Mother's Day in Chicago

My first Mother's Day was fabulous. Taki and Nikos treated me to brunch at a great restaurant in Chicago. It was pouring on the way to the restaurant and still raining when we left to go back to the hotel but afterwards it cleared and ended up being a beautiful day.

At the restaurant Nikos was presented with a rose to give me (obviously he didn't find it as interesting as the people at the next table.)

Quickly my rose became his toy. But have no fear, the rose (now split in half) dropped to the ground and he quickly became enraptured by the plastic sleeve.

Nature vs nurture. One point for nature as Nikos displays Taki's former affinity for the deadpan stare.
Taki and Nikos take a catnap after brunch.

A walk in the rain.
Walking by the Tribune Building we realized that it had been featured on an episode of CSI: New York (I know we are total dorks). The building was really cool, featuring pieces of other buildings and famous sites around the world. Here we took some shots of a few of them and the building itself.

While waiting for the taxi ride to the airport Nikos showed off his two bottom teeth (and one Ugg). We also noticed that the tooth count was up to six while we were in Chicago.

Taki sports the new familiar picture smile (I know!) and Nikos gives me a dirty look for interrupting the flight attendants safety speech.

Nikos waves goodbye to Chicago.

Nikos adopts his familiar airplane sleep position. Thank goodness.

Chicago - Day Three

View of the drawbridges along the Chicago River.

On the way to the Cubs game Nikos insisted we stop at Dunkin Donuts. What can I say, the kids knows quality.

We stopped for a drink at Murphy's across the street from the ballpark before the game.

Taki, Nikos and Ernie Banks - or at least his likeness. As you can see, Nikos was pretty disinterested.

Wrigley Field - second ballpark on Nikos' tour of the ballparks. Whoop whoop.


We had great seats - thanks Stub Hub! - even though it was FREEZING. Seriously, it was very cold. We gave up beer for hot chocolate in the 6th inning.

After the ballpark and a return trip on the El we headed to dinner at the Grand Luxe Cafe - the upscale version of the Cheesecake Factory. Good stuff.

I told you it was cold. This is Nikos in his fancy cold weather gear on the way home from dinner. Too bad he didn't have it at the game. Bad mother!

Well Wishes

Happy Birthday to Uncle Mike and Great Anut Sandy!! We love you guys!

Brusha Brusha Brusha

One day I'll stop with the stupid running commentary, I promise.

Catch Me If You Can

Chicago - Day Two

On Friday we planned to visit the Shedd Aquarium for Niko's first up close and personal with the fishes. Although cold, it was a nice day so we walked over to the aquarium (despite the stern warnings from a few Chicago peeps who swore to us it was too far to walk), passing a few of Chicago's many statues and sculptures.

Niko's first aquarium experience.

This is when Nikos found his favorite fish that he followed for awhile - the one with the red stripe. I may have promised him that we'd see it in Kauai next January. Whoops.

Here's a shot of a seadragon - I had never heard of them but apparently they are a distant cousin of the seahorse.

After the dolphin show.

Chicago skyline.

The building that looks like it is growing out of my head is the Sears Tower.

On the walk back to downtown to grab some dinner.

Taki continues his quest to win the designation of numero uno amateur photographer in our house.

For dinner we headed over to Gino's East, a much recommended pizza joint in Chicago. Nikos agreed that while Zachary's was good (see a previous post), this stuff was da bomb.

Nikos is BIG into clapping right now and whenever he claps I usually say "Yay!" When we were in Chicago he started clapping and then said Yay. We are calling it his first word (barring the mama and dada that he seems to use with reckless abandon when addressing us, trees and Bosco.)

The restaurant was very loud and full of excitement. The table next to us was kind enough to share their birthday balloons with Nikos when they left - he was enthralled with his first balloons.

Before we left I made sure to add our names to the wall graffiti.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped for an evening river shot.