Between each trimester we get a few weeks off for a break. Normally I anxiously head back to Maryland, but since I moved over break, I had to stay local. I still live on campus, but in a different apartment (I’ll post about it in the future…I love living on campus)! My family ended up surprising me in Chicago! It was so fun having some of them visit me, and having them here to help me move.

My parents had both been to Chicago, but this was my sister’s first time. She brought her two kids and her boyfriend with her. We had so much fun doing all of the sightseeing type things downtown. My niece (age 5) and my nephew (age 7) loved going up the Willis Tower, and walking over the ledge (where you can see straight down from the top of the tower!).  I was very impressed with them both, as we were all a little worried they would be scared.

The week my niece returned to Maryland, she started kindergarten. Isn’t she the cutest?! This is a photo of her on her first day of school. I don’t mean to brag or anything, but she takes after me! She is always so bubbly, happy, and motivated. 

And, for one more family photo, in July I had to make a quick 2-day trip home to spend time with loved ones following a death in the family. The tragic loss of my 5-year-old cousin due to drowning, along with the death of a 3-year-old in the same accident took a hefty toll on my family. We decided to celebrate the precious little ones and their love of water by renting jet skis and spending an afternoon on the Chesapeake Bay. It also coincided with my parents 39th Wedding Anniversary, so it was super special. I had surprisingly never been on a jet ski, and I absolutely loved it!