We began the day with a hike/stroller ride to a neighboring nail salon. The girls picked out their colors and stepped up for their first ever professional manicures...
Annika getting her nails painted "OPI INK" purple...
Lena getting her nails painted "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot" pink. Each thumb also had white flowers. They were so patient and so proud...
We then took the train home because it was a little chilly for the walk back. The train is very loud when it approaches the station. The girls did a preemptive ear covering for the 5 minutes leading up to the arrival. Though this safety measure worked, it was kind of annoying trying to communicate with them.After hair and wardrobe it was time for a little eye shadow and lipstick. The girls got to choose their color from Mara's selection. They were the proverbial kids in a candy store.
Expertly applying the liner...
Pucker up, baby...
Lena and Annika picked out their own outfits for both them and their dolls. I am always amazed by how at this young age their clothing choices so perfectly reflect their personalities. Annika and Julie ready to roll...
Lena and Mia striking a pose...
Five lovely ladies all dressed up with somewhere to go...
Momma and her four favorite girls...
One final picture of the whole crew before we ventured out into the city. As we were walking down the street to the bus stop a car went by and we actually got a "shout out" for how pretty we looked. I looked up at Mara and she just rolled her eyes and said, "Welcome to Chicago". Little did she know I was kind of excited about it...the girls and I don't get a lot of wolf whistles while walking to school in our sweat pants and bed head...
Waitin' on the bus...
The bus dropped us off about a block from the store. As we walked along the Magnificent Mile I think it was a bit overwhelming for the girls, what with all the cars and people and high buildings. But as the American Girl Doll store came into sight Mara pronounced, "Look what I see!" and I heard a very excited squeal of "I see it! I see it!" Annika was literally jumping with joy and Lena couldn't take her eyes off the front window display. As we entered the store we were assaulted with pink, little girls and their mothers, and lots and lots of dolls (and everything that you could imagine would go along with these dolls). It was two floors of girly glitz and we were loving every minute of it.
Lena finally found Mia amongst the Girl of the Year display...
Ahead of time I told the girls that they could pick out one, 1, uno, one single thing as a souvenir. Annika found her one thing (a little pet dog named Coconut) and Lena found a snowboarding outfit for Mia. However, this snowboarding outfit did not come with the ever essential snowboard. If she were to get the snowboard in addition to the outfit that would mean she was getting two things and two things is not what we agreed on. As I ever so patiently explained this to her I could see the tears starting to well in her eyes and I could hear her voice getting getting louder and more panicked. Now if this were happening in a more remote corner of the store I might have been able to stick to my guns, but nooooo, it was happening right in front of the check out line that was filled with other moms and daughters. So, to make a long story short, we left with a snowboard outfit and a snowboard (with the promise that she will "pay me back" with her birthday money...of which won't come for another 4 months). Of course then Annika needed another item and we left with a bigger bill than planned, but two very happy campers.
Lena and Mia bellied up to the "bar"...
The tea (hot chocolate) has arrived...
Even the dolls get a tiny cup...
Annika looking so refined with the one pinkie up method...
Julie's chair kept falling off the table and she would go tumbling to the ground. I suspect her tea might have been spiked...
Speaking of spiked...Mara and I enjoying our cocktails...
Annika's refinement went right out the window when the orange slices showed up...
Our bellies were full and we were ready to go home with our complimentary fake daisies in place...
One last shot for prosperity...
As we headed home on the bus we got to experience what it would be like to travel at rush hour. The bus was packed to the gills which meant standing, squishing, and poking commuters with our big old shopping bag. People were very kind, though, and gave up their seats so Lena and Annika didn't have to stumble about like little drunk women every time the bus came to a stop.
Lena and Mia striking a pose...
Five lovely ladies all dressed up with somewhere to go...
Momma and her four favorite girls...
One final picture of the whole crew before we ventured out into the city. As we were walking down the street to the bus stop a car went by and we actually got a "shout out" for how pretty we looked. I looked up at Mara and she just rolled her eyes and said, "Welcome to Chicago". Little did she know I was kind of excited about it...the girls and I don't get a lot of wolf whistles while walking to school in our sweat pants and bed head...
Waitin' on the bus...
The bus dropped us off about a block from the store. As we walked along the Magnificent Mile I think it was a bit overwhelming for the girls, what with all the cars and people and high buildings. But as the American Girl Doll store came into sight Mara pronounced, "Look what I see!" and I heard a very excited squeal of "I see it! I see it!" Annika was literally jumping with joy and Lena couldn't take her eyes off the front window display. As we entered the store we were assaulted with pink, little girls and their mothers, and lots and lots of dolls (and everything that you could imagine would go along with these dolls). It was two floors of girly glitz and we were loving every minute of it.Annika and Julie in Julie's "bedroom"...
