Chicago Weekend

After celebrating Ellie's 7th birthday at home on Friday night with pizza and ice cream cake, phone calls from family and lots of presents ... we headed to Chicago early Sunday morning.  First stop was the Museum of Science and Industry.  We loved so many of the exhibits including the Weather experiments and the major Ball Bounce!

From the museum we were off to check into our hotel and find a good place for lunch.  Our room was actually a suite on the 44th floor of the Marriott on N Michigan Ave.  Corner room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Lake Michigan!  Ellie thought it was the coolest place ever!

We lunched at Giordano's for Chicago-style pizza!  It was a wonderful 3 block walk to get there.  An hour wait for a table, but you put  your order in when you put your name in so when you're seated your pizza is just moments away!  Ellie entertained herself at the bar with her iPad watching a movie while Bill and I watched the VCU v. Michigan with a couple from Richmond, VA!

After a wonderful lunch with plenty of leftovers we made our way back to the hotel for some pool time!  Ellie's favorite part ... but I think I've said that before.  Get dressed again and head to American Girl Place!  Two stories of dolls, clothes, accessories and lots of girls!!!  What an experience.  She had decided this is where she would spend her birthday money from Papa, Grammy and Uncle Pat.  Such a good decision .. and so much to choose from!

After another walk back to the hotel and it was time for a 30 minute nap before dinner.  And then the fun starts.  We put our name in for a table and Grand Lux Cafe, which was another hour wait and found a high-top table in the bar area.  The postings on Facebook from friends in Bloomington were warning of the 10 inches of snow we were to get overnight ... so Bill and I made an Executive Decision ... pack it in.  Skip dinner, check out of the hotel and head home by 8pm on Saturday night.

Although Ellie was disappointed at first, once we were packed and she was in the car already in her pj's with her movie and cold pizza leftovers and root beer for the ride home - she was just fine.  She slept like a log the last hour in the car and then quickly again once in her bed.

What a terrific day in Chicago we had!  We made a promise on the way  home we'd do it again really soon!

John Deere tire!  On the Farm exhibit.

Say Cheese!  Dairy section of On the Farm.

Who's really the American Girl here?  Ellie or Saige!

Escalator to American Girl heaven!  Such excitement!

Science and Industry Museum

Daddy and Ellie in the Tractor

Shirley Temple for the guest of honor waiting for a table at lunch!

Clean plate and the cherry from her drink!

Full-size LEGO Friends in the LEGO store

Enjoying the sunshine walking on Michigan Avenue

Such a big bed for a little girl!

Size of the room!  Talk about Magnificent ....

View from the room on the 44th floor.