The late Chicago Day 2 & 3

Just in case anyone was wondering, we did come back from Chicago. I have just been negligent in posting about it! I was going to skip day 2 and 3 all together, but I reminded myself that I am never going to be a regular scrapbook person, so this is going to serve as our online scrapbook.

Day 2: We went to the Science and Industry Museum, with the rest of Chicago, who were clearly on Spring Break. Troy dropped us on his way to work,  and we stood in line for 40 mins to get tickets. Luckily the place is big enough that we were able to still see everything we wanted without too much of a wait.  Dinner for Day 2 was McCormick and Schmick and we checked out of the Felix, one bed hotel room and into the Hyatt. AMEN for two beds. After two nights of our children sleeping with their feet in our ribs, it was nice to spread out a little! For those of you wondering, our children have become quite accustomed to eating in nice restaurants when we go out of town. So far, they have been exceedingly well mannered with only the slightest bit of threatening. Shelby is quiet anywhere she gets to eat really good food!

It was the closest they were going to get to a beach.

Day 3 - Navy Pier and Chinatown. The original plan was to take a water taxi from Navy Pier to Chinatown, however, we learned after walking several blocks in the cold that the water taxis didn't start until the NEXT day. So we took an exciting taxi ride back to our car and drove to Chinatown. Chinatown was wonderful and we wandered from bakery to bakery buying up all the sweet top buns we could find for my BFF Lora. This was my first time to experience these wonderful things, they are YUMMY! They are now on Troy's shopping list every time he goes back.

I didn't know what everything was, but I am guessin it's all YUMMY!

AWESOME Spring Break 2011.

Spring Break Chicago Style Day 1

Hello from Chicago!

Daddy had to work in Chicago for a couple days so we figured it was a great way to get in a cheap Spring Break vacation. Yes, we are aware that everyone else is headed to the beach and we are still freezing, but we're having a blast in the cold!

We arrived Monday night and checked into Hotel Felix (thank you Priceline). Hotel Felix is the only LEED certified, eco-friendly hotel. It is considered a "boutique" hotel, which we now know means small. The hotel is beautifully renovated and has a wonderfully comfortable bed and is within walking distance to the Magnificent Mile, where we spent all of  the day today!

Inside the hotel lobby

Immediately upon getting here we checked in and went directly to Gino's East Pizza for authentic Chicago Deep Dish Pizza! YUM!

Shelby and Cole  loved that you could draw all over the walls!

New York can keep their pizza! We're a Chicago style family!

Today, while Troy worked, the kiddos and I went on a marathon shopping spree in downtown Chicago. We started our morning at an amazing little breakfast spot called Yolk. Cole had smores pancakes and I got crepes. It was the best way to start the morning!

Cole has been asking for a year to go to the Lamborghini store. He now knows why we don't own one!

Yeah, he's cool!

We went to Hershey, American Girl Store, The John Hancock Center, Filene's Basement, Disney Store, Crate and Barrel, Lego Store. Neiman Marcus and then to eat at Life is Food before we wandered back to pick up daddy at the hotel at finished of at Ed Debevic's 50's diner for dinner.

We're eating WELL on Spring Break!

Onward to day 2!

I'm tired.

The older men in my life... Happy Birthday Boys!

Two big events this past week.  Troy turned 40 on the 19th and on the 21st Cole turned 11.  My men are getting older. Trust me when I tell you that one day apart in birthdays is not the only way that they are similar.


They both have these amazing blue eyes, blonde hair (Troy's was when he was little) and strong jaw lines and when they smile they melt my heart and brighten a room.

Both my men have this amazing gift to be able to fix ANYTHING you hand them. They will tear it apart, put it back and sometimes you have all of the parts put back. Sometimes... but it always works.  When Cole turned three, I noticed, he began taking things from me and saying, "I'll fix it mama." Now he just looks at me and sighs and says "hand it over..." and he fixes whatever I need.  Troy in his old age fixes things I don't always want fixed, and didn't think were broken.

Both my men have a giving and protective heart.  Both willingly volunteer to help at the local homeless shelter, Cole and Troy delivered food and toys at Christmas. Cole is always helping with our local Rotary projects. Cole jumped at the chance to serve hot chocolate to the community for Polio relief.  Cole is usually the first one to grab Shelby if she is hurt. He comforts her, holds her and kisses her until mom/dad/nana/papaw can get there.  He told Shelby that if some boy picked on her at the gym that her bubba would handle it. He and daddy stand in line to tuck the princess in at night.

I so hope she never has to learn that all men aren't that wonderful. 

Both my men are stubborn to the core.  They will argue and argue.... sometimes it's just easier to know secretly I am right. It's been fun to watch as Cole gets older, he begins to win the arguments with his daddy, because he thinks like his daddy! It must be hard to argue with a little version of yourself.

While Cole was pretty excited about turning 11, Troy was less than excited about turning 40.


In celebration, we packed in lots of party into one small weekend.  Friday night we went out with our close friends to a wonderful German restaurant. We proceeded to help Troy forget that turning 40 was a bad thing. By the time he played tambourine with the band, I think he had forgotten he was 40! Troy is typically our designated driver, and I can't remember the last time he cut loose, so this was truly a rare occasion and I am sure now he is glad it is rare!



Yeah, this isn't his usual look.

  

Needless to say, he has never before been on stage before. The rest of us girls loved it!


Cole celebrated the following day with a Lego/Nerf party at home.  The boys enjoyed putting together lego kits that Cole had pre-made. They also played Nerf Wars and flew kites.  All very non-electronic, which wasn't really planned that way, but the boys had a great time.

My nephew Jake. We do grow handsome men in the Hoffman family!

Sunday, after church, we went to the brick world Lego convention downtown and Cole was able to mingle with those like him. WOW are those little pieces of plastic expensive! We stopped at a chocolate shop and enjoyed a beautiful Spring day in Indy.

I don't even want to know how much this would cost, or how much time it took to put together!

Love the little Lego Colts! Go Horse!

Yum! Hot Chocolate!