Chicago Wrap-up!

[Look who we saw on the way to the Hancock Tower!]

Whoa -- it's taking me a while to get back here and wrap up our Chicago adventures.
Having a new puppy in the house will do that to a person -- put you behind on absolutely everything!! More on that later!

We abandoned our plans to go to Navy Pier on the 4th to see the fireworks as it was so busy and crowded there, the police closed it off by 6 or 7 pm. Instead, we took a carriage ride around hoping to see some fireworks. We didn't see any fireworks, but saw lots of characters! I'd forgotten how fun big city living could be.
What a funny photo -- am I freaking out or what?


On our last day in Chicago -- Maddy and I headed to the Hancock Tower and Amy and Grace to the Sears (now Willis) Tower and other sights! Since it was a workday, neither place was very busy, so that was really nice.

[From the Tower!]

And then, guess what we saw -- the American Girl store! Maddy and I had not really planned on going in, but out of curiosity, figured that we needed to check it out. What a place!!
We had watched the AG Kitt Kittredge movie previously and loved it --
if you haven't seen it and you have a little girl, you must watch it. Such a good little movie! Anyway, that put us on a hunt for a Kitt doll! We found a sweet little one, so got that.
The larger dolls and one named Ivy (who looked like Maddy) tempted us, but we knew it would be too much to carry home anyway.
I can see how that store and their beautiful dolls are so mesmerizing!!


Later, we met Amy and Grace at Navy Pier. Amy has a bit of a thing about heights (how she went out on the ledge at the Sears Tower is beyond me?), so I rode the ferris wheel with the girls. Let me tell you -- that is the tamest ferris wheel ever! It goes so incredibly sloooow!!
Then we rode a wave-swinger that swung us around up and down in the air! We laughed so hard -- it was fun!
As soon as we got off, Grace, Maddy and I ran and got another ticket!
Truthfully, I was a little bit leery of it, but I knew Maddy wanted to ride it, so I acted brave and went too. So glad I did -- it was FUN!



Lucky me -- that evening I was able to get together with some college chums for dinner. It was so great to see them and it just seemed like yesterday (well, maybe a couple years ago) that we graduated. So sweet of them to come into the city to see me.

That wraps up our Chicago adventure.
We thought there would be a LOT more shopping, but we were so busy,
we barely had time to even venture over to Nordstrom --
and it was right across the street from the hotel!

Dancing for Chocolate!

If you give these girls some chocolate, they will . . .

dance around for more!

One of the freebies we received in Chicago was a coupon for a free Hersh*ey bar! Now, anyone who knows me, is sure to know that there is no way I would ever pass up free chocolates! And guess what, Miss Maddy and Miss Grace love chocolate too.

So happy to pass along such a healthy habit! :)

The Hersh*ey people knew just what they were doing with that free coupon! Once we got inside, the intoxicating smell of chocolate put me in a trance and the answer was YES to whatever the girls asked for in the store.

Luckily for my pocketbook, they didn't ask for much!

One fun thing they both did was to try their hand at being a chocolate factory worker. Now, there's a job for me -- how did I miss out on that occupation!?!

They quickly turned some wheels, filled up a bucket full of chocolates and received a special "Chocolate Worker" id along with the chocolates!

[Grace was so focused!! Her bucket was actually overflowing!!]

Not to worry -- we did our best to gobble up those chocolates before we left town.

It was hot -- we couldn't let them melt after all!

The Chicago Edition - Sightseeing and Graffiti Artists!

After the required visit to the Disne*y store the first day (and almost every day thereafter), we decided it was time for some sightseeing.

It was July 4th -- time to paint the town red!

So, we chose one of the City's finest red double-decker sightseeing buses to go

to the Shedd Aquarium. Bonus -- when we bought the tickets, we received coupons for free* Hershey bars, free popcorn and a free t-shirt! What a deal, right!

[Amy and Grace on the double-decker bus!]

Our guide was kind of funny and clever, but really, he was his own biggest fan, and a ride that would probably have taken 15 -20 minutes by taxi took over one and one-half hours! Yep - that's hours people! Holy cats! We thought we'd never get there!

[Chicago Theatre -- very historic!]

Evidently, lots and lots of other people had the same idea -- the line to get in was so long

and at 11:30 AM, the temp was inching very close to 90+!

But, there was a short "go to the front of the line" option

if you bought a Citypass so you could go to other museums too.

Since we figured we would be going to some, if not all of those,

we bought the passes and went directly to the front of the line.

Love it when a plan comes together like that!

The aquarium did not disappoint and we enjoyed an "Earth" movie in 4-D and

a live dolphin show along with looking at all kinds of aquatic and fishy-type stuff.

