We're back!  We had a great trip to Chicago this weekend.  I can never manage to do everything that I would like to when I am there and this trip was no exception.  Friday we went to American Girl and then spent some time with my sister-in-law Georgia and my nephew Ian.  Saturday, we took the girls to the Shedd Aquarium.  I hadn't been there since high school and it has changed a lot.  There is a great oceanarium with dolphins, beluga whales and penguins in addition to the wonderful assortment of fresh and salt water fish that I remember.  The Wild Reef exhibit is very cool, too.  Here we saw sharks and sting rays and many different types of coral.

The trip was really all about the dolls, though.  They went everywhere with us.  American Girl Place is quite amazing - lots of age appropriate fun!  I took plenty of photos - here are a few...

Jane's Elizabeth and Kate's Bitty Twin "Lucy" had their hair styled in the salon.  There were multiple styles to choose from and both dolls left with matching ribbons tied in their hair.  The mini salon chairs and purple capes were cute - the attention to detail is just amazing.

After choosing a new outfit for the dolls, we lunched at the cafe.  It is really cute - wide black and white horizontal stripes line the room with lots of hot pink daisy and button accents.  Very Dorothy Draper, I'd say.  The dolls each had their own little chair and miniature tea cup.  The food was good, but the dessert was great.  Look at how cute it is!  Chocolate mousse with cookie crumbs in a small green flower pot with a sugar cookie and petit four on the side.  Yummy!

Here is my favorite picture....the four little ladies toting their purchases on the way back to the car.  They had a lot of fun, but, man oh man, they were exhausted!

I am wiped out, too.  I have a lot to do before I turn around and leave town again on Friday and I am trying to figure out how I will squeeze it all in.  Laundry, groceries, Halloween decorations, costumes and more painting.  And sleep.  Definitely sleep.

There is a basket of flowers on our front door during the spring and summer.  When I took a look at it yesterday it looked just too summery.  Time for a change.  When I took the basket down, I scooped out this tiny bird's nest that I had noticed some time in July.  It was obvious then that the mama bird had deserted it.  We don't use the front door much in the winter so I think the increased door banging drove her away sometime in the spring.  Sad, I know.  But this little nest is so amazing...a little work of art with three hollow eggs.

One is a tell-tale robin's egg blue, but the others are kind of pink.  There was another cracked, cream speckled egg sitting by itself in the basket.  It makes me shudder to think that we probably "knocked" it out of its nest.  But I love the nest and can't bear to part with it.  So I am not going to  - not right now, at least.

Unrelated, I made these cute sweatshirts for a friend's nieces.  I apologize for the bad photo, but I had to take it under artificial light or miss the opportunity entirely.

I thought they turned out cute.  As I look at them now, I think that little worm needs some kind of a face - an eye and a grin, perhaps.  Next time!

This is my favorite time of year...the leaves are falling, the breeze is cool and crisp and it is sweater weather.  Time for closed toed shoes.

And time to get knitting.

Happy Wednesday!

I'm celebrating - we have made it half way through the school week.  Phew!  Jane was out of school at noon so the girls and I went to the library for story time this afternoon.  At our local branch, there are two children's librarians - one is nice and easy going; the other one, not so much.  Of course, today was the other one's turn.  So frustrating!  She can't handle kids being kids - if they don't sit still and follow her directions exactly (god forbid, they might interrupt without raising their hands!), she gets all serious and talks to them in a stern voice.  And this is a story time for 3 to 5 year olds!  Enough venting.  The girls seemed to have fun (I didn't) so it wasn't a lost cause.

After that we went to the park to meet up with our old playgroup buddies.  The rains have finally stopped and there was a nice breeze - the perfect early fall day.  My kiddos spent time doing what they love best.

Jane swinging....

...and Kate climbing.

Still working on the circles - had to cut 13 more this morning.  I think the end is near!  I know Serena hopes it is near!

Things in the house have been quiet this weekend...and it's been so nice.  This morning we took a walk down the street.  In fact, I was the only one on foot.  All the others had some kind of wheels for their mode of transportation.

It didn't last as long as I had hoped.  Kate had a bit of a meltdown and the outing ended prematurely.  She would not be happy that I am sharing this photo, but I just have to.  It completely captures her when she isn't getting what she wants.

I have done some fun crafting the last few days, but can't share it yet because the package hasn't arrived at its destination.  I am very excited about how it turned out and with any luck, the birthday girl will be, too.  Hopefully, tomorrow I can show it off.   In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of a little something I started for another friend.  I hope this works out the way I see it in my head!