Christmas visitors

Mike has an aunt and uncle that live in Chicago.  We both really like them, for many reasons.  Joe was a Chicago police officer until he retired a few years ago.  He has many stories about his work days that I just love.  Seriously, some of the stuff you see in movies really does happen.  Joe also shares a lot of Mike and I's political view and it is nice to hear some inside information.  Marcia, is so easy going and you just can't help but be relaxed around her.  I also love seeing how much her and Cheryl really get each other.  I did not get many pictures of the two of them...and I did not get a single one of Marcia.  I do love this one I got of Joe at dinner.  Thank you two again for coming to visit! It was a very long drive for such a quick visit.  Can't wait to see you again:-) Next time it will be in Chicago.

Playing in the snow

This year was such an improvement over last...Last year when Grandma and Grandpa visited it was way below zero the whole time, and very windy! This year it has been warm...A high of 17 today, for example:-) Who would have ever thought that would feel so warm to me.

Bob did a little cross country skiing.  The snow was a little too hard with the rain that fell for two days before the temps dropped.  Now it is ice, snow, ice, snow layers.

So we all headed out to Matthew's school to hit the sledding hill.

The ice made the hill super fast...just the way they all liked it.

look at the snow fly up

They ended up way out in the field.

I love this picture:-)

Helping Matthew back up the hill after a huge wipeout

On to snowboarding(Mike took all of these!)

Bob was teaching him how to do it.

nice form

Does he have it???

maybe?

There were several of these

and these!

Then this!

This is for you Jenny! A picture of me from Mike! Enjoy:-)

Don't forget to vote!

Place your votes!

House #1  "the converted warehouse"

who does not like a house that smiles at you?

Litte side note on my cake stand: I love it! Mike has always teased me that it looks like it should be in "a Christmas Story"  When Cheryl walked it she said...Wow is that from a Christmas Story?  Mike was amused.

Every side of this house has some detail.

love the smily face:-)

#2 "the girls getaway cottage"

Look at the cobble stone walkway and the pink shingled roof.

If you look close you can even see Santa going down the chimney.

#3 "Army world"

This is were soldiers...aka gummy bears

See the ladder that they climb and the rain shelter, and rock climbing wall?

#4 "The house of sugar"

look at this detail

#5 " Santa's vacation home"

See the slide were the gummie bears go down?

Santa likes to Kayak

See him up close..it is a pink kayak.

Okay...to vote this year you have to go to the blog(if you are not already there) and click on the poll on the right.  Pick the house you love the most.  

forgot one

I really really love this shot.  I had to post it.  I will try and get the Christmas ones posted soon.

Thursday...

On Thursday we took Matthew ice skating.  We tried to go to a local outdoor ice skating rink first...

Mike took some shots too.  I have not even looked at them yet.  I will have to post them.

Matthew actually did quite well considering the ice was so bad.

I love these shots so much.  I wish that we could have skated here longer.  The lighting was perfect. Not to mention it was a really fun subject! Grandpa Bob and Matthew skating together.

:-)

The indoor rink was closed to kids until 1:00 so we decided to have a lunch break.

Famous Dave's was the fourth place we tried.  Everything else was closed for Christmas Eve???What? That is when everyone goes out to eat, right?  I love FD's anyway and the background is perfect for pictures!

One of my all time favorite things! Seeing people I love laughing like this.  I have been seeing a lot of this the last few days.

Another one of my new favorite things.  I love taking a picture of someone taking a picture.  I know it is a little corney but hey...I still love it.

Matthew is a little irritated that I think this is so funny..but it is.  He was checking out this old gas pump after we ate lunch.  He said is this really a working gas pump?  I said yep, this is what they looked like. He said "How did people pay?" hahahaha! We actually had to go inside!

Back to skating.

Love this picture!

look at those curls

Mike is jumping in on the action this time.  What a great deal this was by the way.  Three adults and one rental for $14.00 not bad for 2 hours of entertainment.

More true hearted laughter

Another one of my favorite shots.

Race?  Yeah, Bob would smoke anyone most days. Mike felt like the old man next to his dad on the ice.

More laughs..

Mike's attempt...(are you laughing your face off Judy?)

Matthew and his favorite person.  Bob left for an hour tonight and Matthew was crushed.  I can only imagine how hard it is going to be when they leave in a few days.

There is a look at our Thursday!