CHICAGOLAND...family reunion, trip down memory lane

My brother Jim and I went back for a family picnic...the one that our mom & dad used to attend every other year.  This year it was held in St. Joseph, MI, where my mom's cousin Carol Jewell lives.  Deciding to make a long weekend of it, we began downtown Chicago.  What a beautiful city!!

This restaurant was located in the hotel where we stayed.  I asked the waiter if MJ ever comes there.  He said he drops in, unannounced about once a month.  We were hoping this would be the August "drop in" time, but, alas, it was a no show while we enjoyed our meal.

A church on Miracle Mile

American Girl store....3 stories high!  Many families were walking around, the girls carrying their  dolls, and their daddies carrying large bags of new purchases.

Interesting stores on Miracle Mile...this one displayed old sewing machines...rows and rows.  More in the entrance, too.

The striking Wrigley Building

And, of course, the beauty of the lights at night

This one taken from the rooftop lounge of the Trump Towers....stunning views!

Lawry's.....scrumptious lunch in an elegant setting

Architectural boat tour....very fun and interesting

The home we lived in in Skokie, IL from about 1951-1956.

My mom's cousin Jeannette and Cheryl Wandry, her cousin Roger's daughter.  Mom grew up with Jeannette, and they used to climb trees together!

Lake Michigan

The barn storage shed that my dad, Grandpa Erickson, and Uncle Stan built, in the back yard of the home in which I grew up from 1956-1968.

The front of our Glen Ellyn home

Our Junior High School

"The Glen" theatre and Chin's Chop Suey, downtown Glen Ellyn

Downtown Glen Ellyn

My beautiful high school....Glenbard West

We ate at an Italian restaurant downtown G.E.  This is what I ordered.  By the time I was finished, there was a small dent in the food.

The house where my mom grew up in DeKalb, IL.  My aunt and uncle also owned this house when we were growing up in Glen Ellyn.

And, down the block from my mom's house was my great-grandparent's house

My Uncle Stan's house

The hospital where Jim was born in DeKalb, IL.  It is now a retirement home.

We went to the cemetery in DeKalb and located gravestones of many of our relatives.  This is the one of our grandparents.

The church my mom attended, growing up.  Mom and Dad were married here.