It Was My Birthday...and It Was So Fun!

Lindsay told me weeks ago she had found the perfect gift for my birthday, to be delivered to Chicago! Imagine my surprise when the lady at the front desk called Friday morning and asked me to come down and pick up a delivery--and it was Lindsay and Sammy standing there! She drove 700+ miles to surprise me and hang out for the weekend!

Talk about changing my plans! I was going to stay home and do some school with Noelle--a little magnet experiment, a couple of math pages, a little spelling; and hold out hope for having a Greek restaurant cook dinner. 

Instead, here was my friend!!  YAAAAAY!!!

We decided to head down to the Bean; Noelle wanted to show Sammy the kids' room at the Art Institute. 

We set out on foot; and while we made slow progress, much kinesthetic learning was going on: 

"Come on, Joel! Come on, buddy! Come on, Joel! ['It's Stanley!'] Come on, Stanley!" I think he touched every single chain-link, building, and even some of the litter in the mile journey. 

We paused just over half-way at a large statue and fountain at the river bank. Just then some bicycling gelato peddlers came up the sidewalk. 

"Would you like some gelato? It's free!" 

Ummmmmm....yes? They handed out some tremendous dark chocolate covered ice cream bars. Whoa. I've been resisting such lovelies for months with the phrase, "It's not my birthday." 

Good thing it was my birthday. It was delicious. Yay! 

Lindsay took most of the pictures, so I just have a couple:

YAY! My friend is here!

At the drop-in art project time at the Art Institute: Joel had me "help" him make a 5-animal mask based on the computer game he had just played in the kids' room.

Noelle did an amazing job or constructing her parasol; things fell apart when I tried to help. No, I really was just trying to help. I should not have. Drama, tears, and frustration ensued--but an hour later, we almost had something she was happy with. Almost. The drama may have happened without me as I arrived at a critical moment of her comparing her work with the example, but I wonder. I think I almost handled the situation very well. Almost. 

Mark humored me about the Greek food. I now think baklava will be a fun thing to learn how to make.  He also had some very thoughtful gifts to present himself. Yay!

Saturday we went to the Navy Pier:

I wish you could hear Joel giggling and giggling while the "Lighthouse ride" bounced him up and down. Completely awesome.

We also went to the lake shore, where Lindsay made fun of me because I strongly prefer to keep my shoes on in the sand. Otherwise, it gets all over your feet?!

It was so nice to have my friend here; I am humbled and blessed that she would have gone to the expense and effort to do that. Yay!

Anyone else? I'll be happy to receive YOU too.