Recital Rehearsal

This afternoon (after a very wonderful end of the year picnic at school this morning), we headed down to the Rialto Theater in Joliet for Lola's recital rehearsal. It's a gorgeous old theater that still looks as it did back in the day. I actually graduated high school there, so it was cool to be back for this occasion. Haven't been down there since! 

The girls did great. Ellyana is in the same class but at a different time as Lola, because of our opposite schedules. But it was fun to still celebrate the end of a great dance year together. Alissa and I loved our day date, hanging out while the volunteer moms handled the kiddos. God Bless them. It was a LONG day. Mom walked in the door to watch Johnny at 7:45 am and we didn't walk back through the door until 4:45 pm! Whew.

Best friends.

 Ellyana Grace.

 Lola Rose.

 Some fellow dance friends. You wouldn't believe the costumes for this show...SO awesome.

 A well-deserved trip to the candy store. This girl was pushed to her max energy wise and she didn't have ONE sassy moment. Eat all the Swedish fish and Gummie bears you want, honey.

 Just one more Mommy?!

 Nothing says "diva" like wearing sunglasses indoors.

The 40/40 Tour

Today was awesome. A perfect #40 for John. Couldn't have written it better...

Northdown Taproom in the city. He'd been wanting to check it out since he saw the Pork Frites featured on "Chicago's Best"--I feel in love with it instantly. We sat right by the windows, which were opened wide letting the Chicago summer in.

The art and photography in this place was amazing. And their beer selection bordered on obnoxious....

 He was so undecided. Our awesome waiter, Eric, let him taste a few of his considerations.

He settled on the stout, true to his roots. You should have seen his face when I told him this drink was on his friends from California. I love being in cahoots with others to surprise him :)

 

Some really awesome photography hung on the walls, and one of the photos had my very first car in it! Granted this was a gold Mark VII & mine was a 1986 1/2 Red Ford Thunderbird Elan series, but they came off the same assembly line. That V8 5.0 engine, that body, that sunroof, that electronic keypad...my first baby. 

The pork frites--hand cut fries, pickled jalapenos, house smoked pork, crispy pork belly....and then we smothered it with the Gruyere cheese sauce. Insanity. We also feasted on some beer muscles with chorizo and a red cabbage slaw. 

After our perfect lunch, we popped in a candy store on Southport so I could get a lolly pop for an upcoming session prop...had to laugh at who Darth Vader is sandwiched between, especially after Lola's Star Wars lesson this morning. Kermit and Miss Piggy are two of her faves at the moment.

 What birthday in the city would be complete without a stop at BHB?! The boy and his whoopie pie.

 Punk rock pastry.

happy birthday, john edward! this was one for the books :)

The 40/40 Club

John enters the 40/40 club today. We're off to enjoy a day in the city, just the two of us. We have really been taking advantage of Grammy & Mimi being so generous with their time, as always!

Lola woke up this morning and first thing, just like on my birthday, wished her Daddy a happy one. How she remembers that, right when she wakes up, is beyond me. She was so excited, she was dancing with joy....

 She, of course, was so excited when she saw presents.

 But then I had to tell her they were for Daddy, not her. Sad face.

 Kisses for her prince.

 Card from Mommy. Love when I can make him cry. He gets me every time. So it's nice to repay the favor :)

 "Daddy, is that a robot?"

 Explaining the SW crew members...

 Saw this and had to have it for John Wooden's biggest fan.

 The expression of complete shock/joy/contentment/peace when he saw what was in the next box...

 HIS CHEMEX! My husband is a coffee snob, have you heard?

And then another surprise. The Dia de los Muertos coffee cup he spotted in a store while shopping in Nashville!

 Lola thought it was a hat.

 Mister-Mister decided to sleep through present opening--how adorable is he?!

Climbing her first tree...

Kicking off the celebration...

Yea! It's officially John's birthday WEEK! You know, the big 4-0! :) I wanted to do something out of the ordinary so I called mom this morning and asked her if she could come over and sit with the kids this afternoon so I could surprise John at work and take him out for dinner. Totally unexpected and he loved it!

We ate at Jane's (Yep, a Groupon!) and it was delicious. We had brunch there years ago and the dinner was just as good. We split the Veggie burger (holy flavor) and Sirloin steak sandwich (which had roasted Poblano and Red peppers.) Seriously delicious. With much earned glasses of wine, of course.

I just love and miss these kind of places that are ALL OVER the city. At Jane's, the original ceiling and brick of the interior is exposed so it was cool to look up and just think how many years ago those nails were pounded in, that mortar was laid. Neat. And...it just so happens to be right across the street from the dealership where John first laid eyes on me. He'll tell ya. I was sitting with my ERAC mentor (Tracy), eating carrots with ranch dip. Ha!