Chicago: A World Class City

The Ice Cream Truck

What American kid doesn't have fond memories of hearing the crackling music of the ice cream truck coming down the street, running through their house trying to conjure up 3 quarters before the truck passes and you were left running down the street without shoes trying to catch up to the truck. When you finally made it stop, (feet burning and turning black) you got to take your time in looking over the side of the truck were all of the mouthwatering pictures of the 20 different types of cold deliciousness that you could potentially buy with your $.75 hung. Always going through all of your options then deciding on the one that you new would make you the happiest. For me it was the red, white and blue rocket pop. Such great memories.

A couple of days ago I hear the ice cram truck coming down our street so I yell to Dave that we should get the kids an ice cream. So he runs out to stop the truck. I come running out 2 seconds later, (no shoes) to be apart of the first time our kids get to experience the joy of the ice cream truck. The kids took no time in picking what they wanted (neither of them picked a rocket pop), Dave and I decided what we wanted, and then the ice cream man delivers the blow, $9 please. Dave thought he misunderstood and asked how much? It was the same price the second time. As Dave handed over the money I felt a sadness for the fact that my kids will have to give up all their kidneys to enjoy what every American kid should enjoy...$.75 ice cream from the truck that plays the crackly music. Now when the kids ask if they can get another ice, we just say we will take them to Baskin Robins.

Swim Lessons

Izzi had her last swim lesson today. After 6 weeks I see a potential female Michael Phelps. No not really, but she did do a great job. She can now "swim" the width of the pool and continue to talk the whole time. She loved it and was a trooper to do it 3 times a week, in the rain and cold.

There's No Place Like Home,There's No Place Like Home

Our first tornado warning. I don't know if I feel official or a little nervous. The sirens went off while Izzi and I were at Young Women's. We all had to go into the hallway until the sirens were turned off. Driving home was crazy, purple lightning, wind blowing rain sideways, trees getting tousled about. Now we are all hanging out in the basement until 9:30 tonight.

This is Max sleeping under a desk downstairs.

My first Grill

Yogurt marinated kebabs and my favorite artichokes

There are no words to describe how much I love having a grill. For the past 6 years we have lived in apartments that did not allow us to have a BBQ. So by golly when we moved out here and we had a big deck to have a grill, it was my first almost hoping it will be summer soom purchase. We use it almost every day. I love the smell of bar-b-que, the taste, and the easy clean up. It feels like I have so many new options available to me because of the grill. Isn't almost summer wonderful!

My Parents Know How To Party

Having my mom and dad come to town is the absolute greatest. We always do so many fun things. My parents are the worlds best travelers. They love to explore and experience everything their destination has to offer. Chicago is no different for them. They have been here about 5 times now, and they are still finding amazing things to do and see. The week they were here we went to a Cubs game, ate dim-sum in China Town, took a tour of Frank Lloyd Wrights home and studio, went to the Shedd Aquarium, Ate one of the best meals I have ever had on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building, saw the skyline of Chicago from a boat, Lego Land, swam then ended the week exhausted. (I have no Idea why this is underlined, it is driving me nuts.)Lego Land. The only thing on this trip we could have done without. The kids liked it, so I guess it was worth it.
Shedd Aquarium
The infamous Phoenix restaurant. Supposedly this place in China Town is one of the few remaining establishments that still brings you out your dim-sum on a cart...like they do in China.
Yes, this is the cart. I was expecting some beautiful bamboo cart with engravings all over it. Nope it was a hospital metal cart. The dim-sum made up for the cart, it was delicious.
Sky line tour

Wrigley Field is pretty awesome. They still change the scoreboard by hand, and the Ivy wall both pretty amazing. It was so much fun and so cold.
You can't go to a game without getting a Braht.

I love this picture of my family. Izzi is into making funny faces in pictures right know.
Signature room at the John Hancock. It was so amazing to eat on the 95th floor. You sat next to huge window that overlooked the city and Lake Michagen.
This was my dinner. Salmon with fingerling potatoes. Oh my, amazing!
This was dessert. Everybody loved there meals. Not one bad one in the bunch.

Oh Max

Having a boy is very, very different than having a girl. There is not a lot of unnecissary drama involved, hey are interested in very different things, how they play, how they fight. I would have to say the number one difference is....Why oh why would I ever think these would be safe in my fridge?
Max was so proud of himself that he put mascara on all by himself.

This is Max trying to hurry and eat all of the Frosted Mini Wheats he had dumped out. Most of it was the shredded dust at the bottom.
I was trying to get snacks ready for church when I noticed the granola bar in the toaster. Why not it fits perfectly.
I was trying to make dinner one night, I let Max and Izzi play with cookie cutters on the counter. It was keeping them entertained I thought. Apparently they were not as thrilled with the cookie cutters as they should have been. I look over after I hear little Max saying "Uh O", yes that is his cute fat feet foot prints out lined in pepper. He had dumped out all of our pepper out of our pepper cellar. We were all sneezing by the time I could clean it all up.
Yep, that is him finishing off the bottle of red wine vinegar.
These fine condiments get pulled out for every dinner. He thinks it is his job to make sure that they are on the table. If you try to put them back, he just gets down from his chair and pulls them out again.

Needless to say boys are always getting into things.