Chicago-Day 2

We woke up this morning to very chilly weather in Chicago but the cold wasn't going to stop us because we had a special date with The American Girl Place!  I was so excited to be taking Marlee and I had told her that she was going to a store that had lots and lots of baby dolls so she was excited too!  We got dressed and left our hotel, The Conrad, and walked the Magnificent Mile down to Water Tower where American Girl Place was.

Marlee's reaction when we first walked in the store was priceless!  She was amazed!

We browsed around the giant store for a bit and just let Marlee explore...she was excited when she found a stroller she could push around!

We had a reservation for an American Girl Tea Party, so we decided that we would buy Marlee's doll after the tea party.  The tea party was precious, and even included an American Girl Doll to dine with us.  Marlee loved having the doll with us and very sweetly fed her and entertained her while we had our lunch.  The food was precious, so dainty and sweet and Marlee truly enjoyed it.  When it was dessert time, they even brought a candle in Marlee's dessert to celebrate her early birthday and the waiter was so impressed that she blew the candle out all by herself!

After our fun lunch, it was time for Marlee to pick out her first American Girl doll.  We choose to pick out the doll that would look just like Marlee with the caramel colored hair, tan skin, and blue eyes.  GiGi bought the doll for her as her birthday present and even bought Marlee the same outfit as she bought the doll so they could be matching!  Marlee was so excited and named her new baby, Dora!

Right next to the American Girl Place was a big Lego store and Marlee thought the statues built of Legos were pretty cool!

We walked back down the Magnificent Mile to our hotel and couldn't resist getting some pictures with all the pretty flowers that were lining the streets!

 We arrived back at our hotel and let Marlee take a quick nap and then we hit the streets to walk to our boat tour.  We took the river/lake architectural tour and it was really neat and beautiful, but we were freezing!  When we got out on Lake Michigan, it was so cold that we had to take a hot chocolate break and sit inside for a bit.  Marlee enjoyed looking up at all the tall buildings and watching the ducks swim in the river. :)

As I was taking pictures with my camera, Marlee got my phone out of my bag and started trying to take her own pictures with my phone camera...she would say...CHEESE!

 Chicago is definitely a windy city!!!

 While taking our hot chocolate break, Marlee found it fun to decorate GiGi with stickers!

After our boat tour, we walked down to Navy Pier.  Navy Pier is filled with restaurants, shops, and fun things for kids to do.  Marlee enjoyed riding the train they had all by herself!

We ate dinner down at Navy Pier at, Harry Caray's Tavern and it was delicious!  Marlee enjoyed picking the pretty yellow flowers they had on their patio. 

 After dinner, we did some more shopping and Marlee had fun trying on some hats!

We have had a very fun and exciting day today in Chicago and are loving our time here!

Welcome to Chicago!!! Day 1

We flew out early this morning from Orlando headed to Chicago on a "Girls Getaway Trip"! Chicago has always been a city that we wanted to visit and we were happy to experience FALL in this beautiful city! Marlee and baby Julia were so excited to be on the airplane and Marlee thought she was a big girl looking out the window on the plane.  Once we took off, Marlee nursed and fell fast asleep and slept the entire two and half hour plane ride! 

We arrived in Chicago to a beautiful day with the weather in the 70s...GiGi had arranged for a car to pick us up at the airport and they even provided a car seat for Marlee to use on the way to the hotel.  We did not bring her car seat since we will be mostly walking everywhere we go or riding in a taxi in which she does not need a car seat.  Marlee was excited when she saw her car seat though and happily rode in it.

 We arrived at our hotel and Marlee was excited to stretch her legs and explore.

Lunch time was upon us and we were ready to try Chicago style "deep dish pizza"!  The locals all told us to try Giordano's and that we did.  We arrived and ordered our pizza and they told us it would be 45 minutes because they make it all from scratch!!!  WOW...that is a long time to wait but we were sure it would be worth it.  Marlee enjoyed playing with her Dora markers and Halloween stickers while we waited and even decorated our waitress with them!  Our pizza finally was ready and it was worth the wait.  It was delicious!  I love pizza crust so I thought it was fabulous especially dipped in ranch dressing!

After eating our delicious pizza, we walked eight blocks (we wanted to walk our pizza off) and did a little shopping at Marshalls and bought all of us a heavy winter coat since a cold front is coming through and it is going to be in the 30s by tonight!!!  After shopping, we walked back to our hotel and let Marlee take a nap.  After her nap, we got dressed and hit the mall that was right in our hotel.  I loved having a LOFT so close to me!  Marlee enjoyed shopping as well and riding the escalators!

After shopping, we had dinner at Weber Grill.  This restaurant was very neat because they had big grills outside of it and then inside, it smelled just like a backyard BBQ and they were actually cooking on big Weber grills.  Our food was delicious and Marlee loved their mashed potatoes! :)

Almost all of the places in Chicago have the revolving doors and Marlee thought they were very cool!

After walking back to our hotel, we were surprised to have cookies and milk waiting on us.  GiGi had told the hotel that this was Marlee's birthday trip, so they wanted to wish her a Happy (early) Birthday.  They were chocolate chip and she liked them!

Night, night Chicago...you are a beautiful and clean city and we can't wait to explore more of you tomorrow!

Tot Time

This morning we went to Tot Time at the Children's Museum.  Marlee really got in to Tot Time and enjoyed dancing to the music, singing songs, listening to the story, and making her Three Billy Goats Gruff craft.  After tot time, she played with Mary Kate in the museum and Aunt Bonny painted a beautiful butterfly on their faces as well.  After we left the museum, we had a fun lunch together with Aunt Bonny and Mary Kate as the Village Inn.  :)  We are looking forward to our Tot Time Tuesday play dates this fall!

The Fairy Marlee  wore her wings to Tot Time today :)

CHEESE!

 I'm taking home a baby bumblebee...

 Fuzzy, wuzzy, wuzzy...

Jumping on the numbers!

 Mary Kate and Marlee working hard on the computer!

Marlee loves to play at the train exhibit

 Chef Marlee

 

Happy 4th Birthday, Ben

This afternoon we celebrated Ben's 4th Birthday...train style! :)  Ben really loves trains and Mrs. Ashley had the cutest train party for him.  Marlee and Easton enjoyed watching their friend open his presents , especially the present we got him (A Chuggington Dinosaur Train, a train book, and yummy candy).  Ben's train cake was delicious and we are so blessed to have Ben in our life as our friend!  Happy 4th Birthday Ben!

Marlee smile and say "cheese"..."CHEESE"!

Watching Ben open up his presents

These 3 are so cute with their party hats on!

Marlee couldn't wait to taste the icing!