Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tis the Season

Family gatherings at Drury Lane. You wouldn't think that at least another 20 people were missing.

Not impressed with the fanciness of it all

Hot chocolate helped

Half the kids missing

Making a sign for Santa

Sign and Santa landing strip ready

Snow angel

His usual position outside in this weather

"Frosty" before his carrot nose was added on

Monkey love

Our monkey

Kodak moment

Making XMas cards for his teacher and bus drivers

Expriencing new things

Causing trouble

Ready to party

School is out for break!!!! Last day filled with fun and games.

What not to fing buy my kids

what not to fing buy my kids this holiday
This post is hilarious!!! This not by any means a post for my kids' grandparents. ;)

Another man

Playing PlayStation in the house...

Not a fan



of Polish School on Saturday mornings...Exibit A.



Still

Still fighting our colds but feeling much better.
Someone else caught it though...

Baby it's cold outside

All of us are sick. I'm the most sick. Of All!!
My head is ready to combust and in the midst of feeling like a total mess I had to battle with food shopping at 3 different stores today. Of course the moment I walked in Michael woke up from his 2 20 minute nap. He is a little sick and has molars coming through so he has been a joy. :(

On Friday, Daniel, Ryan and I watched The Polar Express and Daniel loved it. His favorite part?....why when the kids says "All I got for Christmas was stupid underwear" of course. Well he thought that was just hilarious. Even in bed right when I thought he was sleeping he would start laughing about it. Naturally, I had to have our Elf on the shelf (Luke) steal Daniel's underwear and display them for the whole house to see.
It gave me a great idea for our stockings, everyone is getting new underwear. It might be a tradition from now on. 
Anyway, I loved watching the movie with him, even with 100 questions asking what will happen next and popcorn spilling all over the couch, it really is a magical time. Not just the time of the year but the age, 5 years old. I love this age. It comes with challenges but the wonder and curiosity of a 5 year old makes me love this time of year even more.
Saturday, Ryan and I had a much deserved date with oh I don't know like 15 couples. We went to see It's a Wonderful Life at the Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview. If you haven't heard of it, it's worth going!! The play was amazing and the atmosphere was super cool.  You can bring your own bottle of wine, there is free hot chocolate, home made cookies and a train that goes around the bar. The place is small but I felt like I traveled back in time. We will go again for sure.
Sunday, well I talked about that already. Food shopping, cooking, cleaning and carrying a crabby baby on my hip.
Here is to 17 days till Christmas. Yes, we are counting.
I need to address my XMas cards. They are all done.
Can you believe this was them a year ago?
I can't share this year's photo until everyone receives it.

It has started

Loving being outdoors while we put the lights up

A worker bee he is NOT. He made himself comfortable while we worked

We went to see Winter wonderland in Vernon Hills. Daniel enjoyed his first Starbucks cup of perfect temperature hot chocolate.

We loaded up on snacks and coffee for the adults. The show was amazing.

If you go on youtube you can find a couple of videos of the drive.

This picture just tickles me. It was their first time sitting in this car cart together. They were adorable together.

Our decorations are up, Luke the Elf is resurrected from a dusty box and the countdown on 3 different advent calendars has begun. Cheers to the Holiday Season. And I got my Christmas cards done, meaning printed not sent...let's not get carried away.

It was a Happy Turkey

Filled with family, love and lots of bird.
Now, on to decorating for the holidays.

The Marrons, 3 generations of boys. Poor grandma.

My mom and grandkids. We didn't dare ask for a group shot.

Happy Thanksgiving

It was memorable



If you think Michael is floating in the air by Santa, look close and you will notice a hand under him holding him for dear life. I also sported a red blanket to try to deceive the camera in hopes that I could be cropped and my squirmy one year old would magically look like he was sitting on Santa's lap. Photoshop doesn't work miracles in 2013...maybe my grandkids have a chance. HA!



A good reminder

We are in "molars coming in", refuse to nap, want to be held, screams at night phase. I needed this...

Big brother

Little brother got his first little time out today for touching electronics. He was put into his play pen (he didn't know the difference). Big brother, with his wide eyes looks at me and says "I don't like Michael in trouble and in time out". He proceeded to climb into the playpen saying "It's OK Michael I will play with you".
Do you know how many times I beg him to play with his brother so I can get dinner done? DAILY! I may have just found the secret to brotherly love...
And cuz he's cute and mischievous...
I was happy to have captured these as we have snow on the ground today and all the beautiful leaves are nothing but a stiff and crunchy layer of carpet.

Happy Monday!

1st birthday recap!

We had a party, it was great. I'll let the pictures tell the details.

Lord please let this party end already...

 

 

 

 

I'm freaking 1!!!!!!!!!!!

 

And that's a wrap