Illinois, week 2

So after Dan left, the girls and I were left to our devices.

Monday 7/21 - pre-nap stop at Dolphin Cove. Dolphin Cove is part of the Dundee Township Park District and has all the features for kids in the summers. There are two waterslides, a wide kids's slide where multiple kids can go down, a smaller kid slide, a gradual approach into the water. In addition, there is a huge shaded sand area with running water perfect for sandcastle building and tons of sand shovels, pails and tools. There are large umbrellas for shade at the pool, a large grassy knoll to sit on, and covered areas for eating (you can bring your own food if you want). The girls had a blast and we ended up going there a few more times, including the day we left Illinois to come back here.

fantastic!

That night, we went to dinner at Lou Malnati's Pizza in Lakewood. Lou Malnati's is a Chicago area pizza restaurant chain. Marla had mentioned it to me at our lunch on Saturday and I couldn't get it out of my head. Oddly, I ordered the Chicago-style crust pizza, rather than their original crust pizza. I think I was in a pizza warp since I customarily order the Chicago-style crust at Gino's East, another Chicago-area pizza restaurant. It didn't matter, however, because the pizza was excellent!

a beautiful sunset at Lou Malnati's

Tuesday 7/22 - my mom and I went out to dinner a Francesca Campagna, a Chicago area chain of Italian restaurants. Because the chain is so small, they're able to maintain high standards. I always order vodka martinis at Francesca's because the bartender has excellent bleu-cheese stuffed olives that are served with them. He was on his usual par this evening. My mom enjoyed salmon and I had a lobster-based pasta dish. My mom and I had a great dinner, a great prelude to her birthday, which was the following day.

a perfect martini with bleu cheese olives

Wednesday 7/23 - It was my mom's birthday & she was in good form. We started, of course, at the Lavender Cafe and a lot of her friends stopped by. We spent the day at Dolphin Cove. My cousin Nick and his wife Pookie had us all over for dinner at their lovely home in nearby Algonquin. My Aunt Janet was there along with Pookie's parents who we always enjoy seeing. In addition, Nick & Pookie have two adorable kids named Isabella and Ercole who are about the same ages as Liliane and Amelie. Since Melinda and her boys also came, it was a veritable kidfest. Did I mention that our hosts prepared incredible shrimp on the barbie, as well as sumptious pork chops? Pookie even had mini monster cookies, which I love since they are a true Iowan (where I went to college) specialty.

Thursday 7/24 - My mom's birthday celebration continued the next evening at La Tasca Tapas Restaurant in Arlington Heights. My mom has been celebrating her birthday here for at least the last five years. It's a great restaurant with all sorts of amazing tapas and excellent service. This year was no exception. It was great to catch up with my aunts and uncles at such a fun place.

Friday 7/25 - In the morning, we went with Sarah and her boys to the Dundee Township Park District's Randall Oaks Farm. When I was little, we would go there in the winter to go sledding and drink great hot chocolate (probably out of a package, but it was sooooo good!). Once in a while, someone would have a birthday party there and there would be pony rides. I think these things still happen today, but in addition, there is a great petting zoo. While we were there, we ran into Pookie & her kids, so it was even better. A toddler playground has also been built, so it was a good way to wear the kids down for their naps.

After naps, my parents brought the grandkids to a carnival. When I arrived, Liliane had a stuffed animal snake draped around her neck and was carrying a blow-up plastic hammer. She had had a fantastic time. Our nephews were equally excited with similar prizes. Apparently, you are guaranteed to win stuffed animals and the like when you play these games. One carnival worker offered to upgrade the snake if I would play a $5 game. As tempting as this could have been, I just channeled Helen Buttigieg (host of neat & my organizational hero) and turned him down. After that, we had dinner at the New Hunan Chinese restaurant, where we've been going since we were little. The children of the original owners now run the place and it's still good.