Christmas Fun

Christmas has come and gone, and once again we had a marvelous holiday. Looking back at the pictures we took I have to just stop and think about how ridiculously fortunate we are. We have so many gifts and blessings in our life, and man I'm grateful for them.

Onto Christmas, Thursday night we drove down to St. Louis to spend the holidays with our families. Christmas eve we celebrated with Grandma Donna & Grandpa Pete. Timmy was in a bit of a mood.... but luckily they're forgiving!

There is one sure-fire cure for a crabby boy, m&ms!

We tried to get him to take a picture with Daddy in their Christmas ties, but sadly this was the best shot I got. To be honest most of our Christmas pics this year were less than fantastic. I think Tim & I were both so focused on soaking up every moment of the boy and his Christmas fun, and sadly our picture taking went by the wayside.

I did manage a few fun present shots though. Lucky Ducks & Basketball were big hits!

Later that evening we headed over to Grandma Kiki & Grandpa John's to spend the night. When Timmy woke up on Christmas morning he had a very special shirt to surprise the family with!!! Truly our best Christmas present this year!

Then onto the good part, presents!

We had more fun as the day continued, visiting more family members, and eating of course! Lots and lots of eating!! We hope that each and every one of you had an equally lovely and blessed Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus, or just plain old winter week! Much love to everyone!

Santa Came!!!

If you've been following along you'll know that we decided to celebrate our Christmas before heading home for the holidays. Santa is a pretty busy guy anyway, so coming a week early was no trouble at all! Sunday Timmy woke up and we told him that Santa came. He was super excited. We raced downstairs to a pile of presents!

Upon seeing the easel he immediately wanted to paint. No such luck kiddo!

Next gift up, a bucket of dinosaurs!!! He was so excited that I couldn't get him to open any other presents for quite awhile. It made me laugh a little. I spent all this money on presents, and he was totally content w/a $10 bucket of dinos from Target!

We finally moved on for a new Thomas hauling a snowman! (again - have you been following the blog? the kid is into snowmen!)

After a few more gifts (I'll spare you all the pictures!) we got to the last gift. The one he specifically asked Santa for. A truck!

Lucky boy with his new toys!!

Ooh - and some of you mom's out there will like my gift. Tim got me an entire photo studio kit. Yay!!! Now I just need to order some fun seamless paper!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Well maybe it was a week before, but since we travel for the holidays Santa decided to visit our place early. And hey, when you're two you have no concept of time. Christmas multiple times in one week is totally feasible! So it was the night before our Christmas, and time to leave a special treat for Santa. I have to apologize to the reindeer. I desperately need to go to the grocery store, so alas no carrots were available. And yes, I'm that girl. The one who has plenty of cookies in her house, but no carrots..... oops.

Timmy was a big help. Setting out the milk and cookies for Santa.

We used this adorable Irish set that Grandpa Pete gave us last year for Christmas. Maybe we should have left Santa some Baileys.....

Santa comes from up there?!?

Oh, and apparently if Santa gets milk and cookies Timmy should too. Hey, it's Christmas. How can I say no to that logic?!?

And after the boy went to bed I got busy setting out his loot. Daddy worked hard putting the easel together. What would we do without him?!?

ch-ch-ch-changes

I changed up the blog a bit. I wanted to make the pictures bigger, the blog a bit wider, just adjust a few things. The train background is gone for now, but I tried to keep them up top w/the new header. Hope all my loyal followers enjoy the new changes!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

I've fallen in love with our house all over again. Decorating for Christmas always makes my heart happy, but my goodness, this house was made for Christmas decorations! I have a gazillion more pictures, but I wanted to share a few of our main living space. It just looks so warm and cozy to me.

Some of these were taken at night, with only the Christmas lights to light the picture, so they're a bit dark. I really wanted to show how sparkly everything is. Oh - and yes, there is a disco ball in the corner of the first picture. Lol.

This is the first year we've had an official mantle. My oh my I enjoyed decorating it!

I took a plethora of ornament shots but right now Timmy is way into snowmen. So a snowman it is to showcase our tree!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.... brand new stockings might I add!! Love them!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Pete!

My Dad came to Chicago to spend the weekend with his boy! His birthday is tomorrow, and it has become a tradition is that he comes to town each year for his birthday weekend. This works out well for Tim & I, as his work Christmas party is always that weekend. How lucky are we that he thinks babysitting the boy is a great birthday! Lol.

We had a little surprise in store for him today. My Dad loves to wear his kilt. He's a good irishman, and wears it for most special occasions. About a month ago Tim & I found a matching one for Timmy. We couldn't resist and had to buy it. Grandpa Pete loved it, and we took the opportunity to get a good photoshoot out of it! Timmy wasn't a fan of the kilt at first ("i no like it!") but once he saw that Grandpa Pete had one too he changed his tune. He even did a little dancing with Grandpa! What a fun day!

