Brotherly Love

My brother came to visit us!  Well, actually he came to work near Chicago for a week, but he decided to stay for the weekend to see us.  Wasn't that nice?

We met up with him on Friday down at the Chicago Temple.  We didn't take the time to go inside this time, but it was a good place to meet up and he wanted to see it.  Plus, we had Emma with us, so it wouldn't have worked out.  John got in our car and we drove towards the lake.  One of the things John really wanted to do while here (and he told his kids he would take pictures for them to see - so we had to do it), was to see some of the shooting locations for Home Alone.  So we went and saw the house (just the outside, and I'm sure the people who live there just love that), the church where Kevin hides and talks with the old man, and the town square he runs across after inadvertently stealing a toothbrush.    We stopped for some Chicago style pizza on our way home.

Home Alone House

Home Alone Church

The next morning we showed him around town (didn't take too long), including our lighthouse and the lake, and then headed out to Lake Geneva.  While there we ate some lunch at the Sprecher restaurant.  Then headed to Woodstock, Illinois for some more movie locations.  John really wanted to see some of the Groundhog movie sights.  That night we went out to dinner with some dear friends, and even tried escargot.  Not bad, but it won't ever be a favorite of mine.

Emma being silly in the car.

Icy Lake Geneva.  So pretty.

Getting ready to do the Pennsylvania Polka

John pretending he's the old man from the movie here in the old man's alley (they were doing something further into the alley which is why the truck is there).

After church on Sunday (where my brother was thoroughly picked on by our friends, and even got to use some of his Tagalog from his mission days while speaking with a couple in our ward), we came home and prepared some brats.  Can't come here without having brats right?  Of course we let the Sprecher root beer flow freely, and Eric and John broke in a couple glasses Eric bought at the Sprecher restaurant.

Emma was a little cold.

Hmmm, hot chocolate.  Much better!

Excited for root beer in the new glasses.

Following dinner was games and then more sausage, this time it was of the summer variety, along with some cheese and crackers, and yes, more root beer.  Again, can't come here without sampling some of the cheeses.

Even though it was really short, it was so much fun seeing John and having him here.  Of course, I can only say that because I'll go six to twelve months without seeing him.  =)