Chicago

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.