On Sunday the girls and I woke up and got breakfast at a cute little nearby cafe.
Then we walked past Buckingham Fountain on our way to the Shedd Aquarium.On our walk the girls wanted to touch the lake.Admiring the Amazon River exhibit at the Shedd.Sharks.Our favorite creature there, a kind of alligator snapping turtle. He was hairy, had a piggy nose, and was exceptionally animated.See that nose?Belugas. Swoon!After we watched a 4D show on octopuses, we happened to catch the dolphin show! The dolphins did all sorts of tricks.On the walk back to our hotel.We packed everything from our room and then checked our bags at the luggage storage in the hotel. I wanted a picture of the girls in the hotel lobby.On the way to luggage check.Then we took a taxi over to Water Tower Place so we wouldn’t miss Lydia’s appointment to get her ears pierced!She was so brave.
And she looks so beautiful with her sparkly earrings!With Ms. Skyler, who pierced both Lydia and Lydia Jr.’s ears.Then Swathi, the girls and I headed to the Drake for high tea.After tea we walked back to the American Girl store so the girls could look more at the doll displays and I could ship everything to Utah so I didn’t have to lug it all around. Then we taxied over to Lincoln Park Zoo. It was near closing time but we still saw some interesting things.Meanwhile Abe and the kids were celebrating Olivia’s birthday with David, Olivia, Baps and Bapa!In a termite house.Our favorite animal at the zoo was the pygmie hippo. He kept floating up even though he appeared to want to stay grounded underwater.After the zoo we wandered over the bridge to Clark Street beach. The girls played in the lake and sand for 45 glorious minutes. We walked 9 and a half miles this day, so my ankle and feet loved the break in the sand. I loved watching my daughters love the lake.Candidly caught.
They got soaked, but changed after our walk back to the Drake (via the Gold Coast) and then a taxi to our hotel.Mary, Lydia, and Lydia Jr. before takeoff. The girls slept the whole way home, which was great because there was turbulence that they would not have enjoyed if they had been awake. I spent the time reading a phenomenal issue of the Economist on the illiberal left.
This was the best trip I have taken in my life. I adored every minute of my time in Chicago with my beautiful daughters. I kept pinching myself that this was our life. I loved watching them fall in love with the city, and I loved enjoying it alongside them. The weather was perfection, the city was gorgeous, the pizza was yummy, the walks by the lake and along the Gold Coast were so fun, the Shedd was marvelous, and the pygmie hippo made us all laugh. We had the best weekend. Thank you, Mary and Lydia, for being such fun travel buddies. You both are the very best. I love you!
This is now Abe briefly reporting on what I did with Ammon and Clarissa today.
We woke up at my mom’s and she fed us breakfast. Then we went to church. Then I tried to connect with my cousin Alex, but I wasn’t successful so I spent time with my dad and Suzanne and saw their new shed and some of the updates they are working on at their house.
Then we visited David and Olivia with my dad and Suzanne for Olivia’s birthday. It was so fun watching Basil and Willow play together!
Then we went to my aunt Andrea’s house for a delicious peaches and ice-cream desert. I have a soul-connect with Andrea, and always love talking to her. I also learned about my Greek lineage in preparation for our upcoming trip to Greece!
