(Ramona in Aunt Katy’s lap, taken by me at Suzy’s shower…)

This weekend Alex and I drove to Chicago to spend some quality time with my family.  It was the first time we'd seen them since last Christmas(!) and it was so fantastic to see everyone again. 

My niece Ramona's baptism was in Joliet on Saturday.  She really is THEE cutest thing I've ever seen (like, puts the Gerber baby to shame cute, no joke), and her doting parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles couldn't be more thrilled about her.  She smiles constantly, blows cute little spit-bubbles, and is even adorable when she barfs clear down the front of her grandpa's fancy outfit.  How could our future babies ever compare??  My sister Suzanne says Ramona's ruined it for the rest of us... 

We spent Saturday night in Chicago proper, had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant on Division Street, then stopped by my old haunt, “Rainbo,” for a nightcap.  It was the first time I'd been there in quite a few years (when I lived in Chicago we used to refer to it as simply "the bar").  It was such a refreshing change to find it now a non-smoking establishment.  Thank GOD is all I'm sayin'.  It felt strange being there, though—I feel like I've lived a hundred lifetimes since I used to frequent the place.  I've moved cross-country twice, met my husband and got married, and worked in at least four different industries since then.  ...But at Rainbo, the staff is virtually unchanged and all those faces I used to see every night are still right there where I left them, but with maybe a few more wrinkles.  It was very strange but yet overwhelmingly comforting all at the same time. 

On Sunday I went to my sister Suzanne's wedding shower at our Aunt Beth’s house while Alex played golf (for the first time ever) with my dad, a few uncles, and a cousin.  It was so wonderful to see everyone—my parents, my aunts, uncles and a few cousins—to relax and spend some time with my awesome family for more than twenty minutes between Holiday flights. 

Next weekend I'll be in Chicago again for another of Suzy’s wedding showers as well as the bachelorette party.  Hooray! 

Iowa it great, but I really miss the City sometimes…