The Siberian American: Year in Review: 2015 Highlights (Part Two)

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Year in Review: 2015 Highlights (Part Two)

Here’s the second part of our year, and all the fun we have had in Chicago so far. Click here for part one.

July
July is always the busiest month of the year for us. Christopher and I were born two days apart (July 21 and July 23), and our anniversary is July 25. We started off July by eating our way through Taste of Chicago. Then, my in-laws visited us for the first time, and we had a great time exploring together. Some of the highlights of their trip was The Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Skydeck, and a sunset dinner cruise on Lake Michigan to celebrate our birthdays and anniversary.


July was also the first month I realized how tough intern year (and residency overall) was going to be. Christopher had his first two weeks of night float, and he had to work the night of my birthday (starting at 3 p.m.), which meant he had to sleep all day to get ready. He was super sweet and took me to lunch at Shaw’s Crab House before he had to leave to celebrate! I also got to see my parents on my birthday because they were flying home from visiting friends in Milwaukee.


In July we took our first two day trips to explore more of the Midwest. We loved hiking at the Indiana Dunes and eating as many pierogis as possible at the Pierogi Festival in Whiting, Indiana.


August
In August, we walked to the Chicago Air and Water Show, which was way better than I expected. We also had a great time trying out some of the restaurants in Chicago and all of the amazing delivery options.


September 
We kicked off September, college football season, and two glorious weeks off by heading to Evanston, Illinois for Northwestern vs. Stanford. The highlight of September was our Lake Michigan Circle Tour road trip. We had such an amazing time exploring Michigan and Wisconsin, and I can’t wait to share more about our trip with y’all in the coming months. When we got home, I got to spend a fun few days with Christopher’s parents exploring more of the city.


October 
October was one of my favorite months in Chicago so far. We started it out with a Chicago cupcake tour that I wouldn’t mind doing again. Since we don’t get much fall color in Texas, we took advantage of the gorgeous fall colors this year by going on two day trips. I loved seeing the beautiful mansions and fall color in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and hiking at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Illinois.


My best friend from high school visited me for a long weekend, and I loved showing off our beautiful city. Christopher had a day off during her visit, so the three of us went apple picking for the first time.


November
Christopher didn’t have many days off in November, but we made the most of it. On his first day off, we walked to Northerly Island and enjoyed the amazing city views. We also had our first snowfall of the year, with almost a foot at O’Hare that delayed my in-laws’ Thanksgiving visit for 15 hours.  Once they arrived, we loved visiting new places in Chicago like Christkindlmarket, Chicago 360, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Shedd Aquarium.


December
Christmastime in Chicago was just as magical as I expected it to be. I loved checking out ZooLights, having lunch at the Walnut Room, visiting the Driehaus Museum, and enjoying all of the beautiful decorations around town. My in-laws came back to celebrate Christmas with us, and we had a wonderful three days together. We went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at The Moody Church, which was the perfect way to start off Christmas.


2015 has been a crazy but wonderful year, and I can’t wait to see what 2016 will bring!

11 comments:

  1. The fall foliage pictures you took were some of my favorites! Hard to believe how quickly your time in Chicago is flying by!! Happy New Year girl! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  2. I've loved reading all about your adventures in Chicago! Your trip around Lake Michigan and day trips to see the fall foliage both looked like such a blast! I can't wait to see how you spend the rest of your time in Chicago!

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  3. What a beautiful sunset of Chicago. Lake Michigan is gorgeous, look at that water. Those pictures of the changing fall leaves are so pretty. Everything in the south this year seemed delayed. Fall took forever to bring the changing leaves color, and winter really never came lol. Christmas in Georgia was 80 degrees. Not complaining, but there is something to be missed about a white Christmas in the north and midwest.

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  4. Wow, Chicago has such a beautiful skyline, I think. I think that you've had one heck of a year. Bring on 2016! :)

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  5. I can't believe how fast 2015 went by! Cheers to an even better 2016! xoxo

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  6. Wow you had a really busy summer, especially July! That's crazy your birthdays are two days apart and you anniversary is a few days later! Lots of celebrating! And you seriously make me want to go to Chicago!!

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  7. I remember your busy July. Such amazing adventures you went on this year. Love the photos from the river cruise and the beautiful water in Lake Michigan!

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  8. I may have missed this part, but are you staying Chicago after Chris finishes his internship/residency? The only thing I know about those is what I saw from Grey's Anatomy (dramatic) so it is probably way off.

    I can't believe how close your birthdays are. Kyle and I are a week apart in October. However we have an 8 year age difference.

    I had no idea how beautiful IL was, I have a family member living there but she always says how rainy and gross it is. I love your photos, they are so clear and crisp. It's really nice seeing other states for their beauty.

    liz @ sundays with sophie

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  9. what an absolutely wonderful year! i have loved following along and can't wait to see what you do in 2016!

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  10. Gorgeous pictures! I hope you have a wonderful 2016!

    Breakfast at Gracey's

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  11. I need to add some of these to my list! I liked Indiana Dunes; it was a nice place to spend a day.

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