Joseph and Mom recently visited Grandma Gorgeous in Karen's Indiana hometown. We had a great time! Here is a little rundown of the fun we've had and all the special people we've visited:
- Chicago - all 3 of us went back to Karen's favorite city to visit several friends and relatives as well as just enjoy the city. We went to the awesome Lincoln Park Zoo where Joseph enjoyed looking at the penguins and the seals. That's about all the animals he really looked at - the penguins enjoyed looking back at him! We then went to the indoor botancial gardens next to the zoo. This is housed in the most beautiful Victorian greenhouse hosting year-round tropical plants and a rotating show of orchids and spring flowers. We enjoyed several dining experiences including Cornelia's (a nice Boystown restaurant who had the cutest server, Owen, and very nice people there who didn't mind Joseph's early evening meltdown). Ann Sather was the site of the most decadent brunch - it's a Swedish place offering huge, fluffy, warm cinnamon rolls, Swedish pancakes (crepes) with ligonberries, potato pancakes, and other unique food. We also went to R.J. Grunt's right along Lincoln Park - this restaurant was one of Karen's favorites when she lived in that neighborhood and it is home of the tastiest burgers and a super salad bar. It sure isn't easy to fit into packed restaurants and the busy zoo and botanical gardens with a stroller, but we made it with lots of help from Grandma! It's not ideal living in the city with a baby, but it sure is doable and fun! Little Joseph was pooped out from our trip because there was so much to look at and listen to in the city.
- Dawn - Karen and Jason's friend from Notre Dame and Boston. Dawn and her roomie were so sweet to let us stay in their GORGEOUS loft apartment just down the street from Karen's old neighborhood. It was a cozy respite from the busy city. I'm impressed with the smart multi-use building occurring there, offering great parks, fairly spacious living, and secure access while living in the middle of the city. We had a great time with Dawn, discussing all sorts of meaningful topics up until past midnight as well as enjoying the city and restaurants. Dawn just cuddled little Joseph so close - a natural mom.
- Denise - Karen's friend from Notre Dame and we lived in the same building on Clark Street in Chicago for a year. Denise is 9 months pregnant and ready to have her little one. Can't wait to see the birth announcement. Denise's family is beautiful, with her little 3 year old girl Mackenzie and her theater technician husband Brian. We enjoyed her 1920s home with it's beautiful wood, stained glass, and other fun quirks like our home.
- Bridget - Karen's friend who was a resident assistant with her at Notre Dame. Bridget is such a fun friend, always having something interesting to talk or reminisce about. Her hubby and 2 kiddos weren't able to come from outside Chicago, as we met late for dinner and then headed to a bar with Dawn to watch March Madness while Grandma stayed with sleepy Joseph.
- Great, Great Aunt Helen - Karen's great aunt who lives north of Chicago. We haven't seen her since the wedding - my, how time flies! She said she thought she'd never get to meet our little Joseph, but what a surprise to get to visit. She is peppy and thoughtful as ever - Karen loves to visit with her. Grandma and her got to catch up too, as she is Grandma's Aunt Helen. We didn't get to see cousin Stephen Jr. since he was at work, but we got to meet his sweet dog, Nigel.
- Godmother Jill - Karen's best friend from childhood. We had a great time with her 4 kiddos playing at parks and the nearby state park, Potato Creek. We explored the (closed) beach as the kids hunted for snail shells (they found about 20!) and then the kids got to have an adventure off the 2 miles of bike path we walked along when they explored the creek. They crossed over the creek several times using fallen trees. They slid down the river banks on their rumps. Karen was impressed that Jill has the same philosophy on play - "Messy is fun, fun is messy." Jill took Karen out for her birthday to The Vine and The Office for drinks, where they got to visit with high school friends Shanda, Vito, and Mark.
- Uncle Andre - Jason's uncle who is a priest at Notre Dame. He had fun holding Joseph while Joseph absorbed everything about his great uncle by staring intently at him. Joseph adored the "toy" around his great uncle's neck - his Holy Cross pendant. Uncle Andre always has fun stories and holds a lot of the history of the Leveille family. Such a gem! We always love getting back "home" to Notre Dame as well - this was the first time our little Irishman was at Notre Dame aside from the time he was a sparkle in Mom and Dad's eyes when they dated at Notre Dame. Go Irish!
- Mom's Friends - We had a great time visiting with Mom's friends John, Don, Lori, Zane, and others at a birthday party for John and then seeing our long-time neighbor Judy.
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