The girls had been looking forward to this for awhile...especially Lauren (you'll see why further in). So, bright n' early Saturday morning, we got going and arrived to beautiful blue skies and a hotel room ready for early check-in (sweet!).
The hotel is one we hadn't stayed in before and had a great rate...so we checked it out and were happy we did. This place (The Avenue) was a great location and had the best views (pictured below)! The girls loved just standing by the big windows and taking it all in.
There were 255 pictures, so I made some collages to share as many as possible. To see them larger, just click on them.
Our girls are hotel junkies and love checking out every corner. This picture is their test to determine bed comfort. After much jumping and rolling around. It was determined that no peas lied under this mattress and it was fit for sleeping.
After getting settled, we took our first of many walks in the city and headed to Navy Pier. We felt pretty lucky to have such beautiful weather. The kids loved the carousel and we all enjoyed the ferris wheel...even if it was "a little slow" for the older girls.
While the younger girls rested, Lauren and I got some shopping in. We headed to Crate and Barrel. What a sight it was to see my little shopper in action. Although, she enjoyed the escalator waaaayyy more than all the goofy stuff I was looking at. And, for the first time in years, I walked out with nothing at all...which was the perfect thing to buy for Jeff.We then met up with the rest of the crew at Niketown, where the kids made the best of it while Jeff and I perused all the stuff that keeps you dry while you run (I can't see why they don't think that's fun).
Then (drum roll, please)...it was time for the trip-focus: American Girl. Lauren got to pick out the doll of her choice for her birthday. She has read the books and watched the movies and after much deliberation...she chose Kit Kitterage to take home.There's nothing like a smile that melts your heart...and she gave us plenty of those. We tried to spend some time looking around the store as not to rush things. But, she knew what she want and she wanted to get poor Kit out of the box "so she could breathe"!
Before leaving, we freed Julia in Bitty Babyland and just let her do as she pleased. So, amidst the clammering crowd, she got a baby down from a shelf (with the help of Sarah, her doting sister), and promptly sat right down to love and snuggle the baby. We soon left, and Julia danced in the streets of Chicago, just happy to be free.
With kids so sweet (and overstimulated), how do you not take them out for ice cream at the Hershey's store? It seemed criminal to pass it by, so in we went. Lauren didn't care where we were, Kit was getting out to take her first breath of fresh air...and it smelled of chocolate (lucky doll, huh?). 
The walk back to the hotel was as busy as can be. The warm weather brought people to Chicago in droves. But, watching an almost seven year old navigate the city sidewalk holding her new best friend and stopping to hug each of us ten times along the way was just so priceless that I didn't see another person except that little girl for miles.
There were concerns in the back our our grown-up minds that we'd miss the Kentucky Derby for the first time in as many years as we've known each other. But, the rush to get Kit into the comfort of our hotel room, allowed us to catch the two-minute race. 
The sun set on Saturday just outside our window...and my, what a sight!
Sunday morning, we must've been up before the birds as our girls were unaware and/or unconcerned with the time change in Chicago.The second part of Lauren's birthday surprise was revealed to her when I handed her a dress to wear and told her she and I had plans to have breakfast with Kit at the American Girl Cafe. We enjoyed a peaceful walk down Michigan Ave., before our breakfast. What a beautiful city!
It was pretty special to sit and chat with Lauren for over an hour. She was such a little grown up. There were questions on the table that we could ask one another as conversation starters. So, my little reader and I took turns asking questions. (I was a little dissapointed that I wasn't the "funniest person she knew"...a young man in her class has that distinction...humfph). One question I asked was "What's the best suprise you've ever had?" (pictured below by Kit). She teared up, smiled and answered simply by pointing at our table. My overpriced pile of eggs, got much tastier after that!
After a memorable meal topped off with a happy birthday candle and singing, we found Jeff and the younger girls, who were hanging out with the locals at a sweet little park right around the corner. Before leaving for Chicago, Sarah said she wanted to "ride a slide" in Chicago. That little park made her wish come true.
We then started our trip towards Shedd Aquarium with a stop at the fountain (the name of which I never paid attention to).
Shedd got off to a rocky start with two disgruntled parents steamed up about paying $19 for parking. We grouched our way through lunch, but then cleaned up our act before heading in to see the fishies.
It was a fun little place, which the kids enjoyed and very much sealed the deal on them being tuckered out.
We headed home after Shedd, but not without promising up down and sideways that we would return to Chicago!
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