I love Chicago

We are really having a great summer. My kids are just loving the sun, swimming and we’ve had some fantastic trips already.

Better late than never, here is a glimpse from our Chicago trip a few weeks ago.

Chicago by train. I highly recommend. The girls and I read a book on my Kindle en route.

What is it about this sculpture called “the bean” that’s so fantastic? The shape or the way your reflection looks different depending on what part you’re looking at? I don’t know, but we loved it.

Hope you are not sick of looking at me already, Steve is the best photographer of the bunch, so it’s kinda his job. Love our little impromptu rest in Millennium Park.

Did Eva have any fun in Chicago you ask? Why yes, I think she did.

You know what’s super awesome on a warm Chicago day when you’ve been walking all over town? A cool and perfectly clean foot stream to soak your tired dogs in. Chicago has all the answers.

Even our way out of the park is fun for a 5-year-old.

Eva soaks in the city view.

This is what Eva picked out from the Shedd Aquarium gift shop. A little frog whose eyes pop out. It was broken before we even got out of the building. But the nice folks at Shedd replaced it.

Mama needed some ice cream and the girls didn’t mind either. We stopped at Pinkberry. Had always heard of it, but never had tried it. The peanut butter was delicious.

I think we could be city girls.

The girls were sad when we came across a fountain and had no bathing suits on us. Luckily daddy had a new souvenir t-shirt he donated to the cause.

Everything really fun is always nerveracking at first. Case in point: Riding a quadcycle bicycle through Chicago intersections. It was worth it though.

Gorgeous girls

We had our annual shopping-for-the-kids day last week and it was a good one. So many good deals and cute things this year. And knowing both girls will be really excited about their new items makes it all the more fun.

I think she feels pretty good in this new dress, don’t you think?

I think every two-year-old should have a chambray romper and some new flip flops. Perhaps we pretend she’s a puppy too much though. She really likes to play fetch.

Anyway, another good and fast week. I think this summer is going to fly by. Ella and I made a list of all the things we could do this summer and we already crossed off several in one day. Like playing with her ponies, playing with play doh, doing the slip n’ slide. She said it was the best day of her life. Yesterday though she told me I was the worst mom in town, so I’m trying not to take her comments too literally.

Party prep

Our annual Memorial Day party is almost here!

Today’s guest count looks like about 29 adults and 25 kids. Wow! This should be a good one.

My first friends will arrive tomorrow night. I’m going to make them Spicy Thai noodles found here. My sister introduced me to this recipe and it is so good. Honestly I’m making it because I want it so bad again. But I think it’s good for guests too because A. it serves a lot and B. it’s meant to be eaten cold and even better the next day.

So, yeah, I’m going to feed them Friday night then put them to work Saturday. They will too. They’re so fun because they just make themselves at home when they come, it’s like we just all live in one communal house. And they really help a ton. I’ve put them in charge of macaroni and cheese and strawberry margaritas … it’s going to be a good weekend.

Dance recital rehearsal

Ella’s been taking dance for nearly a whole school year now.

At times, she’s wanted to quit. It was a long commitment for a 5-year-old. But she has stuck with it and we are nearing the big fancy recital at the end.

She was instructed to wear full makeup for it. She was so “freaked out”! We were too, to tell you the truth. 5-year-olds just don’t look right with makeup on.

I think she felt just fine once she was in class though.

She’s the tallest in her class. How is this possible? She always seems a little older than she is.

And always wanting to be in on the fun … this girl twirled all night in our own tutu.