Mall of America!

At the end of January we decided to take a break from the cold and go somewhere even colder!  Despite the balming temperature of -20 we had a great time spending 4 days at the Mall of America!  We weren't even aware of the weather!  One day is snowed about 5 inches and we had no idea!  Our hotel was 2 blocks from the Mall and the only time we were outside was for the shuttle to drive us to and from the mall.   We arrived at our hotel at 12:55 and the shuttle from our hotel to the mall left on the hour.  So we literally ran up to our room dumped everything in the middle of the floor and ran back down to catch the shuttle.  By 1:03 we were at the mall.  We are not intense at all!!  Because of that rush I didn't have my camera the first day.  We went to the aquarium in the mall.  Now, this sort of activity usually isn't my cup of tea but I loved this place.  We stayed several hours and went back again later in the day!  We also made a trip to the Americal Girl store on day one.  This would be one of MANY!  Jord quickly bough Saige, the doll of the year.  

 The American Girl doll store!!  This store was huge and actually so magical.  I even wanted a doll after spending so much time there!

 Here are Jordan and Samantha on day 2  We were headed to the Amusement park and lunch at the American Girl cafe.  Take note that Josephina and Sophia had to make the trip!

 Jord in her own piece of heaven.  The girls did a scavenger hunt there that was fun!

 Here we are at lunch.   Jordan and Samantha had little "high chairs" for their dolls.  The waitress even brings the doll their own "food." 

 This cafe was so darling!  Everything was pink!  Which of course I LOVED!  

 Jordan and Samantha!  These girls are so sweet!  They were so excited they could use this meal to pass of an Faith in God requirement... Manners!

 Kim and Taylor!  You all know that Kim lives across the street from us.  Several people in our ward say that Taylor should have been Kim's daughter.  They have a ton of the same characteristics!  They really do look like each other!  

 Even the food was CUTE!

 Here are a few more photos!  I guess Tay decided NOT to practice her manners!  Love this girl!

We also did the Amusement park that is inside the mall.  It was delightful!  Best idea ever to have an indoor amusement park.  No heat, no cold and because it was inside it was super clean.  There were NO lines and the girls rode ride for a good 9 hours...  No lie! The probably rode this log chute 20 times!  Often they didn't even have to get out of their log flume!  

 

We did take a late afternoon break at tried cupcakes at a store in the mall who won Cupcake wars two times!  We love that show so it was fun to go there!  Here are Tay and Jord enjoying an "oreo" cupcake!  

The third day at the mall we went to a "mirror" maze which quite frankly made me sick after!  It was fun and the kids love it!  Jord had a little internal compass and lead us right through the maze.  Good thing because I would probably still be in there banging into mirrors!  We also saw a store with full size One Direction cut outs!  Taylor later ended up buying a sweatshirt at that store that said "This girls loves One Direction."  Oh, to have a tween!

We also did some shopping that day.  Really the only day we shopped.  We shopped for about 3 hours and ended up at the Rain Forest Cafe.  The girls were pooped by night 3.  We figured that in 3 days we spent about 30 hours at the Mall of America.  

 We also made ANOTHER trip to the American Girl store.  Jordan bough a horse... Yes a HORSE!

 Here we are waiting for our table at Rain Forest Cafe.  I was sitting on the floor of the mall... Yes, right on the floor!

 What a great way to end a great trip!!  

On top of all the fun you see the girls ate at Panda Express and A&W for every  meal.  We tried to lure them away but that is what they wanted.  I can't say much because I think I probably ate 4 Cinnabons in 3 days!  Samantha fell in love with Krispy Kreme donuts and even had one when we got off the plane in Salt Lake City.  The kids swam and we watched a lot of Food Network.  We slept in and were so lazy we didn't even get up by 10 to have breakfast at the hotel!  Delightful!!!   I only have one complaint...  In the entire mall there are only 2, yes 2 restaurants that have Diet Coke!  Seriously??  Don't you worry!  We planned our activities accordingly so we stayed fueled with Diet Coke!  Thanks to Kim and Samantha for letting us crash your one-on-one.  I felt so lucky to spend that sort of time with my two beautiful girls!  We laughed, shopped, ate and created lifelong memories!  Thanks to our "jeffey" for making it all happen!  

The traditional "mall" photo!