Chicago...hmmm...

This weekend we went to Chicago...we were anticipating a great trip with friends, food, and lots of fun!  Check out how our trip was...it was interesting to say the least...

On the interstate and Chicago turnoff just ahead..

Driving under a bridge...

Here we are getting really close to Chicago, as you can see through all of the traffic, I saw this truck full of melons and couldn't resist snapping a picture... :)

Traffic on the southbound roads was ridiculous, glad we weren't on that side...

And here we are!  We made it!

The first day we checked into our condo, and headed out to catch a tour we had booked.  It was interesting to hear about the history of the city.

Navy Pier

Michigan Avenue, aka the Magnificent Mile...full of high class stores.

The Chicago River that runs through the city...

We got tickets to do the Willis Tower (former Sears Tower) and had to wait in line, then watch a movie, then wait in line, then go up approx. 108 stories, to find that it had started to thunderstorm while we were waiting...yea...it was kinda frustrating but we made the best of it.

Brianna looking out of the window at the city...

Looking down at the road from the skydeck, this was an amazing feeling to be up so far and step out onto a plastic platform sticking out of the building...amazing.

Brianna and Dena on top of the city!

Us three girls in the skydeck..

This is our condo we stayed in...Brianna booked it on http://www.vrbo.com/.  A great website to use if you are trying to get away for the weekend.  We had a great first day, saw the city, at Pizza at Gino's East, and saw some comedy at The Red Bar comedy club, and headed back to the condo to hit the hay.  We woke up the next morning and didn't have any electricity, and no water.  We talked to someone downstairs, and they said the parking garage below had flooded, and thats why we had no power.  At that time we didn't know really what the severeity of the issue was, so we headed out, without showering, to hit the town another day.

Here is Chris and Brianna with a great view...

And here is Jason and I enjoying the view...

The beautiful pier...

So we  went to eat at Navy Pier, and then decided to get ahold of the owner of the condo to update him on the no power issue.  He called one of his buddies and found out they were evacuating the building due to no power, and the possible risk of fire, break ins, etc.  So we headed back to the condo, and came face to face with a building in lockdown.  We had to wait around for over an hour to have a chance to even get in the place, and then we had ten minutes to grab our items and get out.  Needless to say, we were not happy.  We all decided, since we had nolace to go and no hotels were available due to the Cubs games, to head back to Iowa.  It was not a good day for anyone...and I can only hope it never happens again!  We didn't get to go to the Cubs game scheduled for tonight (Sunday), and we didn't get to see hardly any of Navy Pier...I told Jason we would just have to go back again!  We headed back and Jason and I pulled into our driveway at 4:00 am this morning...what a crazy trip...I hope we NEVER have to go through that again!

Bruschetta Burgers...the best!

This is one of the best meals I have ever had...seriously...you have GOT to make this...NOW!

You start out with a pound of ground beef or turkey, combine this with 1/4 c. shredded Parmesan cheese, 1/4 t. of salt and pepper, and 1 tsp of basil.  Mix until combined.

Next is the bruschetta mixture which is 5 Roma tomatoes chopped, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1/4 c fresh basil, 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar, and 1 tsp of olive oil.  I didn't want to spend the money on a the few sprigs of basil that come in a pkg, so I used the dried stuff...put this in the fridge for at least a half an hour so it distributes the flavors all over. 

Next is burger shaping...take a peanut butter lid and line with foil and then with plastic wrap.  Smoosh down the bottom part of the burger...

And then put on 1/4 c of shredded mozzarella cheese...then place another pattie on top and smoosh edges together to seal in that cheese...slap those babies on the grill until they are done all the way through..

In the meantime, take 1 cup of balsamic vinegar and heat in a saucepan over medium heat until it comes out to the consistency of maple syrup.  This takes a little while, so be patient and stir frequently. 

It can't get much better than that!  I roasted some broccoli for a side dish with olive oil and garlic salt...those greens were like veggie candie!  I could have eaten the entire pan!  And check out that burger...all you do is put the bruschetta mixture over the top and drizzle on the reduced vinegar...it was like eating at a restaurant<--direct quote from my husband, Jason...that means it is gooood =)

The burger was perfectly done with melty, gooey cheese and a fresh basil and tomato combo on top...and the vinegar was decadent!  This is going to be a regular on our menu!  Yummmm!

Jason and I are heading out of town this weekend to Chicago with 2 other couples and can't wait to see what the city has to offer...I am excited to have a big piece of Chicago style pizza and to see the Cubs game we have tickets to.  Watch for pictures of our little getaway!  Should be an excellent time with some great friends...have a good night all!

Happenings at the Herrick home...

