Whew... so when I visit places, especially for the first time, I like to DO things... and so, when people visit here, especially for the first time, I like to DO things with them :).
And it turns out that South Bend/Michiana are actually has a lot to do in the summer! Here's a run down of our schedule with the parents:
Friday - parents arrive on train in Chicago, we grab pizza and have a picnic in the green area to the south of the Art Institute of Chicago [I got into Chicago early so that I could wander around this museum before meeting them at Union Station].... it was awesome. We go check out the Bean in Millennium Park, and then head back on the South Shore train to get in fairly late to South Bend.
Saturday - Mom and I start the day with some free yoga at 8am, then head to the Farmers Market, have lunch, and then drive out to Amish Land for the best donuts ever, and to walk around the store areas in Shipshewanna.
Then we head home, make Fettuccine Alfredo, and then head to a baseball game, where we won! [hooray!], and it turns out it was the game making the Silverhawks the 1st Half Eastern Division Champions! It was very cool. A somewhat close game, and then all the players came out and did the dumping of the Gatorade over the coach, and jumped up and down, then went to the lockers and drank champagne, and then came out again in their sock to run the bases and run around celebrating. It was cool.
Sunday - Church, dollar tacos, movie [Star Trek; Dad's choice for fathers day], steak/lobster/salad/asparagus for dinner. SOO yummy.
Monday - BEACH! We went to New Buffalo, where we had a picnic and then got dessert stuff at a place called Nancy's [which I of course took pictures of my mother in front of]. Then we went to ND to take a look at the Basilica and the Grotto, and the Main Building [it really is a beautiful campus]. Then took them to Pullrite to have a tour, and then mom and I caught some more free yoga outside at the park, before we headed to Fiddlers for some dinner.
Tuesday - Drove into Chicago to go to the Shedd Aquarium. We got there at 9:30 [it opened at 9am], and there was a line out the door and down the stairs. We finally got in at 10am, walked around, saw everything, and then had lunch there before I dropped them off in Midway to catch their flight to see my brother and his family in North Carolina.... which of course ended up being delayed.
It was SUCH a great visit. And I'm sort of in that mode of, "I can't believe that it's already gone/over".
I'm really glad they came to visit, and see my life here. There's just something about it that's comforting. Maybe also in referencing things on the phone after this. They'll actually be able to know what I'm talking about.
But now back to the grind. Gotta prep for my wedding this weekend, and I have a list of other things to get finished and check off as well.
-mrp-
