We're back!  We had a great trip to Chicago this weekend.  I can never manage to do everything that I would like to when I am there and this trip was no exception.  Friday we went to American Girl and then spent some time with my sister-in-law Georgia and my nephew Ian.  Saturday, we took the girls to the Shedd Aquarium.  I hadn't been there since high school and it has changed a lot.  There is a great oceanarium with dolphins, beluga whales and penguins in addition to the wonderful assortment of fresh and salt water fish that I remember.  The Wild Reef exhibit is very cool, too.  Here we saw sharks and sting rays and many different types of coral.

The trip was really all about the dolls, though.  They went everywhere with us.  American Girl Place is quite amazing - lots of age appropriate fun!  I took plenty of photos - here are a few...

Jane's Elizabeth and Kate's Bitty Twin "Lucy" had their hair styled in the salon.  There were multiple styles to choose from and both dolls left with matching ribbons tied in their hair.  The mini salon chairs and purple capes were cute - the attention to detail is just amazing.

After choosing a new outfit for the dolls, we lunched at the cafe.  It is really cute - wide black and white horizontal stripes line the room with lots of hot pink daisy and button accents.  Very Dorothy Draper, I'd say.  The dolls each had their own little chair and miniature tea cup.  The food was good, but the dessert was great.  Look at how cute it is!  Chocolate mousse with cookie crumbs in a small green flower pot with a sugar cookie and petit four on the side.  Yummy!

Here is my favorite picture....the four little ladies toting their purchases on the way back to the car.  They had a lot of fun, but, man oh man, they were exhausted!

I am wiped out, too.  I have a lot to do before I turn around and leave town again on Friday and I am trying to figure out how I will squeeze it all in.  Laundry, groceries, Halloween decorations, costumes and more painting.  And sleep.  Definitely sleep.

The girls and I are leaving today for Chicago (my home town!) with my friend Lynette and her two daughters.  We'll be seeing my brother, sister-in-law and nephew and doing the aquarium, etc. with the girls.  I can't wait!  I am especially anxious to see little Ian - he's turning one next week and I have a car full of goodies.

While packing, I found the old ski hat I knit for Fatty.

Yep, black with blue and purple!  And look at what I knitted into the facing...

That's young love for you!

I'm bringing along some more knitting - this time for a Christmas present.  And because I cannot sit still, I have packed up my embroidery supplies, hoping to organize them while Lynette drives.

The anticipation of this trip has been unparalleled.  Can you guess our destination?

That's right: American Girl Place.  I have told the girls that they can each buy one outfit for their doll.  But I am likely to cave - I almost always do.  I am hoping I don't - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Have a great weekend - I will be back on Sunday or Monday!

It's finished - the little project I started awhile ago.

I was inspired to start this project when I read this post of Amanda's.  When I met Fatty (13 years ago!) I knit him a ski hat.  It was black with a green and red blue and purple fair isle pattern, knit in the round (it was so long ago, I can barely remember!).  We were living in Telluride.  Fatty had a real job as general contractor and I was a ski bum who waited tables and worked in the sports store.  Oh, I had just graduated from college and I was poor - so poor that I think he probably even bought the yarn for me!  He's that kind of guy.  When I read about Amanda knitter her hubby a hat every year, I thought that it was about time for a new hand knit for my man.  I referred to the Knitty pattern that Amanda used for the raglan decreases and I used the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran that it called for - it is so soft! And it was easy - done on straight needles and sewn up with a mattress stitch.

As I was nearing the end of my decreases, I started laughing out loud.  Fatty asked what was so funny.  I said, "I don't know why I am knitting you a ski hat - you wear a helmet!"  So now I guess it's an après ski hat.  Either way, he'll be looking good!

She's finally here - Jane's Olive!

These dolls are well loved!  They are being dragged all around the house, participating in all kinds of play and Kate has been sleeping with her Olive.  True signs of a great toy!!  Archie is coming soon...

I made this pinafore for the August and September Tie One On.  My goal was to do it in under two hours and to use what I had.  I had never made a pinafore or my own pattern before.  I took some quick measurements using Jane's school uniform and started drawing.  And phew - it worked!

I am very happy that it all came together so well.  It was a huge accomplishment for me to make my own pattern and get it done in a little over the two hours.  It makes me smile when I see it because it has a lot of sentimental value, too.  When Jane was smaller and we would be fabric shopping, I would point to different fabrics and ask her, "Do you recognize this?"  It always kept her busy in the shop while I made my purchases.  Sometimes we still do this, but more often it is Jane asking Kate and me instead.  When I gave the apron to her, I asked Jane if she recognized the fabric.  She didn't (I didn't think she would).  Then I told her, "This is the fabric you had in your room when you were a baby.  It was the bumpers and the bed skirt on your crib."  She looked at me wide-eyed and then smiled.  She said, "I remember now."  Although I know better, part of me thinks she just might.

Back view - sorry for the fuzzy photo!