Theo's turn he got embarrassed.
We managed one shot.
They had display Christmas trees from around the world this time of year. We had to get a shot with the Polish tree.
My favorite part was the scale model of Chicago.
Colin was really excited to see the submarine. We passed lots of exhibits on the way that we didn't realize were there. The museum was a lot bigger than we had thought.
How did they manage to get all these machines into the building!
Our next stop was Chicago's Chinatown for dinner. But first we went window shopping.
You know we had to check out all the shops for Meadow.
This store full of crochet Japanese characters was a highlight.
I ha no clue that there was this huge arcade full of Chinese and Asian businesses. In fact this was the first time I'd ever explored the area.
This mango loving boy was thrilled to stop at Mango Mango.
Of course Meadow got a boba tea.
The arcade has a big square with the Chinese zodiac signs.
Even though we had made a reservation at MingHin, there was still a long wait to get our table. I guess this is the place to be for Christmas Eve.
We got a bunch of dim sum, but the kids were just waiting for the Chicken and Broccoli.
Recently, Theo mentioned wanting to get rolled ice cream again like we had in San Francisco.
We were just walking back to the car when we passed Legend Tasty House. (Chicago sure likes naming restaurants XXXXX House.)
We couldn't pass up on a treat on our walk back to the car.
We'll have to come back next time we're in ChiTown.
On the way back Theo wanted to stop by the Sears Tower. He got mold-o-rama scale model at the museum. So I stitched this silly pic for him. If you zoom in he's holding his mold of the tower.
The next morning we headed east to Michigan.
It was time for second Tuska Christmas on actual Christmas.
First we had a snack lunch.
We managed to get my mom over this year.
These four paired off the rest of the week.
Katrina really spoiled us this year with steak for our Christmas dinner.
It was really, really good.
These little scoundrels chased Meadow and Simone around the house shooting them with Nerf darts.
We did manage to get them to sit down to open presents.
Space themed Magnatiles for Theo and a travel easel for Meadow.
We got Grandma Nana some reusable dryer balls and a photo frame for Theo's school pictures.
While waiting on my sisters cheesecake, Katrina puled out their massive tin of baclava. Her brother-in-law sends these to them from Detroit every year.
I mentioned to Katrina that our family tradition was to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas. She liked that idea so we put a candle in the cheesecake.
It's goofy, but fun.
The kids had a big sleepover together in the living room.
The boys played some Switch together while the girls drew.
My sister took me for a nice hike nearby their house in Lowell, Michigan's countryside.
Then I spent the day with my mom and helped her with some chores. Then the next day, before leaving, my sis and I hung some art for my mom.
My mom's condo felt a little more like home after this. We had fun with the Tuskas in Chicago and Lowell, but we had a cottage to get to.
On Friday, I worked in the morning and then we headed up to Mackinaw City.
We stopped for lunch at Renucci's Bar and Grill before driving the long way up to the UP.
The remodeled Holiday Inn in Mackinaw City fit the bill. Cheap, free breakfast and a pool.
The pool had an actual deep end. I would stay here again.
We might be doing Christmas in Chicago from here on out. So, we'll see.
These cuties...
The kids were not impressed by the Mackinac Bridge. Scott and I had to venture on our own.
They were busy on their screens.
The paint job looked extra fresh. I guess they are constantly repainting the bridge.
See ya later, trolls.
We stopped for gas along the way as well as $80 worth of goods.
They had me at smoked meat.
The kiddos picked up their favorites, Michigummies.
We were driving through Dunbar, Wisconsin just across the UP border when we saw Richards Supper Club.
The last time we drove by I had wanted to stop. It just looks cool.
We drove by and then did a U-turn. We weren't missing a chance to stop here.
I didn't get one, but I'm told they make a good old fashioned.
The interior was a time capsule like so many great Wisconsin supper clubs are.
I got the soup and salad bar for lunch. Not sure if my reflux agreed, but the stuffed pepper soup was perfect.
The kids food was cheap and even came with ice cream at the end.
Until next time Tuska Chicago-Michigan Christmas.
Comments