chicago

we took a very last minute one-night trip to chicago a few days ago. jimmy had to go there for work, so the girls and i decided to tag along! it was ellie's and addison's first trip there and actually my first time back there in like a few years.... which seems odd since we don't live too far away and jimmy goes there so often for work. and also odd since we have such ties to this city. jimmy and i used to live there and spent most of our 20's there. we have such fond memories. we know it inside and out. it's like home to us. so it felt very strange going back there as a visitor.... staying at a hotel, seeing the sites through visitor's eyes.... AND bringing our kids there with us! jimmy and i basically met and started dating there... we lived in the city, worked in the city and used to roam this place like a couple of carefree kids with our posse of friends being up to no good. :) so now to research hotels and restaurants that are child-friendly and to find activities to do with kids was a change. but a nice one!

since we were only there a very short time, we only had time to do a couple of things. one was going to American Girl Place for addison. and as i figured she enjoyed it thoroughly! this place is a crazy cash cow. doll $100; outfit for doll $24; dog for doll $20; and finally getting doll's hair styled in the beauty salon there $15. ugh, i can not believe i paid for my daughter's doll's hair to get done. well, it's all for the experience, right?? :) well, she loved her doll and took her everywhere with us. and when i asked her what her name is going to be. addison replied, "jennifer!" that happens to be her aunt's (my sister) name... so i thought that was so cute and funny.


addison and jennifer at breakfast



addison and jennifer watching a dvd in the car



no jennifer in this photo, but ellie at breakfast :)

and the other activity that we had just enough time for was going to Shedd Aquarium. i know i've been there a few times in my life, but i couldn't for the life of me remember anything inside. yes, my memory is horrible. but this time around, though we were rushed, i had a great time! i really enjoyed it! it was so neat... saw giant crabs, turtles, an anaconda, a dolphin show, etc.


took this right before went to the aquarium. what a great city. i forgot how much i loved it here.



ellie's excited too! can you tell?! she's making her best piranha face. :)


















addison shouts, "NEMO!!!!!"



bye bye, chicago! it's been too long. we'll definitely be back soon! :)