Brotherly Love

My brother came to visit us!  Well, actually he came to work near Chicago for a week, but he decided to stay for the weekend to see us.  Wasn't that nice?

We met up with him on Friday down at the Chicago Temple.  We didn't take the time to go inside this time, but it was a good place to meet up and he wanted to see it.  Plus, we had Emma with us, so it wouldn't have worked out.  John got in our car and we drove towards the lake.  One of the things John really wanted to do while here (and he told his kids he would take pictures for them to see - so we had to do it), was to see some of the shooting locations for Home Alone.  So we went and saw the house (just the outside, and I'm sure the people who live there just love that), the church where Kevin hides and talks with the old man, and the town square he runs across after inadvertently stealing a toothbrush.    We stopped for some Chicago style pizza on our way home.

Home Alone House

Home Alone Church

The next morning we showed him around town (didn't take too long), including our lighthouse and the lake, and then headed out to Lake Geneva.  While there we ate some lunch at the Sprecher restaurant.  Then headed to Woodstock, Illinois for some more movie locations.  John really wanted to see some of the Groundhog movie sights.  That night we went out to dinner with some dear friends, and even tried escargot.  Not bad, but it won't ever be a favorite of mine.

Emma being silly in the car.

Icy Lake Geneva.  So pretty.

Getting ready to do the Pennsylvania Polka

John pretending he's the old man from the movie here in the old man's alley (they were doing something further into the alley which is why the truck is there).

After church on Sunday (where my brother was thoroughly picked on by our friends, and even got to use some of his Tagalog from his mission days while speaking with a couple in our ward), we came home and prepared some brats.  Can't come here without having brats right?  Of course we let the Sprecher root beer flow freely, and Eric and John broke in a couple glasses Eric bought at the Sprecher restaurant.

Emma was a little cold.

Hmmm, hot chocolate.  Much better!

Excited for root beer in the new glasses.

Following dinner was games and then more sausage, this time it was of the summer variety, along with some cheese and crackers, and yes, more root beer.  Again, can't come here without sampling some of the cheeses.

Even though it was really short, it was so much fun seeing John and having him here.  Of course, I can only say that because I'll go six to twelve months without seeing him.  =)

Tis the Season

December was a whirlwind of crazy and busy.  But aren't the holidays always that way?  We started the month off planning our Ward's Christmas party.  We did it last year too, but wanted to do something different this year, so we had a hot chocolate bar.  There were muffins and donuts of every kind, and then hot chocolate with several add-in options.   We had raspberry, vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut flavoring syrups, crushed peppermint, candy canes, white marshmallows, red and green marshmallows, cinnamon, chili powder, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, and of course, whipped cream.  We also had sugar-free hot chocolate and cold drinking water, just in case.  There were too many options to try them all.  But they were yummy!  We had homemade sugar cookies with red, green, and white buttercream frosting (all made by a lovely gal who is a master with all things in the kitchen), and sprinkles for the kids to decorate and take home.  And of course, we were lucky to have a visit from Santa Claus himself (what can I say, I have connections!).

Excuse the crummy blurry shot.

While out on some errands one day I saw this guy ringing a bell collecting money.  You see these guys all over the place, but this guy definitely went the extra mile.  It was great seeing his enthusiasm.  I bet he collected quite a bit that day.

Right before Christmas Eric took a trip to London.  When he returned, Emma got an early Christmas present.  Londoners are famous for their hats, so he bought her a beautiful hat.  It is seriously so cute on her.  These pictures don't do it justice.

For Christmas this year we went to Ohio to be with my brother, sister-in-law, and her family.  They were incredibly generous and nice to invite us.  We had a great time with them.  They have a lovely home, and it was decorated very festively.  And probably the best Italian food we have ever had!  A.Maz.Ing!  But that's what you get with recipes that have been passed down forever and skilled hands that have learned to make them.  Bravo!  We spent a few days there celebrating, ate very well (holy cow!), went to Church together, laughed a lot, and really enjoyed the company.

I loved the huge fireplace between the living room and the kitchen.

Hulk gloves for Christmas

Already putting the gloves to good use - beating up my brother!  

Eric put all his Bronco pride aside and sported this Browns ornament.  Ahh, what a good sport.

