Our Trip to Chicago...Philip's Eastern District Meeting

Over Valentine's Day weekend, Philip and I went to his District Meeting for Kiewit in Chicago. I went for the first time last year and loved it and couldn't wait to go back! We got there on Wednesday and that night we went to the Field Museum for dinner and cocktails. They rented the entire museum for the Kiewit function. It was pretty cool. But of course we didn't see any of the exhibits. We were too busy mingling with old friends and drinking and trying out all of the food booths! It was a very fun evening. The photo on the left is of us from that night. You can see one of the large animals on display in the background.



One of the best parts of District meeting are the fun activities that they organize for the spouses and significant others. On Thursday they had two activities planned - a purse workshop or a cooking workshop. I chose to go to the cooking event at The Chopping Block. I went last year and such a great time! The Chopping Block is a place where you learn and cook from professional chefs and then you get to eat your food. The staff prepares all the ingredients and all of us go to different stations led by different chefs and follow their instructions. By the end of the day, you have all this amazing food to try that you actually cooked! We were making tapas that day and we made some amazing dishes! Plus they provide drinks throughout the day. I was excited because I also saw one of my friends, Emily, who I had met at last year's District Meeting, but hadn't talked to since then. Here's a photo of Emily and me at the Chopping Block in our aprons.



That evening we got all dressed up again for the Awards Ceremony and dinner. The ballroom was huge as there were over 400 Kiewit employees plus their guests. Before dinner they had a cocktail reception and an open bar all night - so it made for a good evening. It's too bad that the Kiewit employees have to be in meetings all day starting early. That's why the District Meetings are really more fun for the guests! In the photo on the right Philip is standing in front of a display with his project in the background - the Willis Avenue Bridge. This year the Eastern District won the Director's League Award which means they brought in the most money of any other district in the company. It's a very big deal. Philip's job was a huge part in receiving this award.



On Friday night we had another reception in the Ballroom at our hotel and they ended the evening with a band - actually from New York City. They were really fun and everyone stayed and danced 'till the end of the night. I was also excited as I found the other two girls who I had met last year and we all hung out the rest of that night. Here is a photo of three of us (Whitney, Emily and me). We were just missing one - Ashley. Later that night we went out in downtown Chicago for a late night, ending up at a Taco Burrito King. It was a great way to end the District Meeting.