Don't want to get too technical here.

We spent nearly the whole day!

And then it was back to the very slow big red bus back to the hotel, where Amy and I had an icy cold frappe-something or another and plotted our evening.

[Whoa -- we don't have these kind of buildings in Nebraska!]

Another dinner with Cboo was planned and this time, we just HAD to have some Chicago-style pizza so went to a close-by famous place called Gino's East.

Another line to get in! Geesh -- people in big cities have to wait in line a lot!!!

The pizza was tasty and the place was fun.

Anyone and everyone could write all over the restaurant -- like on your table,

chairs, wall, ceiling, anyway.

Graffiti was everywhere!

Truly, there was hardly anyplace to add our own monikers.

However, Grace and Maddy searched high and low and found a couple places to sign in for posterity!

Look at the little artists -- do they look like trouble or what!?!!

[Caught red-handed writing on the railings!]

July 4th was just getting started and that big city was hopping!

Next up -- free chocolates!!

The Chicago Edition -- Death by Gin???

Cousins -- Grace & Maddy!

Maddy and I had so much fun in Chicago with my sister and her daughter, Grace. Before I go in to all of our numerous activities and sightseeing (and beware, photos and long posts will be forthcoming), I thought I would start out on a funny note.

One of those, yeah, it's funny now!! :)

The girls -- Amy, Grace, Maddy and me.

On our first evening there, we met my son, Connor a/k/a Cboo, to go out to dinner with him.

We went to a newish, trendy spot (trendy in my book anyway) called "The Purple Pig" that was close to our hotel.

The menu was a bit different than our usual steak, burgers, chicken strip joints,

it was good and we enjoyed it.

Perhaps I enjoyed it a bit too much!?

Amy, Connor and I decided to have a drink with dinner --

we were on vacation, after all!

I had one gin and tonic -- my fave summer-time drink.

Cross my heart -- I only had one!

Almost immediately, I was loopy from that drink!

Granted, I had not eaten much all day long, so decided that must be the reason it hit me so fast.

Amy and Connor said -- what a lightweight!

The next day when I looked at the receipt, I figured out why that drink was so potent --

it was called "Death by Gin!"

You can tell from the photo above (before I figured I should put some

shades on and hide my loopy look)

that the drink definitely has an appropriate name.

And could somebody (Amy, Grace, Maddy?) have suggested I put on some lipstick?!?!

Note to self: always check on lipstick before photos! :)

Amy & Grace, Maddy and Me!

Later, Amy said, "wow, that was so nice of you to hand Connor your credit card and tell him to go shopping!" WHAT -- I really said that???

It was so much fun to have him meet us in Chicago, visit with him and have dinner together a couple nights - we've missed him so!

It was the start of a very fun trip!

Grace, Connor and Maddy!

Almost Ready!

Miss M and I are getting are bags packed and ready for our little "Girls trip" to Chicago!

We can't wait to see my sister and her daughter again and give that Grace some great big hugs! If Grace were reading this, she would be rolling her eyes right now, even though I know that she secretly LOVES my big hugs!

We have a little surprise for her when we get there! Aren't they cute! They were made by an etsy friend, Stacy, who whipped them up very quickly for us. My sis, Amy, says this is a shopping tour -- like the girls need coaching on shopping???? I don't think so! But we're hoping to also see some cousins and lots of big city sights!

Cousin Fun!

Maddy and I are so excited!

We have a girls trip planned and it's coming up soon!!

Windy City - here we come -- 4th of July weekend!

Oh, we do wish that my Mom and all the girls in the family could join us, but other commitments, work, family, etc. made that impossible.

Mr. Tennis thinks we are the "high maintenance" sisters (me and sissy Amy)

and I'm sure he's wondering what all we have planned! HA!

Well, there will simply not be enough time to schedule hair-straightening, facials, botox, etc. , though we may be able to squeeze a makeover and a little shopping at Nord*strom's on the schedule!

The last time Maddy was in Chicago, it was 2004 and she was 2-1/2 years old.

We met some travelmates there and had such a wonderful time together. Unfortunately, they have moved to Arizona now, so we won't be able to see them, but Arizona is on our list of places to visit!

Playing with Legos at the hotel.

[Maddy - on the right with Barney- her stuffed animal of choice at the time!]

Amy and I are so excited to have a trip together with the girls who are now 8-1/2 and 11 years old-- perfect ages! Actually, every age with these girls is perfect! They have so much fun together. Watch for a special Chicago edition of Boo Adventures coming in July!

[Grace and Maddy -- 3 years ago at pirate night! ARRRR!]