Greek Easter in Chicago

Poor Derek was doing better but still was not feeling super great on Thursday morning when we left for Chicago.  Having a husband who couldn't dress himself, couldn't shower himself, and was still in the process of icing his arm propped up on a pillow all day was nutso. I had to packed everyone including him for the trip and load the car up all by myself but just nursing him after surgery seemed like almost a full time job.  Somehow we got it all done and Tyler Thorsted was nice enough to drive us up there on his way into work.  The flight was not a comfortable one for Derek.  Liv sat next to him and protected him from a busy almost two year old lap child in their row, while kept the boys entertained and doled out pain pills from the seat behind them as needed.  Somehow we survived that too.

Thursday was a little bit overcast and we were all worn out from our trip, so we kinda just hung low at Babi and Papou's house and dyed Easter Eggs.  George came home from work with a traditional Polish lamb cake and butted molded into the shape of a lamb as well, so for dessert we all cut into the lamb cake.  


Friday, Derek and I had bought tickets to go to a Cubs game.  That wasn't exactly easy for Derek with his arm either.  I literally stuffed a pillow in my purse so we could prop his arm up at the game.  Riding the L to the Cubs game was fantastic as usually.  At each stop more and more Cubs fans squished in all decked out in Cubs gear and ready for the game.  The game was super fun to watch even though the Cubs didn't win.

Derek hates this picture because he thinks he looks drugged (which he was), but I don't think it's that bad and it's the only proof that he was there.  We both had Chicago dogs for lunch.

And (not exactly surprising to those who know me well) Derek ate his more gracefully with one hand than I did.  Wrigley Field has had some updates since the series which were kinda fun to see.  Derek did ok, but by the end he was hurting and ready to be back home with his ice.  Babi made tri-colored rice krispie treats from peeps with the kids while we were gone.

 And the kids loved the little steamed milks Mom would make them in tiny cappuccino cups.

We finished the night off with Chicago style pizza from Piquods Pizza which my Mom swears has the best Chicago style pizza.

Saturday morning, Babi hid Easter eggs around the yard so the kids could have a little Easter Egg hunt.  They loved it.



Then, Babi and I took the kids to meet the Easter Bunny at a local bank.  Carter was said he was excited to give the Easter Bunny a high five, but as soon as he got this gigantic bunny in his sight he timidly clung to Babi's leg.  When it was their turn he ran off too terrified to go up, but then thought better of it, turned around and said he was going to be brave.

 The bunny gave them all some candy and little stuffed animals and these little wind up chicks that hop on the ground.  Next, Babi and I went with all the kids to the grocery store to get a few things for the Greek Easter celebration the next day.

The store had these cute little grocery carts for the kids to push around.  It was shear madness with all 3 of them that kept running into aisles and people.  Oh man.  After we got back,  I walked all the kids over to George's brother's house where they were preparing the lambs for the spit.

They first get the spit through the middle of the lamb and stabilize it to the spit.  Then, they make little slits all over and shove full cloves of garlic in.  Then, the rub it with spices.  After that thought, I was nervous to leave George with my one-armed husband and two boys, Babi, Liv had an appointment at the American Girl Store downtown for an afternoon tea that we had planned.

This store was crazy a two-story huge department store filled with various dolls and doll clothes.  Babi bought Liv a doll.  She wanted one that looked just like her and then insisted she also get her a dog that looked just like London.

 Then, we had afternoon tea.

They had these cute little seats they attached to the table for Liv's doll and dog and a little cup and saucer for each too.  Liv was in heaven!

 The table was set with conversation starter cards.  While we waited for food Babi would ask Liv a question such as what her favorite family vacation was and while, what cause she is most passionate about, etc, etc. Her face lit up and she practically glowed from all the attention directed straight at her with each question.  It was darling.


Back at home Derek and George survived.  They spent a lot of time on the couch together like this watching hockey.

Sunday was Easter.  Babi had given the kids each a new Easter outfit a few days before and Camden literally asked multiple time a day if it was Sunday yet, so he could wear it.  Finally on Saturday, he actually put it on for a while because he couldn't stand waiting anymore.

So all the kids were excited to wear their new clothes.  I had actually taken Liv shopping before we left to choose a new Easter dress, so she chose to wear that on Sunday.  We went from store to store trying to decide what dress we liked best and as soon as her eyes came across this rainbow dress she was in love and couldn't like any other dress near as well.  I even found another more bold colored rainbow dress, but she said she preferred this pastel one (I had no idea she even knew what pastel was).

Here are the kids all dressed on Easter Sunday.

We went to sacrament at the local ward.  The kids even went up with their primary to sing beautiful savior.  The boys of course didn't really know the words, but they loved standing up there just the same.  Then, we went home changed clothes (all except Liv who insisted on staying in her beloved dress) and met all of George's Greek family at the park.  The men had been there since 8 am roasting the lambs and brushing them with olive oil and lemon as the spun around on the spits.



At one point I dropped something and everyone yelled Opa!  It all felt a little My Big Fat Greek Wedding.   The kids all attempted to fly kites though it required trudging through a very muddy field.  Camden actually got his kite up and flying for a good little while.  I tried to video it, but accidentally pushed the wrong button on my phone.  We snacked on Despo's homemade pita and lamb kabobs while we waited for the lambs to finish.

When the lambs were finally done, everyone ate.

Spit roasted lamb, I have decided, is definitely the best way to eat lamb.  Directly, after all my people finished eating I loaded them all into the car because they were all covered in mud and exhausted.  It was straight into the shower for them and then I plopped them all on the couch to watch a movie and rest from the day.  My cute twins cuddled up next to each other.

 Everyone but Camden took a little nap and then were much more energetic.  That evening Nay and Benazir had to fly out which.  It was sad to see them go.  Liv still says her favorite part of the trip was Benazir and Carter's was Uncle Nathan.  Oh these a pictures of those two when they found out their beloved Aunt and Uncle would be out at Chicago with us.

Then, when Babi got back from dropping them at the airport, we took the 3 kids over to her old condo to swim to hopefully tire them out.  It worked because that was the only night I didn't have to tell them over and over to pipe down and go to sleep.  After the day in the sun and the swim they all drifted off to sleep pretty quickly.

On Monday morning, my Mom and I took the kids to the Kohl's Children's Museum.  It was super fun and the kids loved exploring and playing there.  They all participated in the dragon parade which started in a little Chinatown and all the kids got to be dressed in traditional Chinese outfits and then marched through the whole museum.


 Liv got to hold one of the dragon poles and the boys got to hold musical instruments.  Camden was pretty excited about this life size motorcycle.

They had a cute little Whole Food Grocery store for the kids to play in.

And this adorable little reading nook.  


They had this art station set up where you could paint with different types of soil.

Then, we rushed back home to load up suitcases so we would have enough time to stop at this little diner on the way to the airport that has a little electric train that brings your food out to you.

The kids got a kick out of that.  The flight home was much more comfortable for Derek.  He seemed to improve a little every day.  The boys both wanted to sit by the window seat.

 By the time we got home we were all exhausted.

 Not sure how Derek feels as he spent the majority of the time icing and propping his elbow up on a pillow while the rest of us played, but the rest of us all had a fantastic trip out to Chicago to visit Babi and Papou's Chicago home for the last time.