Birthdays, Chicago, and friends

We have had such a great time enjoying these last couple weekends in summer! (Or what appears to be Fall!)  Two weekends ago we celebrated Dan, Becca, and Brian's birthday! All in the month of September!  We did a progressive night - with Dan's special part of the night beginning with us hanging outside eating a bloomin' onion (note to self and everyone else: avoid getting a bloomin' onion to go!) with Octoberfest and Smarties.  Then we went to Brian's favorite restaurant... that I just can't remember what it's called right now lol But, it was really good! I had a salmon salad and it was amazing!  Lastly, we went back to Brian and Rachael's and ate the cake that Andy made and played Cranium :)  Overall it was a great evening!  As always, we have pictures :) 

Us at Dinner :)

Bloomin' Onion.  Oh how we love outback

Then, this past weekend we hung out with our old small group (2:1- newly married) and I got to hold lots of babies! Sam is about 4 months old and Bekah is 6 weeks older than her and they were just SO cute!!  And, they were both so great- hardly any crying and only one diaper change (obviously done by mom lol).  While tempting, Dan and I still have some time to wait in the baby department.  Until then we will hold other people's babies ... and then when they cry (or when my arm gets tired- those babies get heavy after a while!) we will hand them back to mommy and daddy.  But, it was really fun to hang out with them and get to catch up!  And we ate a lot of amazing meat that they cooked in their smoker. 

Dan with Bekah

Sam :)

The last part of Saturday- aside from watching football- consisted of heading into the city! My dad is in town every 2 years for this convention with his company so we were able to enjoy a night on the town eating at Carmine's- this phenomenal Italian restaurant, walking around downtown, and going to the top of the John Hancock building!  We got some great pictures even though it was through glass. 

Us in downtown!

View from the Hancock building

On Sunday we visited a Korean church where one of our friends, David, preaches.  Since Dan and I have been married we have been attending pretty big churches (even back in Hudson- the Chapel isn't "small").  This service that we went to had about 20 people and we sang acapella- so it was about the size of my classes at Trinity!  But, something that was so different from the bigger churches that we attend was the community.  They were so warm and welcoming, and it was the Korean Thanksgiving so they cooked this huge meal and we ate authentic Korean food and I have to say I was VERY proud of Dan.  He seriously has come a long way since we got married, and he tried a lot of the food and actually enjoyed a good bit of it too.  Although, he didn't like the rice drink (in his defense neither did I and I will eat/ drink almost anything!)  It was really a blessing to be at a church where everyone introduced themselves to us and where everyone is so warm and welcoming.  At a big church it is so easy to come and go, and while that can seem comfortable for a while, it felt great to be around people who notice you and smile and thank you for coming to their church!

Overall it was a great weekend :)