Chicago

The past week has been overly busy. There was a trip to St. Louis, a trip to Chicago, 2 birthdays, work, a trip to the pool, landscaping, housecleaning, Olympics to watch etc... That explains my lack of posting for the week.



We awoke early Tuesday morning on Aliyah's birthday to get ready to leave for Chicago. Aliyah was super excited to ride the train first of all. It was Keirah's first train ride, although Aliyah has ridden the blue/red lines in Chicago before.

We were all excited to arrive and find a bus waiting to take us right to the American Girl store. It didn't take long, but wow--bus drivers just do whatever they please while driving in Chicago. It's funny to me that children have to be restrained only in cars, but not in buses, trains, or airplanes. I must mention that on the bus ride back, the bus started to go before Aliyah was even in a seat and she fell to the ground. No harm done, though. Once we arrived at AG, Aliyah wandered around in overwhelmed wonder.

There were so many dolls and accessories, Aliyah said that "her thoughts were a little mixed up"...meaning she couldn't decide.

She ended up with the doll she is looking at in the picture--Julie. She also got a Bitty Twins tea cart, and an AG mini. She only wanted one--we felt like we were let off cheap. Following the first trip to AG which was like an estrogen injection that no one needs, she wanted to go to the Hershey's store. Yes, we had dessert before eating lunch, but who cares when it's your 6 year old birthday.

We chose some delectable looking desserts...and yes they were every bit as yummy as they looked. Aliyah made Josh eat the frosting off hers, and then she savored every last bit of chocolate.

<

Following dessert, we headed over to State street to the Weber Grill for a very yummy lunch. Aliyah loved it! She had grilled cheese, fries, lemonade, and fruit. The beer can chicken that Josh had was awesome!! Since we chose to eat on the covered patio streetside area... this little dude came to visit at the end of our meal. He was the only one. He enjoyed little bits of grilled cheese that he found under Kiki's seat.

Aliyah was proud of the coloring book that she colored at Weber Grill. She insisted that I take a picture of it.

Following lunch, we headed back to Michigan Avenue for more fun. Two items of note....

Pottery Barn is gone from Michigan Avenue. They left abruptly in June and the building which is next to Tiffany's was sold for $350 million. I was dissapointed because I really wanted to go to PB. The other item of note, AG is moving from it's Rush/Michigan location to Watertower mall in October I believe. I imagine the new location will be bigger and allow for more estrogen-filled days and $$ to just flow out of parent's pockets into their registers =).

More on the rest of our day in Chicago including Josh's take on the AG store in my next post.