Mom and Dad's Vacation!

I love Chicago. Everything about it. The food, the museums, the shopping, the sports. I love it all. Last week, we were lucky enough to spend six days there! It was actually our first trip without Brixon! Although it was a little like missing a limb, we filled our days, and had a great time! We got in on Thursday the 12th, and headed over to Oak Park. I am a Frank Lloyd Wright freak, so I had to go see his home and studio. We spent the day riding around town on bikes that we borrowed from our bed and breakfast...so fun! FLW designed a little over 30 homes (and Unity Temple) there, so after the tour of his home, we rode everywhere to see as many as we could! Then we went to a great retro ice cream shop....mmm. We took the L into the city that night for dinner at Carmine's, which was one of the best meals I've ever had. Unbelievable! We didn't stay out too late that night, as we knew the rest of our trip would be crazy! The next morning, we had an amazing gourmet breakfast...I have to tell you, if you're ever in Oak Park, stay at the Harvey House B and B. We had such a wonderful time there, and it was absolutely beautiful. After breakfast, we headed back into the city to meet up with Nick's friends. After lunch, the guys went to the tavern, and I went shopping :) Miraculously, I escaped Michigan Avenue with only a six dollar pair of earrings! Yes, I even took my own temperature to make sure I was okay :) Around 4, we headed to Elmhurst for the real purpose of this trip, Ankur and Shreya's wedding! The Garba was held Friday night, and was a dinner, dancing and music extravaganza! Seeing over 100 women dancing in beautiful saris was such a cool experience! We even joined in for a few numbers!! The next morning, the wedding ceremony began at 9am, and was another experience! There was a horse and carriage, ice cream, shoe-hiding...wow. It was very cool! The reception was that night, and the next morning, we went back into the city for as many touristy things as we could fit into two days! We started at Millennium Park, went to The Field Museum, Navy Pier and dinner at Ditka's, which is never a disappointment ;) After dinner, we went to Blue Chicago, where Jamie, Nick and I all made it on stage to demonstrate our various talents....ha! I love that place! Monday, we were at it again, breakfast, shopping, the Lincoln Park Zoo (where we saw the bench painted by the famous Ron Bates, you may have heard of him :)) and then to Wrigley Field!!! So the Cubbies lost miserably to the Padres, but we managed to still have a great time! Tuesday, we got up early and headed back to see our little buddy! I think he may have had more fun than we did being spoiled by his grandparents!!

He is into trains these days...I mean, LOVES them. 'Choo-choo's,' actually. In fact, he will grab your hand, pull you away from whatever it is that you're doing, and make you follow him around in circles around the couch for hours saying 'chugga chugga chugga, CHOO CHOO!' He especially likes it when Wrigley joins in the fun!! He's doing great in school...I'm starting to build quite the art collection :) I can't tell you just how excited I get every day when I go to pick him up! He's a great little guy!!!

Sarasota Jungle Gardens with Mimi and Papa


CHOO CHOO!!!!

With Great Grandma Nemec

Ankur's Wedding

Casey and Sara at Millennium Park

Workin' it at Blue Chicago!

"HaPPY, HaPPY!"

I never would have thought just how funny this kid could be! I mean, he is related to Nick and my Dad, so I should have known...but at 18 months?!?! He loves saying "haPPY!," but these days, he says it mid-breakdown. So now when he's crying hysterically, he'll say "happppyy....happpyyyy." Ha! Not very convincing :) He's also very innovative; a few weeks ago, I gave him a bowl of macaroni and cheese for dinner. I was folding the the laundry, and turned for ONE second (every mother's famous last word), and turn back to see the bowl on his head, noodles and sauce dripping down his face, shouting "HAT! HAT!" He was so proud of himself, like he discovered what the bowl was really for. Hehe!!! When he wants us to pick him up, he says "heavy! heavy!" That's what we always say when we carry him ("you're so heavy!), so now he thinks that means to hold him! He loves to look at me in the rear view mirror when we're in the car and make kissing sounds and faces *mwah!*...so precious :) And he loves his friends at school...he has one friend named Sarah, and on the way to school, he always says "Rarah! Rarah!" When we ride in the car, if he sees a car that looks like my mom's, dad's, Matt's, Carrie's, Tara's or Nick's, he'll say "Mimi!" "Papa!", etc. I'm always so shocked at the associations he's able to make. The other day I was doing laundry, and he saw a dress that I wear to work, and said "Mom!" We bought him a little potty, and he's showing a lot of interest in it, but I'm not exactly sure where to start...we'll get there :) Next week, we're headed to Orlando for three days for a work meeting, and Grandma Carrie will be joining us to watch B. Then Thursday, Nick and I are going to Chicago for six days for vacation and Nick's friend Ankur's wedding! We are really looking forward to it, although we aren't bringing Brixon....slight anxiety :) He'll love a week with his Grandparents, though! And I'm pretty sure they're excited, too ;) We'll fill you in on our adventures when we get back!!

And here are a few of the photos that I was telling you about a few weeks ago.....