Ella turned 3 on May 19th. I was pretty nervous for the party because Ella kept mentioning how she was excited for her party and her red birthday cake (which I'm happy to say was a success- not that I made it- I bought it, but still). A lot of pressure to live up to! Which is dumb, because she's 3, so it doesn't really matter. Anyhow, It was really sweet to have our family come down that evening for cake cutting. In the morning, I invited Ella's friends (mostly from her nursery at church) to
The Bounce House- a kids heaven with blow up slides and foam pits and a balloon cage where a few high powered fans blow balloons every which way and you can dance around in them. Even I like it.
It was quite fun. I didn't have to worry too much about being a host or entertaining anyone- the Bounce House did that beautifully. I was on the fence about paying for the guests... but it got a little complicated when everyone arrived, so I didn't. (faux pas?) But I
did give all the kids a Trolls Pez dispenser, which seemed like a hit. We had just got Phoebe's birthday card and gift the day before in the mail, perfect timing! so Ella opened that on her birthday. She was quite pleased at the family picture inside. We hung that on the wall at her eye level and she would point out the people in it for the next few days. Thank you Granny and Thellie.
Eleanor seemed to have a great day- so success! Though she keeps saying she wants to be 2. Ah well. Don't we all.
Sweet Brent planned a girls weekend for me in Chicago, with my best friend, Kelly! We roomed together for a few years in college. It was so nice. To walk around late at night, sans babies. To eat wherever and whenever we pleased, and to navigate ourselves around the city without our husbands getting bothered and taking over when we accidentally take a wrong turn.
We waited an hour to have deep dish pizza at
Giordano's. Which was quite good- though we took a lot of leftovers home and the leftover pizza was better! The cheese had, like, time to set, or something. The restaurant was super touristy. didn't love that.
I really loved the architecture boat tour on
First Lady Cruises. It was about an hour and half, the boat going up and down the 'Y' shape river and the tour guide giving us all the details. The tall buildings were beautiful and it was nice with the wind in our hair! Chicago really lived up to its name as the windy city. It's nice to have a river in a city. I liked it a lot in San Antonio too (when we went there for my brother John's wedding). Like a bit of nature to soften up all the concrete.
These are just apartment buildings, I was surprised to find out. I thought they would be some important offices. Something real design-y and pretty to have 2 copy cat buildings right by each other. I remember getting a brochure in high school for the University of Chicago, and it having a picture of the skyline with these beauties on it. I wasn't at all interested in the school, but the picture hung up in my room for a long time. It was fun to see them in person.
Also, I got my hair cut around shoulder length in Chicago. I regret it. :( I remind myself of this 90's boy band, all the rage when I was in 5th grade, the Hanson Brothers. Bummer.
But still, I had such a lovely time.
