My Mom always wanted to take her Mom, Grandma D, on a train ride as part of Granny D's legacy was her time spent in Elgin, IL, working at a watch factory and then Bautcher Crafts also in Elgin...thus, Granny D had taken the train back in the 40's/50's and Mom wanted to experience that with her. While she passed in 2003, I've since wanted my Mom to experience it. So, we purchased the tickets, found out Macy's on State St. had just decorated their store windows that previous weekend & figured a trip to the American Girl Doll store would also be a neat time for Haven. It was fun watching both my Mom & my daughter experience downtown Chicago for the first time...I'm not sure who was more fun! Haven loved the big skyskrapers and also chasing the numerous pigeons on the sidewalk :) Mom was impressed with how much fun shopping was right along Michigan Ave. as she had assumed it would mostly be businesses/corporate. Here's a few pictures from our day...it was fun to have my husband take the day off & spend it with us as well!
waiting for the train in Bloomington/Normal...one would never guess that someone (ehem, I'll not name names :) forgot the train tickets on the kitchen counter & thus we made it to the station with approx. 3.5 minutes to spare...good thing we are only 5 minutes from the station :)
Haven's Bitty Baby Holly, of course, made the trip!
we also brought her new card game Spot It along on the trip
one very happy little girl & her Daddy
we took a taxi (Mom needed to experience everything really!) to Macy's on State to see a few of the store displays...the weather was great! In the 50's, not too much wind & sunny...it can be much, much worse for the Windy City in November!
on our way up to the Walnut Room...
our first glimpse of the large Christmas tree.
Haven got to meet the fairy princess of the Walnut Room, Jada Nicole...she would grant wishes if you closed your eyes and she spinkled sparkles on your head...well, when you are 4, this is about the coolest thing in the world! Arlan thought she was kinda weird :)
Haven wished for her Uganda sister :)
I wished/prayed for timing :)
We arrived early to get a spot seated next to the giant tree.
We visited Santaland at Macy's...it was quite the wonderland...especially since there were NO LINES! :)
hot cocoa in hand, we began touring some sites...
the old Chicago Library, now the Cultural Center...
...the Bean...
...Haven loved going underneath it & jumping up to touch it!
we also wanted to show Grandma Iowa the beautiful, old Great Hall of Union Station
...and by the end of the day (like 4:00ish), we had one tired 4 year old!
