Chicago and MI familia

Our last stops on this trip were Chicago for Clint and Kelly's wedding, and Kalamazoo for Susie's shower.  It was chillier in Chicago than we expected, and we didn't bring any jackets...

So I wore Luke's sleeping shirt around all day.  So typical... I never pack the appropriate clothes and end up wearing layers of pajamas in public.  But no matter!  Here we are in front of Quartino, where we went with my friends the second time we met (the first meeting was months before in St Louis at Stache Bash, a celebration of the mustache).  I was eating ravioli and laughing and turned to say something to Luke and he kissed me on the RIGHT ON THE MOUTH IN FRONT OF EVERYONE and now we are married.

We returned to the scene of that first, flavorful and fateful kiss for lunch: I took it as a sign that this mustachioed gentleman was our server.

He recommended these gorgonzola-stuffed, pancetta-wrapped, honey-drizzled dates: YUM.

Before lunch we went to the wedding rehearsal; Luke played the piano in the ceremony, the cocktail hour and the first dance ('At Last').  I snapped some photos of the wedding party in Germania Place:

Clint, Kelly, coffee

That evening we attended the rehearsal dinner, and in the morning we met up with some of my most beloved people for a delicious brunch at Longman & Eagle.

across the street from Longman & Eagle

love these faces

{then, a nap}

{then, wedding!}

Practicing while the caterers and florists prepare:

Vince, Kate, Andrea, Ricky and Clint.  Does the light by his head mean Ricky is a future saint?

Kelly in the dress she designed. So gorgeous.

Clint and his father

In the morning we took the Amtrak to Kalamazoo

bye, Chicago

for Susie's shower and some downtime with the fam... I gave the camera to Alayna for some kid-perspective pics:

the photographer

Many busy days of travelling, but so full of love (babies!  wedding!  shower!), family and friends.