Anniversary Surprise...

Dylan, Danielle and mommy had a talk and decided to surprise daddy with something really special for our 7 year wedding anniversary. We decided we would take Brad to Chicago and to the Bears vs. Giants game at Soldier Field. Brad is such a die-hard Bears fan.....our whole family is actually, so this was the perfect surprise!

Early in the week I told Dylan he was going to the football game with daddy, baby and I. All week long he kept saying, 'go to football game with mommy, daddy & baby.' It was hilarious, Brad never once questioned anything he was saying. I would just giggle thinking, oh honey, you have no idea that this little almost 3 year old really DOES know what he is talking about!!

I made a special sign for Dylan to wear on his shirt to surprise Brad. When we all got home Friday night I took Dylan in his room and pretended to get him ready for his bath, he already had a Bear's outfit on that he wore to daycare that day. I pinned the note on Dylan's shirt and he ran out to the living room to show daddy, I followed with the camera. At first he started to read it and then stopped and said, 'what's this?' I told him to keep reading, after he read it he stopped and said, 'honey is this a joke'? I said ' nope honey, no joke'. His eyes welled up with tears, he grabbed Dylan and Danielle and I for a family hug.....we packed our bags and we were off. It was a priceless moment, he kept saying how EXCITED he was especially to go to his first NFL game and have his wife and kids enjoy the experience with him!

We gave the kids supper and a bath and put them in their footed pj's and we were off at bedtime for our weekend in Chi-town.

Dylan was such a trooper, the kids slept all the way to Chicago. We arrived shortly before midnight, it worked out perfect. We woke up all refreshed and ready to start the day! Dylan wanted his cereal and toast, so after a delicious breakfast we were off to Michigan Ave for some shopping. Our hotel offered a great shuttle to drop us off further down Michigan Ave so we didn't have to walk so far. Our hotel was right on Michigan Ave, perfect location and excellent to be able to walk to Soldier Field.

We first went up 94 floors in the John Hancock Observatory. It was AMAZING! Dylan was stunned also. He kept knocking on the glass at all of the people and cars 94 stories below. It was pretty chilly up there, we were all bundled up checking out the amazing views of the Lake and the City below. We could see for miles and miles. 'Come Kiss The Sky'.....how appropriate!

We did some shopping and Dylan made out like a champ, the Nike and Disney Store were his favorite! He wanted a stuffed Tigger and Mickey Mouse to go along with his Goofy and Elmo he already had at home. After he got Tigger and Mickey he was SET. He snuggled up in the stroller and took a nap. Perfect! Brad and I were able to finish shopping and seeing what we wanted to see before venturing back to the hotel for an afternoon nap before the BIG game!

After nap time and a quick supper we got all dressed in our Bears gear! The whole family was dressed head to toe in Blue and Orange. We had many layers of clothes on as it was pretty chilly outside especially from the lake front breeze. We started on our jont to Soldier Field. Across Michigan Ave, up the stairs, thru Grant Park, under the tunnels, down from The Field Museum and we arrived at Soldier Field. It was amazing! Dylan was very excited. He walked almost the whole way holding daddy's hand. Then he got a ride on daddy's shoulders as we entered the stadium. It was a site to see, Brad was very excited, and our family was experiencing a new moment together that we will never forget!

We checked out the stadium once we were inside and the field was really neat. Dylan was just looking around and checking everything out and commenting on everything that he thought was really neat. He loved the huge jumbo-tron and a few times told us that he wanted to 'watch Mickey Mouse on TV', LOL! That was the funniest moment, he didn't understand why Mickey Mouse wasn't on the huge TV!! The game was excellent, the starters actually played and scored a bunch in the first quarter. Dylan loved the snacks that Soldier Field offered. He tried the Garlic Fries, but the Nachos were his very favorite. He loved them SO much he actually ate 3 things of Nachos during the game. Little guy LOVES Nachos! Every time that the Bear's would score of course the stadium went crazy and Dylan cheered. He was excited, he would give daddy a high-five and pounds of the fist and he would jump up and down. It was very cute. Daddy was very proud to have Dylan next to him cheering on his favorite team, for the first time in person!

The walk back to the hotel from Soldier Field was a long one. 2 sleeping kiddo's and Brad and I kinda got lost in Grant Park. We followed the crowd, well most of the crowd went to Lakeshore Dr, not Michigan Ave where we needed to be. Well by this time the sprinklers in the park were going off. we laughed and walked and stopped for air, and the kids were fast asleep! We made it back, our family experienced our first NFL game at Soldier Field.....and together as a family, that was the very best part!

Sunday morning after breakfast we checked out of the hotel and headed for the Shedd Aquarium. It was a beautiful day, there was a little lake front breeze and the sun was shining bright! Dylan was in a great mood and excited to go for another stroller ride with the baby. We arrived at the Aquarium and it brought back childhood memories for mommy. It was so special to be in such an amazing place with our children. We saw everything in the Aquarium and Dylan especially loved the Dolphins and the penguins. He didn't quite understand though why he couldn't get in the water with the animals, especially after he saw the diver in the water! Shedd Aquarium is an amazing place and very child friendly. The kids could touch the sea urchins and Star Fish. There was so much to see, perfect for a fantastic wind down to a great weekend! We then stopped and ate lunch with Dana & Ryan Hargraves. It was great to see them as they just moved back to the states from Germany. Dylan had never met them and he was such a good boy during lunch while the adults got all caught up! Dana and Ryan will welcome their first baby, believed to be a little girl, in just 8 short weeks, we are excited for them as their journey in parenthood begins.

This is the beautiful Beluga Whale. What an amazing animal. We stood there in awe as it just soared thru the water. Very neat!

Dylan got his belly full of pizza just in time for a nap for the car ride home. Lord thank you for blessing our family with a wonderful Anniversary weekend of surprises! This was a very memorable vacation for our family, that involved many firsts together. We are very blessed to be able to do these fun things and we are very thankful our children are able to be with us along for each and every journey. We look forward to many more journey's for this Holub Family. Thank you Dylan for being such a good boy for mommy & daddy and a great example for your little sister, we love you buddy. Thank you for sharing daddy & mommy's Anniversary weekend with us!~