Entries Tagged as 'oak park'

Rory’s First Birthday

February 18th, 2013 · 1 Comment

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Aunty Glenna, Kenji, Amanda and Tyler

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Caroline with Rory and her friend Kim. Kim’s daughter’s birthday is only two weeks from Rory’s.

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Tyler

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Rory feeling skeptical about what’s about to happen.

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Maybe it’s ok.

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No, it is definitely NOT ok.

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Eddy was very willing to fill in! He’s one year older than Rory.

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Kenji blowing bubbles at me.

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Dallas & Quinn, Best Buddies

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Time for presents. Caroline and Rory had lots of help from the other kids at the party.

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Packers football! Who could that be from?

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Eddy wants to help!

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Chad, Ed, Dallas, Quinn, Jen

I can’t believe Rory can be a year old already, but this past weekend we celebrated his first birthday! Danny’s friend owns a cute little restaurant in Forest Park called Amelia’s and closed it down for the afternoon for the party. I was sort of dreading going to Forest Park, but it only took us about 20 minutes to get there from our house! The party was a fun mix of family and a bunch of our friends. Rory was not into the cake at all, but he seemed to like the opening of presents. Well, I think he liked the paper the best.

After the party we went to Danny and Caroline’s house in Oak Park to hang out some more. Somebody had to drink all the leftover beer and it might as well be us. And Ed! Rory missed his nap because of the party and somehow stayed awake and happy long into the night. And he did eat a bit of cake once the pressure was off and he was seated comfortably in his high chair at home.

Happy birthday, Rory!

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Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

May 14th, 2012 · 9 Comments

My brother and I have always wanted to visit one of the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings around the Chicago area, so when I saw a buy one get one free Google offer I jumped on it. A few weeks ago we visited the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio in Oak Park. Unlike other Wright-designed buildings and homes, this is one that he actually lived in with his family. It was pretty much his first project and not everything inside is typical Wright design because he was still very young and experimenting with what he liked. I thought it was an interesting tour. Definitely worth the discounted rate of $7.50/per person we paid for it!

Walking around outside before the tour. This is the house:

And this is the studio:

The first room we saw (not counting the entryway/foyer) was the living room.

Next we walked through this hallway. When the house was built, they built around a tree that already existed. You can see the original tree in the black and white photo. The branches in the hallway now are just props.

The hallway lead to the dining room. Check out that custom ceiling light.

I loved the windows throughout the house. They were really pretty in the dining room.

Next we went upstairs and visited the children’s bedrooms (no photos) and the master bedroom.

And the master bathroom:

This was a room for Wright’s wife.

Down the hall was the children’s playroom.

With more pretty windows.

And a beautiful skylight.

True fact: Frank Lloyd Wright’s son invented Lincoln Logs.

Check out this piano that is recessed into the wall in the playroom.

It sticks out into the stairway behind it!

At the bottom of the steps was the kitchen.

Next we went over to the studio. The home was built in 1889 and the studio in 1898.

Inside there was a large balconied room with drafting tables and a fireplace, where Wright and his associates would work.

This is where Wright’s secretary worked.

And, finally, this was a meeting room.

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Meeting Rory

February 28th, 2012 · 1 Comment


Rory


Proud Daddy, Danny


Proud Grandma, Aunty Laura


Cousin Amanda, (2nd?) Cousin Tyler, Great Uncle BB, Great Aunty Glenna, Rory, Cousin Brad


Dallas and I got a turn with Rory.

This weekend we also went out to Danny and Caroline’s to meet their son Rory who was born on Monday, President’s Day, making him 5 days old when we met. I was surprised to see he had so much hair! And it wasn’t jet black, more brownish or auburn like Caroline’s. Also, I thought he’d just be laying there sleeping the whole time, but he was so alert and looking around the entire time. So cute.

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Limey’s Going Away Dinner (That Danny Cooked)

October 26th, 2011 · No Comments

   
   
   
   
   
   

On Sunday Danny invited a bunch of friends over to his house for football and dinner. This was one of Limey’s going away events. We couldn’t just have one party for him when we heard he has to leave, we had to throw a whole series!

During the games Danny made dumplings and flatbreads. One of the dumplings was filled with short ribs and the other had potatoes and bacon and a side aioli that made it taste just like a loaded baked spud. So delicious! There were three kinds of flatbreads – a Mediterranean one with a kalamata olive tampanade and feta, one with roasted tomatoes and pesto, and one with sausage and caramelized onions. These were all delicious too, but I especially liked the Mediterranean one.

There were Bears fans, Packers fans and one lonely Cowboys fan at the party and everyone’s team won, so everyone was happy. Although, I would have been happier if the Bears had lost. The weather was nice enough, so we were outside for a while. Quinn and Halle provided the entertainment for the party. I’m not sure Danny and Caroline’s dogs, Maggie & Duff, knew what to make of them, but they better figure it out because they’ll have a baby in the house in just a few months!

For dinner Danny made shrimp and grits. This was the second time I’ve had his shrimp and grits and it’s so delicious. The grits are so rich and creamy. I don’t know how he does it. Actually, I do, but I don’t like to think about it (cream, cream, cream!). Danny also made macaroni and cheese for the kids, which was a big hit with both the kids and the adults.

For dessert, I brought over White Russian cupcakes. I thought they combined two of Limey’s loves: Booze & Sweets. They turned out alright, but not as awesome as I’d hoped. Not as awesome as the Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes I’ve made (here, here). Danny also made beignets with chocolate sauce.

Somehow we rolled ourselves out of there at the end of the night! I’m not sad about saying goodbye to Limey yet because he’ll be here for a while and we have at least one more goodbye party to go to.

It should also be noted that it took us 12 whole minutes to get to Danny & Caroline’s house in Oak Park from our house. I think their house seems far because it’s not even in Chicago, but we live so far west, it’s so fast and easy.

Finally, I almost forgot, Quinn made us this Halloween decoration. It’s a drawing of a scarecrow. I think he has glasses? What a nerdy scarecrow. He told me that I had to hang it by our stairs, but I have it on the fridge:

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Sunday Funday

January 19th, 2011 · No Comments

Last Sunday we went to Danny and Caroline’s for lunch and to watch the Bears game. The Packers had destroyed the Falcons the night before and we were excited to see if it would be the Bears and Packers playing for the NFC Championship.

Caroline and I finished off some strong bloody maries and we had gumbo for lunch. Danny’s gumbo was a winner and so were the Bears. Big game coming up this weekend!

John came over to visit and had his dog Winston with him. Danny and Dallas like to make fun of this dog because he is a “designer” dog and he cost a lot of money. He’s a Labradoodle (Labrador + Poodle). But check this out:

OMG. He was the cutest. And the nicest. I totally fell hard for him. AND? He doesn’t shed and he is hypoallergenic, so people with allergies won’t be affected! That part about not shedding and not being allergic really got me. I’m starting to suspect Dallas is allergic to dogs. I’m sort of obsessed with this dog and dog breed now.

After the game we played Gran Turismo on Playstation. Danny has rigged up this driving contraption that you can put right in front of the TV. It’s like a prototype, but we think he should start production of these things soon!

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