All Aboard

It was too wet to go on the big ferris wheel on Navy Pier, so the girls went on a train ride or two instead...

Then pooped out from sheer exhaustion...

While the girls slept, Joe and I did some shopping.
Trust me, you can't come to this city and not shop.
You also can't some to this city and not eat pizza.
So as not wanting to offend anyone, we did both.
Pizza tonight was brought to you courtesy of Gino's East.
The atmosphere was really cool.
You could even sign your name wherever you could find a spot.
IF you could find a spot...

Mmm, pizza...

Joe wanted to do his best Man vs. Food impersonation and end the night with an Italian Beef from Al's, but thankfully he decided against it.
Only doing so once I promised him that he could eat there when we come back in June...

I promise.
As long as I get my pizza.

Chicago Children's Museum

This morning we woke to gloomy, rainy weather.

But we weren't going to allow a little rain to spoil our downtown adventure.

So we quickly found something indoor to do to pass the time.

When all else fails, go to the Chicago Children's Museum...

Once to the museum, the girls got to pretend to be firefighters...

They even rode down a real firehouse pole...

Then they learned to Stop, Drop and Roll their way through a smoky bedroom...

Fort building was our next activity.
All little kids love building forts...

So do some big kids I know...

From building forts to building sticks...

Sophia found the biggest stick possible and brought it over to us (narrowly missing whacking three or four kids along the way with it)...

Although I wasn't completely sure what they were building...

I loved their concentration...

There were even silly seats available to rest tired feet...

The next section was the girls favorite.
It was the water area.
They even provided raincoats of various sizes to keep the kids from getting too wet.
I found it funny that this is the place they liked the most considering we brought them here to prevent getting wet from the rain outside...

One last bridge to cross on our way out...

What a fantastic way to spend some family time.

Rain or Shine.

My Girls and Their American Girls

After spending a few days in Schaumburg, we repacked our suitcases and headed for the city...

Our first destination caused a lot of excitement in the girls.
This time we remembered to bring their dolls along...

Lily has been wanting this soccer outfit for Mrs. Nesbitt since seeing it in the A.G. catalog.
Soon Mrs. Nesbitt changed from Victorian girl to soccer player...

Sophia was drawn to all of the winter outfits for her doll, Cindy Lou Who.
Her favorite was the leotard with ice skates...

Joe was more than happy to help the girls dress their dolls.
Dare I say he was even a little bit ecstatic...

Carlos wanted an American Girl doll of his own.
Maybe next time...

All little girls need to visit this store at least once.
All big girls do too...

Lunch was next for all of us.
However, I think the anticipation and excitement from the day left Sophia exhausted.
While sitting in her chair, she leaned her forehead against the table and fell asleep.
Joe moved her to someplace more comfortable,
His lap...

Lily and Mrs. Nesbitt stayed up just long enough to fill their tummies...

Then while both girls slept, we got an opportunity to take in all of the beauty this city has to offer...

Not far off of Michigan Avenue, we spotted this beauty...

Sophia woke up just in time to enjoy kisses from daddy...

and ice cream.
She is my daughter after all...

I love the Windy City!