Well, this week is starting off kind of interesting...I put in my two weeks at Sherwin-Williams! Yes, it was a very hard decision...but I am content. We had recently been told we now had to be open on Sundays. This did not sit well with me. I have a rather large family, whom I like to spend time with, and weekends are one of the only times I get a chance to do this. I decided to start looking the same day we were told we had to be open, and by luck their was a sales/office manager position for Nashua Monument Works in Nashua! How lucky could have I been! It seemed to good to be true, but I applied. Out of nearly 20 applicants, I got the job! It didn't take me to long to decide to take it...no Sundays, and a 8:30-5 workday during the week, and 9-12 on Saturdays. It was perfect. I am really excited to get into something else and learn another trade. I will of course miss a lot of the contractors in Charles City, and my boss, Jen. We have joked that we are sisters in a different life, and I honestly believe that is true. She was a great boss!! Anthony, our part-timer, wasn't to bad either! =)

In other news...I'm going to have another sister-in-law!!! My brother-in-law, Adam asked his girlfriend, Bridget, to marry him yesterday! How awesome is that! They are the sweetest couple ever! I have gotten really close to Bridget these past two years, and I am soooo happy to be able to call her one of my sisters! They have been together for almost 8 years! WOwza! It was about time!! Best wishes to the both of them!! They have decided to get married in the summer of 2011...can't wait!!

Adam and Bridget :)

Jason and I have been putting this off long enough...we have wanted to paint the inside of our garage and epoxy the garage floor since we moved in, and this weekend we did just that!

Here is the garage after Jason painted it...we used a light gray on the walls.

Here we are putting down the epoxy.  It worked really well!  Jason did the rolling and I threw the fleck.

Here we are nearing the end, it took a little while but we know it would turn out looking great....

And it did!! Jason is putting on the glaze coat tommorow, and then after a few days we will have a brand new garage to pull into! 

2010 Achievement Show

It's FAIR time!  Growing up on the farm, my brothers and I were involved in 4-H, showing pigs, sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, possibly ducks...anyway you get the idea!  Jacob and Andy had a great fair...see below.

My two brothers, Jacob on the left, and Andy on the right, in the showring.

Greta likes the fair too :-)

Here is Jacob with his steer he showed.  He got reserve champion showmanship in the interemdiate division.  Way to go Jake!  He named his steer Sasquatch...

Here is Andy with his steer, Red...yes very original!

Here is Jacob with his chickens...I believe he got champion market chicken...

Here is Andy with his broilers, I believe he got reserve champion.

Here is Jacob showing his pigs.

Andy had a cornfield that he grew and then he had to keep track of all of his expenses, when he cultivated, planted, etc., and at fair he had to bring a few stalks of corn, which were then judged.  This is his second year winning overall in Field Crops. 

Just another day at the fair! 

Congrats Lydia and Berto!

This weekend we attended my cousin, Lydia's wedding!  Here are some pictures...enjoy!

Red, White, and Blue 2010

Happy Fourth of July weekend!  Here's what we did...

DAY ONE

This weekend started out with a meal at Dick and Kathy's house in Charles City.  Jason had the day off and I had to work until 3 and then we met up in Charles City. 

Why hello Adam! 

Check out that beer!  Mmmm...

  

Justin and his girlfriend Danna brought a red, white, and blue trifle..how patriotic of them :)

This is the Herrick families first time meeting Danna, here the cute couple is with their masterpiece trifle...

DAY TWO

Charles City has a Firecracker 5K or 5 mile run every year, and Danna is a runner so she signed up...here she is with Adam.  Notice her shorts...she found these in Justin's room and she was the only one to fit in them out of the boys so she wore them at the race!  It was awesome!!

Here is Justin! 

Danna wasn't to far behind him! 

There's my buff husband, Jason!  Run, Jason, Run!!

Bridget, Adam, and I were traffic control...yep we rocked it :)

Snapshot of Kathy, Dick, Adam, Bridget, and Jason.

Jason and I...look closely and you can see he crossed his eyes...so special...

And look who sweeped the Firecracker Five?!  Danna got first overall female, and Justin got first overall and overall male.  Wowza!  Check out their hardware!

The Firecracker Five champs...Jason got 2nd in his age group...SWEET :)

Aww look at little Jack...he's sooo cute!

Speaking of cuteness look at this picture of Adam and Bridget at the CC parade..awww :-)

What up Chet Culver??

BoooYAA Grandma!

That's a biggg bird!

DAY THREE

Jason and I got to his parents' house around noon and scooped up two little muchkins...aren't they just the cutest little kids ever!?

Here is the birthday boy!  Titus turned tree on July 5th! 

So of course we had to have cake!  My sister-in-law Holly made (to die for) filled lemon poppy seed cupcakes...I could have eaten all of them...no lie!

Titus was pretty darn stoked!

And here he is ready to blow out the candle for the second time!

Mmmmm...they were so good!

Oh look at you Cici!!

 

The Herrick family was invited to a tradition that Andy and Adam have been involved in for a few year called Ribfest that a CC teacher has every year...so that's what we had for supper!

In the smoker waiting to be taken out...they smoked 13 racks!

That's a biggg smoker!!

We had a really yummy supper...smoky, spicy ribs, potato salad, salsa, and more!

Jason takes the best pictures...as you can see above... :)

Fireworks got cancelled due to the inclement weather we were having, so they will be shot off next Friday at 10pm.

DAY FOUR

Jason and I both had the day off today, so we spent it in Rochester, MN shopping!  Who doesn't love no sales tax?!  I didn't bring my camera, but we each got a few items of clothing, and enjoyed spending the day together...I have tommorow off, but Jason has to head back to work :(  This fourth of July was a good one in the Herrick books!