A {Magnificent} Break! - Chicago part two

The next day of our trip to Chicago...Emily, Elizabeth and I were excited to get to go back to the American Girl Place for a fun birthday lunch!

The Magnificent Mile was already bustling with traffic as the sun was coming up...

Good Morning...let's stroll!

There is so much to look at once you walk in the door...

...all the historical characters are on the first floor with their own displays and info about each one...although we didn't even get to look that closely because we were ready for our lunch...and Emily wanted to shop and get her picture taken for her own magazine cover!

There were also so many books to look at...if only we had more time!

All the moms and daughters...{and a few dads too!}...waited outside these doors until it was time to go inside the Cafe...

Our table awaits...

{The napkins were wrapped with pink hairbows that the girls and their dolls could keep!}

We were served little cinnamon rolls to start...

...and Lanie was served her own little cup of 'tea'...could it really get any cuter?!

Emily order a Cherry Blossom which was the most delicious drink...with a sugar-rimmed glass...mmmmm!

...and because we were celebrating her birthday...she and Lanie received special birthday crowns...and a little goodie bag with a shirt and little balloon for Lanie!

And of course...it's not a celebration without cake and ice cream...right?

...and a birthday wish...

Of course not!

The food was delicious and the sweet treats were so good!  We had such a fun time...I can't wait to go again!  

{only if we win the lottery, Dan says...ha!}

Before leaving...Emily got a few more keepsakes for her and her doll...matching Chicago American Girl Place t-shirts...and matching pajamas.  It's so hard to not want everything in there!  That's why we won't be able to go again unless we win the lottery!  Not only have they thought of everything for you and your doll...but they have just as many cute accessories for the doll's pets too!

{Elizabeth didn't want to leave...well, or maybe she was ready to go!  ha!}

I hope we'll get to go again someday when Elizabeth is older...it is such a cute and sweet experience for girls...and moms! 

At least Emily has some really fun memories to last for a long time!

{and she'll have something to remember her own hair style too...ha!}

{I know her cheek looks weird and big in this picture...because she has a huge piece of gum in her mouth!}

A {Magnificent} Break! - Chicago part one

Spring Break's already over...but we finished it out on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago!

{that's our suite on the top floor of the Omni...the building in the middle with the arched top!  the 25th floor sounded really high...until you see all the other even taller buildings!  this picture was taken at the top of the John Hancock building...yikes!}

{Emily and Lanie are ready to check in!}

About a four-hour drive later...I think we all were!  Elizabeth did such a great job for her first big road trip...we stopped a couple times, but we were excited to see the big city! 

{at least the kids and I were...Dan's not a huge fan, but I agree it's not a fun place to drive into!}

Even though we were tired...we didn't wait long before heading to the American Girl Place! 

{we've got our green on for St. Patrick's Day!} 

I loved this place!  I will admit I was just like all the other girls there!  It was two floors of cuteness!

The first stop was to take care of Lanie's 'do!  It was a wild mess!

Is there a better job than getting to play with dolls all day and fix their hair?!  So fun! 

They had a huge selection of how you could choose to have your doll's hair styled, and Emily chose the double pony tail.

Lanie also got a facial and her ears pierced! 

Now she's all ready for their special lunch!

{lookin' good!}

It was truly a full-service salon...Lanie even got new earrings, and special stickers for her toes!  I want to be an American Girl doll...ha!

After a few other purchases...ahem...

...it was time to head back to our suite...

Emily, Sugar {her new AG dog}, Ruthie {her new AG doll}, Lanie and Elizabeth

{I think Elizabeth likes her new friends...ha!}

After another break we had traditional Chicago-style pizza for dinner which traditionally took about 45 minutes to make...and Elizabeth just could not last...so Dan and I had to take turns taking her outside!  Every time we took her outside she was fine...but once we stepped foot back inside the restaurant...she let everyone know she was unhappy!  But we had delicious left-overs to take back to the hotel!

Once she calmed down...Alex and Emily had a great time doing cannonballs in the swimming pool...

{sorry...I was just not brave enough to get into a swimsuit yet...but I sure wish I could've seen Elizabeth in the water in her little bathing suit...give me a few more months...sigh...}

It was a busy and fun-filled first day and we had a great view of the night lights before getting some sleep...

...to the soothing sounds of sirens and horns...ha!

 

{Gifted}

We are already on Spring Break this week...and although it started feeling like Spring a few days ago...now it's cold, dreary and rainy again...blah! 

Monday we decided to take our fun and use the kids' gift cards for some {almost} free fun!

And by almost I mean...it's hard to go into Toys 'R Us and only pick one thing!

{A DS game, Wii accessory and a couple gumball machines later...}

Thanks Grandma for the gift cards!

And thanks Santa for the Chuck E Cheese gift cards!

Elizabeth loved her first visit so much! 

She was mesmerized by all the lights and sounds!  And she slept like a champ all the way home and then some!  When can we go back?!  We still have a dollar and change left on the gift card...ha!

{turns out...as I look at these pics of Emily...we maybe should of bought her some new britches that cover her!  ha!  Looks like we need to retire this skirt/tights combo to Elizabeth!}

It may be a day of laundry/catch up around the house pajama kind of day today...we definitely need a Chili's date...and then Chicago!