Annual Lake Geneva Christmas Day!

Last Saturday we took our annual trip to Lake Geneva, WI for their Christmas Festival. In case you don't remember from last years post, Lake Geneva is an adorable little town that has great shops & restaurants, and a fabulous Christmas festival each year. You can visit Santa and his live reindeer, carolers wander the streets, local musicians play in stores (which are offering cookies & wine & other treats!), and the day ends with their annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. 

This year we went with high hopes for our Santa visit. While I was pretty sure that Timmy would succumb to the average toddler screaming Santa picture fate, I had hopes he wouldn't. I mean he was SO excited about asking Santa for a truck. What could go wrong?!?

We got there and he saw the reindeer. Great success. He loved them!

But then it happened. Scary old Santa Claus did something to him. I don't know if he was murmuring threats or what, but Timmy was hysterical. The situation was not helped out by a less than delightful elf who kept telling me if I hadn't said the "S" word everything would have been fine. It wouldn't. But hey, crying Santa pics are a rite of passage, right?!?

As soon as Santa time was over Timmy regained his composure and decided it was time to "run around" by the reindeer! 

After some food and shopping it was time for the parade. Timmy was most excited about the firetrucks, as any 2 year old boy would be. We didn't make it through the entire parade. It was cold and someone wouldn't wear their gloves..... but we enjoyed the part we did see!

Oh - and just in case you were wondering we saw some people handing out fliers. Check out that sweatshirt. Apparently the world is coming to an end next May. Get ready folks!!! ;)

Remembering Grandma Grace

Posts like this aren't the ones I like to write. I've never been good with death. Through my struggles into that great unknown one thing I've come to realize, which is important for my own healing, is to focus on celebrating the life of the one who has passed, instead of wallowing in grief. Today I am sharing with you the life of our special Grandma, Grace Williams.

Grandma Grace was Tim's great-grandmother, Timmy's great-great-grandmother. How amazing is it that my boy got to meet his great-great-grandmother?!? Not many of us can say that. Grace was always loving and kind to me. I can only say good things about her. But what is more significant is listening to Tim talk about her. He spent a great deal of time with her as a little boy, and his memories are so special. I'm not going to recite his stories here, those are his to share, but rest assured, they are wonderful. They had a special bond. Just last week he picked her up from her nursing home and drove her to Thanksgiving dinner, just the two of them in the car, holding hands the entire ride. I'm so thankful they had those last special moments.

Grandma Grace has been sick the past few years. While we mourn her loss we also must celebrate that she is no longer in pain. In my own beliefs I feel that her memories, that had evaded her in recent years, have returned, and her soul is complete for eternity. She is watching over us now, delighting in the joy of her loved ones.

We will miss you Grandma Grace. How lucky we were to have you in our lives. Until we meet again....

Baby Timmy & GG Grace on Thanksgiving 2008

5 Generations!

Christmas 2008, she loved that baby!

Our family, Christmas 2009

4 Generations at our wedding. How beautiful everyone looks!

Thanksgiving at the Farm

Last Saturday we headed out to the Carey Patch to celebrate Thanksgiving at the farm, and spend time with more of our loved ones. The farm has been completed since we were last there, and man is it nice! Seriously, if it wasn't so remote I could move right on in... although maybe the isolation would be nice at times!! 

When we first arrived Timmy immediately remembered our last trip there and decided he wanted to fish! So out to the lake the boys headed to help Timmy catch a fish. 

 Soon the rest of the family arrived and it was time for yet another delicious Thanksgiving meal. I cannot express to you how many desserts there were. And if you know me, you know I like dessert, so this was paradise! We also wanted to sneak in a photoshoot for Grandma & Grandpa C's Christmas cards. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

And while we were at it I played with a lens I was renting and snapped shots of my best boy.

Day turned to night, and family members headed outside for a bonfire and smores. Tim and I took a moonlight walk around the lake. It's not often we get to see stars being city folk! About halfway on our walk I made Tim go back with me so I could get the camera. Seeing the house all lit up and reflected on the lake was just too pretty to miss!

The next morning my boy woke up with a cold, which we are still dealing with many days later. But he was in good spirits, and who wouldn't be after a delicious pancake breakfast?!? Before we packed up the car and headed back to Chicago Timmy squeezed in some play time.

Love this pic of Timmy & Uncle Jim building a mountain for Thomas. Important stuff!

And one last blast before we go. Just a boy, running in the country with his dogs. Heaven.