Rex Says

"Without Internet, we're like...cavemen." -Seth

(Our home phone/internet service has been out for 1.5 weeks, and we were talking about it. Maybe you had to be there, people, but believe me, it was funny!)

Tailgating, Style Fancy

What a good night we had!  Hoffbeast and I went to a Brewers game with a few of our friends.  Little did we realize that it was actually Kevin and Karen's anniversary.  Best tailgate dinner ever...steak sandwiches topped off with crème brûlée for dessert!

Our Cramazing May, Episode LVII: A Beautiful Last Night in India (or so we thought)

By the time Tom and I got back from our afternoon exploring, the guys were fast asleep, so we joined them for a nap....it was wonderful!  What a nice place to be forced to live in for a couple of days!  ;)

After our naps, we woke up to...more food!  And more importantly, to our last evening together as a foursome.  Our time in India had been spectacular and very cramazing, but at midnight, Hoffbeast would leave with Rex for the airport, and we would be separated for a few days until we were joined together again at home with the rest of the fam.  We wanted to really take it all in, enjoying the night together with our dear friends, the McFs...

We walked down to the restaurant, expecting a delicious meal.  But we were NOT expecting the spread that we saw!  It was an incredible feast of a buffet, and we LOVED it!  I think Hoffbeast especially enjoyed it...he had consumed a lot of Indian food by this time and had decided that he could live there, if only for the food.  This was his last night, so he'd better eat up!

Me, on the other hand, I'm not exactly a foodie.  But I sure do love sweets!  So of course, I had to take photos of the amazing, huge dessert table....I really couldn't believe how much food was available to us, a little strange when you realize the poverty not far outside the doors of the hotel, but when you are guests at the hotel, there is little to do but be thankful, enjoy, and be filled with appreciation, both for the beauty and also for the provision.  Just another example of God's abundant grace!

"What do you think of all this food??!?!"  They were stunned, obviously.

L was all smiles!

Tom was quite happy, too, especially when there was food around!

I love this picture, the last taken of the seven of us...what an amazing blessing it was to travel with this sweet family.  (You're stuck with us for life, McFs!)

After dinner, we went for a beautiful night swim....the kids loved it, and I think we were all feeling grateful--for our travels, for our kids, and for the fact that HOME was getting closer by the minute.

(I wish I could upload a precious sound clip here that I have...it's L yelling, "One, Two, Three!" as she and Rex jumped in the water, something they did over and over and over again...)

And then, just an hour or so after this was taken, Tom and I walked Daddy and Rex downstairs to a waiting cab where we would say goodbye......until the next morning, when they unexpectedly returned to the hotel.  Coming up, Rex's long-anticipated and favorite story of our whole trip....sort of.  Not fun to live, but kind of funny to recall.

Welcome, guest blogger/storyteller, Rex..........

Our Cramazing May, Episode LVI - Afternoon at the Sheraton

Our taxi ride to our final Delhi destination would prove uneventful, except for the fact that when we arrived at the hotel, a dog had to sniff our car for bombs before we would be allowed on the property.  That was interesting.  Thankful for the thorough safety check, sad that it was needed.  We went with it because, well, what choice did we have?  This is simply life in this part of the world.

Of course, I'm still unsure of Delhi's geography, but I do know that the Sheraton felt much further away from the city proper.  It was quite a drive to get there, but thankfully, our driver managed to get us there with no problems.  And immediately, we knew that we would again be treated like royalty.

This place, like the Hilton Garden Inn, was very, very nice!  And so beautiful!  We were immediately welcomed like family to this hotel, and the front desk manager made sure to take very good care of us.  They signed us up for their Sheraton rewards program and by doing this, cut down our cost by a significant amount.  And threw in free breakfasts.  And a discount at the restaurant.  And on and on.  He said again and again that if we needed anything at all, we were to let him know!

Our bellhop was just as helpful, going above and beyond to make us comfortable and feel really cared for.  Rarely have we seen such amazing customer service, especially at two hotels in a row!

Since Hoffbeast and Rex were flying out that evening, they decided to get some rest, while Tom and I went exploring.  Again, this hotel had an amazing rooftop pool, not quite as wonderful as the last, but almost!  One edge of the pool waterflowed over the side of the building, making it look like you could just cascade down it and be lost.  It was quite safe, of course, but what a beautiful optical illusion!

We eventually found the restaurant and some grub, most of which Tom downed as if he were a grown man.  Seriously, I couldn't believe how much he ate!  You have heard the phrase, "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach?"  Yep.  That was happening here....I was about to begin an around-the-world trip with my son (who, at this point, MUCH preferred Daddy!), so our bonding-over-food was much needed, and by the time this meal was finished, I had begun to win him over!

Seriously, aren't those eyes amazing??!

Such a happy disposition...

I was definitely falling in love!  What a cutie!!  :)

DSCN3924 from Hoffbeauty on Vimeo.

Baking with Tang

Beth absolutely adores her Tang-a-lang, and tonight, Tang came over and baked a beautiful jello cake with her.  Beth always looks so forward to their times together, and this was no exception.  Tang, we love you!  Thanks for being such a good friend and for loving our daughter so well!

(This photo was taken last year when Beth and Tang made their first venture into jello-cake land.)

Hospital Breakout!

We've enjoyed our stay (sort of), but we're outta here!!!! My baby is back! He's super happy and smiley today, just like normal...so thankful for the amazing care he's received these last few days from our pediatrician, the ER staff, ENT docs, surgical team, and the nursing staff of W10! Time to go see Daddy and the kiddos!

The Cutest Bandaged Baby in the World!

This weekend, Bart and I ventured off on a mother/son weekend to....the Children's Hospital! A bad ear infection turned to worse, and thankfully, Friday night we ended up at the ER, where we finally figured out what's truly been going on with him for the last week or so. Yesterday morning, Bart had surgery, and now he is recovering and being treated with IV antibiotics. This morning, doctors will change his dressing and see how he is healing...please pray for him!