First, because we had frequented previous "Broadway in Chicago" shows before, Evan had received some emails during the fall about upcoming shows, and noticed that "Cinderella" was playing during the first of December. We thought it would be a perfect way to celebrate Jane's 3rd birthday, and BOY were we right!
We kept it a secret from her until the Friday we left - we picked her up from Mimi's house and she was donning a lovely pink princess (dress-up) dress that she insisted she wear to the fun trip. Our plans were to get to Chicago by dinner time, hang out that evening and then go see the show at 11am the next morning. We were slightly delayed in leaving Rochester, and didn't get to the hotel until about 7pm. Jane sauntered around the hotel in her get-up (see below) and we immediately got to our room and told her about the indoor swimming pool and she just couldn't believe it!
There was a knock at the door and the roll-away bed we requested was wheeled into the room to the sound of the squeals from the 3-year old. "My very own bed...aaaahhhh" she screamed as she literally ran up and gave it a hug! We quickly put on our bathing suits and headed down to the pool.
Despite the frigid temperature, we all had a great time swimming around in the pool. There was another young girl swimming with her father, and the dad looked at Jane and said, "Are you having a good time?" (because it was that obvious that she was) and Jane replied, out of nowhere, "Yes! This is my family. This is Evan (gesturing towards Evan) and this is Emma-wee (gesturing towards me) and I'm Dane." All participants were stunned speechless as a.) we'd never heard her formally introduce herself or us and b) she called us by our first name, as she's never done that before. In true Jane spirit, she completely took over the conversation.
After our evening swim, we hurried upstairs and ordered some special room service of ice cream and other snacks, which prompted more squeals as she "couldn't believe we are eating ice cream in bed!" I suggested she not get used to it. We turned on a movie and all slept soundly in preparation for the big show!
We arrived at the theater the next morning in plenty of time to check it out. Jane was very excited and definitely enjoying the 1:1 attention from Mom & Dad. As we sat in our seats, I asked Jane, who was waving her magic wand incessantly, to look at the camera and smile. She replies, "Hang on, Mommy" and proceeds to remove her lip gloss from her purse (a special birthday-girl present), apply aggressively, and then put back in her purse and then says, "Okay, mommy, I'm ready now". Uh....did I mention she's 3?!
The show was absolutely adorable and a perfect hour-long program for tiny, impatient people. As we walked out of the theater and climbed into a taxi to head back to the hotel, we instructed the taxi driver where we were going. There was slight confusion as to where exactly our hotel was, then he stated, "I think that's on Rush" to which I confirmed, "Yes, it's the one on Rush". Not to be outdone, out of nowhere, Mini-Me chimes in with "Yes, go to Rush". Is anyone else slightly concerned that at a barely-three age she is dominating conversations and dictating directions?!
We arrived back at the hotel and waited for our car and bags to be brought to us. As we headed out of the city and back to Rochester, Jane shouted from the back seat, "I LOVE Shih-Tago! Can we come here again?" I'm very confident this will not be our only trip to the Windy City!
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| The travel-to-Chicago outfit; backpack, dress, boots, and lifevest and all! |
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| Is a caption really even necessary?! |
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| Checking out the bustling street below. "A taxi! A bus! People walking, Mommy!" |
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| Her VERY OWN BED! |
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| All dolled up for the show. She insisted on carrying her purse in clutch-fashion vs over the shoulder. |
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| One very happy birthday girl. |
I'm sure you're thinking that after such a jam-packed overnight in Chicago, that there would be no more partying for this 3-year old. Well, think again. We actually did celebrate in cake-and-ice-cream fashion on her actual birthday, Saturday December 8th with wonderful guests of Nana & GrandPaul and Mimi & Papa. We kept it fairly low-key with an easy lunch and cupcakes, Jane's favorite, especially when she gets to decorate them herself with an entire jar of sprinkles...
Because Jane is blessed with many wonderful and generous granparents and aunts and uncles, we enjoyed watching her open many gifts and celebrate her true birthday with some of her favorite people!
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| This is the outfit she picked out for the day. As you may imagine, there is very little reasoning that goes on with her, given her very strong will. I have mastered the art of picking your battles. She is wearing black tights, a skirt, 2 shirts, her purple tutu and a polka dot vest that she had just removed. And her Birthday Ribbon, of course. |
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| Here she is showing the camera her new Disney bracelet from Aunt Lana and Uncle Kyle, complete with a Cinderella Glass Slipper! (She also proceeded to keep her arm in this fashion for a good portion of the day. She thinks that a bracelet acts somewhat like a cast, rendering her arm immobile) |
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| Very excited about the red shoes from Nana & GrandPaul |
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| Our 3-year old |
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| Blowing out the birthday candle. Numerous attempts required. And please notice enough sprinkles to feed the Red Army. I tried to brush off as many as I could, but hey, you only turn 3 once... |
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| We love Grandparents and no party is complete without them! |
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| An interesting family shot |
As if 2 parties just weren't quite enough, Nana had planned a special "girls day out" over the Christmas holiday in celebration of Jane's birthday. There is a special beadery shop that Nana visits often and had asked the owner about hosting a party there for Jane - we had Aunt Tatie, Aunt Sarah, Aunt Meagan, Grandma Scheper, Nana, and Mommy in attendance and it was a great time, and not just because of the mini-cherry cheesecakes Aunt Sarah brought! :) We all got to make our very own necklaces and bracelets, then enjoyed a special lunch afterward. The biggest shock of all was that Jane needed ZERO help in making her bracelet. Literally, she was able to pick up tiny little beads, manuever them into her hand, find the small hole and thread them through the thin wire with no assistance. I was astonished; her dexterity, amongst many other things, still shocks me to this day. Jane loved being the center of attention and I'm confident it will take all of January to remind her again that she is not an only child. Nonetheless, it has been a wonderful month of celebrating such an amazing daughter - we are blessed beyond words! Happy 3rd Birthday, Janie Bug!
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| Jane getting ready to school us all in the art of beadery. |
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| Notice the concentration despite the cherry mini-cheesecake distraction |
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| I love this picture (I think I say that a lot) - she hopped up on my leg to watch the lady put the clasp on the bracelet she made. One Happy Girl. |
