Girls and Dolls

On Claire's birthday, August 10th, she awoke ready to go.  Dolls and clothes packed. Check.  What else would we need we would be gone less than 48 hours?!  She knew that we were going with Olivia and Lucy, but they did not know that she was going with them.  Anyway, we dropped off brother with the Beachy's for a fun day and we drove to Olivia's house to pick them up for the big Chicago trip.  Audra videoed when we pulled up in the driveway.  Olivia was really surprised.  Her birthday was on the 4th so this was a special treat for both of them.  Audra and I wanted to take the little ones too.  We figured we got more bang for our buck this way.  Lucy's birthday is in August too and well, Emma's is in October, but early presents are good!

We started the 4.5 hour trip.  We hit lots of construction. We did not get into Chicago until 3:30 pm but the drive went well.  I love my navigation system.  It gives me lots of confidence when I need it.  Overall, I am not afraid of big cities as long as I know where I am going.  Once I parked at the hotel we never drove again until it was time to go home.  I did sort of fall in love with Chicago.  I love that you can walk everywhere.  It is buzzing with young and old and has something for everyone.

After we checked in the girls suited up for the pool.  They needed to burn off their hyper energy.  An hour in this pool was plenty because it was very small, but good enough for what we needed.

Lucy, Olivia and Emma on the pool deck.

In addition to arguing every time we were in the elevator about who would push the button, they also got to argue about who would pair off with each other in the revolving door.  As you can see all 4 of them can manage to get themselves in together.  Even the Walgreen's there had a revolving door! Very big city!

We walked to dinner at Ed Debevic's diner.  This is a really fun place.  They are known for insulting you and being down right rude, yet they are so funny people just keep coming back.  This was  my 3rd time eating there.  The burgers aren't good, but the atmosphere and malts are the best!  Above picture is of Claire and Olivia just after we walked in when they saw this:
The waiters and waitresses dancing on the counter!  They knew mom was really cool just about then!  We got seated and had a very fun time with our waiter calling us "affluent girls with creepy dolls!"  He even sang us a song in the front of the restaurant called "St. Louis Girls" of course to the tune of California girls.  The waiter knew all sorts of fact about AG dolls stating his sister used to be in to them.  We did get one insult back without really meaning to.  He told us he had a theatre degree and Audra asked him what his day job is?  He promptly answered, "This is my day job!"  He brought them all little ice cream sundaes for dessert with candles and sang Happy Birthday to them.  They got to bring home the little AG sized glasses as souvenirs.
Along with the AG package at the hotel your doll got her very own bed as a keepsake.  Very, very cute.  Emma did not get one since it was not her real birthday, but she has been promised a bed from Target.

Ready to go in.  Tuesday morning 9:30 am!

After having to make lots of decisions.  Emma decided to spend her money on a new Chrissa doll, earrings, the get better set with "crunches" as she likes to say and a new hair style for Elizabeth.  Elizabeth's appt. was at 11:15 and Emma chose 2 half ponytails with ribbons for her hair.  It was well worth it for the hair education.  Behind Emma is Elizabeth at the style station!
Emma was quick in making her decisions, but Claire took longer.  She wanted to see everything before deciding.  I like this about her, but I was getting more and more overwhelmed the longer we stayed in the store and the more times we went up and down the escalator.  The marketing is genius.  You have to go up the escalator and to the very back to even use the potty in this store.  Everyone will leave with something!
And leave with something, we did!  By 11:30 ish all of our decisions were made and purchases done.  Claire decided on a Felicity doll, girl and doll matching PJ's and the Chrissa movie.  We headed back to our hotel to check out.  Everyone was very happy and lots of "thank yous" were being thrown around.  Every mom's dream!  We could not forget the little guy though.  Chicago also has a Lego store! After check out, we walked the opposite direction to the Lego store.  
Darth bought Sam a really awesome Lego organizer, R2-D2 key chain, big new building mat and a little something for Christmas.  After the Lego store we walked back to AG place for our 2:30 lunch reservation.  What a lunch.  We did not have to stop for dinner.  It was cute.  Each of the girl's brought their doll and they have chairs for the dolls that hook to the tables.
Here is Emma giving her thirsty Chrissa a drink.
Roxy(not pictured), Lucy, Audra, Felicity, Olivia, Me, Felicity, Claire, Emma and Chrissa.  The lunch was a great ending to our trip.  Then we had to head home.  We had fun in Chicago!