We lived in Green Bay for 8 years. For quite a few of those years we lived on Bellevue street in a duplex. When we moved in the other side of the duplex was occupied by a couple of guys. They were pretty quiet and kept to themselves. After a year or so they moved out and we wondered if we’d get some neighbors who would be a little more friendly. We hit the jackpot. Todd and Chris moved in next door -they were fun and friendly and we seemed to hit it off right away.
Although they were a few years younger than us (and had a whole lot less children), we not only liked them as a couple, we each seemed to like our counterparts as well. Steve and Todd really hit it off and Chris and I liked each other as well. That doesn’t happen all that often. Usually there is one half of the foursome that really enjoy each other’s company and the other half are just so-so.
Chris and I had both just found out that we were pregnant shortly before they moved in. She was expecting her first child and I was expecting my first child…in a while. Actually I was pregnant with Violet, who was number 6, but she was quite a surprise. It felt like I was starting from scratch having completely exited the baby/toddler/completely needy stages of childrearing (Jon was already 7, completely housebroken and in school).
Anyway, we were both pregnant and had due dates so close to each other that you would have thought Steve and Todd had coordinated the events. It was the first time I ever had a pregnancy-buddy and I think that helped us bond in a special way. 
Our children were born a week apart (Chris had a little boy named Ian) and they played together from infancy on. In fact, Ian was the first boy Violet ever “kissed”.
Eventually we moved to the house on Chicago street and they moved to a house in DePere. We weren’t neighbors any more but the friendship continued. Chris had another child (a girl) and I, thankfully, did not. We rode our motorcycles through the streets of Green Bay. We had barbecues and get-togethers. Then we moved to Missouri.
We still chat frequently but we don’t get to see Chris & Todd very often at all. On our trip to Green Bay we tried to hook up with them for a visit. They recently moved up to Door County and opened a new restaurant, The Chef’s Hat.
Steve, Violet and I headed up to Ephraim for the day. In all the time we lived in Green Bay I had never been to Door County or the upper peninsula. The upper peninsula of Wisconsin has the Green Bay on one side and Lake Michigan on the other side.
It was gorgeous! We spent most of the day sitting in the outdoor seating area enjoying the beautiful view and visiting with Chris and Todd. The weather was gorgeous and I couldn’t get over how beautiful the area was. Ephraim sits on the Bay side of the peninsula. Of course, everyone from Green Bay believes that to be the superior to the Lake side. Ephraim has a very small town feeling with a slow and friendly pace. People from the community stopped by to say a word or two or waved when they passed. The guy who operated the carriage rides spoke every time he passed the restaurant. It was kind of like a very. punctuated. conversation.
Luckily, Violet picked up her friendship with Ian easily so they entertained each other while we ignored them in favor of drinks and adult conversation. The day was so fun and relaxing that I didn’t want to leave. In fact, I’ve made Steve promise that if we ever move back to Green Bay, we’ll head up to Door County often. I’d love to have a little vacation cottage there and look at all that water that’s just perfect for jet-skiing!
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