chicago {venture 1}

so began, chicago. venture 1.

first lincoln park zoo,
beside the breezy lake michigan.
75 degree's, folks- in early march!- we are blessed.

{my dear sweet children, must you make faces in my most favorite pictures?{silly, adorable, preschoolers.}



oh my- polar bear was performing that day!



"look, mommy! polar bear wants to cuddle me."- ggirl
"um. yes, darling- i am sure he does." -mama

thank goodness for that thick glass! {insert mama shudder here}



the bear was amazing.
but, i'll admit the mama in me thought quickly about my emergency plan, should bear miraculously escape his pen.

it's a good one.
but i cannot share- just in case we're both at the zoo at the same time.
survival of the fittest, right?

but, i did tell mr. m.- since he's the decoy part of the plan.
{**love you, mr.m.- and i know you run like lightening.**}

and, mr.m. gives me that look {which makes me feel a little ridiculous},
"the things mothers think about- no wonder you don't sleep at night."



but, really.
what mother out there has never considered her plan- if there's a zoo coup?



"look daddy. i am not tall enough to swim with the bear, but you are."
{big sigh}
"maybe next year, i will grow enough to swim with him!"- ggirl




then we were off for deep dish chicago pizza.
and a tradition of writing your name on the wall.




the next morning- after we played how many strollers can you fit in an elevator?-



the big girls were off to spend our day at american girl.





ggirl's birthday is coming up,
and i thought it would be really, really, fun to pick out her doll at the chicago store.

"just like buying your ipad in the apple store," agreed mr.m.




of course, i included brown haired, toddler girl, rbaby-
and, she inherited my own special childhood doll.



we lingered throughout the store, {and, growing up as a doll lover- i loved it as much as my ggirl.}




and as the perfect cherry on top- to an already special day-
nana d. treated us to the black & white & hot pink tea party,





where little girl & doll baby- felt celebrated.
{and the big girls, too!}




and therefore, after returning back & falling into bed- in happy, exhausted, slumber...
so began, chicago venture 2.