Loved - Part I

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HOSTED OUR FIRST VISITORS TO CLEVELAND. 

(Technically they stayed in a hotel.)

JEFF'S DAD (AKA - DOC) WAS SCHEDULED TO BE A VISITING PROFESSOR AT CLEVELAND CLINIC, AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR HE AND MIMI (AKA - JEFF'S MOM) TO SPEND A FEW DAYS IN OUR NEW CITY.  WE WERE EXCITED TO SPEND FOUR DAYS WITH THEM SHOWING OFF OUR NEW CITY AND OUR FAVORITE HOT SPOTS.

ON THE RISE BAKERY

IT SEEMED FITTING THAT WE INTRODUCED OUR SWEET MIMI TO SOME OF CLEVELAND'S SWEETEST CROISSANTS.  NESTLED IN THE CORNER OF OUR NEW FAVORITE BAKERY, WE ENJOYED OUR MORNING COFFEE, CROISSANTS, AND CONVERSATION. 

NORDSTROM

I HAVE NEVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A CITY THAT WAS HOME TO A NORDSTROMS. (Who knew that Beachwood, Ohio would be such a city.)  MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND I SHARE THE SAME (and STRONG) AFFECTION FOR THIS STORE, SO I KNEW WE NEEDED TO MAKE OUR MAIDEN VOYAGE DURING HER VISIT.  MIMI AND CHARLOTTE SHARE THE SAME (and STRONG) AFFECTION FOR SHOES, SO IT WAS NO SURPRISE THAT WE STARTED OUR SHOPPING IN THE CHILDREN'S SHOE SECTION.  MIND YOU, MIMI HAD ALREADY GIFTED A PAIR OF NEW SILVER, SPARKLY SHOES TO THE LITTLE LADY UPON ARRIVING.  SOMEHOW, THE LITTLE LADY FOUND HER WAY INTO A NEW PAIR OF PINK, SPARKLY LELLI KELLY SHOES.

THE GIRL KNOWS WHAT SHE LIKES.  AND, MIMI LOVES TO TREAT HER  GRANDDAUGHTER TO FABULOUS SHOES.  IT IS A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.

(BOTH THE LITTLE MAN AND I WERE ALSO TREATED TO A PAIR OF NEW (and FABULOUS) KICKS.

MITCHELL'S ICE CREAM

(THE LITTLE LADY'S PICK)

 WE ALL ENJOYED A TASTE OF MITCHELL'S COLD AND CREAMY CREATIONS.  IN ADDITION, MIMI AND HER DEAR ONES ENJOYED A SPONTANEOUS DANCE PARTY ON THE SIDEWALK. 

THE WEST SIDE MARKET

SATURDAY MORNING, WE TREATED OURSELVES TO CHERRY DONUTS, APPLE FRITTERS, STRONG COFFEE, AND A VARIETY OF FRESH FRUIT.

THORTON PARK POOL

THE LITTLE LADY HAD BEEN PLOTTING THIS FAMILY EXCURSION FOR WEEKS, AND WAS DELIGHTED WHEN WE FINALLY MADE OUR WAY TO THE POOL.  OUR SWEET ONES ENJOYED THE UNDIVIDED ATTENTION OF THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR OUTSTRETCHED ARMS AS THEY SPLASHED ABOUT.

IN ADDITION TO FUN-FILLED DAYS, THE ADULTS ENJOYED TWO EVENINGS OUT ON THE TOWN FEASTING AT  LOLA'S (DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND) AND FIRE (SHAKER SQUARE). (DOC AND MIMI'S TREAT TO US.) OUR DINNERS WERE FILLED WITH WONDERFUL CONVERSATION, GOOD WINE, AND SATISFYING FOOD. 

IT WAS A VERY MEMORABLE WEEKEND FOR ALL!

 

EACH TIME THAT WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR PARENTS, WE ARE REMINDED HOW DEEPLY WE ARE LOVED AND CARED FOR.  THERE ARE FEW THINGS SWEETER THAN WATCHING YOUR CHILDREN INTERACT WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS,  BOTH PARTIES COMPLETELY SMITTEN WITH THE OTHER.