Monday, January 01, 2007

Trip to the American Girl store in Chicago with Ally

We arrived in Chicago, checked in and headed out for dinner. Ally is enjoying a perfect Shirley Temple at the Char House.

We got up the next morning to discover that the American Girl store is directly across the street from the Park Hyatt. Ally just stood in front of the display window and watched the animated dolls "perform". She was so excited to be there, yet she could not rush inside ... she really enjoyed the animated window display. (look, Mom! they're really tap dancing!)
Once inside, Ally selected a doll that looks like herself, and got her a cute outfit (which coincidentally is available in real-girl sizes, too).
We were surprised to learn that, in the store's bathroom, they have doll-holders affixed to the wall so that you can pee without having to put your new doll on the floor. How clever!We went to the Theatre Revue - a live show featuring girls acting out roles and stories from the American Girl books. After that we took a carriage ride that took us over to Lake Michigan and back around downtown.
Ally just looked around, pointed out anything that was particularly cool, and sipped at her vanilla steamer. She kept saying that we should do this again next year.
We shopped some more and then had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe...

...and taxi'ed back to the hotel to get to bed. She and her doll (yeah - those are matching pajamas -- I told you before we even left that I was doomed... it's true!)...

And woke up and had room service... took a bath with candle-light and used up all the sea salts and other spa products that were supplied (!), got dressed (in the same outfit as yesterday! So cute! She loved that outfit, and I was glad she didn't ask for another set of matching outfits for the next day...
We had her doll's hair styled at the doll-salon, got Ally's photo taken with her doll for a magazine cover thing they sell... and shopped some more,

(which resulted in a second AG doll named Elizabeth, and an outfit for her - ouch), and then had lunch before heading back to Minneapolis.


Ally looked so grown up shopping in Chicago...... she's only six, and still so sweet... During the day she passed me a note that said, "I love today". I am SOOOO saving that. I may be "doomed" by the AG girl thing, but like I said before, soon she will be a teenager and will hate me.
This weekend was perfect. I love her so overwhelmingly it makes me want to cry.
Thank you, God.
I love life.
All of it. ;-)

18 comments:

Nancy Toby said...

That is so wonderful that you were able to do that together!! How sweet! And please don't talk to my girls when they're 6, okay? :-)

Bolder said...

oh my.

you are Mom of The Year!

Laurie said...

She looks so much older than 6! I love the matching outfits and the place to put your doll in the bathroom.

brendaj said...

What a perfect girls weekend. Reminds me of the Gilmore Girls...another fave show of mine. My hubby got me the entire series on dvd and we've already seen season 1 over the last week.

RunBubbaRun said...

Glad you had a great time in my neck of the woods. I have a 4yr old, I'm trying to avoid that AG store. (for now anyways).

Julia said...

Actually, she'll only hate you for about two years. There is a beginning and an end to it all.

I took my 13 yr old to London last summer - so much fun to spend time alone with daughters!

crazy tri mama said...

Too cute! What wonderful mom/daughter memories you are creating!

Just keep your Ally away from my Ali when she's a little older....talk about a bank buster!

Worth it all I'm sure!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a lovely weekend. And the note....definately a keeper!!

I bet she'll remember that weekend forever. :)

Anonymous said...

how awesome. you've got a lucky little girl!

jbmmommy said...

Sounds like a great weekend. If our summer arrival is a girl I worry a little about expenses like that, but I can see it was worth it. (We'll spend our $ on ER co-pays with our boys and their clumsy mom- ha,ha.)

Nice Tri to start the year, too. Looks like a lot of recent fun!

i am Susan said...

That is the best...my daughted is five (almost 6) and one day I'd love to do a mother/daughter trip with her to New York. After reading your post I want to go sooner than later. What a memorable mother/daughter memory you have created:)

TriBoomer a.k.a. Brian said...

Jenny,

What a great weekend for the two of you. I know you'll cherish that note.

Stay tuned...

afton said...

Those are the most precious photos ever. What a great experience for you two.

momo said...

jenny - what a great couple of days for the two of you. ally (and you) will remember that day long after she is unable to wear that cute pink outfit and those awesome cowgirl boots anymore! (she's a girl after my own heart...)

hugs and happy new year!

tri-mama said...

How cool for you girls! We have a few AG dolls here, they are great, and something Ally will keep forever. My skin is still a little "stingy" from the jump, but what a riot of a time. Happy New Year

:) said...

No matter what that trip cost, it was worth it. every penny.

She will never forget those days spent with just you. You are the coolest mom ever in her eyes!

Tri-Dummy said...

"We were surprised to learn that, in the store's bathroom, they have doll-holders affixed to the wall so that you can pee without having to put your new doll on the floor. How clever!"

That cracked me up...Happy New Year!!

Carrie said...

Awwww. What a great mom. Frame that note!