Lena finally found Mia amongst the Girl of the Year display...
Ahead of time I told the girls that they could pick out one, 1, uno, one single thing as a souvenir. Annika found her one thing (a little pet dog named Coconut) and Lena found a snowboarding outfit for Mia. However, this snowboarding outfit did not come with the ever essential snowboard. If she were to get the snowboard in addition to the outfit that would mean she was getting two things and two things is not what we agreed on. As I ever so patiently explained this to her I could see the tears starting to well in her eyes and I could hear her voice getting getting louder and more panicked. Now if this were happening in a more remote corner of the store I might have been able to stick to my guns, but nooooo, it was happening right in front of the check out line that was filled with other moms and daughters. So, to make a long story short, we left with a snowboard outfit and a snowboard (with the promise that she will "pay me back" with her birthday money...of which won't come for another 4 months). Of course then Annika needed another item and we left with a bigger bill than planned, but two very happy campers.Now onto the tea. This ain't your momma's tea party. We are talking cloth linens, real tea cups, more pink, and three courses of teeny sweets, sandwiches, and treats. The dining room was filled with girls and their dolls and lots of moms (and a few dads and brothers sprinkled in for good measure). Most of the waitstaff were very cheery women, but American Girl Doll is not stupid. They had one waiter who was pretty smokin' hot and I am sure he gets a little bit bigger tip from the oodles of soccer moms. Unfortunately, he wasn't assigned to our table, so we were forced to steal glances at him as he walked by. Good thing my stiff neck healed up so I would ever so slyly whip my head around every time we saw him approach:)!
Annika, Julie (and Coconut too) waiting for their tea...
Lena and Mia bellied up to the "bar"...
The tea (hot chocolate) has arrived...
Even the dolls get a tiny cup...
Annika looking so refined with the one pinkie up method...
Julie's chair kept falling off the table and she would go tumbling to the ground. I suspect her tea might have been spiked...
Speaking of spiked...Mara and I enjoying our cocktails...
Annika's refinement went right out the window when the orange slices showed up...
Our bellies were full and we were ready to go home with our complimentary fake daisies in place...
One last shot for prosperity...
As we headed home on the bus we got to experience what it would be like to travel at rush hour. The bus was packed to the gills which meant standing, squishing, and poking commuters with our big old shopping bag. People were very kind, though, and gave up their seats so Lena and Annika didn't have to stumble about like little drunk women every time the bus came to a stop. The day ended with a beautiful sunset over the city...
Aunt Mary's apartment had two cool things about it. The first was that it was originally decorated in the 80's and there were mirrors everywhere. In both the bedroom and the living room the entire wall was adorned with mirrors. Annika especially loved this and she could be heard in the bedroom singing and dancing in front of the mirrors. When she would talk to us in the living room we often caught her not looking at us, but gazing at her own reflection. She even threw a mini tantrum and the whole time she was watching herself making sure she got just the right amount of sass and vigor.
Aunt Mary's apartment had two cool things about it. The first was that it was originally decorated in the 80's and there were mirrors everywhere. In both the bedroom and the living room the entire wall was adorned with mirrors. Annika especially loved this and she could be heard in the bedroom singing and dancing in front of the mirrors. When she would talk to us in the living room we often caught her not looking at us, but gazing at her own reflection. She even threw a mini tantrum and the whole time she was watching herself making sure she got just the right amount of sass and vigor. The other cool thing about Aunt Mary's is that she owns a snuggly. Each night I would zip myself into this fabulous little contraption, grab a glass of wine, and Mara and I would settle down for some cable television viewing. Neither of us have cable at home so the upper channel experience was quite a treat. We now know all there is to know about Hugh Heffner's Playboy bunnies, remodling a kitchen on a $30,000 budget, how to make a wedding cake ala Martha Stewart, and who to call if we need to "Clean Sweep" our house...
And that is a wrap on our wonderfully, fabulous American Girl Doll Day. On the next episode of "Windy City Wonders", Stacey experiences nirvana at the Oprah Store. Oops..I forgot I was told by a certain little person to "Stop talking about Oprah! I'm tired of you talking about her!". Stay tuned...
And that is a wrap on our wonderfully, fabulous American Girl Doll Day. On the next episode of "Windy City Wonders", Stacey experiences nirvana at the Oprah Store. Oops..I forgot I was told by a certain little person to "Stop talking about Oprah! I'm tired of you talking about her!". Stay tuned...
1 comment:
Ok. I have to admit I didn't read all of this...YET. But I will. I have to get to a nap, while MIles is down. But I have to say...I am loving the new do. Very cute! Looks like fun times had by all. (ash)
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