Third Girls’ Weekend: Chicago

Posted by kara

Back to where it all began: Chicago!

History: We first went to Chicago back in 2006, during the first year I was in Seattle. Avery was the only baby of the family. Then we had some babies, and met up in 2009 in Columbus. Then we had some more babies, and that brings us to 2012 in Chicago! Now that we think we are done with the babies, we are hoping we can do it more frequently than every three years.

Chicago! This was the first plane ride I did by myself since last girls’ weekend in 2009. It Was Liberating! I found myself amazed at the freedom of walking at my own pace (not having to encourage Marf every three steps), ordering whatever I wanted (not having to make sure there were no nuts, no eggs), and having time to shop around and read! If you can’t tell, I was pretty excited. I waltzed through security with a small tote and a roll-on luggage bag. I read a lot on the plane and rested. The flight did seem to drag on, but I was grateful that the screaming kid was not my problem.

In Chicago I got to see Gus and Penelope. They were pretty awesome– such good kids!

Friday my mom and I met up with the rest of the girls: Amy, Jean, Molly, and Aunt Janet. We shopped a little, but not too much before it was dinner time. I had a foggy head, runny nose, and a stomachache. I barely ate any of the delicious tapas we had in Millennium Park, which for me, is saying a lot.

Saturday was much better. I was ready to go. We powered through many stores on Michigan Ave. Jean found me my new purse that I love. (I had that shopping high when we saw it.) Then we lunched in Lincoln Park and walked around there. Molly found me a pretty white skirt that we both bought. We had an amazing french dinner at Kiki’s and everyone loved our waiter Raoul. We then rushed out the door to do some last minute shopping.

It was so much fun. I love being with the girls of my family. Grandma Toshi treated us to the trip, so at every meal, we always thought of her and thanked her. It was bittersweet but good to have her close the whole weekend.

Of course there was the occasional mishap… Jean almost rummaging through a stranger’s purse, a taxi door left open, and maybe my overzealous power walk was unnecessary. And we took four street pics from installations. I think we were fridgepic.net groupies. It was all good.

And then I got to come home to a clean house and happy girls.