Emma being Emma while playing one of her new Lego games with Eric and Michael.

Then came home to finish up our Christmas celebrating.  Emma had a few more presents here at home that we didn't have room to take with us.  We brought as many as we could, but the rest were left behind for us to open when we got home.  It was kind of nice to have two Christmases in a way.

Doesn't she just look thrilled with all the stuff she got?  She wasn't quite ready for me to take the picture I think.

My Christmas Angel

Unexpected Trip

My Grandmother passed away at the end of October.  She was 98 years old.  I wasn't planning on visiting my family until the spring maybe, but this pushed that trip up.  So Emma and I hopped on a plane and went.  I decided to take Emma out of school for a week and stay to visit with my family for more than just a couple days.  I could have gone alone for a couple days, but I couldn't deny Emma the chance to spend time with her cousins again.  She loves being with them and misses them terribly.

The viewing and funeral services for my Grandmother were very nice.  All of my cousins were able to come into town too (I say that like there are tons of them, but there are only 3 of them - but they live all over, from New York to Hawaii), so it was great seeing them.  What else can you say when someone dies who has always been a part of your life?  I will always cherish the happy memories I have of her, but I'm glad to know she's in a much happier, more comfortable place now.

The viewing and funeral were the very first couple of days we were there.  The rest of the time was spent with my family.  We stayed with my sister, which was fun because it let us spend some extra time with my cute niece Eliza.  She is just so much fun.  She's kind of like Emma's little sister, so Emma was loving it too.

Of course I took the opportunity to go down to Temple Square and enjoy the grounds with Emma (seriously took that for granted before we moved!)  and while downtown we wandered around the mall, which I hadn't seen since it was only completed a few months earlier.

We also went to the zoo, and my mom was able to come with us too, which was great!  We went to the zoo all the time, but they weren't finished with the polar bear exhibit before we moved, so we wanted to see it all completed.

Eliza (in orange) is enjoying the polar bear

It looked like she was playing peek-a-boo with the polar bear

Emma having a staring contest with the polar bear

I thought it was very nice of the bear to pose with Emma for this picture

And being October, we just had to go to Gardner Village.  My parents, sister, and brother with his family were all able to come.  I was so happy it worked out!  I love this place in October, and have posted many pictures from previous trips on here, and I don't really want to bore anyone with more ... but here I go!

It doesn't matter how many times I've seen them, I always love seeing the witches all over here.

Possibly Emma's very favorite witch.  

Trying to look scared next to the witch

Timothy's turn to look scared

We happened to be there on Halloween (Yeah!) so we tagged along to a couple Halloween parties my sister was going to and one my brother was going to, and then we went trick-or-treating all together.  It was a great evening.  I loved all the costumes.  Emma decided not to go overly girly this year.  She wanted to go as Dracula.  And she was very specific that she wasn't a regular vampire, but the head-man himself!  She looked great too!  We sprayed her hair black (which was a pain to wash out), and it made the costume!

This was Emma's costume when she was 2.  It was great seeing Eliza in it.  She made a wonderfully cute pirate!

Since we were staying with my sister, during the downtime in between other events, Emma was able to play with Eliza.  Eliza would just follow Emma around and try to do everything she did, even some of Emma's taekwondo moves.  And anytime we were inside, Eliza would bring me a book to read to her.  I read some of the same books to Emma when she was little, so it was a double pleasure for me - spending time with my niece and creating memories with her, and also reminiscing of fun times with Emma.

Cousins!

Eliza was making Emma hold both her hands, resulting in Emma needing to walk backwards

Emma showing some taekwondo kicks to Eliza

Eliza trying to do the kicks

Eliza would follow Emma around and do everything she did.  It was so cute!

You never like taking a trip for the reason I took this one, but my time there was wonderful.  I love spending time with my family.  And while I was there I was able to go visit my step-Grandma who had just had her hip replaced, and spend a little time with her.  And I'm so glad I did, because about a week after I got home, she passed away as well.  It didn't work out to go back, but I'd rather have had the time I had with her while she was still alive then be able to attend her funeral.  So this fall I lost two Grandmothers.  Heaven is just that much happier a place now.