Shatto Family: Chicago fun...

My mom and I took Shaelyn and Monreau to Chicago for two fun filled days! It was my mom's gift to the girls for their birthdays. A little late for Shaelyn and a little early for Monreau and it was one of my favorite experiences I've had with the two of them!

We drove down on Thursday and went right to the Shedd Aquarium. In Monreau's words "it was amazing!" The girls LOVED it and the aquarium itself is really pretty awesome! They have a dolphin show, which includes dolphins, beluga whales, sea lions and penguins. It's very well done and the girls are still talking about it! It was fun to watch the girls learn new things in a very hands on way! It's amazing how close you are to all these beautiful creatures and to see God's creativity and in Shaelyn's words "imagination," it is pretty incredible! We spent over four hours walking, learning and watching! It's fun that Monreau can now go without a nap and do great! It makes the gap in age between the girls seem a lot smaller and they had so much fun together!

After the aquarium we headed to our hotel. We were SO spoiled and spent the night at the Drake Hotel. It was beautiful! My mom treated us to an amazing dinner at a fancy sea food restaurant. It was by far the nicest restaurant the girls have ever been to. The hostess was kind enough to put us back in a corner and it was fun to teach the girls about edict and watch them experience a new setting. They were great! When we went back up to our room and milk and cookies arrived for the girls. A perfect ending to a awesome day! We tucked the girls in bed about 8:30 and they collapse, right to sleep!

Friday held more fun! We started off with an amazing breakfast buffet at the hotel. Then we packed up and headed to the American Girl Store!!! :) Every little girls (and maybe mommy's) dream come true! We walked through Chicago and the smiles on their faces when they spotted the store were priceless! For their birthday they were allowed to each pick out a doll and one outfit. They had an idea of who they wanted before we arrived, but after walking all the way through the store and looking at each doll, Shaelyn chose Kit and Monreau chose Emily. To go with them Shaelyn wanted the tennis/golf outfit and Monreau picked pajamas. They truly LOVED just walking around and looking at each display, but when it came time to choose they were both very decisive :). Shaelyn had brought along her other American girl doll, so she had her hair done and much to Shae's delight her doll got her ears pierced to match Shaelyn's! :) We then had lunch in the American girl doll Cafe. They have special seats for their dolls and the decor is so cute! Another amazing experience for the girls! After lunch we took one more walk through the store and then headed back to the hotel and took off to drive home.

This morning when the girls woke up at home, their energy and excitement to get their dolls ready for the day made me think of Christmas morning. They were SO excited!

My favorite things about these two days was the chance to have interrupted time with the girls, watching them "be sisters" and for the chance for them to be with my mom! They are so blessed to have a "nannie" who loves them so much and is such an amazing woman! It is my prayer that they will have many, many years to be with and get to know her. For if they do, they will be blessed by her heart for Jesus and her love for her children and grandchildren.

I had a lot of pictures and it was hard to choose! But, here's my favorite ones...